Meza-Clay Draws International Attention
Rankin featherweight back in the ring May 30
By Tony DeFazio

He'd bad, he's nationwide…and now he's international.

Featherweight boxer Monty Meza-Clay, of Rankin, will take on Mexican Champion Omar Lizarraga May 30 on international television at the Pittsburgh ExpoMart.

The bout will mark the first time that international television has been attracted to Pittsburgh in coverage of a boxing event. Meza-Clay (27-1/18 KO) jumped up to the No. 2 contender in the World Boxing Organization after demolishing former IBF world champion Eric Aiken in February on ESPN2. Lizarraga of Tijuana, Mexico, comes to the Steel City hungry on the heels of a highly disputed draw in his last bout when he challenged for the IBA Title against Tomas Villa.

While only Dish Network subscribers will get the fight locally, Meza-Clay's promoter, World Class Fight Promotions, has arranged for international television coverage through Univision. Most other major markets in the United States will be able to see the bout as well.

"Monty has been a regional star, and I think his knockout of Eric Aiken on ESPN started to get his name out there nationally," said World Class Fight Promotions' Mark Yankello. "He just rose from fourth to second in the WBO rankings. Our plan, basically, is to keep looking for the fights that will help Monty become more of a national name, and ultimately an international name. When he fights for a championship, we want it to be on an international stage. This fight is a step in that direction."

Clay is currently ranked behind WBO Featherweight Champion Steven Luevano (35-1/15 KO) and top contender Marcos Ramirez (25-0/16 KO).

Two years ago, Clay was 20-0 and careening through the fast lane toward a title. Then he lost to Edner Cherry in May of 2006, a bout Yankello says taught Clay a lesson.

"I think early on, when he was 20-0 and things were really flying along, he started to get impatient," he says. "He was offered a lightweight fight, two weight classes higher than what he had been fighting at, and he took it."

Since the setback against Cherry, Clay is 7-0 with five knockouts, and seems on top of his game.

Meza-Clay trains out of World Class Boxing Gym in Ambridge, but will soon head into seclusion in Coal Center, near California, PA, at Buzz Garnic Jr.'s Round II Gym to train for the May 30 contest.

"I expect a great fight," said Yankello. "It's going to be a fireworks night."

The Clay-Lizarraga card will include a co-feature between Philadelphia's Latif Mundy (7-0 and George Rivera (8-1) and an action-packed under card consisting of local prospects Jesse Lubash (5-0) and Mike "Steel City" Strauss (5-0) in separate bouts, as well as several other fights and celebrity appearances.

Tickets for the Expo-Mart event are available by calling 724-513-7457 or online at www.worldclassfp.net.