February 10, 2000

Whetha on cable television or on the snow covid grounds of New England, boxing and New England fightas will have the oppatunity to demonstrate (okay, I'll stop talking in my Bostonian accent) their talents in the upcoming weeks.

The action begins this Saturday, February 12th at the Mohegan Sun Resort & Casino in Uncasville, CT. Headlining the Showtime televised event will be a pair of the most electrifying junior welterweights in the world. Russian born, Kostya Tszyu (23-1-1, 19 KO's) defends his WBC title against formidable Mexican challenger, Ahmed Santos (25-2-4, 13 KO's) rated # 9 by the WBC.

Brooklyn's Zab Judah (21-0, 1 NC, 16 KO's) will receive his long awaited shot at a world title when he faces South African, Jan Bergman (38-2, 29 KO's) for the vacated IBF title. The title was declared vacant when an injured Terron Millett became unable to defend his title within the IBF's six-month time frame. Once Millett recuperates, he will face Judah...I mean the winner of Saturday's fight. Hey, the IBF needs a cash cow during the interim. Many experts expect that Judah will be the fighter to bring in the mmoooolah.

Though they will not be seen on Showtime's telecast, fight goers will be privileged to witness some promising New England prospects. Late bloomer and fast rising Anthony "Candy Man" Chase (9-0, 3 KO's) of Providence will try to continue his unbeaten record when he faces a yet to be named and usually tough opponent.

If you didn't see him twirling pizzas as "Carmine" in the recent motion picture, Flawless, starring Robert DeNero, then you may have seen boxer/model/actor Richey LaMontange (21-3-1, 16 KO's) hurling punches at IBF Cruiserweight Champion, Vasily Jirov during a USBA Championship fight in 1998. That contest marked the first and only time when Jirov was taken the full 12 round distance. LaMontange of Everett, MA will be opposing Darryl Flint in hopes of continuing his hunt for "The Tiger" or any of the cruiserweight titlists.

Jimmy Burchfield's Classic Entertainment & Sports kicks off its first show of year 2000 on Friday, February 25th at the glamorous Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet in Cranston, RI. One the shows participants in the main event, former NABF Jr. Welterweight Champion, "Sucra" Ray Oliveira (38-7-1, 17 KO's) is in training camp preparing for his unbeaten opponent, Brooklynite Vivian Harris (16-0, 13 KO's). Oliveira of New Bedford, MA who is known for his 1993 punchathon with Zack Padilla (which combined 3,020 punches), is looking for a possible showdown with fellow Mass native, Micky Ward of Lowell, or more importantly, a third shot at a world title.

The undercard promises to be explosive and includes four unbeaten prospects. Knockout artists, heavyweight "Baby" Joe Mesi (14-0, 12 KO's) and lightweight sensation Gary "Tiger" Balletto (15-0-1, 15 KO's) of Providence are slated to appear in scheduled bouts as well as the ever aggressive featherweight Bobby Tomasello (8-0, 3 KO's) of Saugus, MA. World rated female, Olivia Escobar who is trained by Vinny Pazienza and "Irish" Jeff Horan (2-1, 2 KO's) will also be featured in four-rounders. For ticket information, call (401) 724-2253.

If the Oscar de la Hoya - Derrell Coley match at Madison Square Garden doesn't quench your blood thirst the next day (that's Saturday, the 26th folks), then I guarantee you the HBO co-feature will. Former WBA Jr. Lightweight & Lightweight Champion, Joey Gamache of Lewiston, ME will try to keep former IBF Jr. Lightweight Champion, Arturo "Thunder" Gatti out of title contention when they meet in a 10 round jr. welterweight contest. Gatti, who is coming off a first round knockout victory, had lost his previous three bouts. As you might have assumed, it's a must win situation for both former belt holders.

On March 11th, "Irish" Micky Ward (34-9, 25 KO's) will hope to celebrate an early St. Patrick's Day when he travels to London, England to challenge reigning WBU Jr. Welterweight Champion Shea "The Shamrock Express" Neary (22-0, 17 KO's). Ward is coming off his most triumphant victory, a tenth and final round knockout over Reggie Green. "I'm excited," said Ward of his second title challenge which will be headlined by Prince Naseem Hamed's WBO Featherweight title defense of long time IBF 122 pound champion, Vuyani Bungu.

"It's long overdue, I believe. Coming back and working so hard is finally paying off. Neary's a good fighter, a straight-ahead type guy who I like to fight. I hope he's doing a lot of sit-ups.

New Bedford's Scott "The Sandman" Pemberton will meet Willie McIntyre for the vacant NABF Super-middleweight Title March 25th at a site yet to be determined. Pemberton and McIntyre are rated 27th and 28th respectively by the WBC.

As it turned out, John "The Quiet Man" Ruiz, the #1 WBC heavyweight contender of Chelsea, MA did not secure a match with highly touted Michael Grant. Grant, rated # 2 by the WBC as you may have heard is facing Lennox Lewis on April 29th in the first heavyweight championship fight of the 21st century.

Ruiz would have become the second mandatory challenger in history to risk his number one status against a number two-rated fighter. Three-time heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield had successfully achieved such a feat twice in 1989 during his first campaign run at the heavyweight title. Adilson Rodriguez was rated #2 by the WBC and Alex Stewart was ranked #2 by the WBA at the time Holyfield knocked them out. Holyfield is reportedly campaigning for the heavyweight title a fourth time. Expect the Quiet Man, who is also promoted by Don King, to silence the Real Deal's campaign in a WBC eliminator in May.