Griffin vs. Mack
For IBF #1 Title Eliminator and USBA Light Heavyweight Title
Woodland Hills, California (February 14, 2011) – Art of Boxing Promotions in association with Bash Boxing and Lights Out Promotions have added another USBA title bout to the third installment of WARNER CENTER WAR on Friday, March 4, 2011.
In the co-main event, Otis Griffin (23-6-2, 9 KOs), ranked #7 by the IBF, puts his USBA light-heavyweight title on the line against Yusaf Mack (28-3-2, 17 KOs), who is ranked #8 in. This is a world title elimination bout with the winner becoming the mandatory challenger to IBF light-heavyweight champion, Tavoris Cloud.
Griffin, from Sacramento, California, is a former NABO champion and the winner of Oscar De La Hoya’s reality show, “The Next Great Champ”. Griffin comes into this bout riding a four fight winning streak, which includes an eight round knockout against former world champion Byron Mitchell, to win the USBA light-heavyweight title.
Mack, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a former USBA, NABF, and NABO champion. Winning five of his last six fights, he’s earned a #8 world ranking in the IBF, and a shot at Giffin for the #1 mandatory position to fight for the world title.
The 12 round main event for the vacant USBA lightweight championship features Ray Beltran Jr. (23-4, 15 KOs) vs. Carlos Vinan (10-8-2, 2 KOs).
Tickets to WARNER CENTER WAR 3 can be purchased online by going to www.warnercenterwar.com or by calling (626) 388-8888. WARNER CENTER WAR 3 takes place on Friday, March 4, 2011 at the Grand Ballroom of the Warner Center Marriott in Woodland Hills, California. Doors Open at 7:00 pm, First Bout is at 7:30 pm.
As in September, I once again ran out of gas in the 10th & 11th championship rounds of October & November with this column, but I recovered to complete them and will unleash a few more flurries to close out the 12th and final round.
In the first week of October, Hassan N’Dam won a UD over Curtis Stevens in an eliminator for the right to challenge Jermaine Taylor who defeated aging Sam Soliman to regain the IBF Middleweight title. How Taylor even earned this title shot is another story altogether, but it is all irrelevant as he is now the champion. However he will not have too much time to savor his victory as he has assault and battery charges pending against him and an upcoming court fight that may turn out to be the toughest fight of his life, just when things started to look up for him in boxing, we wish him luck.
