News: Santana-Rodriguez, Bailey-Corley II, Undefeated SGT. Bryant Pappas

DiBella Entertainment’s Broadway Boxing series in association with Everlast, Christos Steakhouse, Edison Ballroom, Hakata and Azad Watches, will present one of its strongest cards to date, this Wednesday, October 22 at BB King Blues Club in Times Square. In the ten-round main event, local favorite Edgar Santana, from Spanish Harlem, takes on Monterrey, Mexico’s Luis Rodriguez and Randall Bailey battles DeMarcus Corley in an intriguing rematch of former world champions..

“I’m thrilled to present this truly outstanding card to the boxing fans of New York. The main event and co-feature are both network television caliber bouts. Santana versus Rodriguez is that rarely seen matchup of equally talented fighters – risking a potential world rating, while the Corley-Bailey rematch is a classic boxer vs. puncher pairing, with Bailey anxious to avenge a disappointing world title loss to Corley. Plus, the card will feature Gary Stark Jr. coming off the biggest win of his career and the pro debut of amateur star and Harlem heavyweight Tor Hamer,” said DBE president Lou DiBella.

There’s a lot on the line when New York crowd favorite Santana (25-3, 15 KOs), who has won 19 of his last 20 bouts, takes on Rodriguez (22-2, 13 KOs), fresh off a first-round KO win on September 18. The Santana-Rodriguez winner is sure to receive world-rated recognition by year’s end.

Former WBO junior welterweight world champion Bailey (37-6, 34 KOs) continues to be one of the most feared punchers in the 140 pound division. The Miami, Florida native wants revenge against fellow former WBO 140 lbs. world champion Corley (31-9, 17 KOs) in the eight-round co-feature. The slick boxing Corley outpointed Bailey in a 2003 world title fight contested in Corley’s hometown of Washington DC.

Also on the October 22 show, Staten Island’s Gary Stark Jr. returns to action for the first time since March when he avenged a May 2007 loss to Andres Ledesma. Stark Jr. (21-2, 8 KOs) will be in eight-round junior featherweight action versus Dominican Leivi Brea (16-7-3, 8 KOs).

In addition, two-time NY Golden Gloves champion and 2008 National Golden Gloves champion Tor Hamer, a recent Penn State graduate, will make his pro debut at heavyweight versus Joe Rabotte (2-3, 1 KO). Hamer is one of the newest members of the DBE team.

Rounding out the seven bout card will be light heavyweight Will Rosinsky (2-0, 2 KOs) from Queens versus Reyshawn Myers; Brooklyn’s Philip Jackson Benson in a middleweight pro debut versus Robert Harris; and super middleweight Hajro Sujak (2-0, 1 KO) from the Bronx.

DiBella Entertainment is partnering with Everlast for Breast Cancer Awareness month. “DBE is happy to support the effort to find a cure for breast cancer. I’ve been personally touched by this disease. My sister is a breast cancer survivor,” said DBE president Lou DiBella.

Everlast is proud to support the Breast Cancer Research Foundation who is committed through research to finding a cure for breast cancer in our lifetime. To support this initiative and promote awareness, Everlast will display a pink canvas and corner cushions at the event and every fighter on the card will be outfitted in Pink Everlast Pro Fight Gloves.

Tickets for Broadway Boxing priced at $150 (ringside table, ringside seats), $100 (floor tables, floor seats, stage seats), $70 (general admission) are currently on sale. They are available by calling DiBella Entertainment at (212) 947-2577. For more information on Broadway Boxing, please visit DiBella entertainment on the web at www.dbe1.com.

BB King Blues Club & Grill is located at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 West 42 Street in New York City.

DEFENDING AND SAVING LIVES WHILE FIGHTING FOR HIS OWN: COP/BOXER PAPPAS DOES IT ALL
October 14, 2008

On Wednesday October 29th at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City, middleweight Bryant Pappas (6-0, 6KO) will step into the ring against Christ Morton looking to stay perfect and improve his record to 7-0 with 7 knockouts. In the main event of the evening the WBO #7, IBF #10, WBA #11, and WBC #15 rated Jr. welterweight in the world, “Mighty” Mike Arnaoutis (20-2-2, 10KO) takes on Ben Ankrah (19-6-1, 9KO). The entire card will be broadcast live on GoFightLive.tv.

UNDEFEATED SGT. BRYANT PAPPAS

When Pappas is not knocking people out in the boxing ring he works full-time as a Yonkers Housing Police Sgt. Pappas has been working for the Yonkers Police Department for almost ten years now, and recently was involved in the very high-profile arrest Friday October 3rd of 43 year old Eric Hadar. Hadar is the CEO of Allied Partners, one of the New York City’s top real estate firms owning 25 properties valued at more than $3 billion.

According to an article in the NY Daily News, while driving to work Pappas noticed Hadar’s car swerving in and out of traffic recklessly along the Saw Mill Parkway headed towards Yonkers. “I couldn’t believe the way he was driving,” stated Pappas. “He was all over the place, passing cars on the shoulder, weaving in and out of lanes, it was amazing that he didn’t hit anyone. I called the station and told them to get a few cars ready to pull the guy over once he got into Yonkers. If he wasn’t pulled over I honestly believe he would have killed someone.”

Upon arriving in Yonkers Hadar’s car was stopped. As Sgt. Pappas approached the vehicle, he noticed Hagar trying to stuff brown bags into his glove compartment. Further examination of the brown bags revealed Hagar had on him 100 + grams of cocaine and 703 Oxycontin pills and 352 Xanax pills. Although the quantity of drugs found in Hadar’s vehicle “is indicative of an intent to sell”, Pappas does not believe the millionaire real estate mogul is a drug dealer. “He told us he was on his way to a party for the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah). Either way, I am just happy no one was injured, and that these drugs were taken off the streets,” stated Pappas.

As if Pappas’s daily heroic efforts that come with his position as Sgt. aren’t enough, he has decided to donate his entire purse on the 29th to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in NYC. “It is just another opportunity for me to give back. Sloan Kettering is one of the premier cancer centers in all the world, and I am lucky to be in the position where I can contribute, so I do.”

Oh yeah, and his fight on the 29th? “I can’t wait,” stated an excited Pappas. “Boxing is always something I have had a strong passion for. I don’t know what will come of my boxing career, but right now I am just happy that I have been given the opportunity to do something I love. I expect the show on the 29th to be fantastic. You have Vinny Maddalone in the co-feature and “Mighty” Mike Arnaoutis in the main event. I am looking forward to fighting on the same card as my fellow Greek Arnaoutis. I hear he brings a lot of Greek fans, and so will I so I expect the atmosphere to be something special. I want to thank Joe DeGuardia and Star Boxing for giving me the opportunity to fight, and hope everyone can make it out to the show.”

Tickets are available for purchase immediately through all ticketmaster outlets or by going online to ticketmaster.com and www.starboxing.com. Or simply by calling (718) 823-2000 or (212)307-717. Tickets can be purchased for $200, $100, $75, or $40. Roseland Ballroom is located in New York City at 239 W. 52 Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue. Doors open at 6:30 PM with the first bout scheduled for 7:30.