Alfonso Lopez is fighting Dyah Davis for a super middleweight championship at Mallory Square in Key West, Florida, Friday night, Jan. 6. The boxing match will be televised by ESPN.

Lopez, a native of Cut-and-Shoot, Texas, is a former Bearkat football who brings a 22-1 record into the title fight against Davis.

"I really enjoyed my days as a Bearkat football player and am thrilled by what our 2011 team has accomplished this season," Lopez said. "It was a big thrill to have Coach (Willie) Fritz invite me  to come to practice and talk to the players. Going 14-0 and playing in the national championship game is just tremendous."

Lopez told the team that every member of his corner team including his trainer will be wearing Sam Houston Bearkat orange for the national telecast of the fight Friday.

"We're all Bearkats," Lopez said. "We all shooting to win titles this weekend on national TV."

Sam Houston is the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Division I playoffs with a 14-0 season record while North Dakota State is the No. 2 seed and brings a 13-1 mark into the finals.

"It was a great opportunity for the players and the coaching staff to visit with Alfonso and his trainer," Fritz said. "There's one thing for sure. Friday night at the hotel the whole team will be watching the fight and pulling for their fellow Bearkat Alfonso Lopez."