MEMPHIS, TN - Prize Fight makes a triumphant return on October 1st as it presents the latest installment of "Fights at the Fitz" from the Grand Ballroom at Fitzgerald's Hotel & Casino in Tunica, MS. There have been many first class line ups featuring many world class boxers during the impressive seven year run of the "Fights at the Fitz" series, but the October 1st show may showcase the best match-up ever during this record breaking series.
Boxing fans are in for an amazing fight as undefeated rising prospect Karim "Hard Hitta" Mayfield 14-0-1 (9 KO's) meets former two-time Venezuelan Olympian Patrick Lopez 20-4 (12 KO's) for the vacant NABO Jr. Welterweight Championship. Mayfield, 30, rose to prominence in the boxing world as he stopped former World Champion Steve Forbes by way of tenth round TKO in front of a live viewing audience on ESPN Friday Night Fights this past June in Austin, TX. The Forbes fight was considered by many boxing insiders to be a risky fight and a big step up in competition level for Karim Mayfield, but Mayfield showcased himself to the boxing community as a contender to be reckoned with by stopping Forbes. Mayfield's TKO stoppage of Forbes was the first time in forty-five professional bouts that Forbes has been stopped short of the scheduled distance. Standing in Mayfield's way on October 1st at the Fitz will be the formidable Patrick Lopez. Lopez represented his country of Venezuela in both the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and also the 2004 Olympic games in Athens. The southpaw Lopez is no stranger to up and coming prospects as he has fought the likes Hank Lundy, Tim Coleman and Prenice Brewer to name a few. In August of 2010 Lopez entered the ring as an underdog against the undefeated Prenice Brewer and shocked many as he demolished Brewer on way to third round TKO. The Main Event between Karim Mayfield and Patrick Lopez is scheduled for ten rounds.
As if the stellar main event wasn't worth the price of admission alone, Prize is set to deliver a star studded seven bout undercard. One of the fights featured on this undercard is the return to the ring of middleweight Mean Joe Greene 22-1 (14 KO's). The southpaw Greene was on the rise to stardom when he met another undefeated prospect in Vanes Martirosyan on June 5, 2010 in Yankee Stadium. Joe Greene lost the fight to Martirosyan by unanimous decision in a bout that was filled with low blows from each side and tenth round knockdown of Greene. After the loss to Martirosyan, Greene has taken some time away from the ring and is now ready to return against Pete Johnson of Sardis, MS in a six round middleweight bout.
Another intriguing match-up on the card is a six round cruiserweight clash between Joell Godfrey 11-4-1 (5 KO's) and Calvin Rooks 2-2-1. Godfrey, a former star of the reality series "The Contender", looks to get his career back on track again the upset minded Rooks of Memphis, TN. Rooks was in the same situation when he faced the favored Sharif Kemp this past July at the Fitz. Rooks shined in that fight as he won an action packed four round unanimous decision over Kemp.
Rounding out the exciting night of fights will be an exciting female bout between Stacy Pollock and Lucretia Meacham in the lightweight division, local favorite Marlon Lewis goes up against Erik Hernandez-Perez in a four round lightweight clash, Gary Jones 21-2 (8 KO's) of Washington D.C. is slated to do battle with veteran Chad Greenleaf in a six round middleweight affair and Polish featherweight sensation Kamil Laszczyk 3-0 (3 KO's) will meet local Memphis Terrance Roy in a four round match.
Tickets for this exciting 8 bout card can be purchased by calling the Fitz Casino Gift Shop at (800)-766-LUCK(5825), by calling ticketmaster at (901)-525-1515, or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com. The doors for this event will open at 6:30 PM and the first fight will start at 7:30 PM.
