Sources close to the situation have informed 15rounds.com that the November 8th boxing special to air on ESPN2 from Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina on November 8th will be headlined by a pairing of heavyweight prospects. Once beaten big men will look to regain some of their luster, as Travis Kauffman is pegged to take on Bowie Tupou.
Kauffman (20-1, 16 KOs) of Reading, Pennsylvania has won two straight against journeymen opponents since suffering a nationally televised setback against Tony Grano last September. Despite an accomplished amateur career, Kauffman made the mistake of slugging with the crude Grano, which made for an entertaining fight for Showtime, but ultimately helped lead to a somewhat controversial fourth-round stoppage defeat. In his last bout, Kauffman knocked out the well traveled Chris Koval in two rounds this past May.
Tupou (19-1, 15 KOs) of Los Angeles, California by way of Nuku?alofa, Tonga quietly built himself into a prospect by scoring a string of quick knockouts in mostly non-televised fights before running into longtime opponent Demetrice King in August of last year. King caught Tupou with a counter off the ropes to score a knockdown late in the first that swung the fight in his favor. Tupou, who had been signed by prominent promoter Gary Shaw, did not recover during the minute rest between rounds and was ultimately stopped in the second round. In his one fight since, Tupou stopped Alexis Mejias in four rounds in May.
The Veterans Day themed card has become an annual tradition for ESPN. Tickets will not be sold and the crowd will be comprised of servicemen and women.
Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at [email protected].
