The August 1 edition of ESPN Friday Night Fights will feature an IBF eliminator between Gabriel “Chico Guapo” Campillo (23-6-1, 9 KOs) and undefeated Thomas “Top Dog” Williams Jr. (17-0, 12 KOs) in the 12-round main event. The winner of the fight will be ranked No. 2 by the IBF. Friday’s show from the Little Creek Casino in Shelton, Wash., will air live at 9 p.m. ET and is promoted by Goossen Promotions.
Main Event:
Washington D.C.’s Williams — the son of former Heavyweight veteran Thomas Williams — is coming off a third-round TKO win over Enrique Ornelas on the April 24 edition of Friday Night Fights. Campillo, who hails from Spain and won the WBA Light Heavyweight title in 2009 before losing the belt in 2010, is looking to score another victory following a seventh-round TKO win over Ricky Pow in his last fight.
“I’ve seen Campillo fight in person,” Williams said. “I fought on the undercard when he fought Tarvoris Cloud. I sat and watched because it was a championship fight in my weight class, and I just wanted to look at him. He didn’t really impress me, he’s definitely beatable. He’s going to try to run around, but he won’t run around for that long. If you negate everything and cut the ring off, he won’t be able to move too much. I’m going to catch him – they can run, but they can’t hide. I’m going to catch up with him and when I do, I’m going to put the work in.”
Sampson Lewkowicz, Campillo’s advisor, said, “For Campillo, it’s the ‘last tango.’ He’s got to do his best and win, or it could be his last time in boxing….Campillo feels the same way and has said so, but he is confident that he can win this fight and then go on to win the world title.”
Co-Feature:
Friday’s 10-round co-feature will pit 2004 Olympian “The Matrix” Andre Dirrell (21-1, 14 KOs) of Flint, Michigan, fighting out of Boca Raton, Florida, against Providence Rhode Island’s Vladine “Mr. Providence” Biosse (15-4-2, 7 KOs). In his last outing, Dirrell won a 10-round unanimous decision over Michael Gbenga, while Biosse is looking to rebound from a 10-round unanimous decision loss to Callum Smith.
Dirrell couldn’t hold back his enthusiasm when asked about his upcoming bout. “I’m too excited on my return to the ring to make any predictions on the fight. I just want to hear the bell ring and get back to what I do best against a very tough Biosse.”
Dirrell will be making his return to action following an eighteen-month layoff. He last fought on February 2, 2013 winning a ten round unanimous decision over veteran Michael Gbenga in McAllen, Texas.
In the memorable first round of the Super Six Tournament the Flint, Michigan native was the victim of questionable judging travelling to Nottingham, England; seeming to defeat hometown favorite Carl Froch on October 17, 2009 only to suffer the only blemish on an otherwise undefeated career via split decision.
The second round of the tournament saw Dirrell rebound to defeat Abraham on March 27, 2010 by disqualification after being illegally hit while taking a knee in the eleventh round. Unable to continue and well ahead on the scorecards and having knocked Abraham down in the 4th round, Dirrell was awarded the victory. However, due to head injuries suffered from the illegal punch, he was unable to continue in the tournament.
Fighting out of Providence, Rhode Island, the 32-year old fellow southpaw, Biosse, has compiled a record of 15-4-2 (7 KO’s) over his five-year career.
In February of this year, the former University of Rhode Island football player gave highly touted world-ranked prospect J’Leon Love huge problems before succumbing to his talent in the 10th round.
