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After months of back and forth trash talking, Star Boxing’s WBA#5, WBC #10, and IBF #13 world rated heavyweight contender Kevin “Kingpin” Johnson, 21-0-1 (8), will face off against two-time world title challenger Monte “Two Gunz” Barrett, 34-7 (20), on May 15 in the main event of ESPN2’S “Friday Night Fights” at The Concert Venue at Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City, NJ.
Johnson vs. Barrett pits one of the top prospects in the industry against the man who many believe to be the ultimate gatekeeper in the heavyweight division.
What makes this ultimate crossroads battle even more intriguing is the fact that Johnson and Barrett flat out don’t like each other. For months, the two have been sounding off on one another.
Adding more fuel to Johnson’s fire is the fact that Barrett got the fight against David Haye back in November, a fight Johnson had been offered, and gladly accepted before Haye’s people chose to pass on Johnson and give the fight to Barrett instead.
“May 15th is going to be a tremendous night for me and my career and for all those fans in attendance and for the rest at home watching on TV,”stated Johnson. “I am the total package and I plan on showing that to everyone under the bright lights of ESPN2 on May 15th.”
“Trust me when I tell you Monte doesn’t have a chance. He is in for a long and painful night when he steps into that ring with me on the 15th.
“He has been running his mouth for a long time now, and I promise he is going to pay for what he has said. I do want to thank Monte though for stepping up and taking this fight, since no one else in the heavyweight division will.”
“This is a step up for Kevin, but it’s exactly what we have been wanting and waiting for,” stated Johnson promoter Joe DeGuardia, CEO and President of Star Boxing.
“No one has been willing to give Kevin a chance to showcase his skills, but luckily for us Monte has stepped up to the plate and it should make for a very entertaining fight. There is a lot of bad blood between Kevin and Monte. There is no acting between these two guys, they honestly just don’t like each other.”
The bout has heavy implications in the all important heavyweight division as many people have been calling for Johnson, who is widely considered one of the top heavyweight prospects in the world, to step up his level of competition. Problem is no one has been willing to fight him, until now.
In Barrett, Johnson will have a chance to showcase his skills against a real heavyweight contender. Barrett has twice challenged for different versions of the heavyweight championship, and has knocked off previously undefeated fighters Dominick Guinn, and Owen Beck who were both 24-0 before facing Barrett.
Last June, Barrett brutally KO’d highly regarded “Big Sky” Tye Fields in the very first round. Prior to the bout against Barrett, Fields sported a very impressive 41-1 (37) record.
The card is promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, in association with Harrah’s Resort. A complete list of the undercard will be announced shortly.
Tickets are priced at $90 and $60 and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 1(800) 745-3000 or going online to ticketmaster.com. Tickets are also available by calling Star Boxing at (718) 823-2000 or by going online to www.starboxing.com.
