Reality TV show winner Otis Griffin fighting for legitimacy in Germany

Posted on | October 1, 2008 | No Comments

IBF middleweight Abraham-Marquez title fight headlines Saturday’s PPV in U.S. & Canada

HOBOKEN, N.J. (September 29, 2008) – Former NABO champion Otis “Triple OG” Griffin has traveled halfway around the world, from his California home to Germany for Saturday’s (October 4) fight against Enad Licina, in order to prove that “The Next Great Champ” winner is much more than a reality television fighter.

Nothing has come easy for Alabama-native Griffin (19-3-2, 7 KOs), who battles Licina (14-1, 8 KOs) for the vacant IBF Intercontinental cruiserweight title in the 12-round co-feature on a special pay-per-view card, headlined by unbeaten International Boxing Federation middleweight champion “King” Arthur Abraham defending his belt against former world champion Raul “El Diamente” Marquez, live from Bamberg, Germany.

Abraham-Marquez is promoted by Wilfried Sauerland, presented by Sauerland Event and its Managing Director, Christian Meyer, in association with Seminole Warriors Boxing. The broadcast is being distributed in the United States and Canada by Integrated Sports for live viewing at 3 PM/ET – 12 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, TVN, DirecTV, DISH Network, Viewer’s Choice Canada, and Bell ExpressVue, for a suggested retail price of only $24.95. A replay will be shown that same night starting at 9 PM/ET. Al Bernstein and Nick Charles will call the action.

Griffin, fighting out of Sacramento, lost his pro debut to Jimmy Mince by four-round split decision in the preliminary round of the 2004 Oscar De La Hoya-sponsored reality television series on Fox, “The Next Great Champ.” When one of the fighters suddenly quit the show, Griffin was brought back and he took full advantage of his second chance, defeating Mohamad Elmahmoud (DEC4), Mince (DEC4 in semifinals) in a rematch and David Pareja (DEC6) in the championship final. The winner was supposed to fight in a sanctioned WBO title fight, but it never materialized and Griffin eventually built-up his pro record to 16-1-2, setting the stage in 2007 for an NABO light heavyweight championship bout against unbeaten Mike Nevitt (14-0), who Otis stopped in the seventh round.

Yugoslavian cruiserweight Licina (14-1, 8 KOs), rated No. 13 by the European Boxing Union and European Boxing Association, now fights out of Germany, where he’ll take on Griffin in Saturday’s co-feature.

Abraham (27-0, 22 KOs), rated No. 2 by The Ring and ESPN, captured the IBF middleweight title early three years ago by way of a fifth-round knockout of Kingsley Ikeke (23-1). Seven successful title defenses have followed against Edison Miranda, Shannon Taylor, Kofi Jantuah, Sebastian Demers, Khoren Gevor, Wayne Elcock and Elvin Ayala.

The 1992 U.S. Olympian Marquez (41-3-1, 29 KOs), rated No. 2 by the IBF as well as No. 8 by The Ring and ESPN, earned his title shot against Abraham by defeating previously undefeated No. 1 contender Giovanni Lorenzo (26-0) in their June 21st IBF title eliminator.

For more information about the Abraham-Marguez PPV go to www.integratedsportsnet.com or www.warriorsboxing.com

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