“Date With Destiny” will have its share of world class talent on display at the Hammond Civic Center on Saturday, April 25th, but there will also be non-perishable food containers located at the main entrance as Octavius James’ One In A Million Inc. and the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana have combined forces to knockout hunger in the region..
“We definitely appreciate the support we have received from One In A Million, because to get that support means a lot,” said Chanda Dixon, Food Sourcing/Volunteer Coordinator for the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana. “All proceeds are going towards a worthy cause and people around the area that really depend on our food pantries.”
While NABC Lightweight World Champion “Merciless” Mary McGee and WBF Light Welterweight World Champion Kristy “Rose” Follmar battle it out in the Main Event for two world titles, Octavius James’ One In A Million Inc. calls upon its faithful to donate non-perishable foods to help those less fortunate.
“Times are hard right now and anything that we can do to lighten someone’s load or brighten someone else’s day we will most certainly lend a hand” said C.E.O. of One In A Million Inc. Octavius James. “We just want to thank the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana and the City of Hammond for letting us try to help the region that has supported us for so long.” We will be making the first Non-Perishable goods donations that night.” said James
“This is a great opportunity for all involved and the City of Hammond is excited about hosting this wonderful event,” said Donna Muta, Special Events Coordinator for the City of Hammond.
Also featured on the “Date With Destiny” card is a brother and sister pair “The Pit Bull” Jimmy Perez Jr. (4-1, 1 KOs) and Tiffany Perez as they make their first appearance on the same fight card and the Co-Main Event will showcase Michael “Midnight Stalker” Walker (19-1-2, 12 KOs) vs. Orphius Waite (4-0, 3 KOs). Ed “2 Fast 2 Furious” Ochoa (7-0, 7 KOs), Josh Crouch (3-0, 3 KOs), Angel Hernandez (11-3, 9 KOs), “Big” Ty Ortiz (Debut) will also be in action.
Tickets for this spectacular “Date with Destiny” are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased at VIP $100, VIP ringside $75, ringside $50, and general admission $30 and they are available from any Ticket Master location at (219) 791-1234, (312) 559-1212, (866) 438-7372 or www.TicketMaster.com and at the Hammond Civic Center box office (219) 853-6378.
The Hammond Civic Center, 5825 Sohl Ave. just 20 minutes from downtown Chicago will open doors at 6 p.m. with the first bout at 8 p.m.
Minto faces Greer in Butler
WBO#10, WBA#15 heavyweight contender, Brian “The Beast” Minto (32-2 21kos), will face Matt Greer (12-4 11kos) in the eight round main event on Friday at the Days Inn Convention Center in Butler, Pennsylvania. Minto states, “Greer is very durable a should provide a solid test. He has been the distance with several good heavyweights such as Mario Preskar (15-0) and David Cadieux (17-3).” Minto’s manager, Pat Nelson, states, “Greer is in the top 80-90th percentile in the world computer rankings. He should be a sturdy challenger in a tune-up for Minto.” In addition to the Minto-Greer fight, debuting local heavyweight Paul Zalus collides with John Massey (2-0) of Cleveland, Ohio in a four rounder. Zalus is listed at 6’5 240 pounds, while Massey 6’3 tips the scales at 275 pounds. Also, Sam Suska of Pittsburgh meets Russ Niggemyer of Columbus, Ohio in a four round battle of debut middleweights. Promoted by Beatdown Promotions, the first of the 10 bout card will hit the bell at 8PM. Tickets ($35 general admission and $750 ringside tables) are available while supplies last at the Days Inn Convention Center in Butler at (724) 287-6761.
Support For Marianne Marston After US Embassy Refuses Visa For Her To Fight On May 9th.
Philadelphia trained, British Super Bantamweight Marianne ‘Golden Girl’ Marston may still be reeling from the American authorities decision to refuse her a visa, so she can compete on the under card of Brian Cohen’s WBC Americas Light Heavyweight Title fight in South Philadelphia on 9th May 2009. However, her American training team, headed by former IBF Cruiserweight World Champion Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham; promoter Donna Cohen of ABBCorp, Inc./Bionic Bull Enterprises and her sponsor P.U.G. Athletic are all standing by her and working together on a solution.
Mike Gregory, P.U.G. Athletic’s commercial manager, made it clear that P.U.G. would continue to support Marianne as she is a strategic part of their plans to launch the brand into the American sportswear market in 2009 when he said. “We’re not going to back out of our support for Marianne. She is an extremely talented boxer and has been an excellent ambassador for P.U.G. Athletic over the past eighteen months. We are keen to continue our involvement in her career for a long time to come.
We are in discussions with Team ‘USS’ Cunningham, who represent and train Marianne in America, as well as the promoters of the May 9th event in Philadelphia, ABBCorp, Inc. and Bionic Bull Enterprises, on this matter. Marianne is contracted to them for 12 fights between now and the end of 2010, so hopefully between us we will be able to sort the visa situation out.
If a quick solution isn’t available one alternative option we are exploring, should a suitable opponent be found, Marianne debuting in the UK, or even Europe, in order to secure the ranking required to be eligible for a P1 Professional Athlete visa, rather than the B1 she had applied for on advice from the London Consulate.”
Marianne, who is still hopeful of competing next month in Philadelphia, is currently training at Gleason’s Gym near Tower Bridge, London. Should the visa problem be resolved before May, Marianne’s professional debut will be on the under card of Philadelphia’s Brian Cohen’s WBC Americas Light Heavyweight title fight on May 9th 2009 at the South Philadelphia High School. Promoter Donna Cohen is a big supporter of Women’s boxing and every event she promotes includes at least one female match-up.