FIGHT CARD AT COX PAVILION IN LAS VEGAS ON MAY 16,

TELEVISED LIVE ON ESPN’S “FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS”

Art Pelullo/Banner Promotions, Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, and UNLVtickets.com will present a sensational fight card on Friday, May 16, in the PH ring at the Cox Pavilion, which is connected to the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main event and co-featured bouts will be televised live on ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights.”

In the light heavyweight main event scheduled for 10 rounds, former two-time heavyweight world champion Chris Byrd, 40-4-1 with 21 knockouts, of Las Vegas, will fight Shaun George, 16-2-2 with 7 knockouts, of Brooklyn, New York.

Now 37 years old, Chris won the WBO heavyweight world title in April, 2000, with a TKO against defending champion Vitali Klitschko. He fought at the Cox Pavilion in August, 2001, and beat David Tua in an IBF heavyweight elimination bout. He went on to win the vacant IBF heavyweight world title in December, 2002, with a 12 round decision against Evander Holyfield, and made four successful title defenses. A native of Flint, Michigan, Chris represented the United States in the 1992 Olympics and won the silver medal at 165 pounds.

This will be his first fight at 175 pounds since his second pro fight in 1993, and the first time he hasn’t been at a weight disadvantage in the ring since January, 2000.

George, 29 years old, is a seven-year pro. He has won three fights in a row, which includes a decision win against former light heavyweight contender Richard Hall in May, 2007.

Koba Gogoladze, 20-2 with 8 knockouts, will battle Ji-hoon Kim, 13-5 with 10 knockouts, of Goyang, Korea, in the co-featured featherweight bout scheduled for eight rounds.

Planned televised bouts currently include a six-rounder featuring talented Russian jr. welterweight prospect Ruslan Provodnikov, 7-0 with 6 knockouts, against an opponent to be announced.

Three more bouts are planned to complete the card. All bouts are subject to change without notice.

Doors open: 4:00 P.M. (all times PT)

Fight fight: 5:00 P.M.

Ticket prices: $28, $48, $78.

Tickets are available at: www.unlvtickets.com, all UNLVtickets outlets, and by phone at 702-739-FANS.