Boxing Info: Flores-Thomas, Williams-West, Prince Badi-Cummings

ByBoxing Press

Five titles will be on the line Friday night, Jan. 19 in “Super Fights,” co-promoted by Silverhawk Championship Boxing and Knockout Promotions, at Knox Arena in Olive Branch, Mississippi.

Two 12-round championship matches, featuring NBA heavyweight champion Sherman “The Caribbean Tank” Williams and world-rated light heavyweight Prince Badi “The Fighting Prince” Ajamu, have been added to the star-studded card, headlined by a 12-rounder between unbeaten B.J. “El Pelogroso” Flores and knockout artist Chris “Cold Steel” Thomas for the vacant WBF and NBA cruiserweight championships, originally scheduled for January 13.

WBF All-Americas champion Flores (17-0-1, 12 KOs) is rated No. 26 by the WBC, as well as No. 3 by the NABF and No. 5 by the IBA. “I feel fantastic,” two-time U.S. Nationals amateur heavyweight champion Flores said. “I’m in great shape. We’ve been rotating three or four guys sparring. We had some misfortune (his brother-in-law died in a car crash pushing the fight back a week) but my mind is alright now and I’m really looking forward to this fight against Thomas. I haven’t had a chance to meet and work with my Silverhawk stablemates and it’s nice to fight on the same card with Sherman and Prince. I’m hoping we all do well.”

Thomas (16-6-2, 14 KOs), fighting out of Chicago, has been in tough against the likes of former world champion Kelvin Davis twice, Emmanuel Nwodo and Felix Coro, Jr.
WBC CABOFE title-holder Williams (31-10-2, 17 KOs) defends his NBA belt and fights for the
vacant WBF Intercontinental crown against dangerous Ralph “Wild, Wild” West (17-9-1, 14 KOs). Williams was preparing to headline a January 27 show in his native Bahamas that has been postponed.

Sherman is riding a six-fight win streak, including devastating knockouts in two of his last three fights. “I’m excited to get back in the ring January 20th,” Williams remarked in his delightful Caribbean accent. “I don’t know too much about Ralph West other than he’s a big guy, around 6-5. I’ll have to come in with a good strategy to get inside and throw punches. I was training for the fight in back home The Bahamas but it was pushed back. I’m not too disappointed because it’ll happen in March or April when they can facilitate the casino. But I’ve got this fight in front of me.

“I’m looking forward to do what I do – punch! I’ve always been a decent puncher since the beginning, but I changed my style, until the last three fights back to the Tank Williams style of boxing. I’m more serious about my training and conditioning, keeping my arms and shoulders strong. I’m sitting down, picking my punches. I establish my jab, get inside and let my punches go. If I connect with my left hook and right cross, it’s almost assured they’re going to sleep.”

Prince Badi (25-3-1, 14 KOs), rated No. 11 by the IBF and No. 13 by the WBO, plans on adding another title belt to his collection that has included the Pennsylvania State, IBC Intercontinental, WBC Continental Americas, WBC CABOFE and NABO championships. The Prince, who extended the great Roy Jones, Jr. 12 rounds in his last fight (July 29), faces veteran Craig Cummings (53-6-1, 43 KOs) for the vacant NBA light heavyweight title.

“I’m excited as always and looking forward to having some fun and taking care of business,” the popular Prince spoke about his fight against Cummings. “I know my opponent has had a lot of fights and after watching me fight Roy Jones, I’m sure he thinks he can beat me. But this is a new beginning for me and I’m going to fight my fight. I want to get back to having a shot at IBF champion Clinton Woods. What I learned from the Jones fight was that, even facing adversity, I find a way to keep coming. I’m all heart.”