Jimmy Burchfield (CES, President): “This is going to be a great show, a few days before St. Patrick’s Day (Irish), and the night of St. Joseph’s Day (Italian). In boxing, though, we’re all one ethnic group. At this show we’ll have Vinny Paz representing the Italians, Micky Ward the Irish.”
Micky Ward: “It’s going to be a great show. Jimmy always puts on a great card with competitive fights. That’s what fans want to see. I’m training a couple of guys fighting (Joey McCreedy and Sean Eklund). I’m not going to tell you they’re both going to win. They’re both ready and will give it their best — may the best man win..”
Vinny Paz: “I love Micky Ward. He ducked me. (“You were too light,” Ward said.) He’s a great guy and warrior. Jimmy Burchfield is my man.”
Danny O’Connor: “It would be easy for me to be up here and take all the credit, but it’s a team effort, and I don’t think they get enough credit – Leon Margules (promoter), Dave Keefe (head trainer and co-manager) and Rob Valle (co-manager). I want to thank my friends, family and fans. You keep me motivated. I want you to know how much I appreciate it. I am exciting to be in my first main event. It’s so close to home a lot of my fans will be able to watch me. I trained for this fight with (world champion) Juan Urango at the Fight Factory in Tampa. I consistently had good sparring. I’m going to keep doing what’s been successful. I’m improving each fight and, hopefully, this time I’ll top my last fight here.”
Jaime Clampitt: “Jimmy has always been a huge supporter of female boxing, something I’ve been quite involved in. It’s so tough for us getting fights and I thank Jimmy. This is a really exciting time for me. My daughter has her first birthday on St. Patrick’s Day. I gave birth last year and here I am fighting again. I feel better than before. I want to thank everyone for supporting me all the way.”
Eddie Soto: “I didn’t have to take this fight but Eklund deserved it. I was to say I was only down once, the other time I slipped (in their first fight won by Soto). I’m very strong and coming to fight hard for all my Latino fans out there. It (first fight vs. Eklund) could have gone either way. I wasn’t a judge and didn’t score the fight. I’m ready. Don’t leave your seats if the lights go out because it’s only going to be from all of our punches”
Sean Eklund: “Eddie (Soto) didn’t have to take this fight; you’re showing you’re a man. Me and Eddie will deliver. I’m looking forward to this fight, especially getting away from training with Micky. It’s been brutal.”
Joey McCreedy: “I love fighting at Twin River. I’m going back to the future with Dicky Eklund and Micky Ward at my side. It brings back good memories. Like Micky said, me and Sean are ready. I feel bad for whoever I’m fighting. I’m like a pit bull in a cage. They’re going to let m out March 19th. We’re a big family at CES; you gotta go hard or go home. It’s do or die for me.”
Keith Kozlin: “I’m really excited to be back fighting at Twin River. It’s a great place. My family and friends live it here. Jimmy always puts on great shows like this show here. I’m proud to be part of it. It’s going to be a great night of boxing.”
Tickets: $35.00, $50.00, $75.00 and $100.00 and are available to purchase by calling CES (401.724.2253/2254), going online at www.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, at Twin River’s Players Club booth at Twin River, or any TicketMaster location.
Information: Contact CES (401.724.2253/2254/www.cesboxing.com) or the Twin River Event Center (877.82.RIVER/ www.twinriver.com) for more information. Doors open at 6 PM/ET, first bout at 7 PM/ET.
(Twin River has waived its 18+ rule for “ShamRock’d.” Anybody under the age of 18 must be accompanied at all times by an adult and they must enter through the West entrance.)
Danny O’Connor Headlnes Shamrock’d
Appropriately-named Danny O’Connor, 2008 U.S. Olympic Team alternate, headlines his first show March 19 on the post-St. Patrick’s Day card, “Shamrock’d,” presented by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc. (CES), at Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, R.I. Two other popular, Irish-American boxers, “Irish” Joey McCreedy and 4-time world champion Jaime “Hurricane” Clampitt, are also scheduled to be in action on “Shamrock’d,” the first of several shows (May 7, July 9, Sept. 3 and Nov. 12) being promoted by CES this year at Twin River.
Unbeaten junior welterweight prospect O’Connor (10-0, 3 KOs), fighting out of Framingham (MA), recently returned from Tampa, where he served as a sparring partner for IBF junior welterweight champion Juan Urango at the famous Fight Factory Gym.
“It was a great, new experience for me,” O’Connor said. “I was able to see what others do at training camp. I know what I’ve done to prepare for a fight, but it’s always nice to see how others do, especially a world champion. I was there as a sparring partner for Juan, but I got myself ready for my fight. Juan’s a real pro. We get along very well. I went there to be like a sponge, soaking everything up, and I did. He’s already accomplished what my goal is in boxing – to be world champion.
“I keep moving forward. I’ve come a long way, trained hard and remain focused and serious. I’ve settled down and now feel like a real pro. I’ve improved in some areas, but keep working in other areas. Fighting eight rounds for the first time is not a concern for me. I’m always in shape. If this fight goes eight rounds, I’ll use it as ring experience, gaining that sooner, rather than later.”
O’Connor faces the toughest test of his young pro career in Franklin Gonzalez (13-3, 9 KOs), the dangerous Dominican puncher now living in Brooklyn. “I can’t worry about how good my opponent is,” Danny noted. “As long as I keep getting better (in training), all I have to be concerned with is doing what I need to do to win the fight.
“It’s nice fighting close at home and around St. Patrick’s Day again. Last year, I fought a few days before St. Patrick’s Day and this year it’s a few days after. I’ve sharpened my skills in the past year and I’m really looking forward to my first main event. It’s going to be an exciting show.”
McCreedy (11-4-1, 6 KOs), fighting out of Lowell (MA), is the reigning EBA and New England super middleweight champion, but he’s dropping down to middleweight to fight an opponent to be determined in a 6-round bout.
Clampitt (20-4-1, 7 KOs) returned to the ring last November after taking 1 ½ years off to have her first baby, taking a 6-round decision from Rachel Clark. The Canadian-born, Warwick (RI) resident faces TBA in a 6-round fight.
A 6-round rematch for the EBA New England lightweight title will be held between unbeaten, defending champion Eddie “The Puerto Rican Sensation” Soto (12-0, 4 KOs) and challenger Sean Eklund (6-4, 1 KO). This inter-state rivalry pits Pawtucket’s (RI) Soto against Lowell’s Eklund, who is trained by his uncle, “Irish” Micky Ward, in a rematch of their controversial, split-decision last February won by Soto, who overcame two knockdowns, at Twin River.
New Bedford (MA) welterweight Jason “School Boy” Pires (22-3, 9 KOs), the former USBA super bantamweight champion and active New Bedford police officer, takes on hot Louisiana prospect Jason “Renegade” Revish (10-1-1, 8 KOs) in a 6-round bout.
Also fighting on the undercard in 4-rounders is Warwick (RI) super middleweight Keith Kozlin (4-0, 2 KOs) versus Roberto Burgess (4-2, 2 KOs), while Philadelphia lightweight Frankie Trader (6-0, 2 KOs) fights an opponent to be determined. The newest member of Team CES, Barnstable (MA) heavyweight prospect Jesse Barboza (2-0, 2 KOs), a 3-time New England Golden Gloves champion, battles Tyyab Beale (2-2, 1 KO). All bouts and boxers are subject to change.
Rollback ticket prices for “Shamrock’d” are $35.00, $50.00, $75.00 and $100.00 and are available to purchase by calling CES (401.724.2253/2254), going online at www.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, at Twin River’s Players Club booth at Twin River, or any TicketMaster location.
Contact CES (401.724.2253/2254/www.cesboxing.com) or the Twin River Event Center (877.82.RIVER/ www.twinriver.com) for more information. Doors open at 6 PM/ET, first bout at 7 PM/ET.
(Twin River has waived its 18+ rule for “ShamRock’d.” Anybody under the age of 18 must be accompanied at all times by an adult and they must enter through the West entrance.)