BALTIMORE, MD (June 18, 2009) Chet Koerner’s TKO BOXING Promotions, originators of the acclaimed “HOMETOWN HEROES TO WORLD CHAMPIONS” national boxing series presents “BALLROOM BOXING”, an evening of world class professional boxing, this Thursday night, June 18th at Michael’s Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, MD. Headlining the six bout BALLROOM BOXING card is a terrific eight round junior middleweight bout between popular Maryland native Jessie “THE BEAST” Nicklow and John “NO MERCY” Mackey of Montgomery, Alabama. Along with the outstanding main event, the action packed undercard will truly bring a “HOMETOWN HEROES TO WORLD CHAMPIONS” flavor to the Baltimore area fight fans..
Said Koerner, “This card defines what TKO BOXING does best. It’s a great mix of terrific local fighters and two exciting international rising stars that will be making their debuts in this country.”
With Jessie Nicklow, Cecil Macalla and Julius Kennedy, who’s fighting on our show for the fourth time, we are giving the Baltimore fans a great chance to see hometown fighters who we believe can become future world champions.”
“Also, we’re bringing in two outstanding undefeated prospects from the Dominican Republic, Francisco Contreras and Delvin Plascencia, for their first bouts in the United States. Fighting under the TKO BOXING banner, both of them have the potential to become future world champions.”
The 22 year old Nicklow, 19-1-1 (7KO’s), is coming off a two bout series against fellow prospect George Rivera, each fighter winning an eight round decision in the terrific battles. Known for his all action style, Nicklow has been a very popular Baltimore area fan favorite since turning professional in January 2006. He is looking to climb into the junior middleweight world rankings in 2009.
The revenge seeking Mackey, 11-3-1 (5KO’s), is coming off a terrific eight round battle with undefeated prospect Cecil Macalla on April 30th in Woodlawn , Maryland . At the end of a very spirited eight rounds, Macalla was declared the victor by majority decision.
World class prospects from the Dominican Republic, welterweight Francisco Contreras and super featherweight Delvin Plascencia, will be making their highly anticipated debuts in the United States on Thursday night.
The heavy handed Contreras has won all of his first eight pro fights by stoppage, seven in the first two rounds. He will battle Kansas City , Missouri native, Gustavo Mejia, 3-6-1 (3KO’s). Mejia is a coming off a brutal first round stoppage of former amateur standout Jonathan Gover on March 28th in Houston , in which he had the pro debuting San Antonio native down three times in the opening stanza.
Plascencia, 15-0-0 (6KO’s), will face the very tough Columbian Jesus Perez, 25-25-3 (14KO’s), in a scheduled six round bout. In Plascencia’s last outing he stopped Dionisio Rodriguez in the fourth round in Pueblo Nuevo, D.R. on July 20, 2008.
Macalla, now 8-0-0 (3KO’s), of nearby Randallstown, Maryland, will face fellow prospect Jose Barajas, 5-2-0 (2KO’s), of Boise, Idaho, in a scheduled six round bout
on Thursday night.
Since turning professional nine months ago, Macalla has built a very large following in the Beltway region. Along with the win over Mackey, he is coming off a first round stoppage of Eric Burke on June 12th at the Virginia Sports Complex.
The 31 year old Barajas, known as a highly aggressive fighter, is coming off a very close majority decision loss on January 10th to Dashon Johnson in Tacoma , Washington .
Also returning to the BALLROOM BOXING ring is outstanding middleweight prospect Julius Kennedy who will battle Gulfport, Mississippi ’s Gevonte Davis over six rounds.
At the last BALLROOM BOXING event on April 2nd, Kennedy, 5-1-0 (2KO’s), scored a terrific fourth round stoppage of James Denson. He followed that up by hitting the road and taking a six round decision win over Aaron Pryor Jr. on April 25th in Columbus , Ohio .
The hard swinging Davis , 3-2-1 (2KO’s), had won three in a row, two by first round knockout in 2008 before being stopped last November by sensational middleweight prospect Fernando Guerrero. Davis will be looking to get back in the win column against the always exciting Kennedy.
Rounding out the BALLROOM BOXING card is a four round welterweight bout between terrific 18 year old local prospect Emmanuel “THE TRANSFORMER” Taylor, 2-0-0 (2KO’s), taking on Parkersburg, West Virginia native Donny Miller, 2-8-0 (2KO’s).
This year Taylor has thrilled the Maryland fight fans in his first two professional bouts, both of which ended in early knockouts. Miller is coming off a fourth round stoppage of Steve Whitehair on March 27th of this year.
Tickets, starting at $35.00, can be purchased in advance, by calling the Ballroom Boxing Box Office at 410-766-7474. Doors on the evening of the event will open at 6:30pm with the first bell at 7:30pm. Michael’s Eighth Avenue is located at 7220 Grayburn Dr. in Glen Burnie , MD.
Andre Berto Signs On as the Sports Celebrity Spokesman for VBlast!
(WINTER HAVEN, FLA.) – Welterweight World Champion Andre Berto (Winter Haven, Fla.) has signed on as the official Sports Celebrity Spokesman for VBlast!, vitamin enriched water. Berto fought for the first time under the new partnership on May 30th, showcasing the logo of his new sponsor on his new trunks during his victory over Juan Urango at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla.
Berto’s third title defense of his welterweight crown moved the 2004 Haitian Olympian to a perfect 25-0 record with 19 knockouts. The 25-year-old dominated Urango, a former World Champion, throughout every round of the 12-round bout, before opening a bottle of VBlast! in the post-bout festivities in the ring.
“I am excited to sign on as the official Sports Celebrity Spokesman for VBlast!,” Berto said. “As an athlete, I’m always looking for healthy drinks to keep me hydrated, and VBlast! provides the hydration and vitamins that I need. I look forward to a long partnership with the VBlast! and New York Spring Water team.”
“Building a strong business is about building a strong team, and we are pleased to have Andre Berto involved with making VBlast wildly successful,” said Luke Zakka, Vice President of VBlast!. “Andre will help get a product with genuinely new consumer benefits into the market, making both entities champions in their own right.”
VBlast! is a product of New York Spring Water, which unlike other vitamin enhanced waters, contains no sugar, no carbs, and no calories. All of the vitamins are stored in the cap and released into the water immediately before it is consumed to prevent dilution in the water, which can reduce the vitamins’ potency.
The healthy, vitamin-enriched beverage aligns perfectly with Berto’s efforts to battle childhood obesity. Berto campaigned on Capitol Hill in March of 2008 on behalf of the Physical Guidelines for Americans Act, a bill created to combat the inactivity of America’s youth.
Berto won the WBC Welterweight title in June of 2008 and has already made two successful title defenses. He recently took part in the Boxing Hall of Fame festivities, June 12-14 in Canastota, N.Y., honoring the 2009 Hall of Fame class.
Patrick Bogere added on outdoor pro boxing show card at Finland – Begin for the co-operation between Caramelito Promotions and McClory Sports
On the 8th August when Caramelito Promotions´ own boxers Pekka Eskelinen, Roope Puumalainen and Janne Katajisto are climbing on the ring at Ulvila as boxers coming from the red corner there will be also another boxer beside them as a home boxer when Ugandan born but now Swedish based Patrick Bogere (1-0, 0 KO) will hunt for his second victory as a pro boxer.
Bogere is former four-time Swedish champion as amateur and have also competed in Olympic games at Athens back in 2004 as the only boxer from Scandinavia countries. Bogere, who has as amateur the total record of 95-25, has twice represented Sweden at European championships. At his pro debut Bogere won a former member of Russian national amateur team, Alexey Shorovkov by unanimous decision after four rounds.
Bogere´s appearance at the show promoted by Caramelito Promotions will be the first step at the successful and long-lasting co-operation between Caramelito Promotions and McClory Sports –stable which is led by manager Jason McClory.
International betting company PAF has confirmed to Caramelito Promotions that all pro boxing fights of this exceptional open air show will be available to bet for at their boxing bets as soon as opponents will be announced.