MIAMI, FL — (April 15, 2008) — Elieser Castillo and younger brother Eliseo Castillo will fight for the first time on the same card at the premier of the VIP Boxing Event . “Bringing it Back to the Knight,” June 6, 2008, at the James L. Knight Center in Miami, Florida. A Weigh-In and Charity Auction will take place on June 5, 2008 at the Hyatt Regency Riverfront Room in Miami..
“Our vision is to bring back first rate boxing and MMA events to Miami,” says Calvetta Phair, a licensed Boxing and MMA Promoter, and founder of Phair Exchange Promotions, which is producing the event. Elieser Castillo will star as the Main Event in his quest for the WBO Latino Championship Belt. Younger brother Eliseo Castillo is billed as the co-Main Event.
Known as Cuba’s Dynamic Duo, the Castillo brothers’ tortuous flight to freedom in the U.S. is fabled. Born in Havana, Cuba, Elieser and younger brother Eliseo, set out for America in 1994 on a handmade raft and spent five days at sea — only to be returned to Cuba. They spent three years in captivity at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in what was then called “Tent City.” Finally, they made it to Miami, becoming part of what was known as “Team Freedom.”
Elieser Castillo made his professional boxing debut in Miami with a first-round TKO win over Kerry Parks. He is known as a strong southpaw fighter, especially since he has never hit the canvas in 38 professional fights. Castillo’s most recent bout was in February 2008, when he won after a 5-round TKO in a match that Elieser used to prepare for bigger things to come. Elieser is now focusing on the cruiserweight division. He is managed by his wife Karla Guadamuz-Castillo.
Eliseo (the younger) Castillo is an Orthodox fighter and is known for his quickness and technique. When the brothers first came to the U.S., the older Castillo began to box full-time, while the younger brother Eliseo went to school and learned English. A few years later, Eliseo started to fight, guided by his older brother, and is now ready to fulfill his promise as a top level professional boxer.
By selecting the Castillo brothers as the Main and co-Main Events, Ms. Phair has set her sights on reviving the glory days of boxing in the heyday of Ali, Foreman, Leonard, and Ellis. A native of Seattle, Calvetta gets her ring-savvy knowledge from her uncle, Fred Walden, a Muhammad Ali amateur opponent. The versatile boxing aficionado is focusing on local produce ring events with a dash of elegance.
“We are providing opportunities to professional fighters like the other champs have done,” notes Ms. Phair. “We also want to give young, dynamic companies a chance to be highlighted at our events.”
A strong team of energetic companies has been assembled to sponsor the VIP Boxing Event. Ms. Phair has formed strategic alliances with Comcast as official sponsor, Diori Water, GC Media, Inc., and 93ROCK. Diori, an Atlanta company breaking into the Florida market, will be the official water drink for the big ringside event when it takes place on June 6. GC Media, Inc., one of the fastest growing technology firms in Florida, provides Wi-Fi Internet Hotspots; 93ROCK is gaining a growing audience of boxing and MMA fans. Other sponsors include Access Media Marketing Group, Macabi Cigars, South Florida Boxing Gym, Lauderdale Lakes Moose Lodge, and America Fundraising Group.
The evening at the Knight will consist of dinner at ringside in the VIP area, a mixture of classy atmosphere, high-end entertainment and action, starting at 8:00 pm. General reserved seating is also available. Dinner tickets are $150; general tickets, $30.
Proceeds of the Weigh-In and Charity Auction and part of the proceeds of the VIP Boxing Event will benefit Ms. Phair’s non-profit The On It Foundation, for students in the Miami Dade Public School System. The organization donates computers and computer training to individuals of low-income families with students in grades K-12. Learn more at www.theonitfoundation.org.
For more information about the VIP Boxing Event, and corporate sponsorships, contact: Phair Exchange Promotions, 305-915-6218; visit www.PhairExchangePromotions.com. Tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster. Call 305-358-5885 or go to: www.ticketmaster.com.