NABA light heavyweight champion Yusaf Mack, 28-2-2 (17), is ready to go for his January 30th showdown against former IBF light heavyweight champion Glen Johnson, 49-13-2 (33). This fight will be a IBF title elimination bout, with the winner earning a shot at IBF champion Tavoris Cloud, 20-0 (18), for his belt. Speaking of his upcoming bout, Mack states “This will be a strong boxing match. I want to prove to everybody that I am the best. I am in the best shape of my life. I have new people behind me, I’m getting stronger and better..”
Mack is looking forward to the showdown with Johnson and sees bigger things if he is victorious. “Hopefully it will bring me a world title shot against Cloud, (Chad) Dawson, or however steps up first. I want to fight the best opponent!”
The Yusaf Mack and Glen Johnson showdown will take place as the co-main event to the Shane Mosley-Andre Berto clash in the Mandalay Bay Casino Las Vegas Nevada. Tickets for the event range from $50 to $300, and are available through www.ticketmaster.com
DEREK “POOH” ENNIS TO BATTLE EDWIN VAZQUEZ AS PART OF “TURF WARS” ON FRIDAY JANUARY 15TH AT THE ARENA IN PHILADELPHIA
USBA Jr. Middleweight champ headlines a non-title bout as well as appearances by Philly Favorites, Tony Ferrante, Victor Vasquez, & “Big Poppa” Speller
PHILADELPHIA (DECEMBER 30TH, 2009)—On Friday night, January 15th, the first big boxing event of 2010 will take place as Greg Robinson’s Power Promotions in association with River Edge Beverage Company presents “Turf Wars” that will take place at The Arena in South Philadelphia.
In the main event, USBA Jr. Middleweight champion, Derek “Pooh” Ennis will take part in a ten round non-title fight as he battles veteran Edwin Vazquez.
Ennis, 19-2-1 with twelve knockouts won the USBA Jr. Middleweight title with a tremendous back and forth brawl as he won a hard fought twelve round unanimous decision over Eromosele Albert on October 16th and The Legendary Blue Horizon.
Ennis and Albert exchanged hard combinations in close and the near-sellout crowd at The Legendary Blue Horizon was entertained as the fight was one of the best in Philadelphia in the past few years.
Ennis won by scores of 116-112, 115-113 and 115-113 in the bout for which most ringside observers thought could have gone either way.
That win catapulted Ennis into the world rankings as he is now ranked number-thirteen by the IBF.
The win over Albert was Ennis’ seventh straight victory and he holds win over Albert (22-3-1), John Mackey (11-3-2) and Troy Browning (20-2-1) in that streak.
This will be Ennis fourth appearance at The Arena (formally known as the New Alhambra) and he has a record of 2-1 in that building which includes the six round unanimous decision over Mackey that took place on July 10, 2009.
Vazquez is a seventeen year veteran and has a record of 22-14-2 with eight knockouts.
The native of Santurce, Puerto Rico has been in with some of the biggest names in boxing as evidenced by a resume that includes fights with former world title challengers, Demetrius Hopkins, Antonio Diaz, former WBO Jr. Welterweight champion Ricardo Torres, Matthew Hatton, and former Undisputed Welterweight champion Zab Judah.
Vazquez won the WBA Fedecaribe Welterweight title with a twelve round unanimous decision over Jose Correa (13-1) on March 23, 2007 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Local fans may remember Vazquez last appearance in the area as he lost a razor thin unanimous decision to Eric Mitchell (20-4-1) on March 15, 2008 in Sewell, New Jersey in a bout that was for the IBC Continental-America’s title.
The fight was controversial as Vazquez was deducted a point in round three for a low blow. If not for that deduction the fight would have been a draw.
An outstanding undercard of some local favorites and bright prospects has been as assembled as Victor Vasquez will battle Ikem Orji in a Lightweight bout scheduled for six rounds.
Vasquez of Philadelphia has a record of 10-3 with five wins coming by knockouts and because of his all action style, more often than not he is in The Fight of The Night.
Vasquez has won two straight which includes his latest bout being a career best performance unanimous decision over Tyric Robinson (9-4-1) on October 16th at The Legendary Blue Horizon.
In the bout, Vasquez showed that he was more than a come forward fighter as he showed some solid defensive skills in what was his first bout with new trainer Chris Rotella.
This will be Vasquez seventh appearance at The Arena where he has an impressive record of 5-1.
Orji of Laurel, Maryland has a record of 5-2 with one win coming by knockout.
Orji won his first four bout before dropping a six round unanimous decision to Phildelphia lightweight Anthony Flores (6-0) on February 27, 2009 as part of Tomasz Adamek-Jonathan Banks Cruiserweight title card in Newark, New Jersey.
Orji has been inactive for eight months since his last bout which was a six round split decision to Isaac Suarez (6-0) on May 8th at The Arena.
In a Light Heavyweight co-feature, popular Tony “Boom Boom” Ferrante will take on Andre Hemphill in a bout scheduled for eight rounds.
Ferrante of Northeast Philadelphia has a perfect ledger of 8-0 with four wins coming by knockout.
The popular fighter brings a boisterous fan base and has quickly become one of the most well-liked fighters in the city.
He is coming off an entertaining eight round majority decision over Billy Bailey on July 10th at The Arena. That was his second win at the venue without a loss.
Ferrante was most recently tabbed the chief sparring partner for future hall of famer Bernard Hopkins for Hopkins December 2nd fight with Enrique Ornelas.
Hemphill of Philadelphia has a record of 8-13-2 with five knockouts and has faced top competition as the combined record of Hemphill’s opponents is a very impressive 124-17-7 which includes eleven undefeated fighters.
He has wins over popular New Jersey prospect Bobby Rooney (5-1), Simon Carr (4-0) and third round knockout over Joey McCreedy (5-0).
Hemphill is coming off an October 2nd first round knockout defeat to Jeremiah Graziano (6-0, 6 KO’s) at The Legendary Blue Horizon in a bout that Hemphill took on less than twenty-four hours notice.
This will be Hemphill’s second appearance at the Arena since an August 24, 2007 draw with Carr in a rematch.
In a four round Light Heavyweight bout, Tommie “Big Poppa” Speller (4-3, 3 KO’s) takes on Dave Cook (3-3, 1 KO).
In a four round Jr. Lightweight bout, Whaid Raheem (3-0, 1 KO) of Philadelphia battles Eilud Torres (2-1-2, 1 KO) of Allentown, PA.
In four round Jr. Lightweight bout, Coy Evans (5-0-1) of Philadelphia takes an opponent to be named.
6’4” Middleweight Derrick Webster (3-0, 2 KO’s) of Glassboro, New Jersey will see action in a four round bout as well as Middleweight Phillip McCants (8-1-1, 3 KO’s) of Philadelphia in separate bouts
Both Webster and McCants will have their opponents announced shortly.
Tickets for this outstanding night of boxing are priced at $75, $65 and $40 and can be purchased by calling Power Productions at 215-240-9987; Ticketmaster at 215-336-2000 or The Arena at 267-687-7560
LLENTOWN VS READING RUMBLE PROFESSIONAL & AMATEUR BOXING
READING, PA – DECEMBER 30, 2009 – King’s Promotions returns to the Allentown area on Saturday February 27th where they will host an exciting professional and amateur boxing card pitting Reading fighters against their nearby Allentown counterparts. The event will consist of five professional fights featuring local fan favorites, as well as five amateur fights featuring the Allentown Boxing Club vs Reading’s King’s Gym. It will take place at the Rodeway Inn & Conference Center at Routes 22 & 39 in Allentown.
The professional fights will feature Jason Cintron vs Doel Carrasquillo in the main event. Cintron, the brother of former IBF welterweight champ Kermit Cintron, is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Martinus Clay at Reading’s Sovereign Center in December. The co-feature will pit Reading’s Keenan Collins against Allentown’s Jorge Delgado. Eliud Torres of Allentown will face Hawaiian native Van Oscar Penovaroff, who currently resides in Reading. Also featured will be regional crowd favorites Travis Kauffman and Julio Cesar Matthews. Kauffman is looking to rebound from a controversial loss against Tony Grano broadcast on Shobox: The Next Generation. Kauffman was recently featured as one of boxing’s “new faces” in the December issue of Ring magazine. Matthews, a former resident of Allentown who currently resides in Reading, is riding a nine fight winning streak. Bragging rights will be at stake in the amateur portion of the night when fighters from the Allentown Boxing Club challenge their counterparts from Reading’s King’s Gym.
Tickets are priced at $25.00, 50.00 and 65.00 and are available beginning Jan.1st at the Rodeway Inn (610-395-3731), Kingsboxing.com and the Allentown Boxing Club (Luis Melendez: 484-860-5162). Doors open at 6:00 pm; first bout starts at 6:30.