Boxing News Boxing News
The IBF African light middleweight title will be on the line September 23 when veterans Eromosele “Bad Boy” Albert and Ossie Duran square off in the 12 round main event for the vacant IBF Continental African light middleweight title, headlining “KnockOut Poverty,” presented by Bob Duffy’s Ring Promotions on September 23 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City.
“KnockOut Poverty” is a landmark event to help fight poverty in Africa. Grammy Award-winning, UN Goodwill Ambassador Youssou N’Dour and friends are among the many stars scheduled for the historic evening of entertainment, music and boxing.
N’Dour and other musical legends are scheduled to perform between fights with proceeds from the event going to the All For Africa charitable organization.
Former IBA Continental title-holder Albert, 21-2 (10), born in Nigeria and now living in Miami, is a two-time Nigerian Olympian whose father used to wake him at 4:30 every morning for a two hour, 16 mile barefoot run before heading to school. Albert reportedly had an amazing 568 matches during his 16 year amateur boxing career.
Albert’s first victory of note was a 12 round decision in 2005 against Dorian Beaupierre for the IBA Continental belt. Three fights later, Eromosele registered a 10 round win by decision versus the future star of The Contender reality television series, previously unbeaten David Banks.
The most significant win to date for “Bad Boy” was by 10 round decision against former world champion Luis “Yori Boy” Campas on ESPN in 2007. A seventh-round knockout of Daniel Edouard followed, setting the stage for Albert’s most recent fight, on May 17, 2008, versus undefeated young contender James Kirkland, 21-0, on ShoBox for the NABO light middleweight championship, in which Eromosele was stopped for the first time in his pro career.
Former Commonwealth light middleweight and welterweight champion Duran, 23-6-1 (9), born Osumanu Yahaya in Ghana and now residing in London, won an eight-round decision versus David Kirk in 2001 for the WBF Pan-European welterweight championship and later that same year, Ossie added the WBF European welterweight belt to his growing collection via a victory by 10 round decision against Delroy Millis in London.
The Commonwealth welterweight title came next thanks to Duran’s 12 round victory by decision against Joshua Okine in Ghana.
Duran’s most notable triumph was a third-round stoppage of Jamie Moore, former two-time British light middleweight champion, on June 26, 2004, in Northern Ireland for the vacant Commonwealth light middleweight championship.
Duran briefly moved in with a relative in Providence and he kicked-off 2007 with an impressive performance against Jonathan Reid, star of The Contender Season One, taking an eight-round decision in a near shutout performance.
Ossie’s impressive win against Reid positioned him for his most recent bout, on June 1, 2007, on ShoBox, albeit a loss by 10 round decision to, ironically, the same fighter Albert lost to in his last fight, undefeated rising star Kirkland.
“KnockOut Poverty” is a special card featuring all African fighters in four bouts. In the 10 round co-feature, ex-IBA champion Evans “African Warrior” Ashira, 29-3 (15), from Kenya, faces an opponent to be determined.
Also on the card in an eight-round bout, two-time world title challenger, light heavyweight Jaffa “The African Assassin” Ballagou , 45-6 (39), from Togo, takes on multiple World Muay Thai champion Manu Ntoh, 17-14-1 (10), from Cameroon. Another bout is being made to fill-out the card.
For ticket and sponsorship information call 212.351.0111 or go online to www.allforafrica.org.
