World championship implications are on the line Saturday night (July 14) when former IBF champion and 1996 Olympic gold medalist Vassiliy "The Tiger" Jirov meets battle-tested veteran Kenny "The Raven" Craven (28-18, 23 KOs) in the 10-round main event on the "Thriller On The River" show, launching the "Pinnacle FiteNite" monthly pro boxing series to be broadcast from a wide variety of venues, at 4 Bears Casino and Lodge in New Town, North Dakota.
Jirov (36-3-1, 30 KOs) hopes that an impressive victory will position him for a world title shot, possibly against WBA title-holder Virgil "Quicksilver" Hill.
Unbeaten Crow Creek Reservation (SD) sensation Shawn "The Sioux Warrior" Hawk (14-0-1, 12 KOs), rated No. 13 by the NABO and No. 17 by the NABA, faces former NABC middleweight title challenger Roy "Bo" Skinner (11-4-2, 7 KOs) in the eight-round heavyweight co-feature.
"Thriller On The River," presented by 4 Bears Casino & Lodge in association with Sports and Entertainment Media, Inc., will air worldwide on a taped delay basis for free. Dates and times will soon be announced.
Undefeated New Jersey light heavyweight Chuck "The Professor" Mussachio (10, 5 KOs), former two-time National Collegiate Boxing Association, suffered a broken nose sparring last week and his fight against Pharoah "The Quiet Storm" Turner (9-0, 2 KOs) has been cancelled.
Las Vegas high-profile defense attorney Marc "The Defender" Saggese (1-0, 1 KO) takes on pro debuting Christian Bendickson in a four-round cruiserweight match. "I am living proof that every desk jockey in America does not have to concede that their competitive lives are over," Marc said. "A professional boxer and a Defense Attorney are the same; in one, you fight in the courtroom, in the other you fight in the ring. In both, you have an audience, an abundance of pressure, and you never know what your opponent is going to do next. Being prepared is the key to victory in the courtroom and ring."
Also on the undercard, in four rounds bouts, is Bismarck (ND) light middleweight Nick Runningbear (1-0, 0 KOs) against Silas Ortley (2-1, 2 KOs), Fargo (ND) heavyweight Archie Hopkins makes his pro debut against Bill "The Kid" Johnson (6-6, 4 KOs), cruiserweight Lyle Kruger, of Grand Forks (ND), meets Bismarck's Chris Hugh in both of their pro debuts. All bouts and fighters are subject to change.
Tickets, priced at $20.00 (bleachers), $30.00 (floor) and $40.00 (VIP ringside), are on sale and available exclusively at the 4 Bears Box Office. Call 800.294.5454 or go on line at www.4bearscasino.com. Doors open at 6 PM, first bout at 7 PM.