Hard-hitting heavyweights Kimbo Slice and Franklin“Yah Yah” Lawrence will be showcased in separate bouts October 15 on the“Rumble in the Heartland” card, presented by Gary Shaw Productions and Legacy Communications, at Heartland Events Center in Grand Island, Nebraska.
“Two of the biggest hitters in boxing, Kimbo Slice and Franklin Lawrence, will be in action for Cornhusker fans to watch in the ring,” promoter Gary Shaw said. “Slice is just frightening and he’s going to do much better in boxing than MMA. Lawrence is very dangerous, too, and the best-kept secret in the heavyweight division. It’s going to be a very exciting night of world-class boxing. Fans better not leave their seats during the action because somebody’s lights could go out at anytime.”
Co-promoted by Shaw and Tony Holden, Kimbo Slice, aka Kevin Ferguson, headlines the Nebraska show against Ray Bledsoe(2-3, 2 KOs) in a four-round bout. An underground combat-fighting legend, Slice has quickly developed as a boxer with world-renown trainer John David Jackson in his corner. In his pro boxing debut this past August in Miami, Oklahoma, Slice needed only 17 seconds to record a sensational knockout of James Wade.
The 36-year-old Lawrence (16-2-2, 11 KOs), presently ranked No. 15 by the World Boxing Council (“WBC”), takes on Nigerian strongman Raymond “King Kong” Ochieng (23-14-3, 18 KOs) in an 8/10-round bout.
Late-blooming Franklin is the reigning WBC CABOFE (Caribbean Boxing Federation) and International Boxing Organization (“IBO”) Inter-Continental heavyweight champion. Since losing to former world champion Oliver McCall by a close 10-round decision in 2009, Lawrence has reeled-off four impressive wins in a row, all by knockout, against former NABA& NABO titlist Lance Mount” Whitaker (KO7), 2004 U.S. Olympian Jason “Big Six” Estrada (TKO10), ex-CABOFC champion Jason Gavern (RTD7) and veteran Marcus Rhode (TKO1).
Also fighting on the Oct. 15 card in a six/eight-round fight is Abel “Truth Serum” Perry (15-5, 7 KOs) versus James “Boogie” Freeman (9-4, 7 KOs), lightweight Brandon “Pit Bull” Quintana faces Richard Flores in a six-round match, in addition to super flyweight Johnny Determan vs. Steven Johnson and light middleweight Reuben Rodriguezvs. Sean “Hollywood” Wilson, in a pair of four-round fights.
Tickets are priced at $220.00, $138.00, $45.00, $29.50 and $19.00 (plus fees) and available to purchase at the Heartland Events box office (Monday-Friday, 8 AM-4:30 PM), www.HeartlandEventsCenter.comor www.ticketmaster.com.
