Letterlough-Hall headlines July 18th ESPN2 show in Hyannis

19.06 - Press Release - SANDWICH, Mass. – Massachusetts natives Mike Marley and Mark Vaz, manager of July 18th main event fighters Julian “Mr. KO” Letterlough (19-3-2, 18 KOs) and Richard “The Destroyer” Hall (25-4, 24 KOs), respectively, will be coming home for “Battle Zone at the Tent” at the Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis (MA).

Hank Tuohy’s Old Colony Sports is promoting “The Battle Zone at the Tent,” live on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights, in association with Mohegan Sun, Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc., Duva Boxing and Gary Shaw Productions, LLC.

Lettterlough-Hall will headline “Battle Zone in the Tent” in a 10-round light heavyweight match of popular knockout artists.

Marley, now a defense attorney in New York City, was born (Jamaica Plain) and raised (Brighton) in Boston. He was an amateur boxer and at 14 worked as a publicist for legendary promoter Sam Silverman. President of the Muhammad Ali Fan Club, Mike was graduated from the University of Nevada at Reno. He became a sports columnist in Reno and twice for the New York Post. Marley also served as producer for Howard Cosell’s show on ABC and was director of public relations for Don King Promotions.

In addition to Letterlough, Marley has managed or co-managed Shannon Briggs, “Terrible” Terry Norris, Roberto Garcia and unbeaten Swedish prospect Tonton Semakala. “We have total respect for Richard Hall and that shows you how brave Letterlough is because light heavyweights are not exactly lining up to fight this giant,” Marley said. “This is a career crossroads fight for Julian. A victory over Hall can catapult Julian to a world title shot. Anything else and he goes to the end of the line. I think you’ll see how trainer Marshall Kaufman has sharpened Julian’s skills. Julian is a boxing diamond and Marshall is a diamond polisher.

“It’s always great for me to come back to The Athens of the Universe. I spend part of my summers on the Cape. My mother and brother both live in Falmouth. This year especially because this is THE YEAR Nomar and the crew wipe out 1918. I’m hoping to take Letterlough to Fenway Park as a reward for knocking out Mr. Hall. Or should I say chopping down the Jamaican Giant? With Hank Tuohy I know this is going to be a first class promotion and an explosive fight. In an explosion, I always go with a bomb-tosser and, in this one, Julian is the bomb-tosser.”

Vaz was born in Plymouth. He attended Mass Maritime and Massasoit College in Brockton. Mark was also an amateur boxer who went into training and managing. In addition to Hall, he trains Willie Phillips, Terry Smith and Lamar Murphy; along with Pat Burns co-trains Hector Camacho, Sr., Glen Johnson, Phil Jackson and Ralph “Tiger” Jones. Vaz manages rising star Jermain Taylor and has served as a cutman for countless fighters.

“This is a great opportunity for Richard Hall,” Vaz noted, “to be involved in a fight that could be ‘fight of the year’ level, that style-wise, he should win in dramatic fashion. If he does it will put him in the world-title picture again. There aren’t many truly exciting light heavies out there and an impressive win and we could challenge Glen Johnson for the USBA title. A win there would put us in contention for (WBC champion Antonio) Tarver.

“To have one of my fighters on ESPN from Massachusetts is exciting. I learned the business here, but had to go elsewhere to move to the next level. It’s nice to come home with a top-level fighter. I always hope boxing in Massachusetts continues to thrive so more television dates find it an attractive venue.

Cape Cod will also officially retire one of its own, former IBO & NABF welterweight champion Kip “Top Kat” Diggs (30-5, 22 KOs), of nearby Marstons Mills in Barnstable, in a special ceremony during the July 18th show.

Event sponsors include Outback Steakhouse, Davidoff Cigars, Hooters of Hyannis, Robertson’s GMC Trucks, Dino’s Sports Bar of Mashpee, Enterprise Car Rental, La-Z-Boy, Data Link/Nextal, Cigar Aficionado Magazine, Heritage Floor Coverings, Hyport Brewing Co., Puff The Magic, International Inn, Five Bays Bistro, New Balance, Amari’s Restaurant of Sandwich, and Mari’s Sennott Today’s Real Estate.

A post-fight party will be open to the public at Hooters of Hyannis, as well as cigar smoking/wine tasting at Puff The Magic.

Ticket prices are $125.00 VIP (includes ringside seat and pre-fight cookout catered by Outback), $65.00 ringside and $35.00 general admission. Contact Ticketmaster (508.931.2787), the Cape Cod Melody Tent (508.775.9100) or Old Colony Sports (508.477.5355/www.oldcolonysports.com).

Doors open at 6 p.m. for the VIP party, 7 p.m. for the general public, with the first bout scheduled for 7:30 p.m. All bouts and fighters are subject to change.