Thursday, August 21, 2008

Fernando Beltran Jr. enters Sommet Center ring for ESPN2's Friday Night Fights

Beltran is two-time world title challenger

Promoter: "I believe there is a good market here, especially with a large Hispanic population"

The Tennessean reports here that Fernando Beltran Jr. of Mexico will be climbing into the boxing ring for the Sommet Center's first such event in 11 years. The August 22 event will be broadcast on ESPN2's Friday Night Fights.

From the Tennessean:
Two major titles will be up for grabs Friday at the Sommet Center as part of ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights.

The International Boxing Organization’s Featherweight World title and the International Boxing Federation’s North American Junior Middleweight championship will co-headline the first boxing event at the Sommet Center since January 1997.
..
“I believe there is a good market here, especially with a large Hispanic population and it’s going to take time to develop, but you have to do it right,” [Arthur] Pellullo [of Banner Promotions] said. “
...
That international audience will be particularly interested in the 12-round main event between Mexican southpaw Fernando Beltran Jr. and South Africa’s former IBO Featherweight champion Takalani Ndlovu.
...
Beltran Jr., who is 30-3-1 with 18 knockouts, didn’t seem shaken by the standard boxing press conference hype.
From the press release:
FERNANDO BELTRAN VS. TAKALANI NDLOVU

HEADLINES CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT CARD ON AUGUST 22,

HARRY JOE YORGEY VS. JASON LeHOULLIER IN CO-FEATURE

AT SOMMET CENTER IN NASHVILLE, TENN.;

TELEVISED LIVE ON ESPN’S “FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS”

Promoter Art Pelullo/Banner Promotions and Rodney Berman/Golden Gloves will present a sensational world championship fight card on Friday, August 22, 2008, at the Sommet Center, located at 501 Broadway in Nashville, Tennessee. The main event and co-featured bout will be televised live on ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights.”

In the 12 round main event for the vacant IBO featherweight world title, Fernando Beltran Jr., 30-3-1 with 18 knockouts, of Culiacan, Mexico, will fight Takalani Ndlovu, 28-4 with 18 knockouts, of Johannesburg, South Africa.

The extremely popular Beltran, now 26 years old, is a veteran contender and two-time world title challenger. In April, 2005, he challenged WBO jr. featherweight world champion Joan Guzman. Fernando finished the fight very strongly – he won the eighth and ninth rounds on two judges’ scorecards then swept the eleventh and twelfth on all three, but lost a competitive 12 round decision. He challenged IBF jr. featherweight world champion Steve Molitor in his last fight in April, 2008, and gave another strong effort, but lost by decision in that fight, as well. Fernando also has a win to his credit against former WBC bantamweight world champion Victor Rabanales in a nontitle fight.

30 year-old Ndlovu is a former IBO super bantamweight world champion with three successful title defenses, as well as a former South African featherweight champion. He is 7-1 in his last eight fights, with five wins by knockout. The only loss in that streak was by decision in an IBF featherweight world title challenge against Steve Molitor.

In the co-featured bout featuring two super undefeated prospects, Harry Joe Yorgey, 20-0-1 with 9 knockouts, of Bridgeport, Pennsylvania, will face Jason LeHoullier, 21-0-1 with 8 knockouts, of Portland, Maine. The fight is scheduled for 12 rounds for the vacant IBF North American Junior Middleweight title.

More exciting bouts featuring the best in local boxing talent will complete the card. All bouts subject to change without notice.

Doors open at: 6:00 P.M. (All times Central time)

First bout: 7:00 P.M.

Tickets prices: starting at $27.50

Tickets available at Sommet Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, charge by phone at 615-255-9600, and online at sommetcenter.com

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