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On Friday night, September 18, boxing comes back to the Claridge Hotel in Atlantic City as Kings Promotions returns for a big night of action.
In the main event, Travis Kauffman will take on former world title challenger Epifanio Mendoza.
Kauffman of Reading, PA, has a record of 29-1 with 21 knockouts and is riding an 11-fight win streak that has spanned five and a half years.
Kauffman has defeated the likes of Malachy Farrell (16-1), William Shahan (7-1), Chris Koval (24-6), Vincent Thompson (13-1) and in his last bout, he took out Richard Carmack in one-round on August 14 in Newark, New Jersey.
Kauffman got right back into the gym following the Carmack bout and is continuing to round into shape after a 19-month layoff.
“The fact that I kept in the gym is helping me big time”, said Kauffman. “I think I will be a couple pounds less than the Carmack fight when I weighed 239 pounds. I am able to run more and more following the surgery and It has helped me with my conditioning,”
In Mendoza, he is facing a guy who has a record of 41-21-1 with 35 big knockouts and has wins over undefeated fighters Tokunbo Olijade, Rubin Williams, Carlos Negron and Ray Recio plus solid wins over Rito Ruvalcalba, Alejandro Luis Garcia and has fought for the Light Heavyweight championship.
“He has been around a long time,” said Kauffman. “He has the most experienced guy on my resume. He is a big puncher and has been able to stop good fighters, so I have to take him seriously.”
Kauffman is trying to pick up where he left off with the Carmack fight, when he dropped the 300-plus pounder twice with body shots.
“This is basically round two for me,” he said. “But this time, I would not be upset if I got some rounds in to work off ring rust.”
Kauffman, who signed with Al Haymon, has seen some fighters in the Heavyweight division get opportunities on the Premier Boxing Champions series and the 30-year is ready for the fights that will put him in contention for world title shot.
“I am hoping in November that these big fights will be there,” he said. “After this fight, I will be 30-1 and I am looking for those kind of fights. I feel I will be ready.
“I am happy to be staying busy. The injuries are behind me and now I am a mature 30 year-old fighter. I know I am not getting younger, but it is the perfect age for a Heavyweight. I am starting to get noticed again like it was in 2009 but now I have much more experience both in and out of the ring so I know the best is still in front of me.
“I am a lot more dedicated and after this fight, I am going back down to Texas to work on my conditioning and prepare for November. I want to thank my team, which includes my father Marshall Kauffman, Naazim Richardson and Jeff Negrelli. Also Al Haymon for believing in me. ”
Tickets can be purchased for $100, $75 and $50 by clicking www.claridgeboxing.eventbrite.com or by calling call 610-587-5950 or 609-868-4243.
