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(continuation of post #212)
LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION
* Michael Nunn vs Jack Fox
Without a doubt, the highlight of the league's St. Louis selection trials was the intense rivalry between Light-Heavies Nunn, Fox and Scot Long, so the IBL will have its first grudge match when these two step in the ring. Fox earned the nickname "Tiger" in St. Louis and the loud, aggressive slugger is going to give the smaller Nunn a tough night. He has a genuine dislike for him and will surely be looking to come out all guns blazing in this anticipated matchup. Nunn will have to come up with an inspired showing if he wants to avoid being tagged and put asleep by Fox's artillery.
* Bob Foster vs Scot Long
Missouri-born Long couldn't have asked for a more difficult challenge for the start of his professional career. An Olympic silver medallist, Foster will be looking to make a statement against the southpaw. Like Tony Zale, Foster has stayed incognito in the months since the IBL's formation but he must be numbered amongst the top few favourites to be crowned the inaugural World Light-Heavyweight Champion. In Long he gets an opponent who won't run away and will give as good as he gets, which equals one helluva contest.
* Harold Johnson vs Eric Bengtson
Laid-back and relaxed out of the ring, Milwaukee's Eric Bengtson will be sure to impress with his punching power once he steps into it. He turned heads at the league's Conseco Fieldhouse trials and faces a difficult first up test in the form of the quick, slick Harold Johnson. The Philadelphia native showed excellent boxing skills and a superb fighting intellect during the Atlantic City trials and many are looking forward to seeing him put those talents on display against Bengtson.
WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION
* James Ray vs Ray Leonard
This fight shapes up as being perhaps the biggest of any weight division in series one. Gold medallist Leonard has been one of the faces of the IBL, having appeared with Molk during the April unveiling and also on stage at last night's lottery. He's already been pencilled in as the favourite to walk away with the World Championship but in Florida Alliance member James Ray he gets a huge test straight out of the box. Those who saw Ray at the Miami trials have said that he'll be a bigger star than either of his HBF cousins Elmer Ray and Terone Haynes and that he has the ring smarts, power and skill to give Leonard all sorts of trouble. This is a fight you won't want to miss.
* Eddie Perkins vs James McGirt
Brash New Yorker McGirt hasn't made any secret of the fact that his main goal, at least in the short term, is to take down Ray Leonard. The gold medallist cost McGirt a spot on the Olympic team and he's had revenge on his mind ever since. He'll be up against Mississippi native Eddie Perkins on debut, a skillful boxer who will really test the man who is known as "Buddy" to his friends.
LIGHTWEIGHT DIVISION
* Hector Camacho vs Alfredo Escalera
The rivalry between Puerto Rico's Lightweights was something to see during the San Juan trials and two of them will be going at each other on debut. Camacho has proven himself to be quite a braggart, both during and since the trials. Although it's the 17 year-old Edwin Rosario whose skin he's really gotten under, there's little doubt that his clash with the slick punching Escalera will be an exciting fight.
* Alexis Arguello vs Ismael Laguna
Looked upon as one of three or four fighters who will really challenge Pernell Whitaker's claim to the World Championship, Nicaragua's Alexis Arguello has drawn a tough opponent in Ismael Laguna. Dubbed "The Explosive Thin Man" during the Mexican selection trials, Arguello will be hoping to make an impressive career start against the tough Panama native.
* Ray Lampkin vs Richie Plunkett
Like a number of others, Bronx native Richie Plunkett put on quite a display at the Atlantic City selection trials. But due to the volume of talent that was on hand he probably didn't get the recognition he was deserving of. That's all changed during today's discussions as there have been many experts singing the praises of the tough, hard-hitting 27 year-old. His reserved nature outside of the ring is in total contrast to his aggression and workrate in it and he'll certainly give Portland's Ray Lampkin a difficult time.
* Ben Villaflor vs Yamada Tsubasa
This one is a contest between two fighters who are considered amongst the best from their respective nations (regardless of weight division). Taking that into account, the matchup of the tough, cunning Filipino and laid-back Japanese slugger should be a fantastic one. Tsubasa has been tipped by many as Japan's greatest chance of World Championship success so it will be interesting to see if he can back up those claims.
FEATHERWEIGHT DIVISION
* Daniel Zaragoza vs Salvador Sanchez
Many people were hoping that the lottery would deliver a clash of Mexico's fierce rivals Saldivar and Sanchez for their debuts. It didn't, but there have been just as many who say that the anticipation and build-up to that contest will be even sweeter if the wait for it is longer. Sanchez is considered one of the top favourites to take the inaugural Featherweight World Championship and he should be too good for his opening opponent, Daniel Zaragoza. Like Vicente Saldivar, Zaragoza fought at Bantamweight as an amateur and it will be a major boilover if he can conquer Sanchez.
* Jim Driscoll vs Loris Stecca
If Sanchez is looked upon as the favourite for the World Championship, then the Welshman Jim Driscoll would have to be right behind him in the betting. He's expected to finish on top of the Featherweight division's Europe/Africa region but he'll have to be careful against his debut bout opponent, the crafty Italian Loris Stecca.
***
It goes without saying that there's plenty to look forward to during the first series of IBL tournament bouts.
"And it's only the beginning," said Molk. "On September 30 it will all start again when the Middleweights kick off series two. One aspect of our league that we haven't mentioned until now is that the schedules for each subsequent series of bouts will be revealed at the conclusion of each fight card, right there in the arena within minutes of the conclusion of the evening's Main Event. We're certain that this will add an element of excitement to the proceedings."
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