TORONTO, ON - When Steve Molitor steps into a ring to defend his IBF Junior Featherweight title champion, it’s always a great event. But on August 29th, when Molitor faces undefeated Argentine challenger Ceferino Dario LaBarda at Casino Rama’s Rumble at Rama V, he will be headlining a card that is one of the deepest in Canadian boxing history.

Allan Tremblay, President of Orion Sports Management, revealed the monumental undercard Thursday at a press conference at Toronto’s Delta Chelsea Hotel.

In the co-feature, Drummondville, Quebec’s Benoit Gaudet (17-1, 7 KO’s) defends his NABA Super Featherweight belt against Mexico City’s Alejandro Barrera (18-1, 12 KO’s).

Also on the card, NABA Super Bantamweight champion, Montreal’s Olivier Lontchi (16-0-1, 6 KO’s), moves up to featherweight, and challenges Alberto “Kichis” Garza (16-4-1, 12 KO’s) for the vacant NABA 126 lb. belt.

Aside from the three title fights that highlight the stacked card, Canadian heavyweight

champion Raymond Olubowale (6-2-1, 4 KO’s) seeks revenge against hard-hitting Demetrice King (14-16, 12 KO’s).

And rounding out the action, Polish Olympian Greg Kielsa (6-0, 3 KO’s) tries to keep his undefeated record intact when he takes on reigning New York State Heavyweight champion Darrel Madison (10-1, 3 KO’s).

“I can’t remember a card this stacked ever in the province of Ontario, and it could be one of the best cards we’ve ever seen in this country,” Tremblay said.

“Every fight could very well be a headliner on any other card.”

“I couldn’t be happier with the fights we have lined up for Canadian boxing fans.”

Tickets for Rumble at Rama V are $125, $75, $50 and $25, and are now on-sale in-person at the Casino Rama Box Office, and at all TicketMaster locations, by calling (416) 870-8000, or ordering on-line at www.casinorama.com.  Ticket prices do not include applicable taxes or service charges.

Doors open at 7:00 P.M. First bell is at 8:00 P.M.  And TSN’s telecast of the main event will begin at 10:30 PM.

Gaudet will be making the second defense of the NABA 130 lb. title after going the distance in a decision win over Jhohnny Antequera this past July in Brossard, Quebec. Gaudet captured the vacant title in November of 2007, with a 12 round unanimous decision over Alberto Garza, in Gaudet’s hometown of Drummondville.

Gaudet’s counterpart on August 29, Alejandro Barrera, will be looking to bounce back from his only career loss, a disputed split decision setback to former WBC Featherweight champion, Cesar Soto this past May, in Juarez, Mexico.

Barrera’s biggest win to date was in December of 2002, when he dethroned NABA Super Bantamweight champ Frankie Archuleta via 12 round majority decision.

Olivier Lontchi is perhaps Steve Molitor’s only domestic rival in the 122-126 lb. universe, and Ontario boxing fans will get their first live glimpse at the undefeated prospect, who, after a brief, albeit extremely successful, stint at 122 lbs., will be making his featherweight return.

After spending most of his career fighting at or near 126 lbs., Lontchi dropped four pounds in November of 2007 to face former WBO Bantamweight champion Cruz Carbajal, and won the most important fight of his career, capturing the vacant NABA and NABO Super Bantamweight titles with a lopsided unanimous decision win.

Lontchi defended the NABA title this past March with another easy unanimous decision, this time over tough-as-nails veteran Roberto Lopez.

In Alberto Garza, Lontchi faces a man hungry to get his career back on track, having lost his last two contests.

In November of 2007, Garza dropped a unanimous decision to the aforementioned Benoit Gaudet in their battle for the vacant NABA Super Featherweight belt.

Previous to the Gaudet battle, Garza suffered a tenth round TKO at the hands of the undeniably tough Cristobal Cruz, the current IBO Featherweight champion.

 

While the meat of the Rumble at Rama V undercard spotlights fighters in the lower weight divisions, the big boys will be announcing their presence with authority when Canadian Heavyweight champion Raymond Olubowale tries to avenge the most devastating loss of his career when he faces one of the true sleepers in the division, Demetrice King.

In October of 2007, on the undercard of Rumble at Rama II, the powerful King dug deep, stopping Olubowale in the final moments of their six round war.

Olubowale has since gotten back on the winning track, notching a six round TKO over veteran Galen Brown this past May, while King recently saw what was a five fight KO win streak come to an end, dropping an eight round unanimous decision to comebacking former world title challenger, Michael Grant.

But the heavyweight action doesn’t end there. In the first bout of the evening, Polish heavyweight Greg Kielsa will try to make it seven straight wins to start his professional career, when he faces the equally motivated Darrel Madison.

Kielsa is fresh off his Las Vegas debut, a four round unanimous decision over Alvaro Morales in June, but if Kielsa wants to remain perfect, he’ll have his work cut out for him. Madison is fresh off a gritty unanimous decision win against his toughest foe to date, heavyweight gatekeeper Zuri Lawrence.

Madison’s only career setback came via disqualification in his second fight after his opponent was unable to continue after receiving a rabbit punch.

Here is the complete card for Rumble at Rama V, set for Casino Rama, on Saturday, August 29.

Steve Molitor (27-0, 10 KO’s) vs. Ceferino Dario LaBarda (18-0, 7 KO’s) - 12 rounds IBF Junior Featherweight Title.

Benoit Gaudet (17-1, 7 KO’s) vs. Alejandro Barrera (18-1, 12 KO’s) - 10 rounds, NABA Super Featherweight Title.

Olivier Lontchi (16-0-1, 6 KO’s) vs. Alberto Garza (16-4-1, 12 KO’s) - 10 rounds,  NABA Featherweight Title.

Raymond Olubowale (6-2-1, 4 KO’s) vs. Demetrice King (14-16, 12 KO’s) – Heavyweights, 6 rounds.

Greg Kielsa (6-0, 3 KO’s) vs. Darrel Madison (10-1, 3 KO’s) – Heavyweights, 8 rounds.