ATLANTA, GA (December 4, 2009) World ranked flyweight Rayonta Whitfield will don the colors of black and red of his home state Atlanta Falcons this Sunday as he is honored with their 2009 Community Quarterback Award. The award will be presented at halftime of the Falcons NFC showdown against the Philadelphia Eagles. The game at The Georgia Dome is a match up between two teams chasing Wild Card slots with the Falcons bringing a record of 6-5 against the Eagles who stand at 7-4..
The Community Quarterback Award is presented each year by the Atlanta Falcons to individuals who are committed to improving their communities through volunteerism.
For the past eight years, Whitfield has served as a volunteer boxing coach to over 100 area youths at the Augusta Boxing Club.
In addition to weekly practices, he transports, supervises and coaches youths in out of town tournaments at his own expense. Whitfield has assumed the role of advisor, counselor, and mentor and more importantly role model to the youths that look up to him.
Said Whitfield, “I’m truly humbled to be chosen for this award. I enjoy working with youngsters in Augusta and giving back to the community and am thankful to the Atlanta Falcons. They’ve got a big game coming up on Sunday and I’m looking forward to supporting them as they try to make the playoffs.”
About his volunteerism, Whitfield stated “It started a little slowly with my just showing some of the younger kids some things I learned when I was an amateur, but then my coach asked me to lead the classes for the kids and it’s grown from there” said the 28 year old lifelong Augusta resident.
Whitfield starting boxing at the age of 12 and capped an outstanding amateur career with a Silver Medal at the 2004 United States Olympic Trials. Earlier this year, he was inducted into the Georgia Boxing Hall of Fame.
Said Chet Koerner, President of TKO Boxing Promotions, “Rayonta truly exemplifies the kind of outstanding individual that we’re proud to work with. We’d like to thank Arthur Blank and the entire Atlanta Falcons organization for their recognition of Rayonta.”
With a record of 23-1-0 (11KO’s) Whitfield is currently world ranked #9 by ESPN.com, # 4 by the International Boxing Federation and # 7 by the World Boxing Organization.
He is trained by Ronnie Shields, managed by Cameron Dunkin and Tom Moraetes and promoted by TKO Boxing Promotions.
TKO BOXING PROMOTIONS SIGNS AMATEUR SENSATION MIKAEL ZEWSKI
NEW YORK, NY (December 8, 2009) – TKO Boxing Promotions produced not only the sizzle but the steak at a news conference luncheon today at Gallagher’s Steak House in midtown Manhattan. Partners Chet Koerner and Chris Middendorf, President and CEO of TKO Boxing Promotions, respectively, announced the signing of amateur welterweight standout MIKAEL ZEWSKI who will be making his professional debut in early 2010.
“My father, who also trains me, taught me to believe in `old school’ whether it’s training or fighting or life style,” said Zewksi. “You have to earn it with your work and your sweat. You run, work in the gym, you focus your mind on it and then on fight night, you fight. That’s why I signed with TKO Boxing Promotions. They are an ‘old-school’ style of promoter with a 21st century plan. We are a perfect fit. As for choosing this time to turn professional, all I can say is, I’m young, I’m healthy and I’m ready.”
“We are thrilled to have Mikael join our galaxy of budding stars,” said Middendorf. “We have been watching Mikael for quite some time and I know we will have many years of success and excitement together. The central element of TKO’s business model is to promote our fighters to their core fan base, in their hometowns and other areas where they are popular. Mikael’s hometown fans in Québec and his Polish brethren in the New York, New Jersey and Chicago areas will be seeing a lot of Mikael as he develops from a prospect into a contender and beyond.”
“I have a lot of confidence in the abilities of Mikael and his father and trainer Jean,” said Cameron Dunkin, the 2007 Boxing Writers Association of America Manager of the Year. “I’ve had the good fortune of managing a good many world champions and I think Mikael has all the important ingredients to become one in the future. Our partnership with TKO Boxing Promotions will produce dividends for years to come.”
Currently the No. 5 world-rated amateur welterweight, Zewski fashioned an amateur record of 138-29. A four-time national champion, Zewski, 20, was a Silver Medalist at the 2004 youth Pan Am Championships and earned a fifth place finish at the 2009 Senior Worlds in Milan, Italy. Fluent in several languages, including English and French, Zewski is a native of Trois-Rivieres, Québec, Canada .
Cerresso Fort and Javontae Starks to be Showcased in Hinckley!
Minneapolis, MN- Midwest Sports Council will showcase two of Minnesota’s top prospects in separate bouts on December 18 at Grand Casino Hinckley.
Cerresso Fort (8-0 7 ko’s) solidified himself as an emerging prospect on November 13 with a win over Lamar Harris, While Javontae Starks dazzled in his anticipated debut the same night, scoring a second round stoppage over Dan Copp. The two will represent Minnesota on an all prospect card that will feature Shawn Porter, and Fernando Guererro and will be aired on Showtime’s “ShoBox: The New Generation”.
Fort , 23, hails from St. Paul and will continue his campaign in the middleweight division. After a successful amateur career Fort strung together seven straight stoppages to open his career, and has begun to make a name as one of the state’s most exciting young fighters.
Starks, 20, boxes out of Minneapolis and kicked off his anticipated pro career on November 13. Starks will likely fight in the 154 lb. division before moving to 147. Throughout his amateur career Starks proved to be among the nation’s elite, and doesn’t plan to slow down anytime soon.
December 18 will provide an opportunity for Minnesota boxing fans to watch two of the state’s brightest prospects box on a major stage. The card will be rounded out with out with fellow Minnesotans Jeremy McLaurin, Derek Winston, and Brad Patraw.
Tickets are listed at $20, $35, $55, and $100 and are available at grandcasinomn.com.