ESPN Friday Night Fights
Four fighters put their undefeated records on the line
By Mark Fagan, Fri., April 27, 2012
The top of the card at boxing legend/current promoter Roy Jones Jr. and his Square Ring Promotions' Friday Night Fights event features four undefeated pugilists. Ukrainian Ismayl Sillakh (current North American Boxing Federation light heavyweight champion) brings his 17-0 record (including 14 knockouts) to the ring to battle world champion kickboxer Denis Grachev of the 11-0-1, seven-KO record. Fellow unbeaten fighters Yuandale Evans (16-0, 12 KOs, WBC Youth Champion) and No. 8-ranked featherweight Javier Fortuna (18-0, 13 KOs) share top billing in these two 10-round bouts. Lower on the card, you'll find local up-and-comers Brice Ritani making his pro debut, Rayford Johnson, Daniel Henry also making his pro debut, Jawnta Manson, Nick Gonzales, and Cory Yett. I'm sure they would all love the support of their hometown crowd. You won't want to miss the action live, but if you've recently broken both of your legs or had some other such tragic, demobilizing injury, you can view the fights live on ESPN. For more, including interviews with Jones Jr. and several of the boxers, see "Roy Jones Jr. Knows What Boxing Needs To Survive" and "Sillakh Wants To Change the Way You Look at Boxing," by Kenny Pailes on the Chronicle Sports blog, The Score.
Fri., April 27, 8pm. Frank Erwin Center, 1701 Red River, 477-6060. $25-100. www.uterwincenter.com.
