MINNEAPOLIS (November 13, 2006) – Much more is at stake than bragging rights when a cast of Minnesota all-star caliber boxers clashes Friday night (November 17) in Boxing is Back! at The Target Center in Minneapolis. The Contender Season One star Anthony “The Bullet” Bonsante (27-8, 15 KOs), of Shakopee (MN), headlines against St. Paul super middleweight Troy “TNT” Lowry (27-6, 16 KOs) in the 10-round main event for the vacant Minnesota State middleweight championship..
The 10-round co-feature pits St. Paul middleweight Matt “The Predator” Vanda (34-2, 21 KOs) versus veteran Quandry “Candy” Robertson (14-9, 4 KOs).
“Boxing Is Back!” is presented by former Minnesota boxer Tony Grygelko’s Seconds Out Promotions. “There’s an insatiable appetite for professional boxing in Minnesota and the Target Center is thrilled to hot its celebrated return to the ring,” Andy Warg, Dirtector of Events at The Target Center, remarked. “We’re hopeful our ‘Boxing Is Back!’ November 17th card is the first in a series of successful gate attractions.”
With impressive victories Nov. 17 bitter archrivals Bonsante and Vanda could be heading towards an All-Minnesota showdown on January 12 at the Target Center in the second show of Seconds Out Promotions’ planned boxing series.
Bonsante, who has been calling out Vanda for years, registered an 11th round TKO of 31-1
Tony Ayala, Jr. for the vacant IBA super middleweight title in 2003. “I worked with Scott LeDoux to get the boxing commission reinstated and this will be the first fight,” Bonstante said. “I’m 36 and this allows me to finish my career fighting in my home state and in front of my hometown fans. It’s very exciting for me because I hope to become a part of the commission someday This enables all the young people here who may not have gotten into boxing to be motivated to box because they’ll be fighting in front of their fans right here. I look at it from a boxer and fan perspective. We have the four major sports here and fans have been asking for boxing. Now they’ll be up close and personal with boxers. Boxing fans like to relate to fighters and they love the fact I work a fulltime job. I’m a production supervisor nights, working 10 PM to 8 AM. Then I run, take a nap for 4-5 hours, workout at the gym and spend time with my family.
“Troy’s a crafty veteran. We fought 20 years ago in the amateurs. He comes to fight. Some people feel that it’s an easy fight for me, but I expect a tough fight; to go10 rounds and for me to outpoint him. I’m not looking past this fight but, if I win and Vanda wins, the potential is there for us to fight here Jan. 12. I’d bill it, ‘The Contender versus The Pretender.’ They call him the ‘Predator,” but I’ve been calling him out for six years. It hasn’t happened because of his handlers. Now he wants to fight me because I’m 36 and you can time my punches with a calendar. I’ll still beat his ass. If we both win (Nov. 17) and fight Jan. 12, it’ll be the biggest fight in Minnesota since (Duane) Bobick and LeDoux set the boxing record with 12,000 at the old Met Stadium. I’ve been jaw-jacking him the last six years and if and when it finally happens, everybody will see who the better fighter is.”
Vanda is coming off a disappointing loss (May 25) by eight-round majority decision to Martinus Clay, after Matt had won three in a row against former world champion “Yori Boy” Campas for the IBA Americas light middleweight title, Lowry and Patrick Thompson. “I’m 34-2 and don’t like losing,” Vanda explained. “I never should have taken that last fight but I was going through some promotional problems. I trained in Florida the last two years but things weren’t right and I’m back home. One of my closest friends for the past 15 years, Otis Gage, is training me and we have good chemistry. He has me boxing a little more. Everything is going good for November 17. I’m excited about fighting in the Target Center and I think we’re going to have a big crowd. It’s great for Minnesota boxing.
“If me and Bonsante both win November 17 it looks like we’ll fight each other in January at The Target Center. I’m going to knock him out. I don’t take anything away from Tony. He’s a tough guy. But he has no skills compared to my boxing skills. I just turned 28 and I’m hitting my prime. I’m stronger than ever. I can beat the best middleweights in the world.”
Minnesota State featherweight champion Allen “The American Boy” Litzau (10-2, 6 KOs), of St. Paul, also will be showcased on the Minnesota all-star card against TBA in another six-rounder. Litzau’s brother, Jason (20-0, 18 KOs), is the undefeated, No. 8 ranked featherweight in the WBA.
Minnesota State light heavyweight champion Zack “Jungle Boy” Walters (15-1, 11 KOs), fighting out of Long Prairie (MN), battles Columbian KO specialist Hugo Pineda (37-3-1, 27
KOs) in the eight-round chief supporting bout.
Also on the undercard, Andy Kolle (10-1, 8 KOs), of Fergus Falls (MN), faces veteran middleweight Leo Edwards in a six-round bout. In three other four-round matches, St. Louis Park (MN) featherweight Wilton Hilario (4-0, 4 KOs) faces Elvis “El Burrito” Martinez (10-18-2, 4 KOs); Minneapolis super middleweight Phillip Williams (1-0, 1 KO) meets Jake Hecht (0-1); Minneapolis super middleweight John Schmidt makes his pro debut versus St. Paul’s Ray Walker (1-0-1, 0 KOs). All bouts and fighters are subject to change.
Tickets, reasonably priced at $25.00, $50.00 and $100.00, are available at the Target Center
box office, all TicketMaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at 651.989.5151. VIP tables also are available.
Doors open at 6 PM, first bout at 7 PM. For more information call 612.673,1600 or go to www.targetcenter.com.