Former Champions Collide Friday Night

Former female champions Jeri Sitzes and Ada Velez collide on Friday night in an anticipated six round bout at the Springfield Expo Center.

Friday’s event is being nationally televised by ESPN2 and is headlined by an exciting heavyweight bout between Rob Calloway and Terry Smith. It marks the first televised show in Spingfield since the April 7th Showtime event headlined by the late former world champion Diego Corrales, who lost a decision to Joshua Clottey. Corrales passed away one month later in a motorcycle accident.

For Spingfield’s own, Jeri Sitzes, this bout is just one more step towards regaining championship status, which was unceremoniously taken from her by the NABF just a month ago. Upon hearing of her acceptance of this bout, which will be part of the nationally televised broadcast, the NABF stripped her of her featherweight title.

“It was unjust how they stripped me,” said Sitzes. “It hurt my feelings and shows how politics play a role in boxing. If I had the luxury of a big promoter it wouldn’t have been an issue. I am mad more than anything I want to just get another title and I am looking forward to Friday night.”

As if losing her championship outside of the ring wasn’t enough, Sitzes also lost her mother just two weeks ago. The tragic loss has motivated her for this fight even more.

“I hear my mothers voice urging me to train harder,” said Sitzes. “Training has helped me get through all the negativity of the past few weeks.”

The fight marks a return to the ring for the three-time world champion Velez, after an extended absence following her last bout in 2004. In that fight Velez lost a disputed decision to world champion Anita Christensen in a world title unification bout in Christensens’ home country of Denmark. Velez was the reigning WIBA world bantamweight champion. She previously held the WIBA & IBA world bantamweight crowns.

Despite the edge in world class experience for Velez, Sitzes is confident in the fight.

“I am expecting a tough fight and nothing less,” said Sitzes. “I respect her as a boxer. It’s not her time, it’s my time and nothing can stop me. I am sure she is taking me lightly but she will find out that I am not a bum.”

Sitzes is coming off an six round decision win over tough veteran Lisa Lewis this past April. She comes into the fight with a record of 13-6-1, 6 KO’s. Velez comes into the bout with a mark of 14-2, 6 KO’s. The winner will surely be looking towards a world championship bout in the near future.

“This is a tremendous fight that has the female boxing world buzzing,” said matchmaker Bobby Dobbs. “This is a great fight to showcase female boxing to a nationally televised audience.”

Rounding out the show will be 6 more exciting bouts, two of which feature exciting local prospects William Grover, who looks to add his 3-0 record, and Yankton Southern. The event is being presented by Holden Productions.