Hallback vs. Garside Could Be Women Boxing’s Version Of Gatti vs. Ward

ByBoxing Press

Four-time world champion Chevelle “Fists of Steel” Hallback, 26-5-2 (11), is one of the most recognizable, experienced and respected woman boxers in the world.

Her June 13 showdown against WIBA featherweight champion Jeannine “G9” Garside, 7-0-1 (3), in the 10-round co-feature feature for the vacant International Female Boxers Association (IFBA) lightweight championship on the “Finally” pay-per-view event, airing live at 10 PM/ET-8 PM/MT from Isleta Casino & Resort in Albuquerque, not only figures to be a candidate for Fight of the Night, it also has all the makings of a female version of Gatti-Ward.

The greatest collection of women boxers on one show with all eight independently rated among the world’s top 3 by divisions, including five No. 1 rated fighters, will battle in four world title bouts on “Finally.”

The main event features the top two women boxers in the world today, Albuquerque favorite Holly “The Preacher’s Daughter” Holm, 21-1-2 (6 ), recognized as the No. 1 welterweight in the world, versus the world’s No. 1 middleweight, Detroit icon Mary Jo Sanders, 25-0 (8), fighting in the 10-round main event for the vacant IFBA junior middleweight crown and pound-for-pound supremacy.

The No. 1 ranked lightweight, WIBA and IBA title-holder Hallback, of Tampa, and WIBA champion Garside, the world’s No. 1 rated featherweight from Ontario, agree that their fight will steal the “Finally” thunder and the PPV event will take women’s boxing to another level.

“We fought on the same card once but I didn’t see her fight,” Hallback said of Garside. “I know she has a big heart and can really fight. I may have more pro fights, but she had a lot of amateur fights, and I didn’t have one. Experience-wise, we’re even or she may even have a little more experience. She’s coming to fight and I am, too.

“Our styles help us put on a show for fans. We’re both very exciting fighters. It’s going to be like the 4th of July in June. We’re going to be a tough act to follow for the main event. Jeannine’s coming prepared to win and prove that she’s one of the best. So am I. This fight will go down in the history books. In 10 years, boxing fans will be talking about Hallback-Garside.

“There are a lot of good, quality fighters – some of the best females in the world – on this pay-per-view card. I’m excited to be fighting on it. It’s important that mainstream watches so women’s boxing gets to the next level. We belong on prime time TV. I’m excited to be part of it.”

Hallback is one of only five boxers to fight Holm and Sanders, dropping 10-round decisions to both. “Holm-Sanders isn’t going to be like my fight with Garside,” Chevelle noted. “Their fight is between good boxers with some power. It’s going to be a chess match. Holly moves a lot, Mary Jo doesn’t move as much. I pushed both fights, pressuring them throughout. I think it’s going to be a close match between two good fighters.

“Finally,” promoted by Fresquez Productions, Inc., will be produced and distributed by Integrated Sports for live viewing in the United States and Canada (10 PM/ET) on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, TVN, Shaw Communications, DirecTV, Bell Expressvue and StarChoice for a suggested retail price of only $24.95.

Also on PPV, IBA junior featherweight champion Wendy Rodriguez, 18-4 (3), of Los Angeles, faces WIBF-GBU/WIBC minimumweight title-holder Hollie “Hot Stuff” Dunaway, 21-6 (10), fighting out of Las Vegas by way of Van Buren, Arkansas, in a 10-round bout for vacant IBA strawweight title;

WBC 2007 Fighter of the Year, WBC mininumweight champ Carina “La Reina” Moreno, 11-1 (5), of Watsonville, CA, meets WIBA flyweight title-holder Eileen “The Hawaiian Mongoose” Olszewski, 5-0-1, fighting out of New York City by way of Honolulu, in a 10-round fight for the IFBA junior flyweight crown. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Tickets, priced at $50.00, $100.00, $150.00, $200.00, $350.00 and $500.00, go on sale March 18 at the Isleta Casino and Resort box office, www.tickets.com or at Fresquez Productions, Inc. (508.884.7484). For more information go to www.fresquezproductions.com or www.holmvssanders.com. Doors open at 5:30 PM/MT, first bout 7:00 PM/MT, first televised bout 8:00 PM/MT.