The Great American HW Box Off will save Boxing

Article Link - http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=61448#ixzz2IBLFPIpu

NEW YORK CITY - Veteran promoter/matchmaker Don Elbaum and financial backer Greg Sorrentino, today during a press conference held at historic Gleason's Gym in Brooklyn, officially announced the creation of The $500,000 Great America Heavyweight Box-Off (TGAHBO). The tournament, planned as an annual event, is scheduled to launch in April at a site to soon be determined.

Introduced as participants were 2004 U.S. Olympians Jason "Big Six" Estrada (20-4, 6 KOs), of Providence (RI), and Devan Vargas (18-2, 7 KOs), of Toledo (OH), Tennessee (Chattanooga) knockout-artist Alonzo "Big Zo" Butler (28-2-1, 21 KOs), Minnesota (**** Rapids) heavy-hitter Joey "Minnesota Ice" Abell (28-6, 27 KOs), former USBA cruiserweight champion Emmanuel Nwodo (24-5, 20 KOs), fighting out of Baltimore (Maryland), and a 22-year-old sleeper from West Virginia (Clarksburg), "The Mountain" Daniel Martz (7-0, 6 KOs). Talks are ongoing to finalize the remaining two challengers, plus one reserve, in case of injuries.

The purse structure will be $25,000 to the winners and $15,000 to the losers in the quarterfinals, $50,000 and $25,000, respectively, in the semifinals, leading up to the championship final in which the champion will earn $250,000 with $50,000 going to the runner-up.

"The history of boxing is the heavyweight division and America is a big part of it," Elbaum said. "We weren't looking for ex-champions or highly-rated fighters. Not one of the fighters here is. I'll be the matchmaker; I'm picking the fights, no requests. I had this idea seven or eight months ago. Four months ago, I had discussions with some people and one person, Greg Sorrentino, said he'd back me because he believes we need this in the sport. He's a former professional heavyweight and now a very successful businessman."

"I've been involved in various aspects of boxing, never on the promotional end before, but I'm excited," Sorrentino explained. "This is the greatest country in the world and we're going to help get an American heavyweight champion to rule the roost again."

Elbaum said he has had discussions with several possible venues, including some casinos in Atlantic City and Las Vegas, Turning Stone and Madison Square Garden, and that he's close to making a television deal. He also noted that 12 other heavyweights are in the running for the remaining two spots in the field, plus one reserve fighter, and $25,000 of the TGAHBO champion's purse will be donated to the winner's charity of choice.

Also attending the press conference was Las Vegas legend Bill Krachenberger, who will set tournament odds on the individual fighters, as well as for all TGAHBO fights, to be offered at several Nevada sports books.

The fighter demonstrating the most "heart" in tournament fights, excluding the TGAHBO champion, will be awarded the Gennaro Pellegrini Jr. Award. Pellegrini, a member of the U.S. Army National Guard, had a dream to fight at the famed Blue Horizon before being shipped out to Iraq for duty. Elbaum made that happen in 2004 but seven months later Pellegrini was killed in action.

 

We already have a Great American Heavyweight.

His name is Kimbo Slice.

 

I will watch it.

 

The event will fail as pretty much all tourneys do in boxing unless its a one night prize fighter style tourney.

 

I didn't know boxing needed saving! glad these guys knew.

 

I don't see the Klitshkos shaking in their boots over this, but (if it comes off) there should be some competitive fights and good paydays for a group of guys who aren't getting a current push.

I'd have to think that Estrada is the favorite out of this group, but several of the fighters are unknown to me.

 

None of the real HW prospects in America are actually competing.

 

Who would you say they are?


*waits to see how many I think would lose to Jason Estrada

 

He's fighting on the Anthony Mundine - Daniel Geale undercard in a few weeks down in Australia, should be pretty funny!

 

Jennings, Wilder, and Mitchell.

 

Mitchell failed already.

 

With that line of thought, then so did everyone in this so called HW saving tournament besides some guy named Martz who is 7-0.

 

Mitchell had real hype though. This tourney is just a way for a promoter to get failed HWs some fights.

 

Martz hasn't failed yet. :icon_lol:

 

"what's that? heavyweight boxing in the USA needs saving? Ok, I'll do it...."

 

Boxing needs saving?

 

Three wild cards there. Call me crazy, but I bet an in-shape Estrada takes 2 out of 3 against that lineup.

 

He's even got a win on Kimbo!

 

Who do you think he beats out of them? I think he loses to all three but then again you did say an in-shape Estrada

 

Estrada is a tricky guy.
He gave Povetkin some fits....
and I thought it was shortsighted of team Adamek to match him with Estrada. And that too was a fight that was by no means smooth sailing for Adamek.