LAILA ALI RETURNS TO ACTION FEB. 11 IN ATLANTA

The BEATDOWN PT. II Live at Philip's Arena Friday February 11th, 2005 Doors open at 6:45pm Philips Arena is located next to CNN Center, at the intersection of Marietta Street and Centennial Olympic Park Drive (formerly Techwood Drive). The address for the arena is: 1 Philips Dr. Atlanta GA 30303 Considered by many to be the best woman boxer in the world today, Laila Ali (19-0, 16 KOs) will return to the ring Fri., Feb. 11, in a fight to be held in the Philips Arena in Atlanta. She will be defending her WIBA super middleweight title against challenger Cassandra Geigger (6-4, 6 KOs). This fight will be televised live in the U.S. on ESPN2's 'Friday Night Fights' as part of its annual Valentine's Day show. Here is the press release announcing this fight: IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Laila Ali -vs- Cassandra Geigger Absoloot Entertainment 'Presents' The BEATDOWN Pt. II She 'BEE Stingin' Laila Ali defends her WIBA Super Middleweight Title against Cassandra Geigger, Friday February 11th, 2005 To celebrate this Valentine's Day, ESPN's Friday Night Fights will telecast live from Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. Laila 'She Bee Stingin' Ali (19-0 16 KO's), defends her WIBA Super Middleweight Title against Cassandra Geigger in the 10 round main event. Ali, whose last fight was dubbed 'THE BEATDOWN', beatdown Light Heavyweight Champion Gwendolyn O'Neil with a variety of combinations and bodyshots which finally sent O'Neil to the canvas for good in Round 3 and earned Ali yet another world championship. Ali's last 2 appearances on ESPN have been nothing short of spectacular. In November of 2002 she dominated and overwhelmed Valerie 'The Wolf' Mahfood to win the WIBA and IWBF Super Middleweight Titles. The 8th round stoppage turned out to be the 3rd highest rated show of the year for ESPN's Friday Night Fights. Then on Valentine's Day of 2003, Laila returned to her legendary father's hometown, Louisville, Kentucky, to defend her titles against former world champion, Mary Ann Almager. In front a sold out crowd at the Louisville Gardens, Ali pummeled Almager for 4 rounds and successfully defended her Super Middleweight Titles. Laila's first world title came in August of 2002 when she dethroned former champion Suzy Taylor with superior punching power and speed. Referee Kenny Bayless called a halt to the bout in Round 2 when Taylor refused to continue to take a beating resulting in Ali winning the IBA Super Middleweight Championship. Cassandra Geigger 'Black Diamond' Light Heavyweight 6-4-0 (6 KO's) Hometown: Pine Bluff, Arkansas, born Feb 13, 1968 but moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas in 1990. Cassandra got her start boxing with Toughman (woman) contests, where she was runner-up in the 2000 and 2001 National Toughwoman Contests.