LAILA ALI VS GWENDOLYN O’NEIL – THE WEIGH-IN
By Ron Brashear
Inside Boxing Writer/Columnist

Atlanta, GA (IB – September 23, 2004) – The countdown is now one day to the BEATDOWN. Laila Ali (18-0 15 KO's), will be challenging the newly crowned WIBA Light Heavyweight champ Gwendolyn O'Neil (9-3-1 6 KOs) on Friday September 24th at Philips Arena in Atlanta Georgia. This bout is being brought to you by Absoloot Entertainment.

The weigh-in took place today and drew a very modest crowd of Atlanta fans as it was open to the public. Gwendolyn O’neil took to the scale first and registered as ¼ lb over the 175lb limit. In boxing, whenever this happens, the fighter has to come back to attempt to make the weight again within a 2 hour window.

So then Laila Ali stepped on the scale and weighed in at a fit and well sculpted weight of 174 ¼ lbs.

Shortly after Ali’s weigh-in, O’neil returned to the scale and weighed in at the 175lb limit. So the fight is on and all the talk is over. A couple of O’neil’s handlers walked over close to Laila Ali, while she was mingling with family and friends, and uttered “You are going to lose!” Laila responded with; “I am the daughter of the Greatest and I will never lose!”

When I spoke to Gwendolyn prior to the weigh in, I asked her was this the biggest fight of her career and how does she feel fighting a big name fighter such as Laila Ali? She stated: “Not really. This is a real easy fight for me. She doesn’t want to fight me!”

So Gwendolyn feels that the boxing world is in for an upset and she will dethrone Laila Ali. Only time will tell if that will actually happen or not. We do know that Laila “She Be Stingin”Ali appears in great shape, is confident, and ready to attempt the delivery of a BEATDOWN Friday night for the Atlanta fight crowd.

In addition to this great female main event, there are a total of seven other competitive bouts on the under card.

Bout 1: Sam Culbreath (Debut) takes on Shearif Kemp (Debut) at Cruiserweight
Bout 2: Fred Tukes (1-1-0) takes on Hasone Raheem Olverson (0-2-0) at Jr middleweight
Bout 3: Janaya Davis (3-0-0 1 KO) takes on Elizabeth Kerin (3-0-1 3 KOs)
Bout 4: Abiola Shedeke takes on Jose Hernandez (3-1-0 2 KOs) at the lightweight
Bout 5: Lisa Ann Pederson (2-1-1) takes on Trisha Lynn Hill (6-4-1 3 KOs)
Bout 6: William Guthrie (Former World Champion) returns to face Hilario Guzman (5-15-3 1 KO)
Bout 7: Valerie Mafood (17-7-1 8 KOs) takes on Leatita Robinson (11-0-0 8 KOs)
Bout 8: The Main Event

So there should be plenty of action taken place in the ATL (Atlanta) on Friday Night!

Contact Ticket master at 1-800-326-4000 or locally at 404-249-6400. Tickets are priced at $252.00, $202.00, $102.00, $52.00, & $27.00

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Ron Brashear can be contacted at brashear@insideboxing.com, ron@brasheargear.com