Is Mississippi burning? The Gulf Coast region, still bouncing back from the utter devastation of Hurricane Katrina, is having its typical hot and humid summer weather. But what's on fire in the area is the box office for the Roy Jones-Anthony Hanshaw PPV boxing show, which will take place on July 14 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.
     Murad Muhammad, president and CEO of Murad Productions, revealed Tuesday to a well-attended press conference crowd at the host IP Casino-Resort-Spa that nearly $1million dollars worth of tickets, priced at popular prices, have already been sold for the show in which ring legend Jones tries to prove he's far from finished in boxing against the undefeated Hanshaw.
     "It is a sign of the strength of the living legend Roy Jones," Muhammad said. "Biloxi has been a second home in boxing for Roy, his hometown of Pensacola is not far away and the people of the region celebrate Roy as one of their own. To sell about 70 percent of our tickets in the course of three days is really a barometer of how much interest remains in the amazing career of Roy Jones Jr. We will have a great card with some wonderful other bouts but, when the top of the ticket is a legend like Roy, the tickets move fast.
     People need to go to the arena box office or call TicketMaster so they don't get shut out."
     To those who are concerned about boxing shows on cable networks HBO and Showtime running also on July 14, Muhammad has a ready answer.
     "Arturo Gatti on HBO, he's a popular guy in Atlantic City and Antonio Margarito on Showtime, he's a tough guy who is little-known," Muhammad said. "On July 14, there will be only one boxing legend performing on television and that is Mr. Roy Jones Jr. and he will displaying his skills right here in Biloxi against a young lion who is coming to make a name for himself. Fighting a Hanshaw is the kind of challenge that Roy Jones Jr. thrives on."
     For his part, IP Casino-Resort-Spa President-General Manager Jon Lucas said both Jones and the entire Gulf Coast were sending a message.
     "We call this fight's 'He's Back,'" Lucas said, "but we could have called it 'We're Back,' because a fight of this magnitude and with a fighter of Roy's stature tells the country and the world that the Gulf Coast is back, back in business and better than ever. We're thrilled to be hosting this major boxing event."
     The price of the PPV telecast is a most reasonable $29.95. It will be distributed by In Demand and produced by Madison Square Garden network. Ticket prices range from $500, to $300, $100, $75 and $30.
"That's another powerful force for us," Muhammad said. "We've got James Dolan and the Dolan family behind us also. We've got them and they've got Madison Square Garden.  That is very strong."