An informal round table was held tonight at the WYNN Hotel in Las Vegas for the November 11th WBC/WIBA world title fight between the champion, Laila Ali and the challenger, Shelley Burton. This fight is the semi main event on the Klitschko/Brock card at Madison Square Garden. The Ali-Burton fight WILL NOT be shown on HBO for the simple reason that HBO REFUSES TO PUT A WOMAN'S FIGHT ON TV, EVEN ONE OF THIS MAGNITUDE.

ALI: I want to thank Shelley Burton for taking this fight. There are a lot of fighters out there that run their mouths about how they want to fight me but when the contract is on the table they refuse to sign. Shelley and manager Butch Gottlieb agreed to this fight immediately and had no problem signing the contract. I have watched Shelley for a long time and I respect her and I know that if she didn't feel that she would and could win this fight she wouldn't have accepted it.

BURTON: I just want to thank Laila Ali for this opportunity. I have been training in Las Vegas with Don House and this is the best training camp that I have ever had. I am just looking forward to fighting in Madison Square Garden and to a great fight.

Cassius Green, Ali, Mayweather, House, Burton

Copyright photos: Mary Ann Owen