[Previous entry: "Roy Jones-Prince Badi in Crossroads Fight"] [Main Index] [Next entry: "Mike Indri: Predictions on Tarver-Hopkins & Cotto-Malignaggi"]
06/05/2006 Archived Entry: "Demetrius Hopkins and Ishe Smith Featured on ESPN2s Wednesday Night Fights 6/7"
Demetrius Hopkins and Ishe Smith Featured on ESPN2s Wednesday Night Fights June 7th
LOS ANGELES (June 4) . . .While the current generation of boxing superstars – Bernard Hopkins and Antonio Tarver - will do battle on June 10 th in Atlantic City, the next and younger generation of pugilists will fight three days earlier on Wednesday, June 7th, when Demetrius Hopkins and Ishe Smith—in separate bouts and fighting for Golden Boy Promotions East—appear as featured events in "Battle At Borgata" on ESPN2's Wednesday Night Fights at Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
The show is being presented by Golden Boy East, Star Boxing and the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. Doors open at 6:30pm and the first bell rings at 7pm. The ESPN2 broadcast begins at 8:30pm ET / 5:30pm PT.
Unbeaten in 24 fights, Demetrius 'The Gladiator' Hopkins (23-0-1, 9 Kos,) who will face Michael Warrick (18-3, 11 KOs) in a ten round junior welterweight match-up, may be the nephew of middleweight great Bernard Hopkins, but with his recent performances he has effectively carved out his own niche in the fight world with a mix of speed, savvy, and deceptive punching power. A proud native of Philadelphia, Hopkins had a spectacular 2005 by winning six fights (three by knockout) over progressively tougher competition. And 2006 has started just as impressively for him as he won a lopsided 12 round decision over Mario Jose Ramos in March to win the vacant USBA junior welterweight crown.
A recent signee of Golden Boy Promotions, junior middleweight contender Ishe 'Sugar Shay' Smith (16-1, 7 KOs) makes his long awaited return to the ring on June 7 th against Patrick Thompson (10-5-1, 4 KOs). A slick boxer with pop in both hands, the Las Vegan became a nationwide superstar with his appearance on the hit NBC series 'The Contender', and after his decision win over Anthony Bonsante last May, he's ready to get back to the business of winning a world championship.
Hailing from Landover, Maryland, Michael Warrick is a hard nosed veteran who will never leave the ring without having given his best effort. Remembered by fight fans for his thrilling two bout series with Jeffrey Resto in 2004-2005, Warrick is coming to the Borgata on June 7 th to give Demetrius Hopkins a battle he'll never forget.
Always tough Patrick Thompson would like nothing better than to pin a loss on the record of Ishe Smith in his first fight back in over a year. A native of Lincoln, Nebraska, Thompson has faced some of boxing's top young stars – such as John Duddy, Sechew Powell, and Giovanni Lorenzo – and has always given a supreme effort between the ropes. In his last bout, Thompson outpointed Aundalen Sloan over eight rounds.
Also featured on the card in separate bouts will be unbeaten prospects Roberto Benitez (4-0, 3 KOs), Hervey Medina (6-0, 2 KOs), and Lorenzo Bethea (5-0, 2 KOs).
Tickets are priced at $30 and $75 each and are available for purchase at www.theborgata.com.
