Lion Heart Boxing Productions announced that it has inked Brazilian Welterweight Contender Antonio Mesquita (31-0). Antonio Mesquita is a former Brazilian Light Welterweight Champion.
Mesquita is also a former WBO Latin America Junior Welterweight Champion and a former WBC Number Two ranked Junior Welterweight. He currently trains in Las Vegas and fights out of St. George, Utah.
Signing Antonio Mesquita was a great coup for Lion Heart, says company owner, Edward Mendy, "Undefeated in thirty-one professional wins, twenty-five wins by way of knockout, Mesquita is a top Welterweight contender and was ranked as high as number two in the world previous to taking a sabbatical from his career to tend to his family.
"We are very pleased that such an accomplished fighter as Antonio Mesquita decided to sign with Lion Heart despite being heavily courted by other top promotional companies in the United States.
"Mesquita is a very skilled fighter and we have no doubt that Mesquita will have no trouble cleaning out the current pretenders in the division. We appreciate the vote of confidence Mesquita and his trainer Luiz Tapia have given us.
"Mesquita is ready and willing to fight any of the top fighters in the Welterweight division, including Ricky Hatton (40-0) who we challenged last month but have not heard a word from."
Said Mesquita’s trainer Luis Tapia, "Many people tried to convince us not to work with Lion Heart, but we decided to go with them because we have faith in Ed Mendy’s vision for the company. We passed up many offers for more money because we value Ed Mendy’s personal touch and friendship.
"Personally, I am impressed by Mendy’s determination, love of Boxing, calmness in the face of adversity and the incessant professionalism he has shown us over the last few months Mesquita and I have had the opportunity to work with him."
Tapia is the owner and operator of the Johnny Tocco’s Boxing Gym in Las Vegas Nevada, and is the trainer and manager of over 20 fight top fighters including several champions and contenders. The Johnny Tocco’s Boxing Gym is one of the oldest and most storied gyms in Boxing.
Mesquita’s next fight is scheduled for May 13, 2006 at the Ogden Eccles Center in Ogden, Utah against an opponent to be announced.
Lion Heart of New Orleans, Louisiana, through its operations and affiliates, is a global and integrated Boxing Promotions and Sports Entertainment Company, started in 2001 by Tax Attorney and Boxing enthusiast Edward Mendy.
Lion Heart Boxing Productions – www.lionheartboxingproductions.com
