Boxing Info: Roy Jones – Prince Badi

When living legend Roy Jones, Jr. steps into the ring July 29th after a 10-month absence, Idaho fight fans will have their first opportunity to watch a bonafide Hall of Fame candidate fighting live in Boise for the first time in more than 66 years, since former lightweight champion Jimmy Carter lost a 10-round decision to Jimmy Grow.

At least one world championship match has been fought in Boise, as well as seven world champions, and the latter number increases by three July 29 when Jones, former International Boxing Federation cruiserweight champion “King” Arthur Williams, who squares off against Idaho icon Kenny “The Emmett Eliminator” Keene, and ex-IBF light heavyweight title-holder William “KO King” Guthrie are in action on the “Hold Nothing Back!” pay-per-view card at Qwest Arena.

Boise’s all-time greatest pro boxer was George Logan (25-9-2, 16 KOs), who fought from 1957 to 1965. Logan knocked out Hall of Fame heavyweight champion Ezzard Charles in the eighth round of their July 30, 1959 fight at the Boise Fairgrounds. Nearly three years later in Los Angeles, George was stopped (due to a cut eye) in the fourth round by a 12-0 prospect named Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali).

In 2000, Vassiliy Jirov successfully defended his IBF cruiserweight title by ninth-round TKO of Saul Montana at the Bank of America Center (now Qwest Arena).

Way back in 1914, Hall of Fame “Old-Timer” inductee and former welterweight champion
“Young” Peter Jackson lost a 10-round decision in Boise to Jim Downing.

In two other Boise fights, former world heavyweight champion James “Buster” Douglas registered a first-round knockout against Warren Williams in their 1998 match refereed by Boise’s own Jerry Armstrong, while ex-junior middleweight title-holder Denny Moyer took a 10-round decision from Memo Lopez in 1964.

The great “Tiger” Jack Fox (156-22-12, 99 KOs) was perfect in five Boise fights over a 12-year period (1934-1946), winning all by knockout against Battling Lemorieux, Bud Zellar, Sonny Buxton, Pio Rico and Domingo Valin. Former light heavyweight champion Fox fought all over Idaho in Idaho Falls, White City Park, Sandpoint, Twins Falls, Pocatello and Preston.

Five-time world champion Jones (49-4, 38 KOs) keeps the Boise tradition alive July 29, challenging North American Boxing Organization light heavyweight champion Prince Badi Ajamu (25-2-1, 14 KOs), who is rated No. 6 by the World Boxing Council and No. 7 by the World Boxing Organization, in the 12-round main event on “Hold Nothing Back!”

Williams (42-14-1, 29 KOs) fights Keene (51-3, 28 KOs), arguably Idaho’s greatest boxer of all-time, in a 10-round Special Cruiserweight Attraction. Keene has won 43 of his 44 fights (25 KOs) in Idaho, including a 22-1 (12 KOs) record in Boise, and his only loss there was nearly 10 years ago.

Guthrie (33-3-2, 26 KOs) takes on Luke Munsen (19-5, 13 KOs) in a 12-round title fight for the vacant IBF International cruiserweight belt.

“Hold Nothing Back!” — presented by Xyience, Inc. in association with Sports and Entertainment Media, Inc. — will be broadcast live in North America on cable and satellite PPV beginning at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT. The event is being produced and distributed for North American Pay Per View by Integrated Sports and will be available in more than 50-million homes in the United States and Canada via InDemand, TVN, DirecTV & Dish Network in the US and Viewer’s Choice & Bell ExpressVu in Canada. The suggested retail price for the PPV telecast is only $24.95.

Also added to the card in a 10-round Special Heavyweight Attraction is veteran Frank Wood (26-3, 18 KOs), the reigning Mid-South heavyweight title-holder, against New Yorker Derrick Brown (12-2-1, 10 KOs), who is managed by one of the greatest women boxers of all-time, Christy Martin.

Unbeaten Crow Creek Sioux cruiserweight Shawn Hawk (11-0, 8 KOs) rated No. 19 by the North American Boxing Association, faces Doug “The Kid” Kaluza (17-5-1, 10 KOs) in an eight-round match.

Boise light welterweight Hilario Lopez (8-4, 6 KOs) has been added to the card in a six-round bout against Steve Marquez (7-7-1, 6 KOs), whose younger brother, David Marquez (3-1-1), is matched against Caldwell (ID) light middleweight Edgar Hernandez (3-0). His nephew, lightweight Mario Hernandez (3-0, 2 KOs), also from Caldwell (ID), is scheduled to fight an opponent to be determined.

Tickets, priced at $50, $100, $150, $250 and $350 (plus handling fees), are on sale and available exclusively at the Qwest Arena Box Office. Call 208.331.TIXS (8947), toll free 888.330.TIXS (8497), or go on line at www.qwestarenaidaho.com.