NEW YORK CITY (October 18, 2004) – The bar in professional boxing will be raised Thursday night, November 11 when Phoenix Sports Management, Inc. launches its innovate series, “The Battle Royale Classics,” introducing “The New Kids On The Block” in the inaugural show at the world famous Apollo Theater in Harlem.
Phoenix’ goal is to make pro boxing cleaner, safer and more enjoyable for fans. Boxers will be protected by guidelines established by JAB (Joint Association of Boxers union affiliated with the Teamsters) and fans treated to highly competitive matches between fighters of equal skills and experience.
“Teddy Brenner, probably the greatest matchmaker of all-time, believed in only making fights he would have paid to see,” Phoenix promoter Bobby Miles explained his organization’s philosophy. “We believe in that, too. We’ve incorporated it into our concept, which is now 15 years old, and we’ve been looking for financial backing to put it into action. We finally found somebody committed to doing this as much as we are.
‘The Battle Royale Classics,’ in effect, is a modified version of the last man standing. We plan on promoting eight to 10 shows a year in a tournament-like format, starting Veterans Day, and crowning champions – men and women — at the end. We want to help change pro boxing; empower boxers and fans. We’re going to have real fights between real fighters in competitive match-ups. The world famous Apollo Theater has been chosen as the venue for our first show. It’s going to be history in the making.”
Some of the scheduled “New Kids On The Block” fighters include unbeaten super bantamweight Gary Stark Jr. (9-0, 4 KOs), of Staten Island; junior welterweight prospect Jovan Jones (5-1, 4 KOs), fighting out of Arapahoe, North Carolina; IFBA No. 3 rated super middleweight “Vicious” Veronica Simmons (3-0, 2 KOs), of Brooklyn, former three-time National amateur and four-time New York City Golden Gloves champion; junior welterweight Jill Emery, former five-time New York City Golden Gloves and three-time U.S. National title-holder, making her pro debut. (All bouts and fighters subject to change)
Tickets, priced at $250 (VIP), $100, $75, $50 and $25, may be purchased at the Apollo Theater box office (253 West 125th St.) or by calling TicketMaster (212.307.7171). Group discounts are available for purchases of eight tickets or more. Doors open at 6 pm and the first bout is slated for 7 pm. For more information call the Phoenix Hotline at 212.802.7583 (24 hours). Call TransMedia Entertainment Group at 610.627.0606 or 203.288.7111 for television advertising or broadcasting opportunities.