Courtesy, Jim Jenkins, Sacramento Bee
The Red Lion Hotel of Sacramento will go outdoors for the first time with its next show, Saturday, Sept. 12, pairing world-ranked cruiserweight Matt Godfrey (19-1, 10 KOs) of Providence, R.I., with local Michael Simms (20-11-2, 13 KOs). Godfrey was to defend his NABF title against the winner of a Red Lion main event Aug. 7, but Simms fought to a controversial six-round draw with former IBF cruiser champ Kelvin Davis, so there will be no Godfrey crown at stake. Matched in an eight-round semi-main is another hometowner, Otis Griffin (19-6-2, 7 KOs), opposing Rubin Williams (29-8-1, 16 KOs) of Detroit. Promoter Nasser Niavaroni and hotel owner Jeff Berger plan a five-bout card, coinciding with the Red Lion’s grand opening.
