PROVIDENCE (April 20, 2006) - Two of the
premier women prizefighters in the world, Jaime "The Hurricane"
Clampitt (16-3-1, 7 KOs) and Missy "The Fury" Fiorentino
(13-1, 6 KOs), headline the "Let It Ride" boxing show, promoted by
Classic Entertainment & Sports (CES) and sponsored by Lincoln Park,
Thursday night, May 18 at the Rhode Island Convention Center in
downtown Providence.
"Let It Ride" will be taped live and broadcast on CN8, The Comcast
Network. The event will air network wide on SATURDAY, May 20 at 7:00
PM/ET. The CES/CN8 announcing team includes blow-by-blow commentator
Ed Berliner, former five-time world champion Vinny "The Pazmanian
Devil" Paz serving as color analyst, and Phil Burton as ringside
reporter. "We have two world champions in
one of the greatest female fights of all-time," CES president
Jimmy Burchfield said. "I was never much of a female fight fan,
but these two have won me over.
They are two true warriors who everybody wants to see fight
each other. It's going to be a great fight. I compliment
both camps for taking the fight. It was four or five months
in the making.
"This is going to be a rockem', sockem'
fight like in the old days when, regardless of records, fighters
fought for neighborhood rights and nobody avoided anybody. Fans
should be able to vote for fights they want to see and
this is one they'd vote for. Both teams feel strongly that they can
win. This is one of the rare times in boxing that females are in the
main event, but this match-up deserves to be on top of the card."
Clampitt, of Narragansett (RI), defends her International Women's
Boxing Federation (IWBF) lightweight title against Fiorentino, of
Warwick (RI), in a clash of intrastate rivals in the 10-round main
event. Fiorentino is the reigning IWBF featherweight title-holder.
2004 U.S. Olympian Jason "Big Six" Estrada (5-0, 1 KO), fighting out
of his hometown of Providence, fights veteran Stacy "Bigfoot"
Frazier (15-5, 13 KOs) in the 8-round co-feature. In a six-round
Special Attraction, WBC rated No. 18 super welterweight Ossie Duran
(20-5-1, 9 KOs), of Ghana, makes his U.S. and CES debut, Providence
middleweight Richard "Bobo" Starnino (6-1-1, 1 KO) makes his ring
return after being inactive for nearly 2 1/2 years against Keith
Sonley.
Also on the undercard in separate bouts against opponents to be
determined is undefeated Irish super middleweight Joe "Sugar" Rea
(5-0, 4 KOs), now being trained by "Irish" Micky Ward, and Pawtucket
lightweight Eddie Soto (4-0, 3 KOs).
"Our Olympian, Jason Estrada, is going to make a statement in the
heavyweight division this year," Burchfield noted. "He's certainly
facing the toughest test of his young pro career in Stacey Frazier.
We also have a tremendous cast of fighters supporting this card.
Ossie Duran is a world-class fighter who I've been trying to work
with in a long time. His cousin lives in Providence and now Ossie is
living here and being trained by
Peter Manfredo, Sr. He's going to fight a few times at 154 pounds,
but we'll believe he'll be a world champion at 147.
"Fan favorite 'Bobo The Bull' Starnino is back in action after being
away from the ring for a while. Talented lightweight prospect Eddie
Soto will be fighting, too. I'm tremendously excited about Joe Rea,
who is with a whole new team and I'm happy I put Micky Ward with him
as his head trainer. He
never trained properly and is 5-0 with four knockouts on raw talent.
He's the real deal."
"Let It Ride" is dedicated to the memory of famed Rhode Island-based
trainer Robert "Tiny" Ricci, who passed away two years ago.
RHODE ISLAND PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Jaime Clampitt: "This is what we want, to fight the best, and we're
both the best. It's nothing personal, only business. It's my job to
beat her May 18th and that's what I'm going to do."
Missy Fiorentino: "Last year I made some changes. I have a new
manager, my mother (Shirley), and I went with Peter Manfredo, St. as
my trainer. It's the best thing I ever did. I won three fights and (CES
president) Jimmy (Burchfield) gave me an opportunity for a world
title and I won at 126 pounds. After that he asked me what was next
and I said I wanted another title. I want to thank Jimmy and Jaime
for giving me a chance to fight for her title. This is the first
time I've ever had to gain weight. I'm looking forward to this
fight. Jaime is a great fighter. She's a champion; I'm a champion.
It's going to be a good fight."
Jason Estrada: "This guy I'm fighting, Stacy Frazier. The name
alone, Stacy, what's that mean? He's got to go. I'm on the road to
being heavyweight champion and it's definitely in my future. I'm
going for titles, all of them. I'm working hard. The next guy
(Frazier) is in trouble because I'm still pissed about the last
fight (no contest vs. Yanqui Diaz due a cut
suffered in the first round by Diaz.) You're going to see a
different fight, I'm going to be very aggressive."
Ossie Duran: "I'm a two-time Commonwealth champ and WBF champ. I've
been looking for somebody to back me up. I have that now in Rhode
Island with Jimmy and I will win a world championship."
Richard Starnino: "I'm going to bring a good fight May 18. I don't
care if I have to go through a brick wall to get this win - I'll
bust right through."
Eddie Soto: "I'm going to put on a big fight on May 18 and
hopefully, in the future, Jimmy will get ma a title shot."