12.12.04 – Brockton,MA – The Shaws Center, and the City of Champions will be the site for a night of fights, and a tribute to the late David “The Hammer” Hamilton. The show, on December 17th, will be aired via tape delay by CN8 as a part of Cappeillo Promotions’ Mohegan Sun Fight Night USA series..
The card is being headlined by Canadien cruiserweight prospect Anthony Russel as he puts his undefeated record on the line against tough veteran trialhorse John Battle of North Carolina. However, most thoughts will be on the fighter who was known simply as “The Hammer.”
On May 18th, Hamilton and his son Marcus were killed in a one car accident on route 44 in Middleboro, MA. Among those who new Hamilton well was friend and ring rival Mike Culbert. “I can remember hanging out and sparring with Dave in the mid 1990’s at South Shore Boxing Club,” said Culbert. “At one point our wives were pregnant at the same time and Dave and I would often talk about it.” Culbert and Hamilton would fight twice with Culbert winning both. Culbert wants boxing fans who remember Hamilton as a journeyman fighter to know that he was a genuinely good guy. “I am going to wear a towel into the ring with Dave’s picture on the front of it and a picture of him and his son Marcus on the back. In 1997 I was being sponsored by the Blackthorn Tavern in Easton, MA. They supplied me with a pair of white trunks which I only wore once. I wore them in my first fight with Dave and they have been hanging on the tavern wall for five years. I will dust them off and wear them Friday night.” Promoter Rich Cappiello will raffle off several autographed boxing gloves with the proceeds going to the David Hamilton Jr. Scholarship Fund.
“This card is going to have eight very competitive bouts,” said Cappiello. We also want to take one last opportunity to remember David Hamilton.” In addition to Russel three of Cappiello’s other undefeated prospects will be in action. They are Nick Morganelli, 3-0, 2 ko’s of Weymouth, MA, Elvin Ayala, 8-0, 2ko’s of Connecticut, and former Irish National Champion James Clancy, 3-0, 1ko, of Dorchester, MA. The Shaw’s Center will open it’s doors at 5:30pm with the first bout scheduled to begin at 7pm. Tickets can be purchased by calling 1-888-491-2900, $50 ringside and $30 general admission. The complete card is as follows:
Anthony Russel vs John Battle
Elvin Ayala vs Mackie Willis
Nick Morganelli vs Daniel Provenzano
William Foster vs Casttulo Gonzalez
James Clancy vs Danny Sheehan
Chris McInerny vs Mike Needlin
Mike Culbert vs Mike Corleone
Ed McAloney vs TBA