Top-rated contender JOSHUA CLOTTEY will risk his world ranking and accept the challenge by undefeated contender RICHARD GUTIERREZ for a 12-round welterweight battle in the co-main event of a spectacular card headlined by the Vivian Harris-Mike Arnaoutis NABO jr. welterweight championship.
Promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, both fights will be televised live Saturday, July 29, on HBO's "Boxing After Dark," from the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, CA. The live telecast will begin at 10:30 P.M. ET (delayed west coast broadcast will begin at 10:30 P.M. PT)..
Clottey, 28-1 (18 KOs), from the Bronx by way of Ghana, is one of the division's most exciting stars. Currently world-rated No. 4 by the WBO, No. 5 by the WBC and No. 6 by the IBF, he has a near-perfect record, the only blemish, a disputed loss by disqualification in 1999 to current welterweight champion Carlos Baldomir. Clottey, ahead on all three judges' scorecards after 10 rounds of their WBC International welterweight championship bout (the winning margin was four points on one card and two points on the other two), was disqualified in the 11th round for a low blow without the benefit of the customary warning. Clottey returned to his winning ways after that fight and has gone unbeaten in his next 10 bouts, including a victory over top-10 contender Christopher Henry for the NABC title and Marcos Primera for the interim WBC Continental Americas championship
Gutierrez, 18-0 (11 KOs), from Colombia, is a fast-rising prospect known for his aggressive, take no prisoners style. Since making his U.S. debut last year, Gutierrez has become a fighter to notice, scoring knockout victories of Edson Aguirre and Luis Alberto Santiago, followed by a 10-round decision over Hicklet Lau in April. In his American TV debut, Gutierrez was held to a three-round no contest on ESPN2 May 19 when his bout against Thomas Davis was halted after Davis suffered a cut from an accidental head butt. He is currently rated No. 15 by the IBF.
The main event will pit former WBA super lightweight champion Harris in a 12-round challenge of undefeated NABO jr. welterweight champion Arnaoutis in a battle of Top-Five contenders. Their combined record is an impressive 43 Wins - 2 Losses - 2 Draws (26 KOs).
Remaining tickets, priced at $45, $65, $85, $105, and $145, can be purchased at the Chumash Casino Resort box office, calling Star TicketsPlus at (800) 585-3737 or online at http://premier.ticketsplus.net/TicketsPlus/pipeline/ticketselect.asp?nt=CHMHBOBX06&sc=CHMHBOBX06
