https:\/\/www.worldboxingnews.net\/2019\/03\/24\/ryan-rozicki-battle-shawn-miller-may-18-nova-scotia\/<\/p>\n
On Saturday, May 18, Canadian cruiserweight champion Ryan \u201cThunder\u201d Rozicki (9-0-0, 9KOs) of Sydney Forks returns home to Cape Breton Island to defend his WBA-NABA Canada title against Shawn \u201cThe Killer\u201d Miller (19-4-1, 7KOs) of Troy, New York, at the Centre 200 in Sydney.<\/strong><\/p>\n Miller represents the stiffest test of young Rozicki\u2019s career, bringing a wealth of international experience to the fight, including a pair of WBF world title fights. Presented by Three Lions Promotions, the Rozicki-Miller fight will be supported with an exciting undercard, including Pictou County\u2019s Brody Blair (4-0-0, 2KOs), former unified Canadian champion Kevin Higson (15-2-0, 1KOs), and undefeated brothers Jessie (12-0-2, 8KOs) and Bradley Wilcox (7-0-0, 4KOs).<\/p>\n After starting his career in the Maritimes, Rozicki became a sensation in Ontario, smashing his way through domestic and international opponents, alike. On March 16, big man from Sydney Forks put on show against heavy-handed Hungarian Laszlo Penzes (10-4-0, 9KOs), walking through flurries of punches to drop his man four times at the Hamilton Convention Centre.<\/p>\n After the fourth knockdown, a bewildered Penzes took control of his destiny, looked up at the referee, and asked to stop the fight. It was Rozicki\u2019s ninth knockout in as many fights. It was the Cape Bretoner\u2019s first fight since shocking the Ontario boxing establishment by demolishing the formerly undefeated Abokan Bokpe (9-1-0, 4KOs) of Bomanville in under a round to claim the vacant WBA-NABA Canada championship in Hamilton. On May 18, Rozicki puts his Canadian national title on the line against an American. A man eager to annex the belt and take it stateside.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a throwback, for sure, but so am I,\u201d said Rozicki. \u201cBack in the day, Americans could fight for the Canadian title. It was up to the national champion to prevent that belt from leaving. I\u2019m part of that lineage. I\u2019ll defend my title against anyone. I don\u2019t care where you\u2019re from. Miller is a tough guy, but he\u2019s never seen anything like me before. I hit harder. Fight harder. In front of my hometown fans, I\u2019ll punch right through the guy. I\u2019ll be that much stronger with the Island behind me. That belt stays here.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019ll be almost a year to the day that Rozicki last fought in Sydney. He signed with Three Lions Promotions to pursue his dream of becoming a world champion, fighting in and around Hamilton to advance his career. \u201cI don\u2019t think any Cape Bretoner wants to leave,\u201d said Rozicki. \u201cThere\u2019s no place like it. It\u2019s my home.<\/p>\n You kind of carry it with your wherever you go. But to represent this Island the best I could, I needed top-notch sparring. For some folks it\u2019s the oil patch, for me it\u2019s the boxing rings of Ontario. I\u2019m working with well-established heavyweights out here. They hit harder than Miller, I guarantee it. They\u2019re swift for big men, too. After swapping punches with these guys, May 18 is just another day at the office. I\u2019m ready for anything. I hope he is too.\u201d<\/p>\n Although Rozicki needs to train in Ontario to develop his talents, Three Lions Promotions recognizes how important it is for the Canadian champ to bring the title to Sydney. \u201cI know fighting at home means a lot to Ryan,\u201d explained Promoter Daniel Otter. \u201cIt\u2019s not easy for him to be away. To fight away.<\/p>\n This is a big step for him. Miller is no joke. This guy has traveled the world. He takes on all comers. Morocco, Australia, Dominican Republic. He\u2019ll come to you, which shows the kind of fighter he is. He\u2019s not afraid to cross that causeway and meet Ryan on his home turf. It\u2019ll be a banger. But man, when Ryan talks about fighting in Cape Breton his eyes light up. It\u2019s the biggest fight of Ryan\u2019s career. It\u2019s only fitting that it be held on the Island. I\u2019m convinced you could put him the ring with anyone or anything on May 18 and he\u2019d get the knockout. He\u2019s ready for his homecoming.\u201d<\/p>\n