Boxing Info: Pellullo/Berman Team Up At Foxwoods For IBO Title Bout

ByBoxing Press

Promoters Art Pelullo/Banner Promotions and Rodney Berman/Golden Gloves Promotions will present a sensational fight card on Friday, March 7, 2008, in the Fox Theatre at Foxwoods Resort Casino, located at 39 Norwich Westerly Road in Mashantucket , Connecticut . The main event and co-featured bouts will be televised on ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights.”

In the main event scheduled for 12 rounds, “Merciless” Thomas Mashaba, 20-2-4 with 12 knockouts, of Temba, South Africa, will make his sixth defense of the IBO featherweight title against Cristobal Cruz, 35-11-1 with 23 knockouts, of Tijuana, B.C., Mexico.

Cruz, now 30 years old, is a tough, experienced 16-year professional veteran with an aggressive style and always makes exciting fights.

Mashaba, 29, is ranked No. 9 in the world by The Ring. He is coming off a spectacular knockout win against former IBF featherweight world champion Eric Aiken in his last fight in November, 2007. It was a fast-paced, give-and-take battle – Thomas was knocked down in the sixth round but came back and knocked Aiken out cold in the ninth.

After the fight, Boxing News reported, “Thomas Mashaba was commanding in his devastating ninth round stoppage of highly-rated former IBF champion Eric Aiken…. Mashaba served notice that he can be accepted within the top echelons of the featherweight division….”

Dan Rafael wrote on ESPN.com, “Mashaba, a legitimate contender from South Africa , survived a sixth-round knockdown and rallied to stop Aiken, a former titleholder, with a left hook. Mashaba won his 10th in a row, the last five of which have come against solid opposition.”

In the co-featured fight, two talented undefeated prospects will fight in a scheduled 12-rounder for the vacant NABA super welterweight title – “Lightning” Harry Joe Yorgey, 21-0-1 with 9 knockouts, of Bridgeport, Pennsylvania, will face Jason “The Hammer” Le Houllier, 21-0 with 8 knockouts, of Portland, Maine.

This is an important fight for both Yorgey, now 30 years old, and Le Houllier, who is 29 – the winner will move up in the world rankings and be in a position for bigger opportunities in the very competitive 154-pound weight division.

An exciting undercard, to be announced, will complete the show. All bouts are subject to change without notice.

Weigh-in: Thursday, March 6, 4:00 to 6:00 P.M. in the Fox Theatre.

Fight Night: Doors open at 7:00 P.M., first fight at 8:00 P.M. (All times ET). ESPN will begin its live telecast at 9:00 P.M.

Tickets are priced at $35, $50, $65 and are on sale now at: Foxwoods Resort Casino Box Office – 800-200-2882, and online at www.foxwoods.com.