Boxing News Boxing News
For world ranked junior middleweight Deandre Latimore it was a typical “good news, bad news” scenario. First the bad news; he won’t be fighting at the Family Arena outside of St. Louis on November 7 as planned, now the good news; he’s close to finalizing a world title “cross town show down” with former world champion and fellow St. Louis native Cory Spinks.
“I feel bad about not being able to fight on November 7th,”said Latimore. “The IBF title belt is becoming vacant as Verno Phillips is giving up the title to fight Paul Williams for a different belt. So the IBF is looking to match Cory and I up in the near future, therefore I couldn’t fight on the 7th. I was really looking forward to fighting back in St. Louis, the fans there have been very supportive throughout my career.”
A Spinks/Latimore fight has blanketed the talk in the newspapers and on sports radio in St. Louis since June 12 of this year, the day after Latimore marched into New York City and battered hometown hero Sechew Powell for seven rounds, taking home a TKO win which was broadcast on ESPN2.
“I’m out here training in Vegas but every time I talk to folks back home it’s all about when am I going to fight Cory,” said Lattimore. “Now is the time. St. Louis has always been a huge boxing town, when Cory fought Zab Judah they packed the hockey arena downtown. I think we would do the same business.
“We both have huge followings. It’s not personal. I’ve admired Cory for a long time and have a great deal of respect for his father Leon and uncle Mike. When people think of St. Louis boxing, the Spinks family comes to mind. Now with a world title at stake it makes perfect sense for us to fight in St. Louis.”
Said Jerry Giuliano, manager of Latimore, “We are very hopeful that this fight goes off in St. Louis. The loyal boxing fans there deserve this fight. It is only fitting that Deandre wins this fight in his hometown. We respect Cory Spinks and realize he has been a great fighter. He had his time and now it is our turn to dominate this division.”
The November 7 show at the Family Arena will go on as scheduled with nine terrific fights. Latimore will be at the Family Arena that night to see all the great fight fans from the metro area.
Latimore was given the “New Faces” treatment by Ring Magazine in their October 2008 issue. He is managed by Jerry Giuliano of Sandman Boxing Management LLC and promoted by Steve Smith of Rumble Time Promotions in St. Louis.
