Hill, DeGrandis to fight at Engelstad

By Jeff Kolpack

October 23, 2002 at 11:00 PM

With attempts to land WBO champion Johnny Nelson on hold, the Virgil Hill camp accepted a fight with Joey DeGrandis Nov. 17 in Grand Forks.

The nationally-televised bout, which will be aired by Fox Sports Net at Ralph Engelstad Arena, is for the vacant International Boxing Council cruiserweight title.

"We're hoping to use this to get another shot at a major title," said Bill Sorensen, Hill's manager.

Sorensen was negotiating with the Nelson camp. "But they wanted way too much money," Sorensen said.

DeGrandis, 33, brings a tough-guy style to the ring. Although not a top-10 fighter, he nonetheless represents an obstacle for the 38-year-old Hill.

"We'll try to fight for a major title, maybe two of them and win a couple of fights then retire," Sorensen said. "If we lose, we retire."

Hill is not expected to earn a big pay day against DeGrandis.

"It is not a big-money fight," Sorensen said. "If we do well, there are some out there."

Readers can reach Forum reporter Jeff Kolpack at (701) 241-5546

By Jeff Kolpack

Jeff would like to dispel the notion he was around when Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press, but he is on his third decade of reporting with Forum Communications. The son of a reporter and an English teacher, and the brother of a reporter, Jeff has worked at the Jamestown Sun, Bismarck Tribune and since 1990 The Forum, where he's covered North Dakota State athletics since 1995.
Jeff has covered all nine of NDSU's Division I FCS national football titles and has written three books: "Horns Up," "North Dakota Tough" and "Covid Kids." He is the radio host of "The Golf Show with Jeff Kolpack" April through August.

Hill, DeGrandis to fight at Engelstad

With attempts to land WBO champion Johnny Nelson on hold, the Virgil Hill camp accepted a fight with Joey DeGrandis Nov. 17 in Grand Forks. The nationally-televised bout, which will be aired by Fox Sports Net at Ralph Engelstad Arena, is for the ...