Ahmed Kaddour, who fought on The Contender series last year, will fight on Top Rank's boxing card on Thursday, Sept. 14, at the The Orleans Hotel-Casino in Las Vegas. Kaddour, from Houston, is managed by James Prince and trained by Miguel Diaz of Las Vegas. Kaddour, 19-2, will take on Jesus Valverde, 21-12, of Mexico in an eight-round super welterweight bout. "He is a very clever fighter with a lot of speed in his punches. He has a real good hard jab," said Diaz.

Kaddour will be at Top Rank's press luncheon on Tuesday, noontime, in Gold Room A at the Orleans Arena.

Big punching lightweight Kid Diamond of Las Vegas will take on Jairo Ramirez of Mexico in the main event on Thursday, Sept. 14. Jose Luis Zertuche will face Fulgencio Zuniga in the opening televised bout on OLN.

Andy Lee, a popular Irish middleweight prospect, will box six rounds. Lee is trained by Emanuel Steward at the Kronk Gym in Detroit.

"The history of the Kronk speaks for itself," said Lee. "When I chose to be a professional boxer, I wanted to get the best training available. It is a blessing to train with Emanuel at the Kronk, where so many great fighters have been developed from the bottom up.

"When I think of all the great fighters who have passed through those doors, it's just amazing," he continued.
"The heat is always turned up and there is so much competitiveness, so it is easy to understand why so many champions have come from there."