HEAVYWEIGHTS ANTONIO TARVER AND MIKE SHEPPARD
HEADLINE FOX SPORTS 1 & FOX DEPORTES
BROADCAST AS GOLDEN BOY LIVE! RETURNS TO
THE BB&T CENTER ON TUESDAY, NOV. 26
UNDEFEATED HEAVYWEIGHT LUIS ORTIZ ALSO
TO BE FEATURED AS THE CO-MAIN EVENT MATCH UP
AGAINST AN OPPONENT TO BE ANNOUNCED
Tickets On Sale Now!
SUNRISE, FLORIDA (October 14) – Boxing’s popular new fight series Golden Boy Live! is back at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla. on Tuesday, November 26 with a stacked card featuring the return of former World Champion Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver facing West Virginia veteran Mike Sheppard in the 10 round main event which will be televised on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. Also, featured on the card will be the Golden Boy Promotions debut of undefeated Cuban heavyweight star Luis “El Mercedez” Ortiz against a fighter to be announced in the co-featured fight that will get Florida fight fans up and cheering from bell to bell.
“I’m looking forward to getting back into the ring and showing the world that the ‘Magic Man’ is better than ever and ready for the big fights,” said Tarver. “This is the perfect opportunity to make a statement at home and I can’t wait.”
“Beating someone like Antonio Tarver would be career-altering for me,” said Sheppard. “I know what he’s accomplished in the sport, but I’m hungry for this and you’re going to see the best Mike Sheppard yet.”
“I have not fought here in Florida in almost two years and this is what my fans have been waiting for,” said Ortiz. “It’s going to be a big night in Florida and I will be looking for a knockout.”
Tarver vs. Sheppard is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona and O’Reilly Auto Parts. The BB&T Center doors open at 7:00 p.m. ET and the first bell rings at 8:00 p.m. ET. The FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes bi-lingual simulcast will air live at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.
Tickets priced at $150 (VIP Tables), $75, $50, $40 and $25, not including applicable service charges, are on sale now and available for purchase at all Ticketmaster outlets, by calling (800) 745-3000, online at http://www.ticketmaster.com and at the BB&T Center box office.
A 1996 Olympic Bronze medalist for the United States, Lutz, Florida’s Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver (29-6, 20 KO’s) is one of the premier fighters of this era, having dominated the light heavyweight division with his signature wins over Roy Jones Jr., Glen Johnson, Eric Harding and Clinton Woods. Now looking for another world title at heavyweight, the southpaw is prepared to take on and beat all comers.
A 16-year pro, Palestine, West Virginia’s Mike Sheppard (21-15-1, 9 KO’s) has the veteran experience needed to beat a fighter like Tarver, as he will not be intimidated by any foe in the ring. Winner of six of his last nine bouts, including an August victory over Justin Novaria, Sheppard is amped up to score the upset and get a career-defining win.
Owner of nearly 350 amateur wins, Cuba native Luis “El Mercedez” Ortiz (19-0, 16 KO’s) is on the fast track to the top of the heavyweight division and the next step on his journey takes place on November 26. Now making his home in Miami, the 34-year-old southpaw has won 10 fights in three rounds or less and another quick finish will be just what his fans want to see.
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.
