Spinks to get KTFO in ST. LOUIS in second straight fight

Spinks to return to the ring in his hometown


ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Cory Spinks will fight in his hometown again when he faces Russian Roman Karmazin on July 8 for the IBF junior middleweight title.

Spinks hasn't fought since Zab Judah beat him for the undisputed world welterweight title with a technical knockout over in February 2005. For that fight, 22,000 fans filled the Savvis Center in St. Louis.

Spinks (34-3, 11 KOs) will beef up to take on Karmazin (34-1-1, 21 KOs).

Spinks at a news conference Friday with promoter Don King blamed the loss to Judah on having to lose too much weight as well as problems outside the ring.

"It's back to having fun," Spinks said. "The night of the fight I'm going to show out."

Karmazin last fought in July and beat champion Kassim Ouma of Uganda for the IBF junior middleweight title in a 12-round decision.

Speaking through a translator, Karmazin said that Spinks, who has 11 knockouts, has "made a big mistake coming up in weight" to fight in the 154-pound weight class.