IBA CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONS, VICTOR BARRAGAN VS JONTE WILLIS AND…AUTOGRAPH SIGNING WITH FORMER HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONS KEN NORTON AND…

Las Vegas – Crown Boxing presents IBA Cruiserweight Championship boxing match and former Heavyweight Champions Ken Norton and Leon Spinks, along with boxing legend Earnie Shavers autograph signing at LVH-Las Vegas Hotel & Casino on Saturday, February 4, 2012.

Crown Boxing, Inc. brings IBA Cruiserweight Champion Victor Barragan to defend his title against Jonte Willis, plus three Featherweight bouts and two sensational professional MMA fights. “We are excited to bring this full card of professional fighting,” said Ken Ciancimino, Executive Vice President. “We’ve had the latest and greatest at LVH (formerly known as Las Vegas Hilton). Thirty–four years ago Leon Spinks fought Muhammad Ali here. Keeping boxing alive here at LVH only makes sense.”

Ken Norton’s professional ring career began at the age of 23, and it was six years later that he finally got his shot at the title. Going up against Ali in 1973 for the North American Boxing Federation title, Norton seized the opportunity and won in what boxing experts call one of the most memorable fights of all time. This victory was followed the same year with another bout against Ali, and this time Ken lost a split decision. The two heavyweights met a final time in 1976, for the title. Norton lost this bout in a highly disputed split decision. Ken was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992.
Leon Spinks is a former World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association heavyweight champion of the world. While still an amateur, he also became a member of the United States Marine Corps. Spinks defeated 36 year old Muhammad Ali for the undisputed heavyweight championship in what was regarded as one of the bigger upsets in boxing, but later was stripped of the WBC title for fighting Ali in a rematch fight which he lost via 15-round unanimous decision.

Earnie Shaver, known as the Black Destroyer is listed #10 on The Ring’s ranking of the 100 greatest punchers of all-time. In 2003, Shavers compiled an impressive record at the start of his career, winning 44 of his first 47 fights by knockout, mostly against unremarkable opposition. His KO streak included 27 knockouts in a row, and over 20 victories were in the first round alone. Shavers fought Muhammad Ali at Madison Square Garden on September 29, 1977.

Tickets to the IBA Cruiserweight Championship are $25 – $100 plus tax and service charge and can be purchased at the LVH box office or by visiting www.thelvh.com or calling (702) 732-5755 or 1-800-222-5361. Autograph signings will be held in front of Tempo Lounge starting at 1 p.m. Photos, fight posters and gloves are available for purchase at the signing. Cash only.