Bethlehem, PA—World-rated welterweight Ronald Cruz fights for the second time in his backyard when he collides with Prenice Brewer, of Cleveland, OH, in a scheduled 12-round contest on Friday evening, June 1, on the inaugural boxing show in the new 1,800-seat Events Center at the Sands Resort Casino Bethlehem.
The seven-fight card, which will be televised live as part of the NBC Sports Network Fight Night series, also features King Gabriel Rosado, of Philadelphia, PA, against Joel Julio, of Monteria, Colombia, in a 10-round junior middleweight contest between top contenders.
At stake in the Cruz-Brewer match is the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) Continental Americas title.
Ranked No. 14 in the world at 147 pounds by the International Boxing Federation (IBF), Cruz (right) is 16-0, 12 K0s. In his last fight Feb. 25 in Atlantic City, NJ, he earned a hard-fought, but unanimous 10-round decision over dangerous Allen Conyers, of the Bronx, NY. The fight with Conyers marked Cruz’ first main event in Atlantic City, NJ.
Cruz also has defeated Jeremy Bryan, of Paterson, NJ; Chris Fernandez, of Salt Lake City, UT; Anges Adjaho, of Buffalo, NY.
He was able to accomplish this after a 28-fight amateur career which he clip_image010jammed into less than 18 months.
The June 1 match with Brewer will be Cruz’ second in his backyard. Last summer he headlined a card in a temporary tent at the Sands Casino Resort and he K0d cross-state rival Doel Carrasquillo , of Lancaster, PA, in five rounds.
Brewer (left), 24, earned this opportunity when he scored an upset victory over highly touted and previously unbeaten southpaw Emmanuel Taylor last Nov. 10 in Taylor’s backyard of Washington, DC.
The eight-round split decision over Taylor improved Brewer’s five-year pro record to 16-1-1, 7 K0s.
Brewer defeated Chris Fernandez via six-round decision while Cruz stopped Fernandez in six rounds.
Five additional bouts complete the card.
ABOUT JUNE 1
The Rosado-Julio and Cruz-Brewer fights top a seven-bout card at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem. First fight is 7.30 pm. Tickets are priced at $50 and $75 as well as luxury suite seats for $125.00. Tickets can be purchased through the offices of Peltz Boxing (215-765-0922) and at all Ticketmaster outlets (800-745-3000). Tickets also are on sale at www.peltzboxing.com, www.SandsEventCenter.com, and www.Ticketmaster.com. In Bethlehem, tickets are available at Deja Brew, Inc., 101 West 4th Street (610-865-2739) and at Pronto Insurance Notary, 232 East 3rd Street (610-419-6790). NBC Sports Network will televise the Rosado-Julio and Cruz-Brewer fights, beginning at 9 pm. The card is being promoted by Main Events and Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc., in association with the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem and www.goDaddy.com.
Irish super featherweight Patrick Hyland Pursuing boxing dream in America, Headlines ‘Irish Invasion’ May 12 in Poughkeepsie, NY
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (April 4, 2012) – Following the path paved by former world champion Wayne “Pocket Rocket” McCullough, unbeaten super featherweight prospect Patrick “The Punisher” Hyland has crossed the Atlantic from his native Dublin to pursue his boxing dream in America.
Hyland (25-0, 11 KOs), now living in Marlboro (NY), leads the May 12th “Irish Invasion” card, presented by Final Round Promotions in association with Team Snooki Boxing and Bob Duffy’s Ring Promotions, at Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, New York.
The 28-year-old Hyland, the reigning World Boxing Federation (“WBF”) super featherweight champion, is rated No. 12 by the North American Boxing Association (“NABA”). He faces an opponent to soon be announced in the eight-round main event May 12.
Like McCullough, as well as Andy Lee, John Duddy and Kevin McBride before him, Hyland moved to the United States from the Emerald Isle, along with his brothers, Eddie and Paul, who’ve since returned home to continue boxing in Dublin.
“I felt like coming here was best for my professional boxing career,” Hyland said. “America has the biggest stages – Madison Square Garden and Las Vegas – and television networks for boxing. I used to stay up all night to watch fights on HBO and Showtime. Top sparring is here, too, because there are so many good fighters here. To be the best, you have to mix it up with the best.
“Marlboro is so different from Dublin. It’s big with wide-open spaces and so much wildlife, unlike Dublin, where people live on top of each other. It’s quiet here and ideal for training because there are no distractions. I really like it here and, since moving here last September, I’ve got some good friends. I hang with my strength-and-conditioning coach, Dominic Tominelli, and his friends. We go golfing, too.
“My brothers went back home to Ireland, but I like being on my own. I’ve become more independent. My brothers fought on the same card as me in Atlantic City. It will be a bit weird May 12th without one of them fighting on the same card. Either Eddie or Paul has fought on the same card in my last 10 fights. My father (Patrick, Sr.) will be in my corner, though, as second to my trainer, (former two-division world champion) Tracy Patterson.”
Hyland describes himself as a boxer-puncher who prefers to fight in the blood-and-guts style associated with Irish fighters, but he’s smart enough to understand that the best way for him to accomplish his goal of becoming world champion is to be a boxer-puncher.
“I’m long and rangy,” Hyland added. “I modeled myself, a little, watching Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera. I can stand and go toe-to-toe, or box, so I’ve become more of a complete fighter working with Tracy. We’ve worked on bobbing and weaving, speed for my shots, movement, and inside fighting. He hasn’t changed me too much other than from a typical European to more of a American-style fighter.
“I was a five-time Irish amateur champion and represented my country all over the world. I’ve from an Irish wave of amateurs I – Andy Lee, John Duddy, Mathew Macklin and David Price – who’ve all done well in the pros. My goal is be world champion. I believe I’m close to getting a shot, maybe two or three big fights away from being ready to fight for the world title.”
Although still handled in Ireland by Brian Peters, Hyland is working with Final Round Promotions and Team Snooki Boxing in the US. “(Final Round Promotions) Brian (Burke) and Mike (Pascale) have done a good job for me,” Hyland noted. “I’ve had one fight in Atlantic City (WDEC8 vs. Emmanuel Lucero, Jan. 28) and my second is coming on May 12 in Poughkeepsie. Even with the economy the way it is they’re keeping me busy.
“Coming here is all about boxing and getting onboard with Team Snooki Boxing, hopefully, can help bring the entertainment side to boxing. Different people will be watching and see that boxing isn’t just a sport, it’s about people and entertainment.”
2008 National Golden Gloves champion Steve Martinez (11-1, 9 KOs), a super middleweight from the Bronx, will be fighting in the In the six-round co-feature, while Canadian light welterweight Natasha Spencer (3-0-1, 2 KOs) faces Racquel Bailey (1-1-1) in a six-round female match.
Also fighting on the undercard in separate four-round bouts are undefeated Newburgh light welterweight favorite Treysean Wiggins (3-0, 3 KOs), New York City light middleweight Valdrin Muriqi (2-1), Yonkers (NY) super featherweight Chazz McDowell (5-1, 1 KOs) and former USA Mid-American middleweight champion Bryant “The Spartan” Pappas (13-0-1, 13 KOs), and unbeaten Poughkeepsie heavyweight Detroy Jones (5-0-1, 2 KOs).
Pappas, a sergeant in the Yonkers Police Department, is a cancer survivor who is donating his purse to cancer research. Team Snooki Boxing is donating $1.00 from each sold ticket to Rolling Thunder, Chapter III New York to support needy U.S. military veterans.
Tickets, reasonably priced at $35.00, $50.00 and $100 (Gold Ringside), are available to purchase at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center and through all Ticketmaster outlets.
Doors open at 6:30 PM/ET with the first bout scheduled for 7:30 PM/ET. Go to www.finalroundpromotions.com for additional information.
TICKETS ON SALE TODAY FOR STAR BOXING FNF. TIMES UNION
For Release: April 5, 2012: BRONX, NY (April 5, 2012) Tickets go on sale TODAY, (THURSDAY, April 5th) as Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing returns to the Times Union Center in Albany, New York with ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights on Friday, May 18th.
The May 18th event marks the return of Star Boxing to the Times Union Center, following an action packed debut on February 4th.
Headlining ESPN2’S Friday Night Fights is a terrific junior welterweight ten round bout between 22 year old undefeated Philadelphia prospect Raymond “Tito” Serrano, 18-0-0 (8KO’s) and the also unbeaten and defending NABO Champion Karim “Hard Hitta” Mayfield, 15-0-1 (9KO’s) of San Francisco, California.
“We’re very happy to return on May 18th with ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights to Albany’s Times Union Center. I would advise fans to get tickets early for this fantastic card as we expect the seats will move quickly for this nationally televised event between 2 unbeaten rising stars” said DeGuardia.
“Serrano is an exciting prospect who understands a victory over Mayfield on national TV will put him among the highest rated boxers in his division. Mayfield knows that the same holds for him. It’s a classic matchup of undefeated fighters with tremendous upside to the winner” continued DeGuardia.
Said Bob Belber, General Manager of the Times Union Center, “I am excited to have a marquee event, like ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights, take place at the Times Union Center. It promises to be a fantastic event that Capital District boxing fans can look forward to attending this May. I am also happy to welcome back Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing and look forward to building off of the excitement that was generated from their debut here this past February.”
A native of Puerto Rico, Serrano returns to ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights following a dominant ten round decision win over Kenny Abril on February 10th at the Mohegan Sun Casino. A pro since the age of 18, Serrano is seen by many in boxing as having the skills needed to become a world champion.
The big talking Mayfield is coming off two excellent wins in 2011, a tenth round stoppage of former world champion Stevie Forbes on June 17th in Austin, Texas and a ten round decision over Patrick Lopez on October 1st in Tunica, Mississippi.
Additional bouts on this card will be announced shortly by Star Boxing.
Priced at $75, $50, $40 and $30, advance tickets will be available through Ticketmaster, (www.Ticketmaster.com, 800-745-3000) or at the Times Union Center Box Office, (1-800-30-EVENT), and at select Wal-Mart Music Centers. Tickets are also available by calling Star Boxing at 718-823-2000 or on their website at www.starboxing.com.
The Times Union Center is location at 51 South Pearl Street in Albany, New York, 12207. Doors on the night of the event will open at 6:30pm with the first bell scheduled for 7:30pm.