04.02.04 – “BALLROOM BOXING,” the greatest boxing club show in the U.S., presents the biggest event in its 10-year history, when former world heavyweight champion and Baltimore native HASIM “THE ROCK” RAHMAN headlines the next show, Thursday, March 11, at Michael’s Eighth Avenue, in Glen Burnie, MD. Rahman will be facing former world champion AL “ICE” COLE.
Rahman, 35-5-1 (29 KOs), literally rocked the boxing world on April 22, 2001, when he knocked out Lennox Lewis in the fifth round to win the undisputed world heavyweight championship. Despite the fact he lost the title in the immediate rematch to Lewis, Rahman has proven to still be a factor in the heavyweight division fighting former world champions Evander Holyfield and John Ruiz and top-rated contender and former world title challenger David Tua, in consecutive bouts. Currently world-rated No. 5 by the WBA and No. 9 by the IBF and the WBO, Rahman has decided to return home to Ballroom Boxing to reignite a career that is highlighted with victories over Lewis, former WBO and WBU champion Corrie Sanders, who knocked out Wladimir Klitschko in his last fight, and former world title challenger Obed Sullivan.
Cole, 34-12-3 (16 KOs), from Spring Valley, NY, held the IBF cruiserweight title from 1992-1995, successfully defending it six times, before vacating to move up to the heavyweight division. His resume boasts victories over former world champions Uriah Grant, Nate Miller, and top contender David Izon as well as a Draw against former world title challenger Kirk Johnson.
“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, 35, 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. Hasim Rahman headlining our March 11 event is the next step up for Ballroom Boxing. It just shows how Ballroom Boxing has evolved from being a club show to the best club show in the country. How many club shows boast a season ticket subscriber list of hundreds and hundreds? ”
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,” explained Wagner. “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 one-hour and two-hour versions of the show to 60 different TV markets in the U.S. and 181 countries overseas. With less boxing on FOX Sports Net – and the impact of ESPN’s decision to eliminate promoter rights fees and cutting back on its boxing schedule – Wagner has a rare commodity for cable networks.
Ballroom Boxing is currently seen on tape-delay on the following major network outlets: 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 Digital Nets (3 million digital cable subscribers – combines Fox Sports Net’s local feeds from its regional sports networks into a three-channel package for digital subscribers – Fox Sports Digital Pacific, Fox Sports Digital Central and Fox Sports Digital Atlantic.), FOX Sports International (Middle East-800,000 homes), Urban America Television (70 cities-22 million homes nationwide), Major Broadcasting Cable Network (25 million homes nationwide), American Armed Forces Television (181 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.), PLUS, on DirecTV and DISH Network home satellite systems, which receive many of the above networks.
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.
Tickets to the March 11 show are now on sale and priced at $200, $100, and $70. To purchase, call Ballroom Boxing at (410) 766-7474.