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NEW YORK (March 16, 2009) – DiBella Entertainment has furthered bolstered its light heavyweight roster with yesterday’s signing WBC #6/WBA #7/IBF #11 rated 175 lbs. contender Yusaf Mack. With Mack now on board, DBE boasts a ultra-talented trio of light heavyweight contenders that also includes WBC #8/IBF #9/WBA #13 contender Shaun George and legendary “Road Warrior” Glen Johnson (co-promoted by Seminole Warriors Boxing and DBE). All three DBE fighters are ready and willing to challenge the top reigning American light heavyweight world champion, Chad Dawson (WBC).
Mack (27-2-2, 16 KOs), a 29-year-old Philadelphia native, now fighting out of New York City, is the reigning WBA NABA & NABF light heavyweight titlist. He recently scored the most significant victory of his career – outpointing IBF #6/WBC #7 rated contender Chris Henry on February 6 in Salisbury, Maryland, as seen on ESPN2.
“I’m thrilled to now be promoting Yusaf Mack – one of the hottest light heavyweights in the world, whose beaten Daniel Judah, Omar Pittman and Chris Henry in succession in less than ten months! Yusaf has earned the accolades and deserves his shot at a world championship,” said DBE president Lou DiBella.
“It’s been fun building up Yusaf Mack with my co-manager, Greg Cipriano. We are Team Mack and we believe Yusaf is a true champion. We’re 4-0 with 2 ESPN wins – the last being against Chris Henry who no one thought we could beat. Now we’ve taken the next step and signed with Lou DiBella of DiBella Entertainment on Friday March 13th. Lou is by far the most savvy guy in the business. He knows how to match and move his fighters and bring them to where they need to be at every level. This fit between Team Mack and DiBella will be one to remember,” said Rory Donadio.
“With my hard work and the smarts of my managers, Rory Donadio and Greg Cipriano, I have moved into a 4-0 win. When I walked into Lou DiBella’s office on Friday, March 13th, I knew I was home. I felt lucky, excited and ready to open a long and successful career with Mr. DiBella and DiBella Entertainment,” said Mack.
The New York City-based promoter feels all three of his DBE world-rated light heavyweights are viable challengers to current WBC world champion Chad Dawson and all offer boxing fans potentially explosive light heavyweight championship matchups.
DiBella: “We already saw Glen Johnson give Dawson (27-0, 17 KOs) all he could handle last year in very close fight on Showtime…many ringsiders thought Glen won…there’s clearly unfinished business there. Shaun George has developed into a feared puncher and a Dawson-George matchup would be extremely compelling. Mack is an aggressive “Philadelphia-style” fighter that will take the fight to Dawson – producing great two-way action. All three bouts are potentially great fights for boxing fans.”
Johnson (49-12-2, 33 KOs) is one of this era’s best light heavyweight champions. The “Road Warrior” holds a knockout victory over all-time great Roy Jones Jr., as well as victories over former 175 lbs. world champions Antonio Tarver, Montell Griffin and Clinton Woods. Most recently, on February 27, Johnson avenged a 2003 draw versus Daniel Judah by unanimously outpointing Judah by wide margins at the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida.
George (18-2-2, 9 KOs) has been an avoided man since dismantling (TKO 9) former two-time heavyweight champion Chris Byrd last May in Las Vegas. In his first ring appearance since that sensational victory, George blew away respected veteran contender Jaffa Ballogou at 1:26 of the opening round in a DBE “Broadway Boxing” main event on February 25 in New York City.
