New York, January 2—Duva Boxing will swing into 2008 with a hard hitting card on ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights headlined by the sensational knockout artist Darnell Wilson defending his USBA Cruiserweight championship against undefeated B.J. Flores on Friday night, February 8, at Dover Downs Racetrack and Casino, it was announced today by Duva Boxing president Dino Duva. The card will be presented in association with Dave Tiberi’s TNT Promotions and Sal Musemeci’s Final Forum Promotions..
Wilson, known best by the popular nickname “Ding-A-Ling Man,” comes off a sensational 11TH round KO victory over Emmanuel Nwodo on June 29 from the St. George Theater in Staten Island which aired on ESPN2. The spectacular triumph was crowned “Knockout of the Year” by ESPN.com’s respected expert Dan Rafael. Wilson hails from Takoma Park, Maryland, and has a steller 22-5-3 ring record, with 19 victories coming by way of KO.
Flores, fighting out of Willard, MO, is undefeated in 20 career professional fights, including 13 knockout scores.
“The winner of this exciting bout will be a most deserving and marketable top contender in the world of cruiserweights,” said Duva. “Dover Downs is a beautiful racetrack and casino, and the perfect sight for this slugfest because of the great boxing fans in Delaware.”
Dave Tiberi of TNT Promotions will be the local Delaware promoter. Dave Tiberi is a tough, former fighter and middleweight contender, famous for being robbed in a national television bout against James Toney in the 1980’s. The Duva and Tiberi families go back a long way together and this will be their first promotion together.
”The Duva and Tiberi families have been friendly for over 25 years, we both come from the same place and backgrounds. Nick has been my matchmaker for a while, and he’s one of the best in the business. And now with Duva Boxing doing a co-promotion with his brother Dave, I really feel this could be the beginning of a long , fun and successful business relationship.”