GRAND RONDE, OR – Well known for his impressive 12-round bout with boxing icon Oscar De La Hoya, former International Boxing Federation (IBF) super featherweight champion, Steve Forbes (33-7, 9 KOs), of Portland, takes on hard-charging Jason Davis (11-2-1, 3 KOs), of Vancouver, in a 10-round welterweight main event..
For the first time in seven years, eight-time world champion Roy Jones, Jr., returns to Oregon to promote the seven-fight card through his company, Square Ring, Inc. and is expected to be ringside for all the action. The Forbes vs. Davis battle is only one of three fights on the ticket for the March 6th “Border War” event, featuring Oregon boxers taking on opponents from Washington.
Forbes, 31, is making his first appearance in Oregon since Nov. 19, 2005 when he stopped Julio Cesar Sanchez Leon in the third round at the Rose Garden. This resilient, hard-hitting fighter has won his last eight matches and is looking for his first world title belt, after losing a grueling 12-round brawl against Andre Berto for the World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight title on Sept. 27, 2008 in Los Angeles.
Davis, 26, is a rising rival from across the Columbia River who has great skills, balance and is a relentless attacker. He made his pro debut in 2005, and has primarily fought at casinos in Washington. He’ll be making his first ever appearance in Oregon against Forbes and is eager to score a signature win and emerge as the Portland region’s top boxing prospect. In his last outing, he dropped a 10-round decision to Derrick Samuels for the North American Boxing Association U.S. Light Welterweight crown on November 7th.
Other “Border War” match-ups on the card feature Portland’s Robert Brue (5-0, 3 KOs) against fellow light heavyweight Roger Cantrell of Tacoma (13-1, 8 KOs), scheduled for six rounds and Marco Canderos, of Salem taking on Manuel Ortega, of Seattle, two featherweights making their pro debuts in a four-rounder. Two other Portland-based light heavyweights, Kevin Hand (2-0, 2 KOs) and Sam Haynes (5-3, 4 KOs) face off in a four-round tilt.
Tickets for the debut boxing event at the Spirit Mountain Casino Events Center are on sale now for $25, $35, $50, $75 and $100 through Star Tickets Plus. Tickets can be purchased online at starticketsplus.com or by calling (800) 585-3737. With a seating capacity of 1,744, excellent seats can also be purchased at the casino Coyote Club desk and at www.spiritmountaincasino.com. Doors open at 7:00 p.m., with the first bout scheduled for 8 p.m..
WARRIORS INVADES PUERTO RICO GALARZA AND GONZALEZ REMAIN UNBEATEN AFTER KO WINS
HOLLYWOOD, FL, March 2 – Seminole Warriors Boxing, joined with Universal Promotions, kicked off a new series of shows in Puerto Rico in a big way on Saturday night, as highly-touted prospects Kenny Galarza and Jonathan Gonzalez scored electrifying knockout victories that had the over 4,000 fans at the Auditorio Juan “Pachín” Vicens in Ponce on their feet and cheering for more.
“It was a great night for Universal Promotions and Seminole Warriors Boxing, for our fighters, and for Puerto Rico,” said Leon Margules, Executive Director of Seminole Warriors Boxing. “The fans came out in force to support this show, and Kenny and Jonathan delivered the goods in a big way.”
Fighting in front of his hometown fans for the first time as a professional, rising junior welterweight star Galarza improved to 9-0 (9 KOs) with a blistering first round knockout of Eduardo Adorno. The 23-year old Galarza’s 19-year old stablemate, 2008 Puerto Rican Olympian Gonzalez, was just as impressive in halting Pascali Adorno in the opening round to up his pro record to 2-0 with 2 first round KOs.
The bouts highlighted a night of fights in which Puerto Rican boxing fans were treated to some of the sport’s top young talent. The success of the first show is a good omen for the rest of the series.
“The atmosphere in the arena was spectacular and the way the fans responded to Kenny sent chills up my spine,” said Margules. “I think we may have the next Felix Trinidad in Kenny, and with Universal Promotions as our partner, Puerto Rican boxing fans are going to be in for some great fights in the coming months from Kenny and the rest of the Warriors roster,” said Margules.
Warriors / Universal’s next show in Puerto Rico will be announced
Darren “The Dazzler” Sutherland Set For Second Pro Fight
Frank Maloney has in his promotional stable what he feels are the two brightest stars from the 2008 Beijing Olympic boxing competition and this Friday, March 6 sees one of them, Darren “The Dazzler” Sutherland, return to the ring at Robin Park Arena in Wigan, England.
Sutherland will be on the bill lending support to light middleweight Jamie Moore’s hotly anticipated clash with former world champion Michele Piccirillo in a long awaited European title opportunity.
The 26 year old Olympic Bronze Medallist made his professional debut displaying astonishing handspeed and devastating accuracy of the level not generally seen in the UK while taking apart Bulgarian import Georgi Iliev in the first round.
This time the charismatic Irishman will face durable Belarus trial horse Siarhei Navarka, 6-22 (1), in a bout scheduled for six rounds at super middleweight.
A star already in his native Dublin, Sutherland has impressed during sterling sparring sessions and is being tipped by Maloney for very big things.
Frank Maloney Promotions in association with VIP Promotions presents Jamie Moore vs. Michele Piccirillo for the Light Middleweight Championship of Europe with full supporting undercard including Irish sensation and 2008 Olympic Bronze Medallist Darren Sutherland at Robin Park Arena in Wigan, England on Friday, March 6, 2009.
Tickets, priced at £90 for VIP Ringside, £80 for Ringside and £35 General Admission are available by logging onto www.frankmaloney.com or by calling the Box Office at 0871 226 1508.
Sky Sports will televise the action live on SS2 starting at 10PM.