THE LEGENDARY “EXECUTIONER” TO FACE ENRIQUE ORNELAS LIVE ON VERSUS NETWORK
PHILADELPHIA, PA (October 9, 2009) – Long synonymous with the fighting city of Philadelphia, future Hall of Famer Bernard Hopkins’ remarkable career will continue in his hometown on Wednesday, December 2, when “The Executioner,” who will be fighting in Philly for the first time since 2003, faces hard-hitting Enrique Ornelas at the Liacouras Center at Temple University in a 12-round bout in the light heavyweight division that will be televised live on the VERSUS network.
In addition to fighting for his fans, Hopkins will be fighting for charity as he has committed to donating one dollar from each ticket sold to each of two of his favorite charities. The Make-A-Wish Foundation, to which he will donate in memory of Shaun Negler, the 18-year-old brain cancer sufferer whose final wish was to sit ringside at Hopkins’ bout against Calzaghe who sadly passed away in 2008, will be one beneficiary. While the other recipient of the fight’s proceeds will benefit the Fraternal Order of Police in Philadelphia, who need support from the entire community for their continued work to fight crime in the City of Brotherly Love.
“I’m thrilled about the opportunity to once again bring a fight to the city of Philadelphia,” said Hopkins, the former middleweight champion who owns a perfect 10-0 record in Philly. “A lot has changed in my career since I fought here six years ago and I want to give my fans the chance to see me fight again at home. To top it off, a portion of the proceeds from this fight will go to two charities that are extremely important to me. December 2 is going to be a great night for boxing and a great night for Philadelphia.”
“Fighting Bernard Hopkins is an honor and I thank him for the opportunity,” said Ornelas. “But once the bell rings, I’m going to do everything in my power to beat him and show the world what I can do when the spotlight is shining brightest.”
“Broad Street Brawl”: Hopkins vs. Ornelas is presented by Golden Boy Promotions East and will be televised live on the VERSUS network beginning at 8pm ET/PT. Doors open at 5:00pm and the first bell rings at 6:00pm.
Tickets, priced at $200, $100, $75, $50 and $25, will go on sale on Thursday, October 15 at10am and may be purchased at The Liacouras Center Box Office, at www.ComcastTIX.com, or by calling 800-298-4200. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.liacourascenter.com.
A man who needs no introduction to fight fans, Philadelphia native Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins (49-5-1, 32 KO’s) already assured himself a spot in the boxing Hall of Fame with his more than 10-year reign as champion atop the middleweight division with a record 20 successful title defenses. Never one to rest on his laurels, in 2006 Hopkins moved up in weight and recorded a huge win over Antonio Tarver to win the light heavyweight title. With his subsequent win over Winky Wright and his destruction of the younger and then undefeated Kelly Pavlik in his most recent bout in October of 2008, Hopkins is showing the world that life begins at 40. Now 44 years young, Hopkins is back in action and eager to continue to show the young guns how it’s done.
Hard-hitting, Enrique Ornelas (29-5, 19 KO’s) has emerged from the shadow of his older brother, super middleweight contender Librado Andrade, and carved out his own niche in the fight game with his aggressive style and fight-ending power. Fresh off of a fourth round stoppage of Roberto Baro in July, the 29-year-old Los Angeles based native of Jesus Del Monte, Mexico is eager to put his mark in the history books by becoming one of the few fighters to own a win over Bernard Hopkins.
Despite being home to such legendary fighters such as Joe Frazier, Matthew Saad Muhammad, Jeff Chandler and Tommy Loughran, Philadelphia may be known to fight fans mainly for the great middleweights it has produced over the years, including Bernard Hopkins, Bennie Briscoe, Willie ‘The Worm’ Monroe and Bobby “Boogaloo” Watts. These 160-pound warriors made their names in such storied venues as the Blue Horizon and the Spectrum and with their never surrender attitude in the ring, it let the world know just what it meant to be a “Philly Fighter”.
