TOTOWA, NJ – July 20, 2012 – Tomasz Adamek returns to Prudential Center in Newark, NJ on the afternoon of Saturday, September 8th when he takes on Travis Walker of Houston, the #12 contender, for the IBF’s North American Heavyweight Title.
Standing nearly 6’5″, Walker (39-7-1, 31 KO’s) is coming off a big TKO win over Kali Meehan in Australia. A true road warrior known for his size and punching power, Walker has gone the distance with #3 contender Kubrat Pulev and Ruslan Chagaev in Germany. In addition to Meehan, Walker defeated Alonzo Butler, who was 28-1 at the time.
The bout will be promoted by Main Events and Ziggy Promotions and televised in Poland via PPV. Arrangements to televise the fight in the US have not yet been made. Doors open at 1:30 PM. First bout will be at 2 pm.
“Tomasz has expressed his desire to face tall opponents in order to better prepare for inevitable future fights with the many super-sized heavyweights who are in the division,” said promoter Kathy Duva of Main Events. “Travis Walker is a top 12 contender coming off a big win who is eager to face Adamek’s challenge. We expect another great event at Pru Center. The only difference will be that this show will take place in the afternoon to accommodate Polish television.”
Walker expressed his confidence in winning this fight, “Adamek thinks that I will be an easy win for him, but he will be greatly surprised at the combination of finesse, strength and power that I will utilize in this fight. I’m going to stop him, period.”
Walker’s promoter, Adrian L. Patrick, CEO of KO KINGS PROMOTIONS, added, “I predict that Travis will stop Adamek. At some point in the 12 rounds, Adamek will slip and Travis will destroy him.”
In his most recent bout, Adamek (46-2, 28 KO’s) captured the IBF North American heavyweight championship title when he defeated Eddie Chambers of Philadelphia, who suffered a bicep tear early in the fight.
Adamek said, “I like Travis as an opponent because he is a tough fighter and all his fights are interesting. Every fight he fights is for the fans, like me.” He added, “I have fought at Prudential Center eight times and I am excited to come back to give my fans a good fight and another exciting win.”
The undercard bouts will be announced in the coming weeks. It is expected that Philadelphia’s fast rising star, Heavyweight contender Bryant Jennings (IBF #8) will appear.
Tickets, priced beginning at $54, will go on sale through Ticketmaster and at Prudential Center Box Office next week.
2012 U.S OLYMPIC ALTERNATE BRETT RATHER & VITOR JONES FREITAS TO MAKEPRO DEBUT’S TONIGHT IN LAUGHLIN, NV
LAUGHLIN, NV (July 20, 2012)—Two highly anticipated debuts will take place at The Edgewater Casino Resort as 2012 U.S. Olympic Super Heavyweight Alternate Brett Rather and the nephew of former four-time World Champion, Acelino “Popo” Freitas in Jr. Lightweight Victor Jones Freitas join the pro ranks.
The card which is promoted by Banner Promotion, Thompson Boxing & JEG Boxing will be televised on ESPN 2 (9pm eastern).
In the main event, once-beaten and world ranked former world title challenger Juan Carlos Burgos battles undefeated Cesar Vazquez in a ten round Jr. Lightweight bout for Burgos’ WBO Latino title
Rather of Las Vegas was a member of the UNLV Boxing team and is ready to do big things as a professional.
“I am excited and want to thank Banner Promotions and Daren Libonati of JEG Boxing for this opportunity. I put tons of work in the amateur game and I am ready for the next level”, Said Rather.
“I have a lot to live up to and a lot to prove”, said Vitor Jones Freitas
“It’s not only exciting but a dream come true to have my uncle in my corner”
“If Vitor can look what I did then that’s the best bit of advice and guidance I can give my nephew”, said the now Brazilian congressman Acelino Freitas
“I am very excited to have Brett and Vitor on the show”, said Banner Promotions CEO Artie Pelullo.
“Both these kids had great amateur pedigrees. Brett is a big kid with a ton of potential. To be able to promote Vitor is special for me personally because his uncle has meant so much to Banner Promotions for the better part of the last decade and hopefully we can take him to the same heights that we did with Acelino”
VIDEO INTERVIEW OF BRETT RATHER
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psCcpq-9zzA&feature=youtu.be
VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH ACELINO FREITAS & VITOR JONES FREITAS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5OS5mRa-6w&feature=youtu.be
WEIGHTS FROM MOHEGAN SUN: AYALA-MACKEY
UNCASVILLE, Conn. (July 20, 2012) – Listed below are final weights for all the participants in Saturday night’s professional boxing event, “The Fire Within,” presented by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports on July 20th, 2012.
ELVIN AYALA
25-5-1, 11 KOs
New Haven, Conn.
159
JOHN MACKEY
13-7-3, 6 KOs
Montgomery, Ala.
157
IVANA COLEMAN
Pro debut
Slidell, La.
124 ¾
SHELITO VINCENT
3-0
Providence, R.I.
124
JOSEPH “CHIP” PEREZ
8-1, 2 KOs
East Hartford, Conn.
133
JOHNNY FRAZIER
3-9-2, 2 KOs
Akron, Ohio
133
GABRIEL DULUC
5-0, 1 KO
Boston, Mass.
139
CHRISTIAN LAO
4-1, 2 KOs
New Haven, Conn.
140
TYLON BURRIS
2-0, 2 KOs
Hartford, Conn.
168
LUIS FELIX
0-1
Providence, R.I.
170
ANTONIO CHAVES FERNANDEZ
0-7
Brockton, Mass.
144 ¼
JAIR RAMOS
2-0, 1 KO
Waterbury, Conn.
140 ½
SAUL ALMEIDA
Pro debut
Framingham, Mass.
160
ANTONIO MARRERO
Pro debut
Hartford, Conn.
156
CARLOS HERNANDEZ
2-2, 1 KO
Bridgeport, Conn.
135 ½
ALAN BEEMAN
0-2
Newport, R.I.
132