Fireworks Expected At CES “Built To Last” Show

The strong gathering at Thursday’s weigh-in for “Built To Last” caught a glimpse of boxing’s bright future with a little bit of swagger mixed in for good measure, just enough to provide some post-Independence Day fireworks for Friday’s highly-anticipated event.

With “Mr. Providence” Vladine Biosse (13-1-1, 6 KOs) set to make his return to the ring fresh off his groundbreaking win over Joey Spina last month, Queens, N.Y., slugger Donte Wiggins (1-0, 1 KO) stole some of his thunder yesterday at Twin River Casino’s Catch A Rising Star Comedy Club, promising to make quick work of his opponent, Kevin Cobbs (4-0, 1 KO) of Burlington, Vt.

The four-round light heavyweight bout between Cobbs and Wiggins, which will be fought at 180 pounds, is one of eight fights on the card at Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports’ “Built To Last” show tomorrow night at the Event Center.

“You’ve got some great fighters up here,” Wiggins said, “and then you’ve got this intermission fighter. This is the guy they put in the ring when they want dudes to get up and go to the bathroom.

“He’s not getting a ‘W,’ he’s not beating me, and he’s not enjoying his weekend. He’s going to end up in [the hospital] with cable TV and everything. You can’t run anymore. I’m here now. You’re on Facebook talking about how you’re a gorilla, and how you’re a ‘bully.’ I’m knocking him out in the first round.

“When it’s over, CES will take back his contract and rip the stitching off his shorts.”

Cobbs, the more laid back of the two, simply said, “I’m just thankful for all the people who’ve helped me get to where I am today. This is going to be a great fight.”

The show will be headlined by Biosse, who burst back onto the scene in the highly-competitive super middleweight division by dominating Spina in May. “Mr. Providence” will face Canadian veteran Mike Walchuk (9-5, 2 KOs), who agreed to the fight on short notice. The main event will be eight rounds.

“I promise, like I always do, to bring my best,” Biosse said. “I train hard and I don’t slack. This is real for me. I gave up a lot in life to do this, and it means so much to me to take every second of this seriously. I’ll make sure I shine for you.”

“You guys know what he brings to the table,” Walchuck said of Biosse. “To put your mind at ease, you should know I’m not just another opponent who’s coming here to get trampled. I’m coming here to win. I’ve got a lot of experience and I’ve been boxing for a long time. I’m just thankful for this opportunity.”

The co-feature will star a familiar face as Providence’s Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey (20-3, 10 KOs) makes a brief pit stop in the heavyweight division to face veteran Jesse Oltmanns (10-3, 7 KOs) of Bartonsville, Pa., in his first fight in front of his hometown fans in five years.

“Matt could’ve taken an easier fight,” Burchfield said. “I’ve seen him work and I’ve seen him run, and I know he believes that from his amateur status all the way up until what he’s done in boxing has given him a second chance. He realizes this is the mountain he’s got to climb and he’s got to make things happen.”

“I’m really happy because it’s five years since I’ve had the opportunity to fight in front of my home crowd,” Godfrey added. “I’ve been a world tour of sorts. Some of my peers on this card didn’t even have a pro fight the last time I was here. When Jimmy asked me to be the co-feature I said, ‘Absolutely,’ but I told him I didn’t want just another opponent; I wanted the meanest, ugliest heavyweight we could find. Look at him – this guy’s huge!”

Godfrey’s plan is to stay at heavyweight for a few fights until he can find the right opponent in the cruiserweight, which is where he’s had his most success in his career, winning the North American Boxing Federation (NABF) title in that weight class and fighting for a world title two years ago in Germany.

“I’ve got my wish,” he said. “Tomorrow is going to be a great night of boxing.”

Added Oltmanns: “Eight years ago, I would’ve stood up here and told you what I killer I am. Those days are over. I love boxing. This sport has given me a second chance. I thank Matt for giving me this opportunity. He could fight anyone in the world. He didn’t have to fight me. I’ll give it my all tomorrow. I hope to put on a show. You guys will know who Jesse Oltmanns is after tomorrow.”

Super middleweights Keith Kozlin (6-3-1, 4 KOs) of West Warwick, R.I., and Reynaldo Rodriguez (6-4-1, 3 KOs) of Woonsocket, R.I., will look to settle the score in a rematch from their fight last July, which ended in a draw, when they face one another in six-rounder and Pawtucket, R.I., middleweight Thomas Falowo (6-1, 4 KOs) will look to bounce back from his first loss in May when he faces Rahman Yusebov (8-8, 6 KOs) of Dallas in a six-round bout.

Benny Costantino (7-1, 4 KOs) of Warwick, R.I., will face Dennis Ogboo (6-5, 5 KOs) of Lexington, Ky., in a four-round middleweight bout. Lightweight Zack Ramsey (1-0, 1 KO) of Springfield, Mass., will face Damon Antoine (10-38-2, 5 KOs) of Akron, Ohio in a four-round bout and welterweight newcomer Jansy Rivera (0-0) of Providence (San Juan, Puerto Rico) will battle fellow newcomer Luis Cruz of Manhattan in a four-round bout.

Also on the undercard, Pawtucket, R.I., middleweight Thomas Falowo (6-1, 4 KOs) will look to bounce back from his first loss in May when he faces Rahman Yusebov (8-8, 6 KOs) of Dallas in a six-round bout. Benny Costantino (7-1, 4 KOs) of Warwick, R.I., will face Dennis Ogboo (6-5, 5 KOs) of Lexington, Ky., in a four-round middleweight bout.

Lightweight Zack Ramsey (1-0, 1 KO) of Springfield, Mass., and welterweight newcomer Jansy Rivera (0-0) of Providence (San Juan, Puerto Rico) will also be on the undercard in separate four-round bouts. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Twin River has waived its 18+ rule for “Built to Last.” Anybody under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult and must enter through the West entrance.

Tickets for “Built To Last” are $40.00, $75.00 and $125.00 (VIP) and can be purchased by calling CES at 401.724.2253/2254, online at www.cesboxing.com
or www.twinriver.com , at the Players Club booth at Twin River, or through any TicketMaster location. Doors open 6 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7.