Cuban crisis in Cork

21 June 2010 – Press Release

American’s Jason Barnett and Demetrius Davis cross the Atlantic this week intent on ending the unbeaten runs of Cork based Cuban’s Mike Perez and Luis Garcia. The duo along with compatriot Alexei Acosta feature on the Yanjing Beer Fight Night at the Neptune Stadium in Cork on Saturday as they feature on The Undefeated’s.

The Cuban trio along with Irish stars, Andy Murray, Willie Big Bang Casey and Gary Spike O’Sullivan will all be out to keep their unbeaten records intact but the experienced American duo of Barnett and Davis will be out to spoil the party.

Florida native Barnett takes on Mike Perez in a heavyweight battle while Washington veteran Davis will clash with Garcia in a super middleweight bout with both fights scheduled for eight rounds.

Both men will arrive in Cork on the back of big wins and are clearly in confident mood ahead of the weekend. Just last month Davis ended the unbeaten run of German prospect Arthur Hein and he is promising to do the same against Garcia.

“I’m in great shape for this fight and really looking forward to coming back to Europe and getting another big win, said Davis. Since coming back from Germany I haven’t been out of the gym and I’ve been in training camp sparring the WBA Light Heavyweight Champion Bebit Shumenov for this fight.

“They say Garcia is the next big thing but I heard the same stuff about Arthur Hein in Germany and I gave that boy a beating. I’ve ended fighters unbeaten records before and that’s what I plan on doing again in Ireland. I always look to put on a show and that’s exactly what I plan on giving the Irish fans. I ain’t travelling back and forth to Europe to clock up the air miles, I’m coming to win and to put myself in line for a title shot.”

Barnett will arrive filled with just as much confidence as his compatriot coming of the back of two big KO wins over the previously undefeated Erik Leander and John Poore. I think people look at my record of 12 wins and 10 losses and underestimate me, said Barnett. Certainly that’s what happened to my last two opponents and they got a rude awakening.

If you look closely at my record you’ll see that I’ve never had it easy so naturally things aren’t always going to go your way, said Barnett who’s previous opponents include current European Heavyweight Champ and Olympic Gold medallist, Audley Harrison.

For me boxing is mainly a mental game and my confidence is sky high right now after my last few fights and I feel I’m right where I need to be. In heavyweight boxing anything can happen and if you have the power like I do then it just takes one punch to turn a career right around.

Barnett says he has been following Perez’s progress as a pro including his record breaking, two fights in one night in Limerick last month but he refuses to be intimidated by the Cork based southpaw’s reputation as a possible future World Heavyweight champ.

Obviously in general the Cuban’s are great fighters and Perez is no exception. He’s a former World Amateur Champion and you have to respect that but I’ve been in with big names before and guys with big amateur pedigrees so that doesn’t bother me.

My last two wins have pushed me up the ratings and made some people sit up and take notice. Like I said boxing is a mental game and my mindset is a whole lot different right now . I was a decent enough amateur myself winning a Bronze at the Junior Olympics and I know that if I use the talent I have to it’s maximum them it doesn’t mater what credentials any of these guys have because I have the power to knock them out and that’s exactly what I plan on doing this Saturday.

Tickets for the Yanjing Beer Fight Night priced E25 & E50 are available from Ticketmaster, all Mahers Sports Outlets, Neptune Stadum 021 4395873, The Wilton Pub 021 4344454, Patrick Thomas 087 9393586, Gary O’Sullivan 085 1789544 and Willie Casey 086 3136925.