Chad Dawson ready to shine March 21 at Foxwoods & on NESN
15.03 - PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Twenty-year-old unbeaten prospect “Bad” Chad Dawson will be stepping up and moving down at the same time Friday night, March 21 on the undercard of “Bring Me A Dream II: The Rematch,” promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports, at Foxwoods Resort Casino.
Dawson, of New Haven (CT), is 10-0 with six knockouts. Chad’s stepping up in class to fight 10-1 Willie Lee (7 KOs), of Gulfport (MS), as well as dropping down in weight to the junior middleweight division, in the scheduled six-rounder. Both fighters are southpaws.
The “New England Prospect of the Year” in 2002 and 2001, Dawson’s most impressive victory to date was a 4th-round TKO of 9-1 John Romans William.
“Chad will be fighting his toughest opponent to date,” Burchfield said. “I don’t want him fighting as a light-heavyweight or super middleweight. He’s comfortable at 158 and we’ll see how it goes. I’d like to see him eventually fight at 154.
“He’s 6-2 with a lot of speed and power, the most natural athlete I’ve ever seen. Chad could be playing football, basketball, or any sport. He has a lot of natural talent and is one of the best boxing prospects I’ve seen in many years.”
The main event pits Scott "The Sandman" Pemberton (24-2-1, 20 KOs), of New Bedford (MA), against Levan Easley (15-7-2, 7 KOs), of Queens, in a 12-round match for the vacant International Boxing Union world super middleweight title. The Pemberton-Easley 12-round main event is a rematch of their "2000 New England Fight of the Year" and “NABF Fight of the Month,” in which, Pemberton recorded a devastating third-round knockout.
Crowd pleasing Providence lightweight Gary "Tiger" Balletto (26-1, 23 KOs) is scheduled to be in the 12-round co-feature for the vacant IBU world lightweight championship. His original opponent, Wilson Galli, broke his hand in training camp and Gary’s replacement will soon be announced. He is rated No. 9 by the NABF and No. 15 by the NABA.
The main event and co-feature will be taped live and broadcast Tuesday night (8-10:30), March 25 on NESN. The CES announcing team includes Dave Bontempo, popular blow-by-blow announcer; color man Ron Borges, one of the foremost boxing writers in the world; special analyst Vinny Paz, 5-time world champion.
Also on the fight card is four-time Puerto Rican national amateur champion, featherweight Angel “Gee Roc” Torres (10-2, 4 KOs), of Manchester (CT), in his first 8-round match against Greg Piper (6-1, 2 KOs), of Portland, OR.
It’s rare for four boxers with Connecticut ties to be fighting at Foxwoods on same card. Pemberton, who has been training in Manchester, joins Torres, Dawson and Norwalk super lightweight Shakha Moore (9-6-2, 1 KO) carrying the Nutmeg state banner into the ring.
Unbeaten heavyweight and former Cincinnati Bengals’ pro football player, Las Vegas-based Jevon “J Roc” Langford (4-0, 4 KOs), will also be in action.
All bouts and fighters are subject to change. The first bout will start at 7:30 p.m.
Ticket prices $100 Platinum VIP Seats or Opera VIP Boxes, $55 Ringside seats, $35 Stage & Bleachers and $20 General Admission. Tickets are limited and may be purchased by calling any of the CES Offices: Rhode Island (401) 724-2253, Conn: (860) 432-4253 Attn: Lou Mayo or Mass: (617) 567-1705 Attn: Romano Schreiber. Tickets can also be purchased through CES’ Web site at www.cesboxing.com (go to tickets.
