Egyptian light heavyweight slugger Ahmed Elbiali (9-0, 9 KOs) will return to familiar ground this Thursday, March 26: fighting in an ESPN Friday Night Fights-televised undercard bout, this time, a six-rounder against England’s Mike Stafford (13-2, 3 KOs).
The special Thursday night edition of ESPN Friday Night Fights, presented by Corona Extra and ESPN Deportes’ Noche de Combates presentado por Corona Extra at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes, will be headlined by a 10-rounder featuring undefeated welterweight Fredrick “General Okunka” Lawson (23-0, 20 KOs) taking on hard-punching Miami transplant Breidis Prescott (27-6, 20 KOs).
In the 10-round lightweight co-feature, undefeated former IBF Super Featherweight Champion Rances “Kid Blast” Barthelemy (21-0, 1 ND, 12 KOs) will take on Angino Perez (18-6, 16 KOs).
Tickets for “Noche De Combates,” are on sale now through Ticket Force (www.myticketforce.com), www.hialeahpark.com, and at the Hialeah Park Casino cage.
This will be the fourth ESPN appearance for Elbiali, and he’s made the most of them, scoring devastating knockouts in all four. A former Egyptian champion now residing in Miami, Elbiali says he’s not going coming into this fight with delivering a KO as the foremost thought in his mind.
You’ve had some big knockouts on ESPN air, are you planning to deliver another one this Thursday?
I’m just going to try to do what I do best, and that’s go out and get the win. If the KO comes, that’s no surprise because that’s what I train for.
Talk to me about the opportunities you’ve had to shine on FNF. You’ve become sort of their go to for a knockout on the televised undercard.
Yes! It’s been an amazing opportunity and privilege to be able to showcase my talent on ESPN. As a professional, I understood that it is also about entertaining an audience and the fans. Boxing is a beautiful sport and a business. When I’m up on the stage, I’m a performer.
When did you realize you hit harder than most fighters?
Believe it or not, I never thought I hit hard and I still don’t think that at all. My main focus during camp is to train my body to hit harder and not get hit. When it’s time to fight, I just think about letting my hands go and getting the job done.
How soon until you graduate to FNF main event level?
I’m hoping, realistically, by next year. Of course, I need to get through every fight and look outstanding in each of them. I don’t like to get over my head. All this is already a dream that I’m living, and I’m going to take it step by step.
Lastly, tell me what you know about this guy you’re fighting, Mike Stafford.
I know that he’s a British fighter that’s coming with more pro experience. I’m just going to go in and do what I do best, and that’s BOX.
