Press Release: Lion Heart Productions plans to bring boxing to the home of the Utah Jazz, the Delta Center, in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Thursday, March 30, 2006. The main event will be a clash of heavyweights featuring Chauncy Welliver (29-3) against Cliff Couser (25-10) for a regional title. . Though he is only twenty two, Welliver has already fought thirty six professional fights. Couser will be an important test for Welliver as he has fought mainly limited competition. Welliver claims that he has not dodged any tough fight, “I am ready to fight anyone and have been called out several of the current champions and big names in the game. Top fighters just do not want to take a risk on me because I am a skilled boxer.” Welliver most notable wins were over Billy Zumbrun, who went toe to toe with former heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe before losing a very close decision, then undefeated Chris Lewallan (9-0), Felipe Borjoquez (10-1), and King Ipitan.
Challenging Welliver for his title is Cliff Couser. Couser, 34, calls himself "Twin Tyson," for not only does he look like Tyson, but also he played him in an HBO movie about Don King. Couser may not have either the outlandish KO percentage of the young Mike Tyson or be as illustrious in the ring; nonetheless, Couser does his best to impersonate the former heavyweight ruler. He isn’t shy about taking it to an opponent. He makes up for a limited amateur experience with a very aggressive style and attitude. Couser has been featured in fights on HBO and Fox Sports Net, his most impressive win was over Jorge Luis Gonzalez defeating the former Cuban amateur champion in three rounds.
In the co-main event, Brazilian light welterweight champion Antonio Mesquita, now fighting out of St. George, Utah, will seek to continue his comeback against an opponent to be announced. Undefeated in thirty-one professional wins, twenty five by way of knockout, Mesquita took a year and half layoff, but now is eager to finish the job he started. He returned February 16, 2006 in Ogden, Utah and stopped Luiz Caetano DaSilva in the ninth round. Mesquita plans to fight often until he gets a world title shot. Mesquita’s next stop after Salt Lake City is New Zealander Santos Pakau (27-1).
Titled A Night of the Heavies, the show will feature three exciting heavyweight fights including two heavyweight debutantes. Ogden, Utah’s own renowned spoiler, Willie Chapman (20-25-3), takes on Bryan McIntyre (7-12), Eric Hodges (Debut) of Sacramento, California takes on gigantic Danny McGarry (3-5) of Los Angeles, California while Alexo Dardiasdilli (Debut) of New York, NY fights Semisi Bloomfield (1-3) of Salt Lake City. Also, local favorites Light Heavyweight Valente Tinajero (6-0), Light Middleweight and Geraldo Prieto (5-3) look to continue their winning ways against James Holmes (1-0) and Darryl Innis (0-2), while David Foley (1-4) takes on James Jefferson (0-1). A total of eight fights and over forty rounds of live boxing are scheduled for A Night of the Heavies.
In an effort to break yet another Utah state professional boxing attendance record, Lion Heart Boxing Productions offers very reasonable pricing: $60.00 for VIP Ringside (Heavyweights), $40 for Ringside & Floor seats (Middleweights) and $20 for Lower Bowl (Lightweights). Tickets are discounted by $10.00 for seniors, students, children under 12, men in uniform (firemen, police officers, military and EMT). Further, tickets purchased in advance, by March 23, 2006, get a $5.00 discount.
