Promoter Tom Moran, the former manager of heavyweight titlist Tim Witherspoon and current manager of former world junior middleweight champion Kassim “The Dream” Ouma, has announced what he calls “A major Irish boxing show” to be held at the Northeast Philadelphia National Guard Armory on Saturday, October 4..
Headlining the card will be Ouma, 25-5-1 (15 KOS), a native of Uganda who because of his relationship with Moran and several Irish fighters has described himself as being “Black Irish.” Ouma was the subject of a lauded 2008 documentary film called “Kassim the Dream,” which chronicled his life from being a kidnapped child soldier in Uganda to his ultimate defection and rise to world boxing champion.
Fighting in separate 8 round bouts in the co-features are extremely popular junior middleweight James Moore, 16-1 (10 KOS), a native of County Wicklow who fights out of New York, and middleweight Simon “Slick Fighting Irish” O’Donnell, 6-1 (3 KOS), a native of County Galway who fights out of Philadelphia.
“This is going to be a great New York-Philadelphia Irish boxing celebration,” said Moran, who stressed that once New Yorkers hit the New Jersey Turnpike it is only a 55 minute ride to the fight venue. “This is going to be the biggest night of Irish boxing in Philadelphia since Tommy Loughran fought here in the 1930s. If anyone was at that fight, they are welcome to come to this one and compare.”
Moran is thrilled to be promoting in Northeast Philadelphia, which along with neighboring Bucks County has large Irish and Irish-American communities.
“The Irish have always come out to support their fighters,” Moran said. “In Moore and O’Donnell they will get to see two of the most exciting young prospects in the world. I have always considered Kassim to be an honorary Irishman, so it is going to be a great night.”
“Fighting in Philadelphia will be a thrill for me,” said Moore, the longtime captain of the Irish national amateur team who is trained by Lennox Blackmoore. “The fans there are very enthusiastic, so I am looking forward to putting on a great show and increasing my fan base.”
Tickets will be available during the week of August 25. For more information, call 267-251-6109.
JUNIOR LIGHT WELTERWEIGHT MIKE DALLAS JR KO’S OPPONENT JAMES HELM
Los Angeles, CA) August 23 – Goossen Tutor Promotions’ latest signed boxing talent junior light welterweight Mike Dallas, Jr. proved his skills when he KO’d his opponent James Helm
(6-3) 1:45 seconds into the first round of the scheduled 4 round junior welterweight bout this past Thursday night in Lemoore, California’s Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino.
Said Dallas, Jr. “I wasn’t expecting the fight to end so quickly but when I landed a straight right over his left jab it took him out. This win felt good and it is foretelling of what’s to come in my career.”
Mike Dallas, Jr. who hails out of Bakersfield improves his record to (5-0, 1 KO).
BOXING LEGENDS TO RECEIVE BELTS AT THOMPSON BOXING PROMOTIONS’ SOLD OUT AUGUST 29 “PATH TO GLORY” SHOW
(ORANGE, CA) August 24 – It doesn’t take long for fight fans to recognize an exciting show. When a seasoned warrior who has the luster to carry a main event such as former IBA junior welterweight champion and the pride of Coachella Valley Antonio Diaz (43-5-1, 29 KOs) takes on an eight round bout against Las Vegas’ competitive Juan Pablo Montes de Oca (9-14-2, 6 KOs) southern California excitement seekers lined up to get in on the action and tickets are now sold out.
The great news for die hard fight fans is that more tickets will be made available come Monday, August 25. Said promoter, Ken Thompson, “sold out ticket status is a great to hear but I want to accommodate those supportive fight fans that walk up after a hard day’s work. I don’t want to disappoint the loyal fight fans out there who make the sport what it is.”
This installment of Thompson Boxing Promotions’ ‘Path to Glory’ will take place at Omega Products International in Corona, California. The newly made available tickets to “Path to Glory”, a five bout card of world-class professional boxing, will be priced at $25 and may be purchased by calling 714-935-0900 or at the door. Doors open at 6:30pm, and the first bell is at 7:45pm.
Leading up to the main event is an exciting six round welterweight contest where Riverside’s Mauricio Herrera (5-0, 2 KOs) will put his unbeaten record on the line against experienced battler Santiago Perez (10-1-2, 2 KOs) who is the son of Cuban-Mexican legend Ultiminio Ramos. The doubly experienced Perez will be tested by the will of a hungry fighter with the same KO power.
The action packed card will also present Pavel Miranda (17-2, 10 KOs) who hails from Tijuana, Mexico and who is seeking to rebound off of his upset loss that occurred earlier this summer in the Cayman Islands against Tyrone Barnett. Miranda will square off against Riverside native Alex Viramontes (9-5, 3 KOs) in an eight round bout at 147 pounds.
Those present at Thompson Boxing Promotions final summer fight frenzy on August 29 will also witness belt presentations to boxing legends Rene Arredondo and Rodolfo “El Gato” Gonzalez. Rene Arredondo lost his belt as a result of having it stolen from his home and Rodolfo Gonzalez willingly gave his championship belt away as a sign of gratuity to “The Virgin of Guadalupe” after suffering from cancer and returning to full health. He credits his miraculous recovery to a religious experience where the Virgin Mary of Guadalupe appeared to him in a cloud and instructed him to visit a cathedral in Tijuana, Mexico where he was healed. Gonzalez recalls, “I felt a warm sensation emitting from the statue of The Virgin Mary and then flowing through mine… all of the pain in my body was diminishing.”
Both legends will be presented with replacement belts from the WBC