SNBC in Godfrey's blood

NABF cruiserweight champion Matt "Too Smooth" Godfrey (17-1, 10 KOs), rated No. 3 by the WBC, fights Saturday night for the first Sovereign Nations Boxing Council (SNBC) title against Eddie "The Iron Man" Gutierrez at 4 Bears Casino in New Town, North Dakota.

SNBC is a fledging professional boxing organization linking federally recognized tribes throughout the United States and Canada.

"Fighting for the SNBC title is special for me because I'm almost 100-percent Native American," the 27-year-old Godfrey said. "I am Native American and we don't get much press. I'm proud to be boxing for the Sovereign Nations Boxing Council's first title. It is recognizing Native Americans in sports and I'm glad to be part of it."

Godfrey's fight against Gutierrez (15-5-1, 6 KOs) is risky because the WBC recently ordered a title elimination fight between Matt and No. 2 rated Herbie Hide, former 2-time WBO heavyweight champion, with the victor facing the winner of the WBC championship bout between new defending champion Giacobbe Fragameni and the No. 1 mandatory challenger, Krzystof Wlodarczyk.

"All I'm thinking about is passing the doctor's test and making weight on Friday and putting on a good performance Saturday night," Matt explained. "Fighters like this (Gutierrez) are the most dangerous. People probably expect me to blow away a guy like him. Even if it's a close fight, it won't look good, so we've been training as if this was a world title fight. They will be different fans out there and I want to put on a real show for them. I want to really impress them. I'm really looking forward to it."

Godfrey is also rated No. 11 by the WBA and IBF.

Matt, second heavyweight alternate on the 2004 U.S. Olympic Boxing Team, had a 194-23 amateur record, capturing six national championships -- four open tournaments including the 2004 Everlast U.S. Championships, plus two in the Junior Olympics - as well as a Bronze medal at the 2001 Pan-American Games, Silver in all four of that year's national major tournaments (National Golden Gloves, PAL (Police Athletic League), U.S. Championships and U.S. Challenge) and six-time New England Golden Gloves champion.

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