MT. PLEASANT, MICH (February 19, 2007) – MICHAEL ACRI BOXING PROMOTIONS, in association with Carlos Llinas’ Clip Boxing and Dennis Baxter’s Blue Cap Promotions, presents the 2007 ring debut of “The Pittsburgh Kid,” undefeated former International Boxing Federation lightweight champion PAUL SPADAFORA! Spadafora will take on Irish junior welterweight champion OISIN “GAEL FORCE” FAGAN in a 10-round junior welterweight non-title rumble, headlining a six-bout action-packed card, Friday, March 9, at the Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasant, Mich. The first bout will begin at 7:30 P.M..
The undercard will feature world-rated lightweight contender Sugar Ray Narh in a 10-round lightweight bout against four-time world title challenger John “The Beast” Brown, super middleweight Stephan Pryor, son of two-time world champion Aaron Pryor, and undefeated lightweight contender Vernon “Iceman” Paris.
Tickets, priced at $75, $70, $60 and $50, are on sale and can be purchased at the Soaring Eagle Casino box office (1-888-726-9633) or by calling Star Ticket Plus at 1-800-585-3737.
Spadafora (39-0-1, 16 KOs), ended a two year hiatus from the ring last November, knocking out Panchita Zepeda in the fifth round. The victory marked the beginning of a personal quest to win another world title — this time in the junior welterweight division. Spadafora captured the IBF world lightweight title in 1999, upsetting the heavily-favored Israel Cardona, winning a lopsided decision. After successfully defending his world championship belt eight times during his four-year reign, he vacated the title to move up to the 140-pound division.
Fagan (17-3, 10 KOs), a native of Dublin, Ireland, now fighting out of Oklahoma City, OK, is riding a two-year, 11-bout winning streak, with his last three victories coming by way of knockout. The former Oklahoma State lightweight champion returned to his native Dublin last June, knocking out Jeff Thomas, in the seventh round, at National Stadium, to capture the vacant Irish junior welterweight championship. Fagan’s won his 11th consecutive bout in January, knocking out Brian Paul in the second round.
Narh (20-1, 17 KOs), a native of Ghana who fights out of Pittsburgh, boasts a career-high world-rating, ranked No. 13 by the IBF, a result of his 11-bout (eight by knockout) winning streak. He returns to the ring off his biggest victory, an eighth-round knockout of previously undefeated Ramazan Palyani for the Pennsylvania State lightweight title. Taking a big step up, Narh will have his hands full as he risks his march into the Top-10 taking on division gatekeeper Brown (23-13-2, 11 KOs), from Atlantic City. Brown, a four-time world title challenger has defeated former world champions Robbie Peden and Gabriel Ruelas, while going the distance with world title holders Miguel Cotto, Diego Corrales, Stevie Forbes and Angel Manfredy.
Pryor (10-3, 7 KOs), from Cincinnati, will take on Jeffrey Osborne, Jr. (4-3-1, 1 KO), from Davenport, IA., in a six-round super middleweight bout, while undefeated Paris (11-0, 8 KOs), from Detroit, will fight in a six-round lightweight bout against an opponent to be announced shortly. Two additional bouts will also be added to the undercard.