ST. CHARLES, Mo.—IBF No. 1-ranked light heavyweight Yusaf “Mack Attack” Mack (29-3-2, 17 KOs); WBC-USNBC undefeated national cruiserweight champion Ryan “The Irish Outlaw” Coyne (16-0, 6 KOs); and IBF No. 1-ranked junior middleweight Sechew “Iron Horse” Powell (26-2, 15 KOs) participated in media workouts today at the Sweat Pound 4 Pound Gym in Clayton, Mo., in support of Don King’s history-making fight card on Saturday at The Family Arena in nearby St. Charles (HBO: 9:45 p.m. ET/PT).
Mack will face undefeated IBF light heavyweight champion Tavoris “Thunder” Cloud (21-0, 18 KOs); Coyne will risk his WBC-USNBC national title (and the WBA just added their FEDELATIN international title) against undefeated David McNemar (13-0, 10 KOs); and Powell will tangle with IBF junior middleweight champion Cornelius “K9” Bundrage (30-4, 18 KOs).
“Tavoris Cloud is rough, tough and a ready-to-rumble-type guy, but I’ve got a plan for him,” Mack, a defiant Philadelphian, said. “He’s not all kicked up like he seems to be. Anybody can be beaten, and I’ll beat Tavoris on Saturday night. I want to show the world that I am worthy.”
Coyne planned to be appearing in his first world title match against WBA cruiserweight champion Guillermo Jones, but Jones suffered a training camp injury late last week that scuttled his appearance. Coyne, from St. Charles, Mo., will face undefeated David McNemar, from Parkersburg, W.Va.
“After [WBA champion] Guillermo Jones backed outlast week with an injury, it did hurt because this was supposed to be my first world title fight,” Coyne said of his initial reaction. “But I have an undefeated opponent in David McNemar opposing me on Saturday night, so I have to stay focused on the matter at hand.
“I’ll deal with Guillermo Jones and appearing in my first world championship only if I stay focused and win on Saturday night. That’s exactly what I plan to do.”
Powell, from Brooklyn, N.Y., will be making his first world championship appearance against Bundrage, the champion, from Detroit.
“Cornelius Bundrage waited a long time to get his title, and he picked the wrong guy to make his first defense against. It’s going to be Brooklyn against Detroit in St. Charles on Saturday night, and Brooklyn is going to come out victorious with the belt.”
Devon Alexander will face Lucas Matthysse in the main event.
Tickets priced at $25, $50, $125 and $300 are on sale now and can be purchased at the Family Arena Box Office, all MetroTix outlets including online at metrotix.com or charge by phone at (314) 534-1111. All tickets include parking. The event is being promoted by Don King Productions.
Raw Quotes
Yusaf Mack: “It feels good to be fighting for my first world title on Saturday night. I’ve worked hard to earn this, and I want to show the world that I am worthy.
“Tavoris Cloud is rough, tough and a ready-to-rumble-type guy, but I’ve got a plan for him. He’s not all kicked up like he seems to be. Anybody can be beaten, and I’ll beat Tavoris on Saturday night.”
Ryan Coyne: “After [WBA champion] Guillermo Jones backed outlast week with an injury, it did hurt because this was supposed to be my first world title fight. But I have an undefeated opponent in David McNemar opposing me on Saturday night, so I have to stay focused on the matter at hand.
“I’ll deal with Guillermo Jones and appearing in my first world championship only if I stay focused and win on Saturday night. That’s exactly what I plan to do.”
Sechew Powell: “I plan to make the most of my first chance at a world championship. Cornelius Bundrage waited a long time to get his title, and he picked the wrong guy to make his first defense against. It’s going to be Brooklyn against Detroit in that ring on Saturday night, and Brooklyn is going to come out victorious with the belt.”