Boxing Prospect Lattimore Ready For Spinks IBF Title Fight

ByBoxing Press

Just eleven days out from the biggest fight of his life, Deandre Latimore was cool as the breeze Monday afternoon after a sparring session under the watchful eye of master trainer Kenny Adams, in addition to the best strength coach in boxing, Ray Franklin, at the Top Rank gym in Las Vegas.

Latimore will battle Cory Spinks on Friday, April 24 for the vacant IBF junior middleweight championship at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

Their long awaited cross-town showdown will be broadcast on Shobox “The New Generation” beginning at 11pm ET/PT, delayed on the west coast.

“It’s been ten months since I last fought, but I’m ready to go,” said the 23 year old Lattimore. “Coach Kenny and I really turned things up in the last couple of months when the fight was being finalized.

“I’ve wanted to fight Cory for a long time, he was one of my idols growing up, and I’m thrilled to be facing him with the world title on the line”.

“Growing up in St. Louis, he was someone I always knew about when I was in the amateurs. But we’re from different parts of the city, I’m from the South side where the Peabody projects are at, he’s from the North side. So for the fans, it’s very much of a city rivalry, like a St. Louis high school football championship.”

Latimore, 19-1 (16), was last seen on June 11 finishing off the IBF #1 ranked junior middleweight at the time, Sechew Powell, in the seventh round of their ESPN2 televised battle at the Hard Rock Times Square in New York City.

In Spinks’ last bout, the 31 year old lost the IBF junior middleweight title to Verno Phillips by split decision on March 27, 2008 at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. Spinks, 36-5 (11), believes that his vast world championship level of experience will work in his favor against his younger foe.

Said Latimore, “I know what he’s saying ‘Who have I beat’ and ‘What have I done to get in the ring with him’. Hopefully after the fight he’ll think differently.”

Latimore is managed by Jerry Giuliano of Sandman Boxing Management LLC.

“We’ve wanted this fight for almost a year, since he knocked out Powell,” said Giuliano. “This is the same type of scenario, he wasn’t supposed to win then and he’s being overlooked here also. That’s okay, let them sleep on Deandre, he’ll take care of business in the ring”.

The fight is promoted by Don King Productions, presented in association with Rumble Time Promotions and DiBella Entertainment.

Tickets, all in the lower bowl, priced at $100 ringside, $60, $40, $25 and $10 (with a limited number of Golden Circle seats available at $300) are on sale now at Scottrade Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster Ticket Centers, by phone at 1-800-745-3000, or online at ticketmaster.com

A per ticket facility fee will be added to all tickets purchased at all locations, including at the Scottrade Center Box Office. Additional Ticketmaster service charges and handling fees apply. For disabled seating, call 314-622-5420.