World Boxing Association Light Fly Title Eliminator On June 8

They may be small in stature, but they are huge on action! On Friday, June 8th, NABF champion Giovanni Segura of Mexico faces WBA Latin champion Cesar Canchila of Columbia in a 12-round World Boxing Association light flyweight championship eliminator from Gary, Indiana.

Promoted by Octavius James’ One In A Million Inc. and Bob Arum’s Top Rank Incorporated in association with the City of Gary, “Warriors,” an evening of world class boxing, will be televised live from Gary’s Hudson-Campbell Sports Center to more than 42 US markets and 70 foreign countries on Telefutura’s “Solo Boxeo.”

Conveniently located less than 30 minutes from downtown Chicago, the Hudson-Campbell Sports Center, 455 Massachusetts Street, is just blocks from the Chicago Skyway. Tickets, priced at $100 VIP, $75 VIP ringside, $50 ringside and $25 general admission, are available from the Hudson-Campbell Center (866/438-7372), Ticket Master (219/791-1234 or 312/559-1212) or www.TicketMaster.com.

“June 8 is the start of a big boxing weekend,” said Bob Arum, the Hall of Fame CEO of Top Rank. “Together with our friends at One In A Million Inc. we will start with a world elimination fight which features a very skilled boxer in undefeated Giovanni Segura of California. He is in tough with Cesar Canchila of Colombia. Also, we have a very hard punching boxer from Denver, Mike Alvarado, who has a pleasing style which I think all Indiana fight fans will enjoy.

“This will be a prelude to one of the biggest boxing nights of the year. We go from Indiana to Madison Square Garden in New York where Miguel Cotto will take on Zab Judah on June 9 in a terrific fight which we are calling X-Plosive,” Arum said. “It’s a very exciting weekend and it all starts in Gary, Indiana.”

In the evening’s main event, undefeated Giovanni “The Aztec Warrior” Segura (17-0-1, 13 KOs) looks to keep his record perfect with a win over the once defeated Cesar Canchila (22-1, 17 KOs) of Monteria, Colombia. Described as “one of the hottest prospects in the lighter weight divisions” by highly respected boxing columnist Graham Houston, Segura is ranked IBF #5, WBC #6, WBA #6 and WBO #6. Born in Ciudad Altamirano, Mexico, Segura now trains out of Bell, CA.

Making his highly anticipated American debut, WBA Latino light flyweight champion Cesar Canchila (22-1, 17 KOs) is rated WBA #5. Last February, Rene Pantoja, National Commissioner of Boxing in Columbia stated, “The best Colombian boxer of the moment is Caesar Canchila.”

High praise, considering the current depth of champions and contenders coming out of Columbia include middleweight contender Edison Miranda, light welterweight contender Juan Urango and wildly popular light middleweight prospect Joel “Love Child” Julio.

Considered a top welterweight prospect, Mike Alvarado (16-0, 10 KOs) will face veteran Francisco Campos (20-9-1, 11 KOs) over eight rounds in the “Warriors” co-main event. Alvarado looks for another Chicagoland win after having beaten Carlos Molina last February in a close, action packed bout in Cicero, IL. A Denver native, Alvarado is managed by Shelly Finkel who has managed the careers of Mike Tyson, the Klitschko brothers and Rocky Juarez.

Campos, from San Jose, Costa Rica, is a veteran known to have faced the divisions best in Juan Urango, Emmanuel Clottey, Dmitriy Salita and Joel Julio.

“These young, hungry Latin fighters are exactly what the title states- Warriors,” said Octavius James, CEO of One In A Million Inc. “Put them together, add our top notch undercard and we have a huge night of boxing that the region’s fight fans do not want to miss.”

Making her television debut, Gary’s “Merciless” Mary McGee (9-0, 5 KOs) is, without doubt, the region’s most popular fighter. At just 20 years of age, McGee, a female phenom, is rated #5 by the WBC and will fight in her hometown for the first time against an opponent to be announced shortly.

“Mary’s legion of fans know that she is as much of a warrior as any male boxer on this card,” James said.

“I’ve been wanting to fight at home in Gary since I turned pro,” said McGee. “The fans in northwest Indiana have been so supportive, but to actually fight here will be special. Don’t miss this Gary! I’m planning a really spectacular “home-town-beat-down’ for you and I want everyone watching on TV to see that I have the best fans in the country.”

In addition, another Gary native, “Dangerous” Don Moore (11-0-1, 9 KOs) looks to extend his perfect record on the “Warriors” undercard. Moore, a super featherweight, returns to the ring after scoring a dramatic first round knock out over Pedro Flores on April 20th in Merrillville, IN.

Rounding out the card, IN.B.A State Welterweight Champion Jermaine “Too Sweet” White (15-2, 7 KOs) of Merrillville, super featherweight Jose Guzman (3-0, 2 KOs) of Michoacan, Mexico, Jimmy “The Fighting School Teacher” Holmes (15-0-2, 8 KOs) of DeMotte and super middleweight Jimmy Campbell (9-0, 6 KOs) of Indianapolis take on opponents to be announced.

Doors open at 6 p.m. The first bout is at 7 p.m.