Ballroom Boxing Season Finale This Thursday!

17.06 - Press Release - Last month, "BALLROOM BOXING," the greatest boxing club show in the U.S., celebrated its golden milestone when it presented its 50th show. Ballroom Boxing embarks on its next 50 when it returns This Thursday, June 19, at Michael's Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, MD., presenting its 51st show and season finale, in a series that started in 1995.

"Ballroom Boxing" is more than just a club show, it is a lifestyle! Or as Thom Loverro, columnist for The Washington Times, stated in a column on the show, "…Babes, beers and boxing…it's a mixture that has been drawing a large and devoted audience for over six years…"

The architect of this Maryland phenomenon is Scott Wagner, 34, who has made competitive fights the norm, NOT the exception, show after show after show.

"The bottom line is that my crowd wants to be entertained and they are not going to be entertained seeing one-sided blowouts," said Wagner. "When managers or promoters book a fight on a Ballroom Boxing card, they know their fighter is in a real fight. That is the only kind of fight I will book. A knockdown drag-out, 'pick 'em-style fight."

Wagner is able to make this style of matches because he has no vested interest in any fighters. "We have no direct involvement with the fighter by design. Our mandate to our patrons is to provide great fights. We have no conflict of interest. Hell, we are fans too. We all want to see great fights!"

And it's not just the fans at Michael's Eighth Avenue who see the great Ballroom Boxing fights, millions of loyal viewers around the world do too. In fact, Wagner has syndicated the show to 60 different TV markets in the U.S. and overseas on major network outlets, including: the Sunshine Network (Florida-5 million homes plus satellite), the Empire Sports Network (Upstate NY-one million homes), New England Sports Network (New England states-5 million homes), Comcast Sports Network-Philadelphia (3.5 million homes), Comcast Sports Network-Mid-Atlantic (4.5 million homes), FOX Sports International (Middle East-800,000 homes), Urban American Network (70 cities-22 million homes nationwide), American Forces Television (177 countries-800,000 homes), Comcast Sports South (southeastern region-3.1 million homes), UPN 27, WCVI (St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John - 110,000 homes) The shows, which are hosted by WestwoodOne Radio's Larry Michael, USA Today's Jon Saraceno, and boxing columnist John Scheinman, outdraw FOX Sports Net's "Sunday Night Fights" in several of the major markets.

This Thursday's show features in the main event, NABO super middleweight champion Kabary "The Egyptian Magician" Salem, 21-2, (11 KOs), will rumble against rpough-and-ready Derrick "Double Impact" Whitley, 20-19-2 (10 KOs), in a 10-round light-heavyweight rumble.

Salem, world-rated No. 5 by the WBO, captured his first title in 1999, knocking out undefeated NABF super middleweight champion Randie Carver in the 10th round. Tragically, Carver never regained consciousness, and died soon after the fight. Salem captured the vacant NABO super middleweight title in January via a unanimous decision over Manu Ntoh, winning by scores of 118-109, 117-110, and 117-110. He successfully defended the title in April, knocking out the formidable Ray Berry in the 10th round. Whitley, a former Massachusetts State champion, is a Ballroom Boxing favorite, where he has posted an impressive 4-0-1 (2 KOs), against an impressive roster of prospects and contenders. He returns to the ring fresh from a second-round knockout in April over Rasheed Lee in Baltimore.

The action-packed undercard will be highlighted with the following:
8 Round Jr. Middleweight Nurhan Suleymonglu (10-0 , 4 KO's) in an eight-round jr. middleweight rumble against Baltimore's, Charles Clark (14-16-1, 5 KO's); Baltimore fireball Ishmail Arvin (5-0-1, 5 KO's) vs. Leo Edwards (14-9-2, 8 KO's), in a six-round jr, middleweight bout; plus undefeated Baltimore prospects, heavyweight Jed Phipps (8-0), and cruiserweight Cory Cummings (3-0), in separate bouts.

Celebrities already confirmed to attend include: Baltimore Orioles Hall-of-Famer Brooks Robinson; Baltimore Colts Hall-of-Famer Lenny Moore; Baltimore Orioles broadcast legend Chuck Thompson; and members of the Baltimore Ravens and Washington Redskins.

Ballroom Boxing returns September 25,
kicking off its 10th season!

A limited amount of tickets are still available. To purchase, call Ballroom Boxing at (410) 766-7474.