Fairfax, VA (August 21, 2009) – One of the Washington, D.C. area’s all-time great boxers will return to the local scene for the first time in nearly five years when DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley (35-11-1, 21 KOs) battles Detroit’s Damian Fuller (30-6-1, 14 KOs) in an explosive, eight-round Co-Main Event on the Jimmy Lange vs. Jonathan Reid-headlining card on Saturday, September 26 at Patriot Center. The Northeast D.C. native and former WBO light welterweight champion has traveled the globe and competed against the world’s best lightweights such as Floyd Mayweather, Jr., Miguel Cotto, Zab Judah, Junior Witter, Randal Bailey and Devon Alexandria during his professional career that began in 1996..
The tough southpaw, who captured the WBO belt with a stunning first-round TKO over Felix Flores on June 30, 2001 in Las Vegas, NV, has won four of his last five fights, recording an eight-round TKO victory over Kenyan James Kimori in Astana, Kazakhstan on August 15, 2009. He has not fought in his hometown area since December 12, 2004 when he defeated Darryll Tyson at the Washington Convention Center.
Corley trains alongside Lange at Don Turner’s boxing camp in Arapahoe, NC. Two of his eight children, 11-year old DeMario and eight-year old DeJon, are following in their father’s footsteps and currently compete as amateur boxers in the D.C. area.
Looking to ruin Corley’s homecoming is the battle-tested Fuller who is looking to snap a two-fight losing streak after going unbeaten in his previous 10 fights over a four-year period. Beltway boxing fans remember the Motor City southpaw when he scored a third-round TKO of Dean White at the Patriot Center in May 2007. Fuller, managed by Jackie “First Lady of Boxing” Kallen of Ice Promotions, has faced world-class competition such as former IBF Junior Welterweight champion Lovemore N’dou and former WBC Lightweight champ Diego Corrales. Highly-regard Tommy Brooks, who has worked with Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield among others, serves as Fuller’s trainer.
Both fighters are no strangers to one another as each served as a sparring partner for Kostya Tszyu in one of the former WBC light welterweight champion’s camps in Australia.
Presented by Valcourt Building Services, “Saturday Night Fights” features WBC USNBC champion and Northern Virginia fan favorite Jimmy Lange defending his title against former “Contender” teammate Jonathan Reid in the 12-round Main Event. Other beltway fighters slated to compete on the Ice Promotions card include Bayan Jargal, Jennifer “Bolivian Queen” Salinas, and Tony “Mo Better” Jeter. Juan “Savior” Rodriquez suffered an injury and will not fight on the card as originally announced.
Doors open at 6:30pm with the first fight set for 7:30pm. Tickets, priced at $30, $60, $85, $100, $125, $200, $300 and $500 (plus applicable service charges), can be purchased through Ticketmaster by logging onto www.ticketmaster.com, calling 703-573-SEAT, 202-397-SEAT or 410-547-SEAT or by visiting any Ticketmaster outlet, including the Patriot Center box office. Discount tickets are available at LA Boxing gyms in Chantilly, Herndon/Reston and Woodbridge; call 703-263-7629 for details. Visit www.ipboxing.com for event updates and news.
Ballroom Boxing in Hagerstown August 27th
In a beautiful facility only one hour from Michael’s, Ballroom Boxing returns on August 27th. Ballroom Boxing will host its first card in Hagerstown, MD on Thursday, August 27 at Hager House. Three undefeated Beltway Boxers will be headlining the card that features five six-round encounters on this co-promotion with TKO Promotions.
Newly-crowned WBF Americas and NABC Welterweight champion James “Keep ‘Em Sleepin'” Stevenson (10-0, nine KO’s) of Baltimore will battle Tom Joseph of Youngstown, OH (4-2-1). Stevenson is coming off his third-round TKO over Ken Dunham that helped acquire his two titles on July 25 in Baltimore. Joseph was stopped in the first round by Demetrius Andrade on March 6 in Uncasville, CT.
Oxon Hill, MD light heavyweight Alexander “The Great” Johnson returns to action against Ariel “Iron” Espinal of Brooklyn, NY. Johnson (5-0, three KO’s) will fight for the first time since his fourth-round unanimous decision win over Zeferino Albino on August 15, 2008 in DC. This will be Johnson’s first scheduled six-round contest. Espinal (6-9-2, two KO’s) has lost seven straight, including a four-round unanimoud decision to Naziyr Bell on August 1 in York, PA.
Also, Edgewood, MD welterweight Emmanuel “Transformer” Taylor (2-0, two KO’s) is slated to be on the card in a four-round bout against an opponent to be named later.
The card will also mark the return of Silver Spring, MD middleweight George “El Gallo” Armenta (12-4, 10 KO’s). Armenta was a very popular boxer in the area who was probably best known for his fourth-round TKO over Dante Craig on a Ballroom Boxing card in March of 2004. Armenta’s last contest was a 10-round unanimous decision loss to Sechew Powell in September of 2004 in New York City.
Armenta’s opponent will be William Johnson of Memphis, TN (9-18-1, three KO’s) who’s last bout was on a Ballroom Boxing card in November of 2008 when he lost by second-round TKO to Joey Gilbert.
There will be two other bouts slated for the card. Undefeated junior welterweight Francisco Contreras of the Dominican Republic (9-0, nine KO’s) returns to a Ballroom Boxing card to face Julian Rodriguez of Mexico (17-16-4, 11 KO’s). Contreras scored a first round knockout over Gustavo Mejia on June 19 at Michael’s Eighth Avenue. Rodriguez will try to bounce back from a fourth-round knockout loss to Juan Ramon Cruz on April 24 in Caguas, PR.
Also, Johnstown, PA cruiserweight Andres Taylor (9-1-1, five KO’s) will face Joseph Harris of Union City, TN (10-8, seven KO’s). Taylor stopped Roy Ashworth in the fifth round on August 1 in York, PA while Harris has a four-bout winning streak but hasn’t fought since April of 2008.
Call for tickets 301-797-4410
ALBERT ONOLUNOSE: A SOLDIER READY FOR BATTLE
PALA, CA (August 20, 2009) From a young age, undefeated junior middleweight contender Albert Onolunose knew what it meant to be a soldier preparing for war.
Starting at the tender age of 14, Onolunose was placed in active duty in his native Nigeria as part of that country’s standard plan of building its army. Now 28 years old, Onolunose has been an active member of his adopted homeland Canada ’s military reserve for the last four years.
“I’ve always had an attitude of be prepared, be ready for anything. When I was fourteen I didn’t want to join the Nigerian Army, but it helped with my boxing training and with my studies. When I moved to Canada , I wanted to stay involved in the military and joined the reserve” said Onolunose.
Carrying a record of 18-0-0 with seven knockouts, Onolunose has taken a twelve round bout against Grady Brewer for the I.B.C. Junior Middleweight Title on just five days notice. Brewer, 25-11-0 (14KO’s), was originally to have faced Anthony Thompson this Saturday, August 22nd, in the main event at the “TKO World Championship Boxing at the Pala Casino” card.
Said Chet Koerner, President of TKO BOXING Promotions, “Albert jumped right at the chance to face Brewer this Saturday. He’s been in the gym, sharpening his skills and truly feels he will beat Brewer. Grady has quite a bit more experience but Albert is fearless and has a real soldier’s mentality about this fight.”
“TKO World Championship Boxing at the Pala Casino” is presented by Chet Koerner’s TKO BOXING Promotions, originators of the nationally acclaimed “HOMETOWN HEROES TO WORLD CHAMPIONS” professional boxing series.
Tickets for the eight bout action packed “TKO World Championship Boxing at the Pala Casino” card, starting at $25, are available through Star Tickets (www.startickets.com, phone 1-800-585-3737).