Jirov-Craven headlines July 14 at 4 Bears Casino in North Dakota
“Pinnacle FiteNite” launches monthly PPV series
NEW TOWN, North Dakota – Unbeaten cruiserweight sensation Shawn “The Sioux Warrior” Hawk continues his march towards a world title July 14 in “Thriller On The River,” launching the “Pinnacle FiteNite” pro boxing series, at 4 Bears Casino and Lodge in New Town, North Dakota.
Twenty-three-year-old Hawk (14-0-1, 12 KOs), rated No. 13 by the NABO and No. 17 by the NABA, comes from Crow Creek (SD), the poorest reservation in the United States. “I’ve always enjoyed boxing but it’s also a tool for me to gain some recognition and get people to listen,” Hawk explained. “I want to go to school and someday become a Tribal Chairman. I want to help my people. Teenage suicide, alcoholism and unemployment rates are very high on our reservation.”
Former IBF champion and 1996 Olympic gold medalist Vassiliy “The Tiger” Jirov puts a potential world title fight on the line — WBA title-holder Virgil “Quicksilver” Hill will be in attendance as a broadcast commentator – against veteran Kenny “The Raven” Craven (28-18, 23 KOs) in the 10-round main event.
Kazakhstan-native and Arizona resident Jirov (36-3-1, 30 KOs), 1996 Olympic gold medal winner and Outstanding Boxer, captured the IBF cruiserweight title in 1999 by seventh-round stoppage of “King” Arthur Williams. Jirov successfully defended his title belt six times against Dale Brown (KO10), Saul Montana (TKO9), Alex Gonzales (KO1), Terry McGroom (KO1), Julian Letterlough (TKO8) and Jorge Fernando Castro (DEC12).
Craven has been against world champions Michael Nunn, Vaughn Bean, Oliver McCall and Henry Akinwande, as well as world title contender Calvin Brock and fabled Eric “Butterbean” Esch, against whom he won two of their four fights.
Hawk will fight an opponent to be determined in the eight-round co-feature. “This fight is really important to me,” Hawk said. “I’m in the co-feature under Vassiliy Jirov and I’ll be fighting in front of all those Native Americans. My whole tribe (Sioux) has been behind me since the beginning, but a lot more Native Americans now know about me. I’m an aggressive fighter who pushes the action, not really much of a runner. I’m aggressive, but cautious, not reckless.”
“Thriller On The River,” presented by 4 Bears Casino & Lodge in association with Sports and Entertainment Media, Inc., which launches the “Pinnacle FiteNite” monthly series to be broadcast from a wide variety of venues, will air worldwide on a taped delay basis for free.
Providing chief support on the undercard is undefeated New Jersey light heavyweight Chuck “The Professor” Mussachio (10, 5 KOs), the former two-time National Collegiate Boxing Association boxing champion from Lock Haven University and currently a teacher, in an eight-round bout against unbeaten Pharoah “The Quiet Storm” Turner (9-0, 2 KOs), fighting out of Detroit.
Las Vegas high-profile defense attorney Marc Saggese (1-0, 1 KO) faces pro debuting Christian Bendickson in a four-round cruiserweight match. Also on the undercard, in four rounds bouts, is Bismarck (ND) light middleweight Nick Runningbear (1-0, 0 KOs) versus Cheyenne Ziegler (1-0, 1 KO), North Dakota (Mandan) heavyweight Archie Hopkins makes his pro debut against Bill “The Kid” Johnson (6-6, 4 KOs), cruiserweight Lyle Kruger, of Grand Forks (ND), versus Bismarck’s Chris Hugh in both
of their pro debuts. All bouts and fighters are subject to change.
Tickets, priced at $20.00 (bleachers), $30.00 (floor) and $40.00 (VIP ringside), are on sale and available exclusively at the 4 Bears Box Office. Call 800.294.5454 or go on line at www.4bearscasino.com. Doors open at 6 PM, first bout at 7 PM.