The World’s Greatest Ever Boxer Dec. 11-13, Paris Las Vegas

Posted on | October 7, 2009 | No Comments

Boxing legends confirm attendance

New voting categories announced

Pryor and Fenech to captain US and World teams

Fight card starts to take shape

Event-only ticket packages launched

LAS VEGAS (October 6, 2009) — The climax of the World’s Greatest Ever Boxer campaign will take place December 11-13 at the Paris, Las Vegas Casino Resort. The winners of the global vote for the World’s Greatest Ever Boxers will be announced Sunday, Dec. 13 at an Awards Night. A fight night themed, USA vs. The World, promoted by Seminole Warriors Boxing, will take place Saturday, Dec. 12.

“The December date at the Paris Las Vegas gives us the opportunity to work through our full editorial program,” said Chris Heverin, President of Greatest Ever Enterprises. “The debate on the Greatest Ever Boxers has been fierce to date and we are about to widen that debate with the inclusion of three new award categories. We currently have a 10-part TV series in production that will air in TV markets worldwide and, again, the December date will allow fans more time to engage with this project.

“Seminole Warriors Boxing is putting together a very exciting fight card for the USA vs. The World promotion and we are able to announce the first fighters on that card now. We are privileged to have Aaron Pryor and Jeff Fenech, both nominees and great champions, to lead the US and World teams.

“The pieces are in place for an unforgettable and unique event in Las Vegas on December 11 to 13 and I encourage all sports fans to join us at the Paris Hotel for a truly once in a lifetime experience.”

NOMINEES CONFIRM THEIR ATTENDANCE

Of the 84 legends nominated for the global vote, 40 of those fighters are still alive. All have been invited to the December 11-13 weekend and already 12 have confirmed their attendance. They include Joe Frazier, Mike Tyson, Aaron Pryor, Joe Calzaghe, Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran, Larry Holmes, Jeff Fenech, Emile Griffith, Bob Foster, Michael Carbajal, and Bob Foster.

Other great world champions in attendance will include Leon Spinks with his son and current junior middleweight world champion, Cory Spinks. It is hoped that brother Michael Spinks will be able to attend as well. Oliver McCall will be in the corner for his son, Elijah, who will be fighting for the US team.

More confirmations will be announced in the coming weeks as schedules are finalized.

PRYOR AND FENECH TO CAPTAIN TEAMS

Greatest Ever nominees Aaron Pryor and Jeff Fenech are to captain the US and The World teams, respectively, on Dec. 12 in the Grand Ballroom of the Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino.

Pryor, a former US Olympian and Junior Welterweight World Champion, will have his son, Aaron Jr., on the team. Speaking of his nomination, Pryor said, “I am excited. This is something that boxing needs and engages fans worldwide in the history of our sport. This is a dream come true, it is like being in the Hall of Fame. I am also excited Aaron Jr. is going to be fighting. I am concerned like any father would be, but he is a good fighter and is in good hands. This will be a very special weekend for us.”

Australian Jeff Fenech, himself a former Olympian and three-time world champion at three different weights, said, “These matches will be very competitive. The boys are fighting not just for their own records, but for their team, and this will matter. Not only that, they will be showcasing themselves in front of some of the greatest fighters of all time. What more motivation do they need to put on a show? I think the Americans are going to get a big surprise. This is a celebration of world boxing, not American fighters.”

NEW VOTING CATEGORIES ANNOUNCED

Fans worldwide have been voting for their Greatest Ever Boxers in the eight traditional voting categories since June. In response to the debate that has been generated, three new voting categories are to be introduced:

Greatest Ever Fight

Greatest Ever Trainer

Greatest Ever Promoter

The nominations for these categories will be released to the global vote in mid- October.

NEW TICKET PACKAGES LAUNCHED

Events Only tickets have now been released.

For the US vs. The World fight card Saturday, Dec. 12, the tickets are Super VIP at $150, Platinum at $100, VIP at $80 and Gold at $65. The fight card plus hospitality packages are Super VIP at $500, Platinum at $400, VIP at $250 and Gold at $150.

For the Greatest Ever Dinner, Awards Ceremony and Entertainment Sunday, Dec. 13, the tickets are Super VIP at $1000, Platinum at $800, VIP at $450 and Gold at $250.

USA vs. THE WORLD FIGHT CARD

A provisional fight card has been released by promoter Seminole Warriors Boxing of Davie, Florida.

A bout featuring International Boxing Federation’s No. 6 junior middleweight Sechew Powell will headline the Dec.12 fight night. Powell is hoping to be matched in an eliminator for a shot at the world title.

The seven-fight card will showcase three US fighters who are sons of former world champions (Elijah McCall, Aaron Pryor Jr., and Ronald Hearns) and two of the fathers (Aaron Pryor and Thomas Hearns) are nominees in the World’s Greatest Ever Boxer.

John Jackson, son of boxing legend Julian Jackson, will be in the World Team, joined by Luis Frano of Cuba, Sharif Bogere of Uganda and Andrzej Fonfara of Poland.