By Kirk Chaisson

 

(Houston, TX) - Promoters from Houston and the East Coast are working on a major fight card to take place in Houston next month, but the details regarding the matchup between light heavyweights Chris Henry of Houston and Shaun George of New York are still being finalized. The situation reveals a collection of interests that could be involved in and impacted by the card, were it to take place.

A recent press release out of New York said the fight between Henry (23-2, 18 KO's) and George (18-2-2, 9 KO's) for the vacant North American Boxing Organization title was scheduled for July 10th at the Westside Tennis Club in Houston, and would be televised live on ESPN2. The online schedule for ESPN2 does have a listing for the bout, but says the location is yet to be announced. Henry is coming off a 12-round split decision loss to Yusaf Mack for the NABA/NABF Light Heavyweight titles in Salisbury, Maryland on February 6th. George's two most recent wins include a 9th round TKO over former IBF Heavyweight Champion Chris Byrd in Las Vegas in May of 2008, and a 1st round TKO over Jaffa Ballagou in New York on February 25th. Sources indicate the date would also include a 12-round matchup between highly regarded cruiserweights Matt "Too Smooth" Godfrey of Providence (18-1, 10 KO's) and Shawn Hawk of Sioux Falls, South Dakota (18-0-1, 16 KO's).

CES Promotions out of Providence, Rhode Island would be putting on the card. But the out-of-state promoter would need to partner with a locally licensed promoter to reserve the date with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), which oversees professional boxing in Texas. The state is still not listing the bout on its official schedule. TDLR Spokesperson Susan Stanford says no promoter has approached the state regarding a boxing card in Houston on that date. "We don't know anything about it," Stanford said.

In addition, the financial arrangements regarding CES Promotions' partnership with a local promoter or promoters are still not settled, BoxingScene.com/HoustonBoxingScene.com has learned.

Original word was that CES would be teaming up with former heavyweight contender "Big" Lou Savarese in putting on the fight. But Savarese, who would be making his first foray into boxing promotion, says neither his participation, nor the venue selection of the West Side Tennis Club have been finalized.

CES Promotions President Jimmy Burchfield was contacted on two occasions and said he was too busy to speak.

Also entering the mix is Houston's Rock Solid Promotions, headed by Cameron Park, who has also been in talks with CES Promotions. As might be expected, one unresolved issue is how much of the financial burden each of the promoters would assume in putting on the event. The purses and other expenses of two such high-profile matchups is far greater than with most Houston cards, and the money coming from ESPN would cover only about a third of the expected costs. Park declined to offer specific figures, but he says there is some question whether local ticket sales would generate enough additional revenue to make the venture profitable for the promoters.

"CES is working just as hard as we are to make it possible," said Park. "They understand how expensive the production is. They're trying to figure out some ways to increase the revenue for the card."

Further complicating the matter is the fact that another boxing card has already been scheduled to take place in Houston the night after the Henry/George card. Akondaye Fountain's Calm Before The Storm Promotions has announced her company's first-ever card for July 11th at the San Miguel Arena, featuring Jose "Topita" Gutierrez, Lanard Lane and Johanna Mendez, among others. Two cards back-to-back in Houston could draw fans and ticket sales away from one another.

Fountain says she's not concerned.

I think it'll be fine," says Fountain. "I think there's a different market. The fighters on my show will bring their own fans and the same for the other show. Right now I'm excited because I'm having some good feedback and support."

Despite the unfinished details, Park says there is a good chance that the Henry/George card will take place as fans would hope.

"I still feel optimistic,” Park says. "We have a deadline of the end of the day today (Wednesday) to come up with a formula to make this work. If we can't get it done the fights will probably be relocated to somewhere out of state."