DETROIT, February 20 – Detroit will be rocking this Saturday night, February 23 when the Masonic Temple Theatre hosts a stacked nine-fight card headlined by the SHOWTIME doubleheader featuring Cornelius “K9” Bundrage‘s IBF Junior Middleweight World Title defense against Ishe “Sugar Shay” Smith and unbeaten J’Leon Love‘s battle against veteran Derrick “Superman” Findley.
But before the SHOWTIME telecast kicks-off, Golden Boy Promotions and Mayweather Promotions will treat fight fans in the Motor City to an action-packed undercard that includes appearances by unbeaten rising stars Badou Jack and Luis Arias, 2012 United States Olympian Terrell Gausha and debuting former amateur standouts Steve Geffrard, D’Mitrius Ballard and Detroit’s own Joseph Bonas .
Bundrage vs. Smith, a 12-round fight for Bundrage’s IBF Junior Middleweight World Championship, will take place Saturday, February 23 at the Masonic Temple Theatre in Detroit, Michigan. The event is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Mayweather Promotions, sponsored by Corona and MGM Grand Detroit and will be televised live on SHOWTIME beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). The co-main event will be a 10-round middleweight bout between Detroit’s undefeated rising star J’Leon Love and Derrick Findley of Gary, Indiana.
Tickets priced at $200, $125, $100, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges are on sale now and are available for purchase at the Masonic Temple box office, online at www.ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations or by calling 800-745-3000.
Coming off of a first round knockout over Jonel Tapia on February 2, Sweden-born Las Vegan Badou Jack (12-0, 9 KO’s) continues to turn heads in the boxing world. A 2008 Olympian for Gambia, the 29-year-old Badou has his sights set on professional stardom and he’s on the right track to getting there as part of the Mayweather Promotions stable. On Saturday, he meets Houston, Texas’ Don Mouton (11-5-1, 9 KO’s) in an eight round clash of super middleweight power-punchers.
One of Mayweather Promotions’ most promising up-and-coming prospects, Milwaukee native Luis Arias (2-0, 1 KO) has gotten off to a fast start in his pro career, decisioning Josh Thorpe last November and then stopping unbeaten Joshua Robertson in two rounds earlier this month. The 22-year-old will meet Chicago’s Edgar Perez (5-2 3 KO’s) in a six round super middleweight fight at the Masonic Temple Theatre on the 23rd.
Also on Saturday night, 2012 United States Olympian Terrell Gausha (2-0, 2 KO’s) of Cleveland returns to action as he attempts to keep his perfect record intact in a four round super middleweight bout against Tarrytown, New York’s Lekan Byfield (2-3-2).
In a four round junior middleweight fight, the world-famous Kronk Gym will be represented by debuting Joseph Bonas, who will fight in front of his Detroit fans in a four round matchup against of Coy Witt (2-2, 1 KO) of Pounding, Virginia.
The latest knockout artist to emerge from Puerto Rico, Carolina featherweight Braulio Santos (8-0, 7 KO’s) will seek another knockout victory in a six round bout against Terrance Walker (0-2) of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Twenty-two-year-old light heavyweight Steve Geffrard earned the National Golden Gloves, USA Boxing National and National PAL titles in 2010, but fell just short of making the 2012 United States Olympic team. Instead, he opted to turn to pro under the tutelage of famed trainer Ronnie Shields. The Miami, Florida native will meet Shreveport, Louisiana’s Kentrell Claiborne (2-6, 1 KO) in a four round cruiserweight battle in his professional debut on Saturday.
A stellar amateur competitor, D’Mitrius Ballard won five Ringside World Championship titles, a 2012 National Golden Gloves crown and four National PAL titles among many other accolades. Hailing from Temple Hills, Maryland, the 19-year-old is ready to begin his pro journey this weekend in a four round super middleweight fight against Kelly Henderson (0-1) of Bluefield, West Virginia.
