Brinkley set to meet 'The Sandman'

Yerington super middleweight Jesse Brinkley will be at least temporarily denied his chance at revenge against Joey Spina, but he will have the opportunity to face a ranked fighter on Feb. 22 in the Grande Exposition Ballroom at the Silver Legacy Resort Casino.

The 31-year-old Brinkley, 29-5 with 20 knockouts, will meet Sacramento's Otis "Triple OG" Griffin, 18-2-1 (7), in the 10-round super middleweight main event of "War for the West," which will be presented by Let's Get It On Promotions.

The 30-year-old Griffin is ranked No. 15 in the light heavyweight division by the IBF after being stopped in three rounds by Danny Green July 18 in Australia. Green subsequently went on to take the WBA light heavyweight crown from Stipe Drews.

"Joey Spina pulled out. He didn't want to deal with it, so Griffin stepped up," Brinkley said Friday from Providence, R.I., where he is being trained by Peter Manfredo Sr. "I was still arguing, begging and pleading for Joey Spina, but (promoters Terry and Tommy Lane) told me this guy from Sacramento is calling himself 'The Sandman' and wants to put me to sleep, so that's why I took this guy."

Brinkley and Spina appeared together on Let's Get It On's last card Oct. 20 in the Grande Exposition Ballroom. Brinkley scored a first-round technical knockout of Isaiah Henderson and Spina took out Shannon Miller in four to ostensibly set up a rematch, but Let's Get It On and Spina's promoter, Classic Entertainment and Sports, were unable to come to terms.

The 30-year-old Spina, 20-1-1 (15), scored an 11th-round come-from-behind stoppage over Brinkley on May 10, 2006, on ESPN2's Friday Night Fights.

Whether he's nicknamed "Triple OG" or now "The Sandman," Griffin has never fought under the light heavyweight limit, something Brinkley - who began his career as a welterweight - looks at as a challenge.

"I don't have to fight this big light heavyweight, but if he wants me to go to sleep, he can come over and do it," Brinkley said. "The only reason I'm getting out of bed (that) Friday is to see if he can put me to sleep.

"I've yet to be put to sleep in my six amateur fights, in sparring, or in any pro fight at any weight class. That's why he's getting a chance to do it."

The bout also carries an intriguing story line in that Brinkley and Griffin gained differing levels of recognition on reality boxing shows. Brinkley rose to international fame on the NBC reality boxing show "The Contender," while Griffin gained a lesser amount of fame on Oscar De La Hoya's "The Next Great Champ," which was aired on Fox and, following its cancellation after four episodes, on Fox Sports Network.

Both shows were filmed in 2004 and aired in 2005.

"I don't believe it will be an easy fight - I know that for a fact," Brinkley said. "He's already vindictive toward me. I never watched 'The Next Great Champ.' Congratulations to him for winning it, but I know nothing about this guy.

""I look on him like it's a world championship fight - like I did against Isaiah and Dallas (Vargas, whom Brinkley stopped in nine rounds in July). I'm excited and Manfredo's excited. We're all ready to move up there and get a fight."

Let's Get It On inked Brinkley to a one-year deal on Dec. 28. Its other two fighters, super middleweight Derek Hinkey, 4-0 (4), and heavyweight Tyler Hinkey, 1-0-1 (1), are also expected to be on the card.

The brothers hail from the McDermitt Indian Reservation.

Terry Lane said Thursday that several other local fighters are being considered for the card and that ticket information is forthcoming.