Press Release: Travis “Freight Train” Walker will make his first televised main event appearance on ShoBox: The New Generation when he takes on George “El Torito” Garcia in a 12-round battle of unbeaten heavyweights on April 6, 2007. The Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota will host the “Heavyweight Invasion” card, which is a co-promotion between Sherman Oaks, California-based Goossen Tutor Promotions headed by Dan Goossen and Minnesota native Tony Grygelko’s SecondsOut Promotions.

Tallahassee, Florida native Walker (22-0-1, 17 KOs) last appeared in a ShoBox co-feature on November 17, 2006 where he extracted a measure of revenge by thoroughly dominating 2004 US Olympian Jason Estrada, who defeated him three times as an amateur – the last of which was at the February, 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials in Tunica, Mississippi.  In facing Glendale, Arizona’s Garcia (13-0, 4 KOs), Walker will be trying to avenge his other Olympic Trials loss in Tunica – a 30-25 decision to Garcia on February 20, 2004  – which ultimately ended his Olympic dreams.  Garcia, who knocked out four of his first five opponents as a pro, has won his last eight bouts by decision.

“I’m excited that Showtime wanted me back on their ShoBox series and I promise to deliver again.  Revenge is definitely sweet, but this time I’m looking to show my heavyweight power to the fans with a knockout,” stated Walker. 

“I beat him once, and I’ll beat him again,” said Garcia.  “I will take advantage of the national television TV exposure to place myself into the heavyweight mix.”

In the telecast opener, an eight-round heavyweight bout, knockout artist Raphael Butler (25-3, 20 KOs), who hails from nearby Rochester, Minnesota, will make his second appearance at the Target Center when he steps into the ring against hard-hitting, undefeated Nigerian Teke Oruh (13-0-1, 6 KOs), who now fights out of Las Vegas, Nevada.  This will be the third fight in 2007 for the active Butler, who won by disqualification over veteran Louis Monaco back in January in his only other Target Center outing.  Oruh, who has fought once this year, pounded out a majority decision over rugged John Clark back in January.

Butler wasn’t able to hold his enthusiasm back when informed by his manager Steve Munisteri that he was going to be the opening bout on the telecast, exclaiming “No way?  This is truly a dream come true and a reward for the hard work I’ve put in.  From my manager and trainer to my promoter, they’ve all had the confidence in my abilities to overcome my youthful mistakes and eventually take it to the next level.  I’m ready to burst out now and especially fighting in front of my hometown fans, I promise not to disappoint.”

Oruh was a little more direct, “The fight will not go the distance.  He’s big and strong, but so am I.  I will not walk out of Minneapolis without a KO victory.”

In addition to the involvement of Minnesota products Butler and Grygelko, the show will have a heavily local Gopher State flavor.

Heading the governing Minnesota State Boxing Commission is former world heavyweight contender Scott Ledoux.  Known as “The Fighting Frenchman,” Ledoux compiled a professional record of 33-13-4, with 22 KOs, while becoming the only fighter to step into the ring with 11 world champions -- most prominently Muhammad Ali, Larry Holmes and George Foreman.  He got world title opportunities against Mike Weaver (WBA) and Holmes (WBC), but lost both times.

Former Minnesota Twins pitcher Dean Chance is the founder and current president of the IBA, and will present its world title belt to the winner of the Walker-Garcia main event.  A Cy Young Award winning pitcher with the Los Angeles Angels, Chance was traded to the Twins in 1967 and responded by winning 20 games as the Twins lost the pennant to the Boston Red Sox on the season’s final day.  He compiled a record of 128-115 with a 2.92 earned run average over 11 major league seasons.

Lastly, Tom Brown, matchmaker for Goossen Tutor Promotions who orchestrated the pairings for the April 6 main event and co-feature, is excited to be returning to his home state to work his very first show in the Gopher State. 

“I’ve wanted to return home to work a boxing show for a long time,” Brown, a product of the Minneapolis suburb of Edina, acknowledged.  “It’s been nearly 25 years since I left there and moved to LA in 1983.  I visit every now and then, but never had the opportunity to work there.  As of April 6, I’ll be able to say I’ve come full circle.”

“We are very pleased to be working with Tony Grygelko and SecondsOut Promotions and the Target Center on what promises to be a terrific show for the fans in Minneapolis and the Showtime audience,” Goossen affirmed.  “Tony has done a great job of promoting and building a solid fan base in a very short period of time.  It’s these types of alliances that is good for the industry as a whole and in particularly the fans and the viewers at home, which will get to see these top young heavyweight prospects in Travis, George, Raphael and Teke, battle it out for supremacy which should have the crowd buzzing and on their feet.”