"Celtic War: Lee vs. McEwan", Top Prospects Fortuna, Andrade, Kielczewski Highlight March 12 "Diamond Elite" Undercard

NEW YORK, NY (Feb. 2, 2011) – Some of the top prospects in boxing will be showcased March 12 on the hottest New England pro boxing show of the 21^st century,  “Diamond Elite,” live on HBO World Championship Boxing  from MGM Grand Arena at Foxwoods in Mashantucket, Connecticut.

World Boxing Council (“WBC”) Emeritus and The Ring Magazine middleweight champion, 2010 Fighter of the Year Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez (46-2-2, 25 KOs), takes on World Boxing Organization (“WBO”) junior middleweight champion, Sergiy “Razor” Dzinziruk (37-0, 34 KOs), in the 12-round main event for the vacant World Boxing Council Diamond middleweight title.

The chief supporting fight is “Celtic War,” pitting exciting middleweights Andy Lee of Ireland and Scotland’s Craig McEwan, in the 10-round co-feature of ethnic rivalry, potentially offering world title shot implications for the winner.

Lee (24-1, 18 KOs) will enter the ring riding a nine-fight win streak since his lone career setback to Bryan Vera in 2008. Since then, though, the Emmanuel Steward-trained Irish banger has defeated James Cook, Willie Gibbs, Michael Walker, and former world title challenger Mamadou Thiam. Lee, a 2004 Irish Olympian now living in New York City, is ranked #5 by the WBA and #14 by the WBC.

McEwan (19-0, 10 KOs) was born and raised in Edinburgh, Scotland, but he now lives in Hollywood, California where he trains with world renowned trainer Freddie Roach, who is a native New Englander. McEwan is coming off the most significant victory of his career on July 23, 2010, when he took a decision from former world title challenger Danny Perez. McEwan also holds a victory over Vera, the only man to defeat Lee as a professional. 

An array of undefeated, promising prospects round-out a loaded top-to-bottom card against opponents to soon be determined. Leading the way is explosive Dominican featherweight Javier “El Abejon” Fortuna (13-0, 10 KOs), who has the same head trainer as Martinez, Gabriel Sarmiento, in an 8-round bout. Fortuna had many people tabbing his as the next “Marvilla” after his last performance when he knocked out the previously undefeated Victor Valenzuela in a matter of minutes.

A pair of unbeaten junior middleweights with 2008 Olympian pedigrees will be in action, Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade (12-0, 8 KOs), of Providence, and Puerto Rican knockout specialist Jonathan “Montequilla” Gonzalez (11-0, 11 KOs), in separate matches.

Local favorite Ryan “The Polish Prince” Kielczewski (8-0, 2 KOs), a lightweight from Quincy, Massachusetts, fights February 9 in New York City but he is scheduled to come right back Mar. 12 for a scheduled 6-rounder at MGM Grand at Foxwoods. The 2008 National Golden Gloves Tournament runner-up has a growing legion of passionate fans in New England.

Greek heavyweight Soyna Lamonakis (3-0, 1 KO), a 4-time New York Golden Gloves champion now living in Turner Falls, Massachusetts, brings her crowd-pleasing style into the squared-circle in a 6-round match. Preparing for St. Patrick’s Day, Irish-American light heavyweight Seannie Monaghan (4-0, 3 KOs), fighting out of Long Island, puts his undefeated pro record on the line in a 4-round bout. Also fighting on the undercard in a 4-rounder is California welterweight Abraham Lopez (1-1).

“Diamond Elite: Martinez vs. Dzinziruk” will be presented by DiBella Entertainment in association with Gary Shaw Productions and Banner Promotions. Lee vs. McEwan will be presented by DiBella Entertainment in association with Golden Boy Promotions. Both bouts will be broadcast live on HBO’s World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:30pm ET / 7:30pm PT.

Tickets for “Diamond Elite: Martinez vs. Dzinziruk,” are priced at $450, $250, $125, $75, and $50 and on sale through the MGM Grand at Foxwoods box office. Tickets can be purchased online at www.mgmatfoxwood.com, by calling the MGM Grand at Foxwoods at 1-866-646-0609, or in person at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods box office. 

Toks Owoh - Journey Back To The Top Flight Begins On March 5th

TKO Box Office
Steve Goodwin for CLM Promotions
Presents
Toks Owoh vs. JJ Ojuederie
UNLEASH THE FURY
5th March 2011 @ York Hall, London

 

  

London - Wednesday, 2nd February 2011

 

Former IBF Inter-Continental Super Middleweight title challenger Toks Owoh is set to begin his second campaign for championship glory in earnest, albeit this time in the Cruiserweight division. His opponent, at the Steve Goodwin promoted ‘Unleash The Fury’ event at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London, on Saturday 5th March 2011, will be former Southern Area Light Heavyweight Champion JJ Ojuederie.

It was in 2000, after amassing a 16-1 record littered with TKO stoppages, that Toks earned the right to challenge American Glen ‘Road Warrior’ Johnson for the IBF Inter-Continental Super Middleweight Crown. Toks’ dream of a World title shot came to an abrupt end when he was stopped in the sixth round.

Johnson’s unexpected victory catapulted him to World fame and embarked him on a journey that see him move to Light Heavyweight and capture the WBO Inter-Continental light heavyweight title, before securing IBA, IBO and IBF Light Heavyweight World crowns.

Johnson became a super star and battled, and beat, such notables as Clinton Woods Antonio Tarver, Roy Jones, Daniel Judah and Yusaf Mack, whilst Toks on the other hand was left in the wilderness. No fights materialised for almost two years and when they did he had more or less been consigned to ‘journeyman’ status.

Toks did win the first of these bouts, against Mondli Mbonambi in January 2002, but then followed three bad point losses, against Valery Odin, Eric Teymour and Ryan Walls. In the final fight of his first campaign, a four rounder against Paul Bonson at the Equinox Nightclub in London, Toks secured the win and then called it a day.

In October ‘10, following a five year sabbatical, Toks made his long overdue return to the ring with a warm-up four rounder against Hastings Rasani. A tidy 39-37 points victory convinced Toks that he still had what it takes and the search for a promoter began.

His search didn’t take that long and in December 2010 promoter Steve Goodwin signed Toks. The bout against JJ Ojuederie on March 5th will be Toks' debut under the Goodwin Promotions banner and his first step back towards the top flight.

Earlier today Toks spoke briefly on his upcoming fight.  “There’s not much for me to say. It’s Leon Williams I really want but he don’t want to fight me. He knows what I am capable of, so he don’t want to fight me. JJ’s been calling me out for a long time so why not fight him.

This is my second fight back since 2005, I was # 3 in the world at one time in my career and I think I can get myself back there. I know what I can do.

I’ve been in there with some of the best fighters in the world, I’ve learned from being in with the best. JJ’s not in my league, just look at my record JJ’s never fight anyone like I fight.

It’s gonna be a good fight, with me and JJ Ojuederie it’s gonna be a good fight.”

Toks Owoh versus JJ Ojuederie is supported by a huge fourteen bout undercard featuring some of London’s best upcoming talents and includes Ultrachem TKO’s ‘Dynamo’ Daryl Setterfield against Birmingham’s Andrew ‘Paddy’ Patterson.

Three Ultrachem TKO gym mates of Daryl Setterfield are also on the show, Light Heavyweight Joel ‘El Toro’ McIntyre, Light Middleweights Nathan Weise and Brett O’Callaghan, all against yet to be named opponents.

Also appearing on the show are Rainham Super Featherweight Richard Hines, Luton Lightweight Michael ‘Chunky’ Devine, unbeaten Biggleswade Light Middleweight Jamie Boness, Minster. Kent Light Heavyweight Dan ‘Woody’ Woodgate, Woolwich Super Middleweight Eder Kurti, Waltham Abbey Light Welterweight Phil Gill and unbeaten in twelve Hackney Middleweight Wayne Alwan-Arab.

Making his first outing as a professional is Highbury Super Featherweight Charlie Kelly who is set to face the highly experienced Birmingham battler Anthony ‘Spanner’ Hanna.

Also making their pro debuts at ‘Unleash The Fury’ are Harlesden Lightweight Met Sekiraqa and former World Kick Boxing Champion, Llir Canolli from Cosavo.

Tickets for Unleash The Fury at the York Hall, Bethnal Green, London on Saturday 5th March 2011 are on sale now - priced £35 (Unreserved) or £60 (Ringside).

For tickets call: 07960 850645, book on-line at www.tkoboxoffice.com or in person at The Ultrachem TKO Gym, Gillian House, Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London E16 4SA.