Don King Signs Chicago Heavyweight Carl Davis- Davis Fights at Home this Fri.
Tavoris Cloud in Main Event for USBA, NABA and NABO Light Heavyweight Titles

“Davis is going to be the city of Chicago's newest franchise!” Don King

March 24 (Chicago, IL)- Legendary boxing promoter Don King has announced the signing of 6’5’ power punching heavyweight Carl Davis of Chicago to a promotional contract.  Managed by A-Team Boxing, Davis will face Jermell Barnes this Friday, March 28 at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago on a card co-promoted by A-Team Boxing and 8 Count Productions.

“Big, bad Carl Davis,” King said.  “He's a world class puncher from a world class city with world class fans.  Fans love knock out power in their heavyweight champions and if Carl keeps it up, he's getting fast tracked to his shot at the heavyweight title.”

“Chicago is my kind of town and home to some of the greatest teams in sports,” King continued.  “Carl Davis is going to be the city of Chicago's newest franchise.”

Davis and undefeated contender Tavoris Cloud (17-0, 16 KOs), share a bill of outstanding fights at the Aragon Ballroom (Aragon.com) located at 1106 W. Lawrence in Chicago.  Cloud, rated #5 IBF, #8 WBO and #12 WBA, faces St. Louis native Mike Wood (19-6-1, 11 KOs) in a 12-round championship bout with three light heavyweight titles, the USBA, NABA and NABO, at stake.  

Davis (10-2, 8 KOs) faces New York native Jermell Barnes (18-15-2, 4 KOs) over 8 rounds, or, for however long it lasts.  A native of Chicago’s south side, Davis has garnered quite the reputation as a huge puncher.  He is trained by Al Bonanni and managed by A-Team and Richie Parrillo.

At nearly 6’5” and 230 pounds, Davis might be as big of a puncher as any in the heavyweight division.  A world rated heavyweight who has faced Wladimir Klitschko says that Davis hits harder than Klitschko.  

A natural athlete, Davis played high school football at Julian where his team won the Prep Bowl at Soldier Field.  Later, Davis played football in Hamilton, Ontario in the Canadian Football League and briefly in the Arena League, but returned to Chicago after suffering an injury.

Davis turned to boxing as a form of rehab.  Soon after, he entered the super heavyweight division of the Chicago Golden Gloves tournament where he knocked out all four opponents to win the title.  Davis won the Chicago Golden Gloves twice before turning professional.

In August of 2005, during a ferocious sparring session at Chicago’s famed Windy City Gym, Davis accidentally cut Andrew Golota causing Golota to be scratched from his bout at the United Center.  Less than a month later, tragedy would strike when Davis was sparring with his friend, professional heavyweight Drew Kidd (3-0, 2 KOs).

Davis delivered a punch that sent Kidd into a seizure and later a coma.  The doctors gave a grim prognosis.  Davis was devastated.  It was a tragic, freak accident.  They had sparred many times.  Both were wearing headgear.

Eventually, Kidd awakened and began working toward recovery.   Drew’s  dramatic come back is a testament to his fighting spirit.

With his career having been stalled for a year, Davis was now ready to put his career back on track.   

First up, he signed a management deal with A-Team.  Under their guidance, Davis returned to the ring in February of ‘06, once again exhibiting his punching power with a first round knockout over African heavyweight Innocent Otukwu.  

“A-Team and Richie Parrillo are tremendous managers who have made it possible for me to shoot for my dream of being the heavyweight champion of the world,” Davis said.  “Now that I’ve added the world’s greatest promoter, the legendary Don King, to my team, nothing can stop me.  The road to the championship continues Friday night at the Aragon.”

In Friday night’s main event, world rated light heavyweight Tavoris Cloud (17-0, 16 KOs) faces St. Louis native Mike Wood (19-6-1, 11 KOs) in a 12-round championship bout for the USBA, NABA and NABO light heavyweight titles. Trained by veteran coach Al Bonanni, Cloud is co-promoted by Jerry Attardi of A-Team and Dominic Pesoli of 8 Count Productions.

A win on Friday should boost Cloud’s rankings further and secure him a title eliminator bout.

“This Friday’s win should qualify Cloud for the IBF box off against Roy Jones Jr. or Yuro Barashian,” said Bonanni.  “At this point in his career, I’m sure Jones is only looking for pay-per-view mega fights and Bernard Hopkins is fighting Joe Calzaghe, so we should get a shot at Barashian who just beat Thomas Ulrich in Germany.”

A Tallahassee native, Cloud has fought 10 of his last 11 fights in Chicagoland and has become a fan favorite for his relentless body attacks and crowd-pleasing style.

In the evening’s co-main event, two-time Chicago Golden Gloves champion and south side native Louis Turner, (11-1, 7 KOs) faces Jesus Valverde (21-14-1, 16 KOs) in an eight round middleweight bout.  Although Valverde has losses, his record is solid and the native of Mazatlan, Mexico has never been stopped in his 36-bout career.

Rounding out the card, middleweight Johnny Suarez (1-0-1, 1 KO) from Los Angeles and additional bouts to be announced.

Tickets, priced at $30, $50, $100 and $200, are available from TicketMaster.com, Ticket Master by phone (312/559-1212), Aragon.com or from the 8 Count Productions office at 312/226-5800.  

Doors open at 7 pm.  First bout at 8 pm.

Additional bouts to be announced shortly.