Promising light middleweight Tony Hirsch has been added to the Settles Entertainment fight card headlined by Tyrone Brunson’s attempt to break the world first round KO record this Saturday, October 13 at Chez Paree Club in Carter Lake, Iowa..
Hailing from the mean streets of Oakland, CA, Hirsch has won both of his professional contests since joining the paid ranks in June of this year and will square off over four scheduled rounds with Nebraska based journeyman Reuben Rodriguez, 3-6 (0), who has beaten two of the four undefeated fighters that he has faced.
Hirsch capped off his amateur career by winning a Gold Medal at the 2006 San Francisco Golden Gloves competition but the quick-fisted 23 year old also enjoyed success on a different field of play; as a member of the Arena Football League San Jose SaberCats, and was briefly with the NFL’s Oakland Raiders before being beat out for the cornerback spot by Phillip Buchanon.
“After the Raiders, I just wanted to do something else,” said Hirsch. “Arena football wants me back but I really want to make a career of boxing and I think that with my skills, I can do that.”
Hirsch’s manager Repo Ric has seen many talented prospects fail to make it through the crucial early stages of professional boxing during his career as promoter, manager, cut man and corner man but feels that Hirsch is different.
“At this stage, Tony needs more experience but I think he can be something special,” said Repo. “He already has an ability that many fighters never develop and that is, he listens. He really listens and he learns; that is so important in this sport.”
Another significant step in an early career is sparring with boxers who have already achieved success and to that end, Hirsch is developing quite nicely, working in the gym with the hottest super middleweight prospect in the world and America’s only Olympic Gold Medal winner since 1996.
“I’ve been sparring a lot with Andre Ward,” said the West Oakland native. “You can’t get better than that and it’s been a great experience. Andre is really talented and I’ve learned a lot, I just can’t wait to get back in the ring.”
Hirsch will get that opportunity next Saturday at the Club Chez Paree and has promoter Craig Settles to thank for that. “Tony is an exceptional athlete and his thrilling fighting style is something we felt we wanted on our fight card to support Tyrone Brunson’s attempt at breaking the world record for first round knockouts,” said Settles.
“This is a fight card that we feel will help bring boxing back in a big way to Iowa and the Omaha, Nebraska area, which is really a great fight town. It’s been a long time since there’s been a fighter with Brunson’s power and skill and soon he’s going to have a world record to prove that.”
Settles Entertainment presents “Do Or Die”, an exciting night of boxing headlined by undefeated middleweight Tyrone Brunson, supported by a full undercard, at the Chez Paree Club, located at 1313 Locust Street, in Carter Lake, Iowa on Saturday, October 13, 2007.
Tickets are priced at $40 Ringside, $30 Premium Seating, $25 General Admission and can be purchased by logging onto www.ticketalternative.com or by calling 877-725-8849.