HOLLYWOOD, FL, December 20 – On Friday, January 11th, with the New Year less than two weeks old, super middleweight stars Edison Miranda and Jean Pascal will attempt to move closer to their long awaited showdown but only if they can survive the hard-nosed battlers they will face at boxing’s “Crossroads”.
And it won’t be easy, as Miranda squares off against David Banks and Pascal faces Omar Pittman in ten round bouts which headline a night of world-class professional boxing presented by Seminole Warriors Boxing and Groupe Yvon Michel in Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
For Miranda and Pascal, wins on January 11th could mean a highly-anticipated showdown later in 2008.
ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights will televise the card live beginning at 9pm ET / 6pm PT.
One of the most exciting and popular fighters in the world today, Edison “Pantera” Miranda (29-2, 25 KOs) has thrilled fans with his exciting performances ever since he made his United States debut in 2005. A former world middleweight title challenger, Miranda went up to the super middleweight class in October of 2007, and in an impressive fifth round TKO over Henry Porras, the Colombian banger showed he is ready for the elite at 168 pounds, a fact confirmed by his current rankings of 9 in the IBF and WBO, and 11 in the WBC after just one fight in the division.
Haiti-born Jean Pascal (20-0, 14 KOs) is an outstanding athlete who starred in hockey and soccer in his adopted home of Quebec before turning to the sweet science, where he won seven Canadian national amateur championships and represented his country in the 2004 Olympics. In 2005, Pascal turned pro and has since won 20 fights without a loss, taking the NABF, NABA, and NABO championships along the way. In 2008, Pascal ・ who is ranked third in the world by the WBO, fourth by the WBC, 8th by the WBA, and 10th by the IBF – has his sights set on a world title.
A member of The Contender’s third season cast, Portland, Oregon’s David Banks (15-3-1, 2 KOs) is a former state champion wrestler who has thrown his hat into the boxing ring in search of a world championship. With no amateur experience, Banks has had to learn on the job in the pro ranks, but with two wins over hot prospect Elvin Ayala and a hard fought ten rounder against Peter Manfredo Jr., Banks has shown the raw talent to succeed in the sport, and he is looking to show more of that talent on January 11th against Miranda.
Philadelphia’s Omar Pittman (15-3-1, 8 KOs) lives up to his nickname of “Pitbull” with his tenacious style once the bell rings. A three year veteran of the pro game, the 24-year old Pittman owns wins over Victor Paz and Derrick Graham, and in his last two fights he engaged in an exciting pair of wars with Demetrius Davis, winning both by decision. On January 11th, he plans on giving Pascal a rude introduction to Philly fighting.
Tickets for “Crossroads”, priced at $150, $100, $50 and $25, are on sale now, and may be purchased at the Hard Rock Live Box Office or TicketMaster.com.
For more information on Seminole Warrior’s Boxing, please visit our website at www.warriorsboxing.com