Minto Set To Return Sat.

Former WBO world title challenger Brian “The Beast” Minto (35-5 22kos) returns to the ring this Saturday at the Mountaineer Casino and Resort in Chester, West Virginia. Minto will face hard hitting, 6’4 250 pound Matt Hicks (13-6 12kos) in the feature heavyweight bout being presented by TNT Promotions.

Also, a pair of eight rounders will be featured. Super lightweight Jake Giuriceo (15-0-1) will battle Juan Santiago (13-8), while super featherweight Joel Diaz (8-0) collides with Yogli Herrera (22-14). In addition, local prospects Jaque Lutz (4-0), Morgan Fitch (4-0), Bill Hutchinson (2-1-1 and Sam Vasquez (1-0) will appear in separate bouts.

Premium tickets available for Friday Night Fights May 18 at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino

DOVER, Del. — The Friday Night Fights series Championship event on May 18 in the Rollins Center arena has tickets still available for purchase. Tickets are on sale at $40 – $200 and may be purchased by calling VIP Services at 800-711-5882 or visiting doverdowns.com.

Franklin “Yah Yah” Lawrence, 14(9)-2-2, of Indianapolis, Ind., will fight “Merciless” Mike Mollo, 20(12)-3-1 of Oak Lawn, Ill., for the NABA Heavyweight Title in the night’s main event.

Former USBA junior welterweight Mike “No Joke” Stewart, 48(25)-7-3, of New Castle, Del. Stewart, a world title challenger and HBO Contender star, will defend his welterweight title in a co-feature bout. Stewart remains undefeated since 2007 and has not lost a fight at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino since 2001.

The undercard is set with NABF Female Super Featherweight Title holder, “Queen” Ronica Jeffery, with a record of 9-0, Bronx, N.Y. fighting Jackie Trivilino, 8(1)-4-2 of Plattsburgh, NY.

Light welterweight “Rockin” Ryan Belasco, 16(3)-5-3 is slated to fight Tyrell “Da Show Shocka” Samuel, 14(6)-4-1, of Baltimore, Md.

Also on the undercard is crowd favorite super middleweight “Mighty” Mike Tiberi, 19(7)-1, of Townsend, Del., who won his first belt, the WBF Intercontinental Championship Title, at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino on February 24.

Former amateur star and always a crowd pleaser, super featherweight Omar “Super O” Douglas, 4(3)-0, of Wilmington, Del., fights for the fourth time at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino. Undefeated light heavyweight Anthony “Caputo” Smith, 13(10)-0, of Kennett Square, Pa., is still waiting for a worthy opponent.

The first bout will begin at 7:30 p.m. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Will call will be open from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. Visit doverdowns.com for updates. Event, times and card are subject to change or cancellation without notice. For media credentials and interview or photo requests, please contact Lisa Butler at lbutler@doverdowns.com.

Chicago promoter brings pro boxing back to Lowell, MA

LOWELL, MA (April 26, 2012) — Professional boxing returns to Lowell, Massachusetts – home of “Irish” Micky Ward and Dicky Eklund – for the first time in seven years, on Wednesday night, May 9 at Lowell Memorial Auditorium.

Local fan favorites “Irish” Joe McCreedy and Sean Eklund, whose uncles are Micky and Dicky, will fight in front of their hometown fans for the first time as pros on the “Homecoming” card, and former world champion “Vicious” Vivian Harris will be making his Bay State debut.

“Homecoming” is presented by Chicago Fight Clubs Promotion (“CFC Promotion”). “We signed Joey and Sean and they both fought on our last show in Burbank, Illinois (Oct. 7),” CFC Promotion president Cynthia Tolaymat explained why a Chicago promoter is doing a show in Massachusetts. “The two fighters and Dicky Eklund spoke to me and my husband, Wasfi Tolaymat, who now manages Joey and Sean, about the possibility of doing a show in Lowell. We liked the idea of Joey and Sean featured on a show in their hometown. I have faith in them and their legendary trainers, Micky and Dicky. Lowell may be a small city but it has so many GOOD boxing fans. We have been welcomed with open arms in Lowell. We’re looking forward to the May 9th show and it being the first of many there for CFC Promotion. “

The popular McCreedy (13-5-2, 6 KOs) takes on Benjamin “El Trapicha” Diaz (11-6-2, 8 KOs) in the 10-round main event for the vacant United States Boxing Organization (“USBO”) super middleweight title. McCreedy is trained by Dicky Eklund at Micky Ward’s gym in nearby Chelmsford. Eklund (10-4, 2 KOs), trained by Ward, faces light welterweight James Ventry in an eight-round bout.

Harris (29-7-2, 19 KOs), a Guyana native fighting out of Brooklyn, squares-off against Jermaine “Too Sweet” White (17-4, 9 KOs) in the 10-round co-feature for the vacant USBO welterweight title. In 2002, Harris captured the World Boxing Association (“WBA) light welterweight championship, stopping Diosbelys Hurtado the second round. Vivian successfully defended his WBA crown three times against Soulemane M’baye and Oktay Urkal twice.

Also fighting on the card is hot Chicago light welterweight prospect Antonio “Aztec God of War” Canas (6-0, 3 KOs), who faces the stiffest test of his young career in a six-round match versus Tyrone Chatman (9-1-1, 6 KOs). Also on the undercard in a pair of four-round bouts is pro-debuting welterweight Jimmy Smith, of Portland (ME), vs. Rafael Vasinmo, of Lawrence (MA); pro-debuting middleweight Bernie Ongewe, of Dracut (MA) vs. Anthony Jones (0-0-1). Smith is a former New England Golden Gloves Tournament winner who served two tours in Iraq as a U.S. Marine. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Harris and Canas are handled by CFC Promotion, which also promotes IBF International light welterweight champion Albert “Tornado” Mensah, who successfully defended his title against Michael Katsidis, as well as world middleweight title challenger Osumanu Adama.

Tickets, reasonably priced at $25.00, $40.00 and $75.00, may be purchased by calling 978.761.8374 or at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium box office. Doors open at 6 PM/ET, first both scheduled for 7:00 PM/ET. Go to www.cfcpromotion.com or www.irishjoemccreedy.com for additional information.