March 27, 2006 – Promoter Art Pelullo/Banner Promotions will present a sensational fight card on Wednesday, April 5, 2006, in the New Orleans Arena, located next to the Superdome in downtown New Orleans, Louisiana. The main event and featured fights are sponsored by Harrahs New Orleans, and will be televised on ESPN2’s first “Wednesday Night Fights” telecast of the year..
In the 10-round jr. middleweight main event, former world title challenger J.C. Candelo, 26-8-4, with 18 knockouts, of Houston, Texas, will battle former two-time world champion Verno Phillips, 38-11-1, with 20 knockouts, of Denver, Colorado.
Now 32 years old, Candelo is a veteran contender and a former North American Boxing Federation super welterweight champion. He challenged International Boxing Federation champion Ronald “Winky” Wright for the world title in March, 2003, and gave a strong performance, but lost by 12-round decision. J.C. has fought several contenders, as well, and has a number of impressive wins to his credit.
Phillips, now 36 years old, is currently ranked No. 2 by The Ring, No. 7 by the IBF, and No. 14 by the WBC. He won the World Boxing Organization jr. middleweight world title in October, 1993, and made four successful defenses. He won the International Boxing Federation jr. middleweight world title in June, 2004. He is coming off a very close and controversial decision loss in his last fight against former WBA welterweight world champion Ike Quartey in June, 2005.
The co-featured fight will match hard-hitting middleweight contender Antwun “Kid Dyn-O-Mite” Echols, 31-6-1, with 27 knockouts, of Davenport, Iowa, against Mohamad “Hitman” Said, 18-4, with 10 knockouts, of Jersey city, New Jersey. Echols is ranked No. 15 in the world at middleweight by the IBF.
An exciting lineup of supporting bouts featuring some of Louisiana’s top boxing talent is planned to complete the event. All bouts are subject to change without notice.
FIGHT NIGHT: Doors open: 7:00 P.M. (All times Central Time)
First fight: 8:00 P.M.
First televised fight: 9:00 P.M.
Ticket prices: $20, $40, $60.
Tickets are available at: all TicketMaster outlets, charge by phone at 504-522-5555, or online at www.TicketMaster.com; as well as the New Orleans Arena ticket office, open from 9:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Monday through Friday.