Paschall – Marks This Thursday

For Tickets call 410-766-7474 – Undefeated Pasadena, MD super middleweight Mike “The Persecutor” Paschall will look to step up in competition when he faces veteran and former world title contender Larry “The Laser” Marks of New Castle, DE in the main event of a Ballroom Boxing card on Thursday, May 29 at Michael’s Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, MD..

Paschall (16-0-1, four KO’s) has scored TKO’s in his last two bouts, including an impressive fourth-round TKO over Bruce Rumbolz on April 3 in Glen Burnie. This will be Paschall’s fourth straight appearance on a Ballroom Boxing card. In his last five bouts (including the Marks bout), Paschall has faced opponents with a combined won-loss record of 76-48-6.

Marks (29-9-1, 16 KO’s) will be the most accomplished foe Paschall has faced in his young pro career. Marks made his name as a welterweight, rising to world title contention and challenging for the WBA Welterweight championship, losing a unanimous decision to Andrew “Six Heads” Lewis on April 28, 2001. Marks also lost a 12-round unanimous decision to future world champion Cory Spinks for the USBA welterweight title on August 17, 2001. Marks has a record of 2-1-1 as a super middleweight. In his last outing, Marks fought to an eight-round draw with Dhafir Smith on September 27 in Stanton, DE.

Both men have fought similar competition in the 168-pound class. Both men drew against Smith and hold victories over Ronald Boddie.

As of press time, the bout is scheduled for 10 rounds, the first time that Paschall has participated in a bout of that length. There is a possibility that the bout may end up being an eight-round contest.

In the six-round co-feature, undefeated York, PA super featherweight Carney “Beeper” Bowman will take on Edward Valdez of New York. Bowman (9-0, four KO’s) is coming off a six-round unanimous decision win over Cuauhtemoc Mendoza on April 3 in Glen Burnie. Valdez (3-5-2, two KO’s) is looking to break a two-bout losing streak, falling to two undefeated fighters – Antonio Espinosa and Matt Remillard in his last two bouts.

One interesting bout on this card will be the “rematch” of a heavyweight contest that never officially took place. Back on the January 31 Ballroom Boxing card, “The People’s Champion” Jonathan Felton of Stafford, VA and Askia Snyder of Baltimore were scheduled to meet in a four-round contest. However, words between the two boxers had been flying since the previous night’s weigh-in. The verbal jousting came to a head in the ring the next night when the two men started to brawl before the referee could signal for the opening bell. The bout was declared a no-contest and both men were fined and suspended. Felton (5-9, five KO’s) and Snyder (one no-contest) will meet again in a four-round contest.

In other bouts scheduled for the card, Brandywine, MD heavyweight Seth “Mayhem” Mitchell (2-0-1, one KO) makes his Ballroom Boxing debut as he faces Alexis Cruz Medina (0-3-1) of Science Hill, KY in a four-round matchup. Glen Burnie heavyweight Danny Kisner (1-0, one KO) returns to ring action as he takes on debuting Kevin Johnson of Baltimore. Baltimore junior middleweight Cecil McCalla makes his pro debut against “The Capitol Punisher” Spencer Harsley of DC (1-6-2). Also middleweight Shelly Seivert of Severna Park, MD (2-1, one KO) will make her Ballroom debut against an opponent to be named and undefeated Denver, CO junior welterweight Terrence Crawford (2-0, two KO’s) will also be on the card.

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