Promoter Nick Garone of X-Cel Worldwide says he’s proud to be receiving the full support of Buffalo businesses and boxing community for his “Buffalo Beatdown” show on Friday, June 19, at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center. “This city has been fantastic,” says Garone of the support he’s enjoyed from locals. “People like “Baby” Joe Mesi and Ray Casal (local trainer and father of main event fighter Nick Casal), Jimmy Ralston (local trainer and former top-ranked light heavyweight contender), Don Patterson (local trainer and former fighter) and Juan DeLeon (local trainer/brother of former world champ Carlos DeLeon) have all been fantastic to work with..”
Mesi, the former number-one heavyweight contender, has gone as far as to appear on television commercials hyping the event. “Baby Joe still has tremendous clout in the area and his support has been critical to the success of this event,” admits Garone.
Headlining the “Buffalo Beatdown” will be Niagara Falls, New York, super lightweight Nick “Hands of Gold” Casal (18-4-1, 14 KOs) in a 10-round match-up. In the main supporting bout, all-action lightweight Meacher Major “Pain” of the Bahamas will face Columbus, Ohio’s Michael “Cold Blood” Clark (38-5-1, 18 KOs) in a 10-round battle for the vacant NABA Lightweight Championship. Also featured at the “Buffalo Beatdown” will be Rochester super lightweight Kenny Abril, Buffalo light heavyweight Lionel Thompson, Buffalo super featherweight Guillermo Sanchez and Buffalo heavyweight Excell Holmes making his pro debut.
Garone says he’s also grateful to all the sponsors who’ve eagerly jumped on board for his third event in the area and all the staff at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center. “People love boxing in Western, New York, and that makes a difference when you approach a company about getting behind what we’re doing out here. The sponsors have been tremendous to work with as well.”
Tickets for the “Buffalo Beatdown” can be purchased starting Monday, May 18 and are priced at $30, $45 and $75 for ringside. They can be purchased online at www.championsofboxing.com or by calling 877.77CLICK. A small amount of VIP seating is available by calling 631.878.1676.
ANDRADE AT IT AGAIN ON ESPN FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS
2007 amateur world champion and 2008 U.S. Olympian, Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade (4-0, 4KO) will look to improve to a perfect 5-0 when opens up next Friday’s ESPN2 “Friday Night Fights” telecast from the Laredo Entertainment Center, in Laredo, TX. The card is headlined by an intriguing featherweight match-up between Fernando Beltran Jr. (32-3-1, 18KO) and Monty Meza Clay (28-2, 19KO) for Beltran’s IBF Latino featherweight title.
For Andrade, who is co-promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing and Banner Promotions, it will mark the third time this year the jr. middleweight prospect will open a Friday Night Fights telecast.
Even before he entered into the professional ranks, Andrade had boxing insiders all across the globe talking about his talent and ability. Since turning pro back on October 23rd 2008 with a 2nd round TKO, the raving has only increased.
“Clearly, Andrade, a 2008 U.S. Olympian, is a gifted fighter who has massive potential,” stated ESPN.com Boxing analyst Dan Rafael. “Look at Andrade’s physical gifts. The former amateur champion has blazing hand speed, terrific size for a junior middleweight and obvious power. A 4-year-old could watch him fight and realize instantly that he has loads of talent. Andrade continues to impress during the early days of a pro career destined for the big time. If you could buy stock in any of the 2008 U.S. Olympians, Andrade would be your first selection.”
“It’s great to be fighting on ESPN2 once again,” stated Andrade. “Joe (Star Boxing) and Artie (Banner Promotions) have done a great job so far of giving me these opportunities to showcase my talent on the national level and I couldn’t be happier. I am really looking forward to putting on yet another spectacular performance and coming out of Texas with another impressive victory on my resume.”
Andrade’s opponent will be announced shortly.
The bout is scheduled for four rounds in the jr. middleweight division and is promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing in association with Banner Promotions.
Billy ‘The Kid’ – featured on ‘SuperBoxer’ and ‘Fight Night – Round 4!
What a month coming up for Billy ‘The Kid’ Dib! Having already appeared last Sunday on the ‘Wide World of Sports’, it’s only getting bigger and busier!
Dib, the former IBO Super-Featherweight Champion and current world-rated contender in the Featherweight division had another busy week, appearing at last Thursday’s launch of the exciting new ‘free-to-air’ championship boxing series – ‘SuperBoxer’.
Brought to Australia through Empire Promotions and televised through 1HD, ‘The Kid’ spoke at the launch about the ‘SuperBoxer’ concept and how excited he was to be announced as the featured fighter on opening night of the four-part series.
“This is without doubt, the biggest development in Australian boxing in my short time within boxing. As Mr Lewis (Johnny Lewis, legendary trainer) said at the launch, this is the biggest thing in boxing for him in the last two decades so that speaks volumes.”
“I’ve been very fortunate to have fought in both the US and UK and I can honestly say, the excitement and build-up for me of performing in front of family and friends in Australia, and televised through ‘free-to-air’ on 1HD is right up there with some of my fights overseas.” “I’m absolutely buzzing.”
Currently training the house down under his astute trainer – Billy Hussein for his bout against the all-action – Kenichi ‘MachineGun’ Yamaguichi, a Japanese warrior boasting a record of only 1 loss from 18 visits to the ‘squared-circle’ will be a massive step for Dib in re-positioning for another world-title challenge later in 2009.
“I don’t know any Japanese, but there is one word I do know and will be saying to Yamaguichi on the night of the fight – Sayonara, when I knock him out!” The bout as noted will be televised via 1HD in a history-making return to ‘free-to-air television, not seen since the halcyon days of ‘FightNight’ and will beam championship boxing back into Australian households. Dib’s bout is the featured fight on opening night, squaring off with Japan’s Yamaguichi for the WBO Asia-Pacific Featherweight title over a scheduled 12 rounds of boxing.
The upcoming week see’s no rest and if it’s not title’s that ‘The Kid’ is in the ring winning, he’s winning them outside also in the next installment of the EA Games – ‘Fight Night’ series which is released on July 2nd and the latest version ‘Fight Night – Round 4’! EA Games are proud to announce Billy ‘The Kid’ Dib as an Australian ambassador, seen alongside the cream of boxing history and superstars. Names such as Ali, Tyson, De La Hoya and Mosely are also in the game and it’s a wonderful endorsement to Dib’s standing in world boxing, not only as a previous world-champion, but also only 23 years of age with a massive future of more world-titles ahead of him.
“I first saw the Fight Night game at Shane Mosely’s house with him in a previous version. I said to Shane that one day I wanted to be in the game, and he said to me, brother, don’t worry, one day you will!” “Well I’m here and it’s a fantastic feeling to be part of it!” “Actually come to think of it, this is my chance to beat ‘Sugar’ Shane, I’ll smash him!”
“Being in Fight Night 4 is a very proud moment for myself and my family. Just to be selected alongside some of the greatest boxers in history who are heroes of mine is tremendous honour”.
“I’m really proud that my younger brother and nieces can all say to the kids at school their brother’s in a game, that’s sensational!”
For more Billy ‘The Kid’ info, check www.billythekid.com.au