TWO HEAVY-HANDED SUPER LIGHTWEIGHTS LOOK TO CLOSE OUT 2017 IN SPECTACULAR FASHION: CLETUS “HEBREW HAMMER” SELDIN AND YVES ULYSSE JR. WILL BATTLE IN DEC. 16 TRIPLEHEADER OPENER
CARD WILL BE HEADLINED BY WBO WORLD MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT BETWEEN BILLY JOE SAUNDERS AND DAVID LEMIEUX
ALL THE ACTION TAKES PLACE AT PLACE BELL IN LAVAL, QUEBEC, CANADA TELEVISED LIVE ON HBO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®
LOS ANGELES (Nov. 28, 2017) A big jump in the super lightweight rankings will be on the line Saturday Dec. 16 when Cletus “Hebrew Hammer” Seldin (21-0, 17 KOs) returns just more than a month after a dominating KO victory to take on highly regarded Yves Ulysse, Jr. (14-1, 9 KOs) at Place Bell in Laval, Quebec, Canada.
The 10-round opening event of HBO World Championship Boxing begins live at 9:40 p.m. ET/PT.
The fight will serve as the TV opener for the main event featuring WBO World Middleweight Champion Billy Joe Saunders putting his belt on the line against former IBF World Middleweight Champion David Lemieux and the co-main event between Antoine “Action” Douglas and Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan for the WBO Intercontinental Middleweight title.
Fighting out of Long Island, NY, Seldin is a former WBC International Silver Super Lightweight Champion whose power has been on display throughout his career, culminating with a third-round knockout of previously once-defeated Roberto “Massa” Ortiz on November 11.
“My trainer and I have studied Yves Ulysse and know he is a solid boxer-puncher who fights with intensity and angles,” Seldin said. “He is as good as anyone in the 140-pound weight class, so it will be a hard-fought, exciting fight. I want to thank my promoter, Joe DeGuardia, and HBO for getting me right back in the ring and back on HBO again so quickly. I want to fight every month like this.”
Across the ring will be local Montreal product Ulysse, Jr., who at 29 has never fought an opponent with a losing record and has just one defeat by close split decision.
“It has always been my dream since I started boxing to perform on HBO, the world’s most prestigious television network,” Ulysse said. “I’m so happy to get the opportunity to do this at home, Dec. 16, and show the whole world what I’m capable of.”
“I’m thrilled to have Cletus Seldin back on HBO just one month since his exciting destruction of Roberto Ortiz on HBO,” said Star Boxing’s Joe DeGuardia. “The ‘Hebrew Hammer’ has a style that thrills fans like the old days of Rocky Marciano and Jake LaMotta with sensational knockout power and relentless aggression. I’m grateful to Peter Nelson and HBO for giving the fans another opportunity to see this crowd-pleasing fighter on HBO. We look forward to another exhilarating performance from Cletus Seldin, even though we recognize he will be fighting a skilled and talented opponent in Yves Ulysse, Jr.”
“I’m really looking forward to this great fight on this night of fireworks on December 16, said Eye of the Tiger Management President Camille Estephan. “Ulysse will put on the performance of his career and another star will be born.”
Header photo by Marilyn Paulino
