On May 15th Star Boxing’s undefeated heavyweight contender Kevin “Kingpin” Johnson (21-0-1, 8KO) will look to take one step closer to fighting for a world title when he takes on highly regarded, undefeated 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Captain, Devin Vargas (17-0, 7KO). The bout will take place at Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City, NJ and be shown live as that evenings ESPN2 “Friday Night Fights” main event. Johnson, who is widely considered to be the top American heavyweight contender, was originally slated to face former world title challenge Monte “Two Gunz” Barrett. But with just a little over a week to go Barrett pulled out of the fight, claiming he suffered an eye injury while in training, something that does not sit well with Johnson at all..
“He punked out,” stated an agitated Johnson. “He has been running his mouth for months but every time he has the chance to fight me he comes up with some excuse. Maybe David Haye’s people paid him off. They know that by me destroying Barrett it would have made Haye’s performance look not as good anymore (David Haye TKO’d Barrett in five rounds back in November)”
While Johnson, who is ranked as the WBA #5, WBC #10, and IBF #13 rated heavyweight in the world, wants to make it clear how he feels about Barrett and Haye, he knows he still has to take care of business on the 15th.
“I feel bad for the kid (Vargas), because all of my anger I have now is going to get dished out on him. I know he was an Olympian, I know he is promoted by Star, so I feel bad having to beat someone promoted by the same company as me, but business is business. I am so close to getting my title shot, and if you think I am going to let Devin Vargas or anyone for that matter stand in the way of that, then you are out of your mind!”
In Vargas, Johnson will be taking on a young, hungry, undefeated prospect, who like Johnson is trying to establish himself as the top American heavyweight contender. The last time Vargas saw the bright lights of ESPN2 was back on May 9th, 2008 when he brutally stopped Dave Brunelli at just one minute and thirty one seconds of the very first round.
Regarding how he sees the fight going, Johnson is confident that the bout won’t go the distance. “I have stopped my last two opponents and I want to keep increasing my knockout ratio, so yes the fight is definitely going to end with either Vargas on his back or the referee with his arms around him.”
“To all those champions out there, please tune in on the 15th you might want to take notes because I am coming for you, for all of you! I am ready to claim my throne and once I get these belts I am not ever going to let them go, so please enjoy them while you still can.”
The card is promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, in association with Harrah’s Resort. A complete list of the undercard will be announced shortly. Tickets are priced at $90 and $60 and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 1(800) 745-3000 or going online to ticketmaster.com. Tickets are also available by calling Star Boxing at (718) 823- 2000 or by going online to www.starboxing.com.
Carlos Ivan Velasquez Remains Undefeated
(May 11, 2009) – The hard hitting and devastating punching power of highly touted featherweight prospect, Carlos Ivan Velasquez, was on display last Friday May 8, 2009 when the Golden Boy Promotions rising star extended his winless record to (10-0, 9 KO’s), flattening Andres Ledesma in the first round.
In the later half of the first round, Velasquez connected with a left hook to the body, then followed with an overhand right that dropped Ledesma. Still on shaky legs after getting up, Ledesma was hit with another crushing overhand right that put him down for good. The fight was stopped at the 2:59 mark and Velasquez was awarded a TKO victory.
“This was a good win for me,” said Velasquez. “I’m looking to get back in the ring as soon as possible. My goal is to get to 15-0 by the end of 2009. If I can accomplish this goal, I feel I’ll be ready to fight for a title in 2010.”
Tickets On Sale Now For “Tinley Park Rumble”
The one main event that has the star-power capable of following up the “Merciless” Mary McGee vs. Kristy “Rose” Follmar world championship extravaganza is a feud that goes beyond the ring and was originally scheduled for “Date With Destiny” but rescheduled for the “Tinley Park Rumble” on Friday, June 12th at the Tinley Park Convention Center, 18501 Harlem Ave. in Tinley Park, IL.
Michael “Midnight Stalker” Walker (19-2-2, 12 KOs) vs. “Iron” Orphius Waite (5-0, 3 KOs) is a main event that started inside the Octavius James’ One In A Million Inc.’s training facility, as two of the world’s best middleweights were once sparring partners.
Walker and Waite will never be seen enjoying dinner together, but boxing fans will have an opportunity to enjoy their world class main event battle that is guaranteed to be a bone crunching crowd pleaser. “Walker and Waite is one of those fights that will have fight fans standing on there feet,” said Octavius James, C.E.O. of One In A Million Inc.
“These two guys don’t like each other and when they get in that ring it’s going to be bruising main event that I’m excited to see,” added James. “One In A Million is looking to bring back the Age of the Superfight, with McGee vs. Follmar and Walker vs. Waite, we are definitely putting together some of the best fights the world of boxing has seen in a very long time.”
“I could tell (Waite) was trying to size me up during our sparring sessions,” said Walker. “Orphius wants to be me and he is trying to fight like I do, I’m ready and he is ready so let’s get it on, he is messing with a different level of fighter and I don’t feel any respect at all from him, but I will get that respect when I whoop him without the head gear,” Said Walker.
“When we would walk into the training facility we both got that weird vibe and when we sparred I left his face battered a few times even with the head gear,” said Waite. “It’s a very big fight, biggest fight of my career and secondly it’s going to be a stepping stone in my career, (Walker) had his chance to shine and he didn’t do too well and now it’s my turn.” Waite said.
Also scheduled as part of another sensational undercard are unbeaten fighters Welterweight Ed “2 Fast 2 Furious” Ochoa (8-0, 8 KOs), middleweight Josh Crouch (4-0, 4 KOs) and super featherweight Evette Collazo (4-0, 2 KOs) returns to the ring.
Tickets “Tinley Park Rumble” are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased at VIP $100, VIP ringside $75, ringside $50, and general admission $30 and they are available from any Ticket Master location at (800)745-3000, (866) 438-7372 or www.TicketMaster.com.
The Tinley Park Convention Center, which is just 25 minutes from Northwest Indiana, doors will open at 7 p.m. with the first bout at 8 p.m.