Highly active unbeaten prospect Danny O’Connor fights in his first scheduled 6-round bout Saturday afternoon (5:00 PM/ET start) in a junior welterweight Special Attraction against 30-fight veteran Sebastien Hamel at The Roxy in Boston’s famed theater district. The popular Irish-American will be in his seventh fight in eight months since turning pro last September..
“I’m excited to be fighting in my first 6-rounder,” O’Connor said. “It’s going to be a good experience, especially in Boston, where there will be a lot of my people. There’s no additional pressure on me fighting a home, though. I appreciate seeing and hearing all of the support, knowing they came to see me fight.”
2004 U.S. Olympic Team alternate O’Connor (6-0, 2 KOs) was impressive in his last fight, easily winning by 4-round decision against 22-fight veteran Travis Hartman on April 25 at Foxwoods. “I felt very relaxed in my last fight,” Danny noted. “It was like a day at the office. I’m really starting to feel confident. I’m going rounds and not feeling tight or anxious. Obviously, I was in great shape, and I’ll be in even better shape for this fight having been in a full strength-and-conditioning program for the first time with my coach, Eric Cressey. All of my work is going to kick-in this fight. I’m in the gym sparring 6, 8 and even 10 rounds. Sparring isn’t the same as fighting, but I’m ready to go six in this fight if it goes the distance. Each fight I’m learning and improving.”
The 24-year-old O’Connor, who defeated 2008 Olympic Gold medalist Felix Diaz a year ago in a USA-Dominican Republic dual meet, will fight closer to his Framingham (Mass.) home in front of hundreds of family, friends and fans at The Roxy.
“We’re looking forward to Danny’s first 6-rounder because that’s what separates the men from the boys in professional boxing,” O’Connor’s head trainer and co-manager (with Rob Valle) David Keefe remarked. “We’re moving forward. We have been busy and Danny is ready to move up.”
“We are proud of Danny and the progress he has made,” Seminole Warriors Boxing (O’Connor’s promoter) Leon Margules added. “The people in the Boston area should enjoy seeing the continued development of their great young prospect.”
Tickets, priced at $40.00, $55.00 and $75.00, may be purchased in advance in the Framingham area at Pepperoncini’s (486 Concord St.) or in the Rhode Island area by calling 617.803.8726.
For more information about Danny O’Connor go online to www.dannyoconnorboxing.com.
J.OQUENDO READY FOR BEACH BATTLE
Super Bantamweight Puerto Rican sensation Jonathan “Polvo” Oquendo 15-2, 9KO’s
brings his knockout slugging style to the Deauville Beach Resort in Miami Beach, Fl on Friday Night. He will be taking on Miami’s own tough southpaw Colombian Felix Flores 14-9,11KO’s.Fists should fly in this main event as both boxers have high knockout ratios.
Oquendo which was once with Golden Boy Promotions is working his way back after he suffered a disappointing TKO to current WBO champion Juan Manuel Lopez 25-0, 23KO’s back in February of 2008. In his last fight (October 2008), he defeated by unanimous decision, Jose Angel Beranza 30-13-2, 25KO”s of Mexico.
He will be making his first appearance in South Florida his other bouts have been in Puerto Rico, Chicago, and Vegas. Look for him to give a top notch performance on Friday night as he is determined to be ranked again and winning a championship soon.
MIKE JONES-LARRY MOSLEY FIGHT RE-SCHEDULED FOR AUG. 8 AT BALLY’S ATLANTIC CITY
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ—Unbeaten welterweight Mike Jones, of North Philadelphia, and veteran Larry Mosley, of Los Angeles, CA, hope the third time is a charm when they square off Saturday evening, Aug. 8, at Bally’s Atlantic City.
At stake in the scheduled 10-round contest will be Jones’ world ranking and his North American Boxing Association (NABA) title.
Jones, 26, is one of boxing’s hottest prospects. His 17-0 record includes 15 knockouts and he won the vacant NABA title Aug. 29, 2008, when he K0d Juliano Ramos, a Brazilian living in Boca Raton, FL, in six rounds at the New Alhambra in South Philadelphia.
In his first defense last March 6, Jones was set to fight Mosley, who had to cancel out five days earlier with a back injury. Instead, Jones K0d late sub Dairo Esalas, of Miami, FL, in two rounds at the Blue Horizon in North Philadelphia.
Two weeks prior to the re-scheduled fight with Mosley on June 6 at Bally’s, Jones strained the bicep on his left arm and had to cancel.
A pro since 2005, Jones has beaten Doel Carrasquillo, of Lancaster, PA; Israel “Pito” Cardona, of Hartford, CT; Gilbert Venegas, of Moline, IL.
Jones’ two hardest fights came last year against a pair of Chicago, IL, fighters.
In his only ESPN 2 appearance March 28, 2008, Jones rallied in the last two rounds to earn an eight-round decision over Germaine Sanders at the Seneca Allegany Casino in Salamanca, NY. Then, last Dec. 5 at the Sovereign Center in Reading, PA in a fight televised by Telefutura/Univision, Jones shook off some=2 0early bombs and knocked out Luciano Perez in three rounds.
Jones is ranked No. 10 by the World Boxing Association (WBA), No. 10 by the International Boxing Federation (IBF), No. 13 by the World Boxing Organization (WBO), No. 26 by the World Boxing Council (WBC).
Mosley, 29, is the most experienced and most accomplished boxer Jones has met.
After a successful amateur career which included 183 wins in 200 amateur fights, Mosley turned pro in 2000 and has compiled a 15-3-2 record with six knockouts against solid opposition.
Most ringsiders thought Mosley was “robbed” when he was held to a 12-round draw by Miguel Figueroa, of Camden, NJ, on March 3, 2006, at the New Alhambra in South Philadelphia.
The same thing happened in Mosley’s next fight when he again appeared to be unlucky to get only a 12-round draw with world-rated Golden Johnson in the latter’s Dallas, TX, backyard.
This will be Mosley’s second trip to Atlantic City, NJ. He knocked out Colombian Alexis Divison (then 16-1, 12 K0s) in four rounds Aug. 4, 2005.
In his last fight Oct. 24 in Carbazon, CA, Mosley lost a 10-round decision to Mexican prospect Saul Alvarez (currently 27-0-1, 20 K0s).
Six preliminary fights complete the show.
Tickets are priced at $50 and $75. They are on sale at the offices of Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc. (215-765-0922) or online at www.peltzboxing.com. Tickets also can be purchased through TicketMaster (800-745-3000) or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
TRIO STAKE CORONATION CLAIMS
Battling Fifers Willie Bilan, Gordon Brennan and Daryll Campbell are set to stake their claims to become the Kingdom’s latest boxing star.
The trio share top billing on Chris Gilmour’s promotion at the Gilvenbank Hotel, Glenrothes on Thursday.
Methil welterweight Bilan takes on Manchester’s William Warburton, Dunfermline light-heavyweight Brennan faces Aberystwyth’s Jamie Ambler and Buckhaven light-middleweight Campbell is up against Leicester’s Simon Fleck.
And promoter Gilmour believes whoever proves to be the star of the show could prove that they’re on their way to emulating the achievements of Fife’s most recent boxing stars, Kevin Anderson and Stevie McGuire.
Gilmour said: “Boxing in Fife has undergone a real renaissance over the past four or five years with Kevin winning Celtic, British and Commonwealth titles at welterweight and Stevie winning the Celtic super-middleweight title and coming close to lifting the British title.
“But what isn’t clear yet is who will be the next big boxing star from Fife and that’s where Willie, Gordon and Daryll come in.
“They all have an opportunity, in front of their own fans, to stake their claim and prove they have what it takes to move onto the next level. It’s up to one – or all – of them to grab that chance by really shining on Thursday night.”
Gilmour is set to become the third generation of his family to promote boxing in Fife, following in the footsteps of his father Tommy Gilmour, who has promoted Anderson and McGuire at Kirkcaldy Ice Rink in recent years, and his great-grandfather Jim Gilmour, who promoted at the Ice Rink on numerous occasions from the 1930s through the 1950s. His grandfather Tommy senior also managed Fife boxing stars such as Alf Barker and John Mitchell.
He added: “I’m proud to continue a family association with Fife that stretches back almost 80 years. Both my father and great-grandfather have promoted in the Kingdom, and my grandfather managed several of Fife’s top talents of the 20th century.
“I’ve had great support from the fans and Main sponsors such Kingdom Hotels, and other local companies.
“I’m looking forward to the show because I think it will be a really exciting night of boxing – and we could see a new star emerge.”