On Friday May 11, 2012, professional boxing will return to Calgary, Alberta in an exciting card dubbed “The Year of the Dragon” at the beautiful Chinese Cultural Center in downtown Calgary. Presented by Teofista Boxing, the anticipated card will mark the return and homecoming of highly regarded Canadian light welterweight Steve ‘The Dragon’ Claggett and the professional debut of Canadian amateur star ‘Irish’ Cam O’Connell.. The professional portion of the card will be carried live on the internet at GoFightLive.TV (or GFL.TV).
A native of Calgary, Canada Steve Claggett (13-1-1, 8 KOs) is one of the fastest rising stars in Canadian boxing. An exciting pressure fighter, Claggett started out 2012 with a resounding stoppage victory over rugged Ontario charge Ryan Wagner and will look to keep his streak of four stoppage wins in his last four victories going as he faces all-action Hungarian Laszlo Robert Balogh in a stay-busy fight. Claggett has spent much of this year at the world renowned “Mayweather Gym” in Las Vegas where he has been turning heads with his all-action style. In March the Chinese-Canadian upstart spent six weeks as the primary sparring partner for two-division world champion Zab ‘Super’ Judah putting in over fifty rounds of work with the former world champion.
“I have learned a lot in the last few months sparring with Zab and spending time in the Mayweather Gym,” Claggett said this week. “I am looking to put on a good show for my hometown fans as this could be my last fight here for some time. I have a lot of opportunities down south and am planning on putting on a show this Friday so I can move on to bigger and better things. People will see an improved fighter in this fight as I plan to take care of business.”
At 22 years of age ‘Irish’ Cam O’Connell has been a veteran of the Alberta amateur boxing program for over ten years. With over 135 amateur bouts to his name the native of Red Deer has fought at fourteen provincial tournaments emerging victorious each time. O’Connell is a five-time Canadian national champion, won the Ringside World Championship in 2007 and was a medalist at the 2005 Junior Olympics. One of the most acclaimed amateur boxers in Canada, O’Connell’s pro debut has been eagerly awaited by many enthusiasts across Canada. He will be in tough in his pro-debut facing Hungry’s Janos Varadi who is unbeaten in his two pro fights with both wins coming by way of knockout.
“I’m looking forward to making my pro debut,” O’Connell said from his central Alberta training camp. “I have enjoyed a long and successful amateur career and I’m looking forward to losing the headgear and showing what I can do in the pro ranks.”
Rounding out the professional portion of the card will be a sure fire heavyweight slugfest as Fanbase Promotions’ charge Ed Jackson of Phoenix, Arizona will take on Canadian MMA fighter Mariusz Zastawny who will be making his pro boxing debut. Scheduled for four rounds the bout is expected to be a barn burner as Jackson is a veteran of over 200 street fights.
For more information on the card and for ticket sales visit http://teofista.com/