HOLLYWOOD, CA - Imagine an all-conference defensive lineman from LSU or a linebacker from USC fighting for the world heavyweight boxing championship. American Champion will offer these players a chance to become professional athletes as world-class heavyweight boxers.

The position of the six potential champions at the start of the American Champion series is extremely dramatic: Six world-class young athletes in one sport now have the opportunity to become a champion in another sport. This "dream come true" aspect is a compelling component of American Champion, as is the idea that these bouts are real, with rated contenders, not an artificially created series.

"We already know they can hit," said Roy Englebrecht, one of the producers of American Champion and owner of Roy Englebrecht Promotions and Roy Englebrecht Events. "Let's identify those huge guys who have the heart to take their skill on the football field and move it into the squared ring. They're coming from one discipline-football-at 24 years old, in shape, fine tuned, right into our boxing training program."

It is anticipated that these athletes will be trained by some of the world's top boxing trainers in the country, including the likes of Floyd Mayweather Sr. "You look at football, just like boxing," said Mayweather. "It's a sport where you make contact, and these guys know what pain is all about. That's a good thing."

It's a compelling narrative: everyone knows the weak condition of the heavyweight boxing division. American Champion takes on the challenge of uplifting boxing's credibility by raising the level of talent in the heavyweights, and thus the image of boxing. Heavyweight boxing needs to regain the glamour, respect, and passion that was previously associated with heavyweight contenders and champions.

American Champion will challenge the status quo with a new breed of the best post collegiate athletes in the world. These athletes will bring a new level of physical talent, self-discipline and articulate individuality to the sport of heavyweight boxing. Today, most of the really big, fast and talented athletes in the United States play team sports such as football, basketball and baseball, leaving an extremely diminished talent pool for the heavyweight boxing division. Each year, about 700 players try out for pro football, but only 200 will make it. American Champion will find some of its fighters from among those who do not make it as football players.

American Champion will initially select 75 athletes based on size, talent, IQ, and desire. Athletes interested in becoming an American Champion will have the opportunity to sign up online (TheAmericanChampion.com). Those selected will be evaluated as potential boxing champions. The 75 athletes will be narrowed down to 30, who will undergo more physical and mental testing. From that group, American Champion will select the six who will live and train together full-time at the American Champion sports facility.

The camera crew will film the drama, the pain, and the tough physical action. The six men will become like brothers while training, but they will not fight each other. Then, they will root like the rest of the audience when one fights a professional opponent. These bouts will take place in boxing venues throughout the country, taking the viewer on the road, in hotels, and behind the scenes.

These athletes will be personalities the audience can identify with. Many of these former All-Americans will have both a national and regional following. They will be known to 80 million national football fans and they will have very strong regional fan bases from their roots in college football or other sports. Being able to relate with the fighters is very important, since, for the most part, boxers do not possess this quality. The ones that do-like Oscar De La Hoya-have a huge following.

"Just like American Idol needs people with real talent, so does heavyweight boxing," said American Champion producer Jason Williams. "Heavyweight boxing needs big, fast, smart, quick, dedicated strong willed guys and American Champion is going to bring that star talent to the ring and the whole world of boxing."

Throughout the series, viewers will come to know these athletes' coaches, former teammates, friends and family. Although the fighters will represent a broad spectrum of the American experience, they will share a common work ethic and articulate intelligence. American Champion will have the emotional advantage of being the "home team," as the audience will know our guys and very little about the guys they fight.

American Champion will provide a totally real, intimate, and sometimes "in your face" view of one of the most colorful sports in the world. And these are heavyweights, who have always had the biggest audience. There is a sleeping giant of an audience-both domestically and internationally-just waiting to be awakened.

"College football players and elite athletes who train properly, are managed properly, and who are matched properly, can be successful in the heavyweight division," Englebrecht said. "They can bring new life to the heavyweight division, as they brought life to the football field. It can be done, it will be done."

Media Contact:
Roy Englebrecht
Boxing77@aol.com
949-760-3131