LAKE TAHOE, NEVADA, (June 5, 2010) Advance tickets are now on sale for TKO CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, an action packed evening featuring some of the best young stars in the sport, on Saturday, June 26th at The MontBleu Resort Casino and Spa in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
Headlined by a WBO World Lightweight Youth Title bout featuring sensational prospect Terence Crawford, tickets, starting at $25, can be purchased through Ticketmaster (ticketmaster.com) or the MontBleu Box Office (775-588-3515)..
Said Chet Koerner, President of TKO Boxing Promotions, “We’re thrilled to return to Northern Nevada with another world class event. Fight fans in the Lake Tahoe/Reno region have showed their passion and overwhelming support to us over the last two years and we have a great evening planned for them in our first card at the MontBleu.”
Since turning professional two years ago following an outstanding amateur career, the 22 year old Crawford has become one of the most highly regarded prospects in boxing. With his fast hands and laser like body shots, Crawford has thrilled fight fans all over the country while amassing a perfect 11-0-0 record with eight knockouts.
The Omaha, Nebraska native has stopped his last five opponents inside the distance, most recently destroying veteran Marty Robbins on May 1st in Iowa City, Iowa. Dropping Robbins three times, all from body shots, Crawford was awarded the knockout victory at the 0:51 mark of the third round.
Also featured at TKO CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is Canadian superstar in the making, welterweight prospect Mikael Zewski. The all-action Trois-Rivières, Quebec native has quickly become a fan favorite in Canada with his first two bouts being broadcast on the “Super Channel”.
The 21 year old Zewski, now 4-0-0 with three knockouts, received a hero’s welcome in front of the huge crowd at the Pepsi Coliseum on May 28th. Fighting in Canada for the first time, Zewski brutally stopped veteran John Hoffman in the first round on the undercard of the ESPN2 televised Eric Lucas/Librado Andrade super middleweight showdown.
Zewski dropped Hoffman three times before the carnage was brought to a halt by referee Gerry Bolen at the time of 1:45.
Making his first appearance in the United States, Filipino prospect Dodie Boy Penalosa Jr. will also see action at the MontBleu. The 19 year old Penalosa Jr. is part of Filipino boxing royalty with world champions counted among his father, uncle and grandfather.
After an amateur career that culminated in an undefeated record of 27-0 with ten knockouts, Penalosa started his professional career with a brilliant second round stoppage of Anthony Balubar on January 23, 2010 in Manila, Philippines.
Las Vegas based welterweight Bradley Blankenship will return to action at TKO CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING. Currently studying at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas where he led the boxing team and was the Nevada State Golden Gloves Champion in 2009, the 22 year old made his professional debut on April 2nd at the Rio Casino in Las Vegas.
Over four rounds against Abraham Espinoza, Blankenship thrilled the Las Vegas fight fans with a terrific debut that he appeared to win convincingly. Scoring at will, Blankenship won all four rounds on one judges’ card, but was scored even on the two others, resulting in a majority draw.
Heavy handed 18 year welterweight phenom Michael Finney also will appear on the undercard at TKO CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING. After winning numerous national championships as an amateur, the Smiths Station, Alabama native, now training in Las Vegas, has quickly made a huge impression on fight fans and boxing media with three stunning first round knockouts in his initial starts as professional.
In his last bout on May 1st in Iowa City, Finney overwhelmed Bobby Larson with a first round assault that was stopped at the 0:47 mark.
Rounding out the undercard will be the highly anticipated pro debut of 17 year old Trevor McCumby. Born and raised in Chicago where he was a three-time Chicago Park District Champion, McCumby went on to win five National Amateur Boxing Championships including the “Under 19” National Championships.
Competing as a light heavyweight, the current Phoenix, Arizona resident is one of only a handful of 17 year olds approved by the Nevada State Athletic Commission to box professionally.
More information on TKO CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING will be announced shortly.