LAS VEGAS (May 13 2007) - Heavyweight contender Cedric Boswell is a Sonny Liston look- alike but what "Bos" wants more than anything is to capture the world title belt that the late Liston once wore around his waist.
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Bosell (23-1, 18 KOs) takes on veteran Steve "Storm" Pannell (34-11, 28 KOs) in a 10-round bout on the "Rocky Mountain Mayhem: Return of the Champ" pro boxing show, headlined by Denver-native Stevie "Lil' But Bad" Johnston's first fight at home in 6 1/2 years, on Friday night (May 18) at the Broomfield Event Center in Broomfield, Colorado.
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"Rocky Mountain Mayhem: Return of the Champ" is presented by Silverhawk Championship Boxing, sponsored in part by The Courtyard by the Marriott Boulder/Louisville.
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"Bos," fighting out of Atlanta, started boxing out of shear boredom. He had played football in high school and the University of Arizona, but he didn't start boxing until he joined the U.S. Navy. While stationed in Hawaii one of his fellow sailors kept asking Cedric to go to the gym and try boxing. Boswell finally relented and eventually he won 18 of 22 bouts, continuing as an amateur boxer for two years after leaving the Navy.
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In his only 1998 fight, Cedric's first 10-round fight went the distance with him winning a decision against former USBA light heavyweight champion Mike Sedillo (31-17-2) in Canada. After beating Terry Porter on December 18, 1999 for his 16th straight victory, Boswell didn't fight again for 2 1/2 years due to his promotional and managerial problems.
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Five straight wins in 2002-2003, including a fifth-round TKO of previously once beaten Jim Strohl (25-1), extended Boswell's win streak to 21 and positioned him for top 10 rating consideration. But his first and only pro loss to Jameel McCline prevented his rise in the rankings, as well as caused additional promotional and managerial problems resulting in another 2 1/2 years of inactivity for "Bos."
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"Now I'm in good position working with Silverhawk Boxing," Boswell said, "especially with the heavyweight division being wide open today, and Silverhawk is going to get me my shot. All I have to do now is take care of my part. I don't know much about my opponent. They just tell me I'm fighting and I do the rest. I'm preparing myself to be in the best shape of my life on May 18th. I want to fight the best and get a shot at the world title. I need to keep chopping away until it happens."
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Pannell, former NABO and USBA title challenger, has tested world champions such as Wladimir Klitschko, Hasim Rahman, John Ruiz and Ray Mercer.
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IBA World lightweight champion Stevie Johnston (40-4-1, 18 KOs), now living in Vero Beach (FL), defends his title against WBC Latino & WBA FEDEBOL super featherweight champion Humberto "El Fuerte" Toledo (31-3-2, 19 KOs), rated No. 16 by the WBC, in the 12-round main event.
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NBA light welterweight champion Adrian "Juanito" Mora (18-0-1, 10 KOs), of Thornton (CO), meets former NABO title challenger Marc Thompson (15-1, 12 KOs) in the 12-round co-feature for the vacant IBA light welterweight championship.
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Also scheduled to fight on the "Rocky Mountain Mayhem: Return of the Champ" card sensational undefeated welterweight knockout specialist Salvador "Alexis" Camacho (14-0, 13 KOs) against Rob Adamson (9-1-1, 8 KOs), lightweight prospect Jaime "Superfly" Sandoval (14-1, 12 KOs) vs. NABA featherweight title-holder Johnnie Edwards (11-1, 7 KOs) in a six-round, non-title bout, and Denver lightweight Manuel Perez versus Richard Flores. All fighters and bouts subject to change.
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Tickets, priced at $25.00, $40.00, $60.00 and $100.00 (not including service charge), are on sale for "Rocky Mountain Mayhem: Return of the Champ" at the Broomfield Event Center in Broomfield, Colorado. To purchase tickets call 303.410.8497 or go on line to
www.broomfieldeventcenter.com.
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For more information about "Rocky Mountain Mayhem: Return of the Champ" call 702.492.4922 or go to
www.silverhawkboxing.com.