They come from vastly different pasts and have taken diverse journeys to their current spots in the boxing world, but former world heavyweight champion Oliver McCall and top Cruiserweight contender Dale Brown have the same goals – to be the best and to be called ‘Champion.’ On Friday, June 30th, both veterans will be back in action and looking to move closer to those goals when they compete in separate bouts on the highly anticipated “Ring Warriors” card at the Seminole Hard Rock Live Arena in Hollywood, Florida.
McCall will face hard-hitting Gary “Bring Da Pain” Bell in a ten round contest, and Brown will battle Colorado’s Shane Swartz, also in a ten rounder.
In the main event, unbeaten knockout artist Juan Urango will face Australia’s Naoufel Ben Rabah in a 12 round bout for the vacant IBF super lightweight championship of the world. ESPN2 Friday Night Fights will televise the show, beginning at 9pm ET / 6pm PT.
Blessed with a cast-iron chin and the punch to match, Oliver McCall (46-8, 33 KOs) is best remembered by fight fans for his stirring second round knockout of Lennox Lewis in 1994, a win that earned him the WBC Heavyweight Championship. After defending his crown with a decision over the legendary Larry Holmes, ‘The Atomic Bull’ would lose the title to Frank Bruno in 1995, but he has rebounded since then, racking up 20 victories against just two defeats, including a first round stoppage of Oleg Maskaev, who will be challenging for Hasim Rahman’s world title later this summer. In Brooklyn’s Gary ‘Bring Da Pain’ Bell (22-4-1, 15 KOs), McCall will be facing a talented fighter who many believe is one or two wins away from challenging the elite in boxing’s glamour division.
Calgary’s Dale Brown (35-4-1, 22 KOs) is revered at home and abroad for his class outside the ring and his skill and determination in it. An 11 year veteran of the sport, Brown has suffered through some tough times in the ring, most recently losing a highly controversial decision to current undisputed Cruiserweight Champion O’Neil Bell in May of 2005, but with two wins in a row since that fight, ‘Cowboy’ has dusted himself off and is gearing up for another title run, starting with his bout on June 30 against Shane Swartz (17-4, 12 KOs), who has been in with world-class competition such as Calvin Brock, Malik Scott, and Grigory Drozd over the course of his ten year career.
Tickets for “Ring Warriors”, priced at $25, $50, $100, and $150, are available by calling 954.523.3309 or by visiting
www.ticketmaster.com.