Connecticut super-bantamweight contender Mike “Machine” Oliver (21-0, 7 KO’s) will now take on 14-year, Colombian veteran Reynaldo Lopez (28-5-2, 19 KO’s) on this week’s installment of ESPN2’s Wednesday Night Fights, to be held at The Roxy in Boston, Massachusetts.

Oliver’s originally slated bout was to be against Julio Zarate, in an IBF Title Eliminator, but that fight fell through during the negotiation process.

“We tried in vein to make the fight with Zarate, but they refused to fight us on May 7, and that was extremely disappointing,” Cappiello stated. “However, my obligation, first and foremost to Mike Oliver, is to keep him active and continue moving him toward what I believe is an imminent world title fight. That, coupled with my commitment to ESPN, left us no other option than to find another worthy opponent for May 7th, and that is exactly what have in Reynaldo Lopez! This promises to be one heck of a main event, and I am thrilled that Mike Oliver is going to have the opportunity to showcase his talent, to a nationwide audience, and show that he is truly a star in the making!”

The evening’s co-feature bout will pit Philadelphia’s Aaron Torres (16-6, 6 KO’s) against Miami, Florida’s Antoine “The Truth” Smith (9-1, 5 KO’s). Torres, of The Contender: Season 2 fame, will enter the bout riding a two fight win-streak, after having dropped five consecutive bouts. Smith will climb into the opening bout of the ESPN2 broadcast with a 4-0-1 record in his last five ring appearances. His last, and only loss, was a July, 2007 decision defeat at the hands of Ed Paredes.

Also scheduled to for action on the under card is local junior welterweight fan-favorite Sean Eklund (5-2, 1 KO), who is trained by his uncle “Irish” Micky Ward, Eklund will take on Worcester, Massachusetts’ Jose Velasquez (0-2). Heavy-handed, Lawrence, Massachusetts middleweight Eddie Caminero (3-0, 3 KO’s) faces Columbus, Ohio’s William Armstead (2-5, 1 KO), Worcester, Massachusetts native Edwin Rosado (1-3, 1 KO) squares off against Philadelphia’s Emmanuel Roses (0-2), and Philadelphia prospect Frankie Trader makes his pro-debut against Worcester, Massachusetts’ Luis Rosario (4-12, 2 KO’s).
Tickets to the event, priced at $40 and $75, are available by calling 508-586-CAPP (2277). For further information, and updates on this exciting event, please visit www.cappielloboxing.com

Carl Froch v Rubin Williams

WBC super-middleweight mandatory challenger Carl Froch will box Rubin Williams in an international 12 round contest as the co-feature on a Hennessy Sports in association with GoldenPalace.com show at the Trent FM Arena Nottingham on Saturday, 10th May live on ITV1 and on a delayed ShoBox special in the US..

Froch will have his first fight since being made the official WBC mandatory challenger on the same show as WBC light-welterweight champion Junior Witter’s (Bradford, England) third world title defence against his mandatory challenger Timothy Bradley (Palm Springs, USA).

As Froch waits for his right to fight for the world title, the Forest season ticket holder is thrilled that his football team has repeated his success and moved up a level by winning automatic promotion to the Coco-Cola Championship.

Froch said: “I’m on the brink of realising my dreams and I hope Forest are too. We missed out last season in the playoffs but I am over the moon that Forest have secured automatic promotion and I have secured my WBC mandatory status.”

“It’s been frustrating watching us in this division, we deserve to be higher. I try and get to Forest as much as I can but when I’m training for fights down in London I can’t really go.”

Williams,32 (Michigan, United States) is looking to end the unbeaten record of Froch (Nottingham, England) and replaces Denis Inkin (Russia) who pulled out of a scheduled WBC final eliminator against Froch for a second time a week ago.

Promoter Mick Hennessy sees Williams as a tough assignment for Carl. He said: “Williams has stepped up to the plate so fair play to him. Others like Alejandro Berrio didn’t after his team verbally agreeing to fight Carl 10 days ago.”

“After Denis Inkin pulled out twice, and then Team Berrio changing their minds, Carl is obviously the one everyone wants to avoid now in the super-middleweight division. But Carl will fight for the prestigious WBC title in the fight after this one, so he can’t afford any mishaps.”

The Cobra’ gave a stinging response to Inkin and Berrio failing to step up to the plate.

He said: “Williams is a tall, rangy box puncher so he will be a good test for me, he has been very active this year and has already fought against two world class fighters that’s why he is ready to fight me right now.”

“Williams deserves a lot of credit he’ obviously prepared to fight anyone, he has a true fighters heart, unfortunately I can’t say the same for Inkin or Berrio”

“I’ve heard all of Inkin’s excuses, viruses, bad back, etc; I don’t buy it for a second. After doing this a second time to me the man’s got no honour he is a coward, he does not deserve to share a ring with me.”

“I am disappointed with Team Inkin for allowing this to happen. I could compile a list of things that have gone wrong with me in the lead up to both of these fights, from viruses to injuries to everyday niggles, but as fighters we would never fight if we took Team Inkin’s attitude.”

“Berrio was just as bad by mucking us about, one minute saying he was in and the next saying he was out.”

“It doesn’t matter who is in the corner though, I will still win in style and show everyone why Joe Calzaghe is avoiding me.”

Tickets can be purchased from Trent FM Arena Nottingham 24hr Ticket Hotline on 08444 124 624