RENO, NV (February 10, 2009) The Reno Events Center will be the place to be this Saturday night, February 14th, with stars from across the sporting world scheduled to be ringside for the long awaited showdown between super middleweights Jesse Brinkley and Joey Gilbert. Amongst the superstar athletes taking in the “CIVIL WAR” main event; pro footballs’ New Orleans Saint running back Reggie Bush, Oakland Raiders’ Demarcus Russell, Darren McFadden, Justin Fargas and Michael Bush, former junior middleweight world champion and winner of The Contender Season One Sergio Mora and from mixed martial arts, former world champion Tito Ortiz, Gina Carano and UFC superstar Diego Sanchez..
The Eldorado Hotel and Casino and Silver Legacy Resort and Casino, just steps away from the Reno Events Center , are serving as hosts for the fighter’s camp.
Said Rick Murdock, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Eldorado, “The Eldorado is proud to be a major sponsor and home of the Gilbert Brinkley Civil War. We look forward to one of the Biggest Fights ever in downtown Reno . I want to be politically correct with both fighters but wanted to mention that the Official Joey Gilbert After Party is at the Eldorado.”
Home of Jesse Brinkley, Glenn Carano of the Silver Legacy stated, “We here at the Silver Legacy are very glad to have Jesse Brinkley back staying with us for this great fight—we have become fans of Jesse, knowing him for a number of years now and we know he will make this a very exciting fight as he has always done in his previous fights here at Silver Legacy.”
“We wish Jesse Brinkley and Joey Gilbert the best in the Civil War. We know that all the Renoites will show their spirit and put on the Ritz for these two outstanding “Contenders” and make it a great night for all in the Biggest Little City in the World.”
Presented by Reno ‘s “Let’s Get It On” Promotions in association with Las Vegas based TKO BOXING Promotions, “CIVIL WAR” features the long awaited showdown between super middleweights Jesse Brinkley of Yerington , NV and Reno ‘s Joey Gilbert set for Saturday, February 14th at the Reno Events Center . The twelve round bout is for Brinkley’s WBC USNBC world title..
Tickets for “CIVIL WAR” are priced at $253.25, $153.25, $78.25 and 43.25 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com or through the Reno Events Center Box Office (775-335-8815).
A five dollar discount is available on tickets priced at $43.25 for students, active military, and police and fire department personnel with valid ID. Doors will open the night of the event at 6pm, with the first bell at 7pm. Tickets for “CIVIL WAR” are priced at $253.25, $153.25, $78.25 and 43.25.
Reno, Nevada based “Let’s Get It On” Promotions was founded in 2000 by legendary boxing referee Mills Lane . In early 2005 he was joined by sons Terry and Tommy in the operations of the company. Along with super middleweight contender Jesse Brinkley, “Let’s Get It On” Promotions also promotes lightweight prospect Bayan Jargal and highly regarded brothers Tyler and Derek Hinkey. They have consistently promoted world class boxing events on a national basis.
Further information on “Let’s Get It On” Promotions can be viewed at www.letsgetitonboxing.com
THOMPSON BOXING PROMOTIONS INKS UNBEATEN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FEATHERWEIGHT ABRAHAM LOPEZ
ORANGE, February 10, 2009 — Just one month shy of making his boxing professional debut one year ago, featherweight Abraham Lopez (5-0, 4KO’s) has signed with southern California-based Thompson Boxing Promotions.
“We are proud to add Abraham to our roster of future world champions,” said promoter Ken Thompson. “He is a terrific fighter, with dynamic hand speed, packs a good punch, and has great work ethic.”
Born in Jalisco, Mexico, Lopez, who now resides in the city of La Puente, California, made his professional debut under Thompson Boxing in March 2008. He will now make his debut under the promotional firm’s banner on “New Blood III,” on Friday, February 27, at the Doubletree Hotel, Ontario, when he faces Jesus Hernandez (2-4, 2 KO) in a four round bout. “Once again, I am proud to conduct the career of a young man who has the potential to be an elite prizefighter and bring to California fans the excitement they quench for in a guy like Abraham Lopez,” said Thompson upon signing his new protégé.
Added Frank Espinoza, Lopez’s manager: “We are very happy to sign with Thompson Boxing Promotions. They are a solid promotional company with a good team and I think Abraham will be a good addition to their stable. We are looking forward to working with Thompson Boxing Promotions and taking Abraham to the very top of his division and hopefully to fulfill his dream of becoming world champion.”
“I am grateful that Thompson Boxing Promotions has welcomed me into their family. It’s a great opportunity that will allow me to achieve my goals”, said Abraham Lopez.
Lopez, 21, who fought nearly 100 amateur fights and competed in the Pan American trials for Mexico, made his presence in the professional world of boxing known in the 2nd bout of his young career by achieving a KO victory over veteran pugilist Thomas Bernal, in May of 2008.
“I feel very confident with my decision in signing with Thompson Boxing Promotions. They gave me the opportunity to showcase my skills in my first fight and I want to continue to show them the best action in the ring. I am going to continue to give them exciting fights, they won’t ever be disappointed in my performances.”
The Lopez vs. Herrera bout is part of a loaded Thompson Boxing night of boxing that will feature KO artist Juan Carlos Burgos against rugged Omar Lizarraga for the vacant IBA featherweight title in the main event of the evening, also on the card, Patrick Lopez will battle Steve Quinonez and Mauricio Herrera will face Brian Gordon.
“New Blood III”, a seven-bout card, will take place at the Doubletree Hotel – Ontario, which is located at 222 N. Vineyard Avenue. For tickets, priced at $75, $45, and $30, please call 714-935-0900, or visit www.thompsonboxing.com
O’Donnell relishing Commonwealth opportunity
John O’Donnell says he’s ready to make a real statement by ripping the Commonwealth Welterweight title from Craig Watson at the York Hall, London on April 11th. The 23-year-old from Shepherds Bush is relishing his all southpaw clash with Watson and believes it’s the fight that will propel his career to the next level.
“I’ve already held the English title and now this shot at the Commonwealth title has come along,” said O’Donnell who has won all but one of his 21 pro fights. “I believe I can go all the way but I want to do things traditionally and work my way up through the titles.”
O’Donnell had his sights on a British title shot but a planned eliminator for the Lonsdale belt fell through last December with Midlands’s boxer Young Mutley pulling out of their scheduled clash. “I had trained really hard for the Mutley fight and was over at the Breaffy House in Ireland at the Carl Froch training camp.
“I was firing on all cylinders for it and then on the week of the fight he pulled out so it was a sickener but my promoter Mick Hennessy’s got me a straight shot now at the Commonwealth title so I’m over the moon.”
O’Donnell isn’t underestimating the challenge in front of him and says he has a lot of respect for Watson. “I’ve known about him since he put Amir Khan on the canvas in the amateurs and in my opinion he was robbed of a stoppage win that night. I watched his last fight when he beat Matthew Hatton to win the Commonwealth title. That was a good performance and he’s a strong, tough kid and a southpaw like myself.”
Facing a fellow southpaw isn’t an issue for O’Donnell who enjoyed a glorious amateur career that saw him win Junior Olympic Gold, Junior Four Nations Gold, and a pair of Junior ABA titles.
“It’s never bothered me fighting southpaws, in fact I beat Stuart Elwell to win the English title and he’s a southpaw,” recalled O’Donnell. “I had some good sparring sessions with Junior Witter as well at the Froch training camp in Ireland and he can switch between southpaw and orthodox. You can’t get much better than sparring a former World champ and Junior’s a class fighter.
“Since I heard this fight was in the pipeline I’ve already racked up quite a few rounds in the gym in the last few weeks but I’ll probably look at getting in some extra southpaw sparring now as the fight gets closer.”
O’Donnell will be performing in front of the ITV 4 cameras on April 11th and he’s certainly proving quite popular with the cameras recently. “Before my last fight in Ireland I had to do a photo shoot and I’ve just done another one for the next issue of Arena magazine. I’m sure I’ll get some stick from the lads in the gym but I said I’d try my hand at it anyway.
“Who knows I might be able to pack in the boxing, the modelling is certainly easier than getting punched in the face for a living!” joked O’Donnell. “It was good fun and I enjoyed it but for the next photo shoot I want to have that Commonwealth title around my waist.”
Promoter Mick Hennessy is confident that O’Donnell will shine on April 11th. “I’ve always believed that John is destined for big things and this is a major opportunity for him to shine. It’s a cracking domestic match and a quality Commonwealth title fight. You look at fights like Wayne Elcock and Matthew Macklin for the British title next month and O’Donnell and Watson and these are the kind of matchups that do justice to the great history of those titles.”
O’Donnell’s Hennessy Sports stable mate Lenny Daws will provide the chief support at the York Hall on April 11th with further details of the undercard to be announced shortly.
Tickets are on sale from the Hennessy Sports Ticketline Box Office on 0844 888 4402 or via www.ticketline.co.uk.