August 3 (Tallahassee, FL)- On Friday, August 28th, Tavoris Cloud (19-0, 18 KOs), Tallahassee’s own undefeated light heavyweight contender, fights to bring the IBF light heavyweight world championship home to the Big Bend when he faces former two-time world champion Clinton Woods (42-4-1, 24 KOs) of Sheffield, England in the co-main event of ESPN2’s “Friday Night Fights” from the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
“I’m more focused than ever,” Cloud said from his Florida training camp. “This is the best camp that I’ve ever had, probably because I can finally see the championship belt being put around my waist on August 28th.”
“My three sparring partners are all tall cruiserweights who are giving me the work that I need and I’m ready to do this. I’m in the best shape of my life.”
In Clinton Woods, Cloud faces the #2 rated IBF light heavyweight contender, an experienced champion, who has been in the ring with the division’s best including Florida’s great light heavyweight threesome, Roy Jones Jr., Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson.
“I’m sure Woods is determined,” Cloud said. “But he’s facing the wrong fighter. I’m the future of the division. The fans will see that on the 28th.”
It was just one year ago that the then 26-year-old Cloud burst onto the scene, announcing his contender status in a division looking for a new, young star. During that ESPN2 televised bout, Cloud delivered a beating of unholy proportion to “Friday Night Fights” fan favorite, Julio Gonzalez (41-6, 25 KOs).
After 10 brutal rounds, the referee finally stepped in to save the former champion from his own bravery. It was the first time in his illustrious career that Gonzalez had been stopped and a coming out party for Cloud.
Following the bout, experts agreed that Cloud looked like he could be the future of the division.
A year later, Cloud is thrilled to be returning to the ring.
“It’s a dream come true for a fighter to win a world title…to be called a world champion,” Cloud said. “Every fighter dreams of it and I’ll have it in less than a month.”
“Look…the belts mean something to me,” Cloud explained. “I was always ready to fight over the last year, but it’s a double edge sword. Stay active and risk losing your mandatory shot or stay patient and know that you’re going to be a champion with a world title and something to defend.”
Cloud vs. Woods is the co-main event of an exciting world championship double header. In the evening’s main event, Columbia’s Juan Urango (21-2-1, 16 KOs) defends his IBF junior welterweight title against Miami’s Randall Bailey (39-6, 35 KOs).
Tickets for this event, priced at $52, $102, $152, and $202, may be purchased at the Hard Rock Live Box Office or online at www.TicketMaster.com.
Doors open at 7:00pm and the first bell rings at 8pm. The ESPN2 “Friday Night Fights” telecast begins at10pm ET / 7pm PT.
Fans are invited to follow Cloud on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/TavorisCloud
