USMC Sgt. Jim
Smith living out dream on "Labor Daze" show
Biosse-King headline Friday night's CES show at Twin River Event Center, RI
PROVIDENCE (Aug. 30, 2010) – U.S. Marine Sgt. James Smith
has been in the ring at most Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc. (CES) pro
boxing shows at Twin River since 2008 as part of the Honor Guard accompanying
the singing of the National Anthem. This Friday night, however, Smith will be
out of uniform and wearing trunks for his pro debut.
Undefeated Providence super middleweight Vladine Biosse
(7-0, 4 KOs) leads the next generation of New England fighters into action on
Friday night's "Labor Daze" card, presented by CES, at the Twin River Event
Center in Lincoln, RI.
The Cape Verdean native Biosse (7-0, 4 KOs), a former
University of Rhode Island football player, defends his EBA title against
Ibahiem "The Almighty" King (7-4, 2 KOs) in the 8-round main
event.
Smith, a super welterweight matched against Shawn Pyles
(0-1) in a 4-round bout, is originally from Portland, Maine. The 26-year-old
has been an active U.S. Marine for the last seven years. He is presently
stationed in Rhode Island -- living in Warwick with his wife and two children
-- attached to the Rhode Island Reserves assisting with training for upcoming
deployment overseas. Sgt. Smith has done two tours in Iraq.
Sgt. Smith has been on leave since Aug. 23 training for his pro
boxing debut, something he has dreamed about since he was a little boy. "I've
been a gym rat since I was four or five," he explained. "I remember sitting on
my father's shoulders watching Joey Gamache win the world title (June 13, 1992
when Maine's favorite son Gamache knocked out Chil Sung Chin in the ninth
round at Cumberland Civic Center in Portland). Fighting as a pro has been on
my mind since then."
In 2009, Sgt. Smith captured top honors in the 152-pound
decision of the New England Golden Gloves, defeating Michael Andrade. "I'm
through with being nervous; now I'm just anxious to get in the ring and
succeed in my pro debut," James added. "I'm taking a realistic approach to
boxing. I know what it takes to be world champion having grown up watching
Joey Gamache and Marcus Davis (now a UFC star). Maybe someday I'll get a title
shot; I'm only 26 and have some time. I'll see where it goes."
Other 4-round bouts on the card include Fall River (MA) super
welterweight Dustin Reinhold (2-1, 2 KOs) vs. Providence's pro-debuting
Rameil Shelton, a senior at Tolman High in Pawtucket; Woonsocket (RI)
super middleweight Joe Gardner (5-1-1, 1 KO) vs. New Bedford’s (MA)
Eric Pinarreta (2-4, 2 KOs); New Bedford (MA) super lightweight
Jonathan Vazquez (1-0, 1 KO) vs. Tony Marks (0-4); Providence
firefighter and cruiserweight Eric Estrada (1-0, 1 KO) vs. Tauheed
Wheeler (0-3); and Barnstable (MA) heavyweight Jesse “Bad News”
Barboza (3-1, 3 KOs) vs. Antonio Robertson (0-1). All fights and
fighters are subject to change.
Tickets for "Labor Daze," priced at $35.00, $50.00, $75.00 and
$125.00, are available to purchase by calling CES (401.724.2253/2254), going
online at
www.cesboxing.com or
www.twinriver.com, at Twin River's Players Club booth at Twin
River, or any TicketMaster location. Ticket-buyers who purchase a VIP seat
will also receive a 25%-off coupon for Fred and Steve's Steakhouse, valid for 30
days following the fight.
Contact CES (401.724.2253/2254/www.cesboxing.com)
or the Twin River Event Center (877.82.RIVER/
www.twinriver.com) for more
information. Doors open at 6:00PM/ET, first bout at 7:00 PM/ET.
(Twin River has waived its 18+ rule for "Labor Daze." Anybody
under the age of 18 must be accompanied at all times by an adult and they must
enter through the West entrance.)
9-1-2010
