New York, NY / Quebec City, Canada – (11/26/13) – This Saturday, DiBella Entertainment’s (DBE) world-rated welterweight contender (WBC #6 & IBF #10) Ionut “Jo Jo” Dan Ion (31-2, 17KO’s) will look to take a major step toward once again challenging for a piece of the welterweight world crown when he faces fellow top-rated (IBF #3 & WBA #11) and undefeated welterweight contender Kevin Bizier (21-0, 14KO’s). The bout, scheduled for 12 rounds with the NABA and IBF Inter-Continental titles at stake, is also an official IBF eliminator for the #2 spot. The contest is the main supporting bout on the loaded and highly anticipated HBO Boxing After Darkchampionship double-header featuring defending WBC light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson facing top-rated challenger Tony Bellew and WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev defending against Ismayl Sillakh. The card will be taking place at the Colisee de Quebec in beautiful Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.
“I am going into this fight against Kevin Bizier with full confidence, a win is my only option,” said a determined Ion. “Boxing took me all over the world both as an amateur and a pro and I am convinced my opponent in Quebec City cannot bring anything that I have not seen yet in a boxing ring. Bizier is a good fighter and I have respect for him and his team, but he is in over his head in this fight. The two belts are changing owners this Saturday. I am very grateful for this opportunity and I want to thank my promoter DBE and also GYM for accepting our challenge to their fighter.”
“DBE signed Jo Jo Dan because we believe that he is one of the best welterweights in the world. This Saturday night he will have the opportunity to prove it. If he defeats Kevin Bizier, a world title shot should await,” stated promoter Lou DiBella.
The bout this Saturday will see Ion once again in a similar position entering enemy territory. Ion began his career reeling off 26 consecutive victories before traveling to Turkey to take on fellow undefeated top-rated contender and 2004 Turkish Olympian Selcuk Aydin for the vacant WBC Silver welterweight championship. Ion brought the fight to the hard-hitting Aydin and, despite suffering a questionable first-round knockdown, seemingly controlled the rest of the action, only to come up on the wrong end of a highly debatable 12-round split decision.
Ion scored three straight victories to earn himself a rematch against Aydin for the WBC Silver title. Unfortunately for Ion, the bout once again took place in Aydin’s home country of Turkey with the titlist pulling out a narrow decision victory, although this one was more deserved.
Looking to work his way back into title contention, Ion signed with promoter Lou DiBella in late 2012 and put together back-to-back victories to earn him the opportunity on Saturday night.
The Romanian-born Ion has been calling Montreal home ever since he turned pro in 2004 and the bout between the Quebec-native Bizier has been talked about for a while now. While Bizier will have the home crowd behind him, many of Ion’s fans are expected to make the trip over from Montreal, adding more excitement to what is an already stellar event planned for Saturday night.