Don King Presents Three World Title Fights on Holyfield/Lewis Undercard Nov.13.

LAS VEGAS, Nev.--(BW SportsWire)--Oct. 28, 1999--

A blockbuster lineup of three world title fights were announced today by renown boxing promoter Don King as the undercard of the Holyfield/Lewis undisputed world heavyweight championship, November 13 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Fabrice Tiozzo (38-1, 24 KOs), the WBA cruiserweight champion out of Lyon, France will tangle with dangerous contender Ken Murphy (21-1-1, 15 KOs) from Chicago; No.1 contender Gilbert Serrano (17-4-2, 15 KOs) will square off against Italian WBA lightweight titlist Stefano Zoff (29-6-2, 11 KOs) and WBA lightweight champion Sharmba Mitchell (45-2, 29 KOs) makes his third title defense against third-ranked Elio Ortiz (17-3, 13 KOs), another Venezuelan.

Also fighting in a special women's championship, is "pound-for-pound" titleholder Christy Martin, the West Virginia "Coal Miner's Daughter" (37-2-2, 29 KOs), against former world champion Belinda Laracuente (17-3-1, 9 KOs) from Puerto Rico.

King, who presents more world title bouts and quality undercards than any other promoter, indicated that as many as five other fights will be added. Evander Holyfield (36-3-1, 25 KOs) and Lennox Lewis (34-1-1, 27 KOs) are out to finally settle the score following their draw last March in New York. Presented by Don King Productions Inc., in association with Panix of the U.S. Inc., Main Events, Caesars Palace and Mandalay Bay, "THE SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH...UNFINISHED BUSINESS" applies to the exciting, competitive undercard as well as the main event. TVKO, which will televise the event live on pay-per-view, is expected to announce soon which other bouts they will air as part of Holyfield/Lewis.

"I am especially proud to bring an all-star lineup of international world champions to fight on the Holyfield/Lewis card," said King. "We have something for everyone here, with three world champions at serious career crossroads and facing formidable challengers. Christy has proved she hits harder than any woman on earth but could get a rough time from Belinda."

Perhaps Tiozzo, the only reigning world champion from France, has the most at risk on November 13. Seeking to become the first Frenchman to challenge for the world heavyweight title since Lucien Rodriguez fought Larry Holmes on March 27, 1983 (he lost by decision), Tiozzo plans on moving up to heavyweight if he is successful in defending his 190-pound crown for the third time against Murphy. The 30-year-old Tiozzo is a former WBC light heavyweight champion who knocked out the only two opponents he faced last year, Terry Ray (KO-1) and Ezequiel Paixao (TKO-2).

Murphy is a former heavyweight who has found great success at the cruiserweight level. The heavy-handed Murphy reeled off eight knockouts in 1997, including six within two rounds. He challenged for the USBA crown in May but dropped a close points decision.

Slick-punching Sharmba Mitchell will defend his WBA title for the third time since dominating Frenchman Khalid Rahilou last year to take the title. The personable quick-hitting 29-year-old from Takoma Park, Md., has an energetic presence. His trademark in the ring is his unique garb: trunks cut into strips with the red, white, black, and yellow colors of the Maryland state flag. Elio Ortiz will be Mitchell's toughest competitor to date. The former WBA Latin Americas champion from Caracas tuned up for Mitchell by kayoing Manuel Rojas in his last outing, March 23. Possessing lightning power in both hands, Ortiz was originally set to challenge Mitchell in September, but the fight was postponed because of an injury suffered by the champion during training.

Gilbert Serrano carries a reputation as a merciless brawler. The 29-year-old from Isla Margarita was impressive in knocking out Edelmino Martinez in the sixth in New York City back in February. Stefano Zoff will make his U.S. debut in Las Vegas on November 13. The 33-year-old has been the rage of European boxing, having defeated France's Julien Lorcy in a 12-round war on August 7 to capture the WBA lightweight crown.

A classic showdown of knockout artists shapes up in the Christy Martin-Belinda Laracuente bout. Martin, from Orlando, displayed her raw, unmatched power with a dominating performance against athletic world champion Daniella Somers. Crushing combinations from Martin battered Somers throughout the fight until a sledgehammer overhand right finished the Belgian in the fifth round in their October 2 contest. Laracuente is a rising star from Puerto Rico, who beat Somers earlier this year in Miami. Although Somers and two other opponents this year survived all eight rounds, Laracuente punished them in breezing to one-sided decisions.