Tua, Mesi And Greenberg Launch New Boxing Series In Salt Lake City

ByBoxing Press

C.A.M. Boxing, Inc. and Sports and Entertainment Media, Inc. announced today that the new pro boxing pay-per-view series, Pinnacle FightNite, will emanate on August 18 from Salt Lake City, showcasing heavyweights David “Tuaman” Tua, “Baby” Joe Mesi and Roman Greenberg who sport a combined record of 107-3-1 with 85 knockouts.

Sensational knockout artist Tua (47-3-1, 40 KOs), who went the distance against undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis in 2000, and the popular Mesi (35-0, 28 KOs) continue their separate marches towards world title fights.

Samoa-born Tua has beaten four world heavyweight champions — John Ruiz, Hasim Rahman, Michael Moorer, and Oleg Maskaev — and on Aug. 18 he takes on Mexican heavyweight champion Saul “La Cobra” Montana (48-14, 42 KOs). The 10 round co-main event features a pair of dangerous opponents who have 82 combined knockout victories. Montana has been in against world champions such as James Toney, Virgil Hill, and Vassiliy Jirov.

Mesi, former world No. 1 contender and NABF heavyweight champion, has beaten Jirov, in addition to past world heavyweight title contenders DaVarryl Williamson and Monte Barrett. The unbeaten power-punching Mesi faces Sherman “The Tank” Williams (33-10-2, 19 KOs) in the other 10 round co-main event.

Williams, who is undefeated in his last eight fights dating back two years (8-0, 4 KOs), is the reigning NBA heavyweight champion. He has defeated former world champion Alfred “Ice” Cole, fought a draw with world heavyweight title challenger Jameel McCline, and took present WBA heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev the full distance in Germany.

Undefeated heavyweight prospect Greenberg (25-0, 17 KOs), who is scheduled to fight in a 10-round special heavyweight attraction, was born in Russia, raised in Israel and lives in England.

“American sports fans have always followed heavyweights, starting with John L. Sullivan and continuing through Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano,” Pinnacle FiteNite executive producer Ritch Danner explained. “We’re kicking off our pay-per-view series with three great heavyweight fights, offering fight fans who may have left the game or don’t follow it as closely, the opportunity to watch what boxing used to be like in its glory years.

“On our first Pinnacle FiteNite pay-per-view show, we will feature fights and fighters from middleweights up, which have probably accounted for three-quarters of the top 20 fights of all time. American fans can better relate to fighters between 160 and 250 pounds. Our series is going to have more traditional or classic divisions, never below 140 pounds at the lightest. Boxing once had eight divisions and today there are 10 below 140 pounds.”

In an eight-round cruiserweight bout, Jeremy “Half-Man, Half-Amazing” Williams (41-5-1, 35 KOs) returns to action one division lighter after being inactive the past 2 ½ years, largely due to his involvement as a coach on The Contender television reality series. Williams, who fought for the WBO heavyweight belt in 1996, holds wins as a heavyweight against 29-1 Attila Levin (TKO8), 35-1 Andre Purlette (DEC10) and 27-5-1 David Bostice (KO1), among the more notables. Jeremy’s opponent is Salt Lake City favorite Gary “Pit Bill” Gomez (18-7-1, 7 KOs).

“Jeremy Williams is a natural cruiserweight who has fought as a heavyweight in the past,” Danner noted. “Some of the most exciting heavyweights of all-time – Jack Dempsey, Gene Tuney, Ezzard Charles, Jersey Joe Walcott, Rocky Marciano, Floyd Patterson – were the same size as Williams is. Today’s cruiserweight division is one of the most exciting in boxing with hard punchers who are athletic.”

Unbeaten New York City middleweight Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin (13-0, 11 KOs) is also scheduled to fight on the Aug. 18th card.

The Aug. 18th Pinnacle FiteNite event is promoted by C.A.M. Boxing, Inc. in association with Sports and Entertainment Media, Inc. and Cedric Kushner’s Gotham Boxing. Produced by 21 Lakes and distributed by Integrated Sports, the Pinnacle FiteNite show will be available live on Aug. 18 at 9:00 PM ET/6:00 PM PT on both cable and satellite PPV via iN Demand, DirecTV and TVN for a suggested retail price of $24.95.

Tickets, priced at $35.00, $50.00 and $75.00, go on sale Monday (July 23) and are available at www.smithstix.com and local outlets.