CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS—Four-Time World Heavyweight Champion, Evander “Real Deal” Holyfield’s quest for a fifth heavyweight title continues on Saturday, March 17th when he takes on Vinny Maddalone (27-3, Flushing, NY) at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas. The Holyfield vs Maddalone non-title featured bout will be one of seven fights, beginning at 7:30 pm. The event is being promoted by Main Events, in association with Star Boxing..
Slated to headline an exciting undercard is 2000 U.S. Olympian and #6 World ranked heavyweight, Calvin Brock (29-1, Charlotte, NC) and undefeated bantamweight prospect, Raul Martinez (17-0, San Antonio). Brock’s last fight was a loss to Wladimir Klitschko for the World Heavyweight Championship on HBO. Opponents for Brock and Martinez are to be announced, as is the remainder of the card.
Tickets for the event are priced at $250 (VIP), $150, $100, $75, $50 & $35 and go on sale this Saturday, February 17th at the American Bank Center box office, all TicketMaster outlets, including online at www.ticketmaster.com and by phone at 361-881-8499.
To be exact, when Holyfield (40-8-2) steps into the ring on March 17th, it will be the first time he has done so in Corpus Christi, Texas in almost 23 years. The fight vs Maddalone will mark Holyfield’s second ring appearance in the south Texas city.
He fought his tenth professional on April 6, 1984 at the Corpus Christi Memorial Coliseum where he registered his tenth professional win, knocking out veteran Jesse Shelby in the third round. In between his first fight in Corpus Christi and his upcoming bout on March 17, all Holyfield did was become one of the all-time greatest fighters.
Just two fights after the ABC-TV, nationally televised win in Corpus Christi, Holyfield would capture his first world title when he decisioned a rugged Dwight Qawi for the WBA World Cruiserweight title. Qawi would be the first of 17 world champions Holyfield would go on to defeat during his legendary career, including – his historic bouts with Mike Tyson (2), George Foreman, Riddick Bowe (3), Lennox Lewis (2) and Larry Holmes.
Holyfield recently came off a two year layoff to score two impressive victories. On August 18th, he scored an impressive 2nd round knockout over hard punching Jeremy Bates in Dallas. In his last bout on November 10 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Holyfield decisioned world heavyweight contender, Fres Oquendo.