Welterweight Prospect Vinny O’Brien To Appear Tonight On Friday Night At The Fights

‘Friday Night at the Fights’—Sirius XM’s number one boxing talk radio show, hosted by boxing great Gerry Cooney—announced that welterweight prospect Vinny “The Lion” O’Brien will be a guest on the show tonight at 8:15 p.m.

To listen to the show tune into Sirius 125, XM 241 at 7 p.m. Eastern.

Last Saturday at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ O’Brien made his professional debut in impressive fashion, winning by TKO following the third round. O’Brien displayed heart, determination and will and put on a action packed show for the fans.

O’Brien, who trains under the tutelage of former heavyweight knockout artist Lou Esa at Final Round Boxing and Fitness in Whippany, has already been put on the April 9 fight card of Tomasz Adamek and Kevin McBride, to take place at the Prudential Center.

“Last week I went out and did everything Lou and I trained for,” said O’Brien. “It felt great to win by TKO and give the fans a good show. Now it back to business and I have my focus on the April 9 fight.”

In the months building up to his professional debut, O’Brien has garnered much attention from boxing fans and media around the world, appearing in a video for Ring Magazine as well as countless interviews and features.

Amidst all of the media attention he has received, O’Brien has remained grounded and goes about things as usual.

“I felt like I went out there in my debut and showed all the doubters that I am the real deal, and showed all my supporters what they have been believing in,” said O’Brien. “I am excited to get back into the ring April 9, and I want to stay busy and keep winning so the whole world becomes familiar with the name Vinny O’Brien.”

Don’t miss the opportunity to listen to Vinny “The Lion” O’Brien talk about his TKO win or his upcoming fight April 9.

Friday Nights at the Fights airs live tonight at 7 p.m. Eastern on 125 Sirius, XM 241.

SUPER BANTAMWEIGHTS TEON KENNEDY, JORGE DIAZ PREPARE FOR MARCH 26 SHOWDOWN IN ATLANTIC CITY

Atlantic City, NJ—The billboards and the posters and the press releases may be promoting the HBO-televised matches featuring Yuriorkis Gamboa vs. Jorge Solis and Matt Remillard vs. Miguel Angel Garcia, but the fans who jam the 2,700-seat ballroom at Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall on Saturday evening, March 26, will be coming to see another fight which will not be part of the telecast.

It’s the scheduled 12-round contest between USBA super bantamweight champion Teon Kennedy, of Philadelphia, PA, and challenger Jorge Diaz, of New Brunswick, NJ.

Both men are undefeated and both men bring large contingents of die-hard followers.

Kennedy, 24, is 16-0-1, 7 K0s. He won the vacant USBA 122-pound title Nov. 20, 2009, when he knocked out Francisco Rodriguez, of Chicago, IL, in the 10th round at the Blue Horizon in Philadelphia.

In two subsequent fights, Kennedy outpointed Jose Angel Berranza, of Mexico City, over 12 rounds, then K0d Alex Becerra, of El Paso, TX, in 10 rounds.

A pro since 2007, Kennedy is ranked No. 3 in the world by the IBF, No. 14 by the WBA, No. 23 by the WBC. He also has beaten Lucian Gonzales, Andre Wilson and Thomas Snow.

Kennedy won the 2004 National Golden Gloves flyweight championship in Kansas City, MO. He is managed by Doc Nowicki, Jim Williams and Joe Hand, who also handle the career of unbeaten welterweight Mike Jones. Kennedy is trained by ex-pro lightweight Wade Hinnant and his brother Randy Hinnant.

Diaz, 23, is 15-0, 9 K0s. In his last fight Oct, 30 at Bally’s Atlantic City, Diaz scored a 10-round decision over Emanuel Lucero, of Mexico City, in one of the best fights of 2010 in Atlantic City.

A pro since 2007, Diaz has several impressive wins on his resume, including a sixth-round knockout over highly touted Cuban Yan Barthelemy in Madison Square Garden and an eight-round decision over previously undefeated (16-0) Mexican Alejandro Lopez in Key West, FL.

Against common foes, Diaz out-pointed Lante Addy, of Ghana, over six rounds, while Kennedy was held to a 10-round draw by Addy. Also, Diaz K0d Arthur Parker, of Lancaster, PA, in two rounds, two months after Kennedy beat Parker via four-round decision.

Diaz is managed by Pat Lynch and Sal Alessi. Lynch guided the successful career of the late Arturo Gatti. He is trained by ex-pro welterweight Joe Grier.

A swarming, all-action fighter, Diaz will put pressure on the slick-boxing Kennedy from bell-to-bell.

Kennedy has excellent defensive skills, but he is not shy about standing toe-to-toe and trading punches.

Each man is 5-foot-5 and neither man is known to back down from a good fight.

The first of seven fights begins at 8 pm.

Tickets priced at $50, $100 and $200 are on sale at the offices of Peltz Boxing Promotions (215-765-0922) and all Ticketmaster outlets (800-736-1420). They also can be purchased online at www.peltzboxing.com and www.Ticketmaster.com.

OFFICIAL UNDERCARD ANNOUNCED FOR "MARCH MAYHEM" AT THE PLATTDUETSCHE

On Thursday March 17th, St. Paddy's Day, Star Boxing, brings live professional boxing back to Long Island, when it presents, "March Mayhem" at the Plattduetsche Park Restaurant in Franklin Square, NY. Headlining the show is Huntington's popular undefeated jr. welterweight prospect Chris Algieri (10-0, 5KO's) as he takes on Philadelphia's tough Julius Edmonds (7-10). Algieri-Edmonds is scheduled for eight rounds.

Fighting in his first bout since he was shot and nearly killed last year will be the former four-time national champion, Adam "Showtime" Willett (1-1). Willett, who was the number one ranked heavyweight in the US for three consecutive years and was an alternate to the 2008 US Olympic Team, was shot once in the chest while working as a High School Security Guard and defending two of his female students who were being harassed by two older men. Willett is fighting Sharieff Hayes, who has two professional bouts under his belt as well. The bout is scheduled for four rounds in the heavyweight division.

World-rated jr. featherweight Leon Moore (27-2, 22KO's) will also see action on the card when he takes on Jason Rorie over six scheduled rounds. The WBC #3, and WBO #13 rated Moore originally hails from Ghana but now lives and trains in New York City.

Rising prospect, Issouf Kinda (9-0, 4KO's), who hails from Burkina Faso but now calls Long Island his home, will take on Jorge Ruiz in a six round jr. welterweight contest.

Also scheduled to appear on the card is the Bronx's heavy-handed, Danny "Joey" Valle (3-0, 3KO's). Valle, a former NY Golden Gloves Champion, is trained by his father Victor Valle Jr. Between Valle Jr. and his father, world renowned trainer and Danny's grandfather, Victor Valle Sr.,(now deceased) the two have been training fighters for over 100 years. Valle is scheduled to square off against New Jersey's Sidell Blocker in a four round lightweight contest.

Super Featherweight, Kamil Łaszczyk (1-0, 1KO) will also see action on the card when he takes on an opponent TBA. Łaszczyk had a decorated amateur career in his native country of Poland, amassing an impressive 110-7, which included winning six Polish national championships. Łaszczyk made his pro debut a few weeks back on March 5th, scoring a 2nd round TKO over Emil Brooks in Woodhaven, NY. Łaszczyk's bout is scheduled for four rounds.

Rounding out the card is Newark's, Joseliz Cepeda (3-1) who looks to make it four wins in a row when he takes on Corey White (1-0, 1KO) in a four round super featherweight showdown.

Tickets for "March Mayhem" are priced at $100 for Gold Ringside (first row), $75 Ringside, and $50 for General Admission. Tickets can be purchased by calling Star Boxing at 718 823-2000, or visiting www.starboxing.com. Doors open at 6:45PM with the first bout scheduled for 7:30PM. The Plattduetsche Park Restaurant is located at 1132 Hempstead Tpke, Franklin Square, NY 11010.