William “Babyface” Silva and Ricky “Cowboy” Tomlinson will enter the ring March 3 in Clearwater.
For two Plant City-based boxers, a March 3 fight card means more than just a win or a loss on the record.
William “Babyface” Silva and Ricky “Cowboy” Tomlinson are getting ready to represent Fire Fist Boxing Promotions in Clearwater with belts and glory on the line. Silva will headline the card with his title fight against Rogelio “El Loco” Casarez, and Tomlinson will square off against Ozodbek Aripov in the undercard.
Silva, 30 (24-1-0, 14 KO), signed with the Plant City-based promotion in the fall after moving on from Top Rank. The Brazil native, who got his nickname boxing older kids as a young amateur, had a connection within the promotion in fellow Brazilian Yamaguchi Falcao, whom Silva has known for more than 10 years.
The Silva-Casarez fight will have the vacant IBO Continental North American Lightweight Championship and National Boxing Association World Lightweight Championship belts on the line.
Silva hopes a win over Casarez (13-6-0, 5 KO) will propel him into a bigger spotlight, allowing him to move up the ranks and throw his name in the hat for fights against prominent opponents
Silva prides himself on being “humble in and out of the ring,” but is confident he will handle his business in Clearwater and put both his name and Fire Fist’s on the map.
“I am ready mentally and physically,” Silva said. “I hope my opponent is ready, too…I’m coming to fight.”
Tomlinson, 23 (3-3-0, 1 KO), is relatively new to the professional ranks compared to Silva but has been in the sport since age 11, took amateur fights as early as age 12 and turned pro right out of high school.
“I got my butt beat up the first time (as an amateur). I ain’t gonna lie,” Tomlinson said. “It happens. After that, it made me say ‘I want to be better.’ I want to be the one that’s always winning.”
The Thonotosassa native and Strawberry Crest High School alumnus is here to prove he belongs on the scene. He’s set to fight Fort Myers-based boxer Ozodbek Aripov (1-0-0, 1 KO), a Russia native who has participated in several amateur showcases at Plant City Boxing Gym.
With a March 3 win and Fire Fist in his corner, Tomlinson hopes his latest opportunity will take him where he’s dreamed of going since he was a kid.
