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05/01/2005 Archived Entry: "Chicago fighter eager for title shot"
Chicago fighter eager for title shot
BY KERRY MITCHELL Times Correspondent
Ali Supreme (right) with famed announcer, Michael Buffer
This story ran on nwitimes.com on Saturday, April 30, 2005 1:08 AM CDT
MERRILLVILLE, INDIANA - Ali Supreme wants the world's cruiserweight elite to know that he is eager to join their ranks.
Supreme, a Chicagoan who recently won the North American Boxing Federation version of the cruiserweight title, will be on the next One In A Million fight card on May 20 at the Celebrity Ballroom in Merrillville.
His 12-round NABF title win over Darrin Humphrey in Nashville on March 10 came just four fights into a comeback after a four-year layoff.
"I was really happy with winning the title so soon after getting back into boxing," Supreme said. "The way I look at it now is that the sky is the limit. I proved to myself that I could do what I had to do to get ready for such an important fight and now I'm ready to fight for a world title real soon."
Supreme's fight in Merrillville will be a non-title match. But that does not diminish the importance that he puts on the bout against an opponent yet to be named.
"I'm treating every fight like it's' a title fight," Supreme said. "I'm always ready. I'm in better condition now than I was when I won the championship."
"We're pleased that Ali will have his first fight since winning the championship on our next card," said Octavius James, who is CEO of One In A Million and Supreme's manager. "He'll put on a good show. He wants to keep advancing in the division and he knows that he has to keep working and winning if he wants to do that."
Supreme (15-4) has his sights set high when it comes to making inroads in the cruiserweight division.
He would like to take on Jean Marc Mormeck (31-2, 21 KOs), the reigning World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association champion, who has a 28-fight winning streak.
All of this does not faze the confident Supreme.
"If I have to go over to France then I will," Supreme said. "Or he can come over here, it doesn't matter. When the time comes I will be ready for him."
Supreme said that holding a belt has a unique set of challenges.
"It's interesting being the hunted instead of the hunter," Supreme said. "But that's just another challenge that I have to be ready for and one that I know I am up to."
One in a Million card
When: Friday, May 20.
Where: Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza, Merrillville, IN.
Featured boxers: Ali Supreme, Chicago, cruiserweight (15-4); John Novak, Hammond, lightweight (13-1); Jimmy Holmes, DeMotte, middleweight (9-0); Ruben Galvan, Hammond, welterweight (21-6).
Tickets: $100 VIP, $75 VIP ringside, $50 ringside, $25 general admission; available at the Star Plaza box office, TicketMaster outlets or by phone at (866) 438-7372.
Photo courtesy of http://www.oneinamillionboxing.com
