Bethlehem, PA-World-rated welterweight Ronald Cruz , who has had all of his pro fights in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and Prenice Brewer, who has boxed professionally in 13 different states, collide for the vacant WBC Continental Americas title 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 Sechew Powell, of Brooklyn, NY, in a 12-rounder for the vacant WBO Inter-Continental junior middleweight crown in a matchup of top contenders. THe NBC Sports Network Fight Night telecast beings at 9PM ET.
Ranked No. 12 in the world at 147 pounds by the IBF, Cruz (above right) is 16-0, 12 K0s. Eight of his 16 fights have been in Pennsylvania-seven in Philadelphia, one in Bethlehem–and the other eight in Atlantic City, NJ.
In his last fight Feb. 25 in Atlantic City, the 25-year-old Cruz earned a unanimous 10-round decision over Allen Conyers, of the Bronx, NY.
“There are a lot of distractions when you fight in your hometown,” said Jimmy Deoria, Cruz’ manager and former lightweight pro boxer from the 1990s. “People are always calling for tickets. Reporters want to do interviews. Fans are always around. But Ronald is a warrior. He thrives under pressure. He’s a lot more relaxed than I am.”
Brewer (above left) has boxed only once in his Cleveland, OH, hometown. He has traveled from the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City to the Playboy Mansion in Beverly Hills, CA.
A pro since 2006, the 24-year-old Brewer has boxed in New York (three times), Missouri (three), Michigan (twice), and once each in Illinois, Oklahoma, Florida, California, Washington state, Kansas, Indiana, Connecticut, Ohio and the District of Columbia.
“Brewer had a lot of offers from different promoters when he turned pro,” said matchmaker Eric Bottjer, who helps to arrange Cruz’ fight schedule. “After awhile he decided to do it on his own and he’s done pretty well for himself.”
In is last fight Nov. 10, Brewer scored an upset victory over highly touted and previously unbeaten southpaw Emmanuel Taylor 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.
ABOUT JUNE 1
The Rosado-Powell 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) or online at www.peltzboxing.com, www.SandsEventCenter.com, and www.Ticketmaster.com. In Bethlehem, tickets are available at Pronto Insurance Notary, 232 East 3rd Street (610-419-6790).
NBC Sports Network will televise the Rosado-Powell 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.
Zam Zam vs. Langella, Kaddour vs. Boulden confirmed for Larsen undercard on June 2
Reda Zam Zam (25-1, 12 KOs) will try and move one step closer to a title shot on June 2 when he takes on Italy´s Giuseppe Langella (18-7, 5 KOs) at the Nordic Fight Night in Herning. The 32-year-old comes off a spectacular fifth-round TKO victory over Bronislav Kubin in Frederikshavn. He is currently shaping up with fellow Nordic Fight Night fighters Torben Keller and Erik Skoglund at Karsten Roewer´s gym in Berlin. “I´ve been training hard since my last fight,” he said. “After
watching Kessler knocking out Green at PARKEN, I went to Berlin where we are now doing the fine-tuning and the sparring. I want to get the next good victory on June 2 and then see what the future holds – hopefully a title shot.”
Promoter Nisse Sauerland is confident that Zam Zam will be fighting for a title before the end of the year. “Reda has proven that he has still got what it takes to perform at a very high level. If he can get past Langella, we´ll be trying to get him a title fight.”
Joining Zam Zam in Berlin is fellow light middleweight Ahmad Kaddour (24-2-1, 10 KOs). The 30-year-old has signed a one-fight deal with Team Sauerland. He will face Gary Boulden (6-3-2, 1 KO) on June 2. “A lot of things have been written about Ahmad,” promoter Nisse Sauerland said.
“The best thing to end all discussions will be a convincing victory over Gary Boulden. He can prove his determination with a strong performance, which would definitely put him in line for further appearances at the Nordic Fight Night. He has always had the talent to be something special, and this is the time to show it.”
Said Kaddour: “I am glad to be fighting in Denmark again. I know I have
to impress on June 2 and believe me, that is what I am going to do. I will fight for my life and prove all my doubterswrong.I will put on a real show for my fans.”
In the main event of the evening, Mads Larsen makes his comeback against unbeaten Luke Blackledge, while WBA/WBC/WBO Female Welterweight Champion Cecilia Braekhus defends her titles against Jessica Balogun. Tickets are available at billetnet.dk, via phone (+45 7033 1333) and at the MCH box office at MCH Herning Kongrescenter.
Team Thompson Reflects on Poulard Bout
Buffalo, NY (May 22, 2012) – After ten hard-fought rounds against Canadian contender Nicholson Poulard last Saturday evening, Lionell “Lonnie B” Thompson returned to his corner feeling like a winner.
The Buffalo, NY native and former top ranked amateur had no doubt that his solid performance would raise his professional ledger to 13-0. Prior to the judges’ final tally being announced, Jean Pascal, Poulard’s brother, entered in the ring to congratulate Team Thompson on what appeared to be a victory; until the unexpected happened.
With the verdict in his possession, the ring announcer notified the pro-Poulard crowd at the Holiday Inn in Quebec that there was a split decision. Judge Don Ackerman scored the bout 97-73 for Poulard, followed by Pasquale Procopio’s 97-93 tally for Thompson. Shocked by Ackerman’s card, Thompson started raising his hand when Kelly Zolnierczyk’s 96-94 scorecard came in. Unfortunately, the decision went to the hometown favorite.
“I’m a fighter at heart so fighting a guy in his backyard isn’t a problem,” stated Thompson, who’s fought four times in Canada, once in the United Kingdom and in four different US states. “If the fight was close, I wouldn’t be mad if they gave it to him. If you win a fight by as wide of a margin as I (appeared to), something is wrong. One of the ringside reporters said he’d give Poulard two rounds if he was generous. The judges had to be paid off or were asleep. I can’t see any other way they scored the fight against me.”
Thompson also found himself in baffling situation at Friday’s weigh-in. Shortly before getting on the scale in front of the Quebec Boxing Commission, Thompson double checked his weight in his hotel room. On the hotel’s scale, he was half a pound under the light heavyweight limit if 175 lbs. To his unpleasant surprise, the commission’s scale had him almost a pound overweight.
“My scale had me at 174 and change. Their scale had me at 175.8 and when I took my underwear off, I was 176. How could I weigh more with less clothes on? Something clearly isn’t right there. I trained hard for four months for this fight and it was stolen from me in more ways than one. Even if I was rightfully awarded the decision, the belt would’ve remained vacant.”
“I’d love a rematch in America but I doubt he gives me one. The judges in Canada suck and they don’t know anything about boxing. The last time I checked, you win fights by landing punches, not throwing them and missing. Boxing is about being effective, if you’re not effective it doesn’t matter. Anybody with eyes knows that I won that fight and so does Poulard!”
Tim Ziccardi, Thompson’s manager, views his fighter as the clear-cut victor and doesn’t believe going back to the drawing board is necessary.
“We want to get him back in the ring as soon as possible,” said Ziccardi, who also hails from Buffalo. “He has no lumps or bruises and there’s no reason to stay on the sidelines when we don’t have to. I look at it this way, we stepped up and passed the test whether the judges want to give it to him or not. We’re planning to continue stepping up and keep moving forward, even after this unfortunate situation.”
Team Thompson plans to announce their next move shortly and fans can interact with Lionell by going to Twitter.com/teamlonnieb.