Garrett Wilson Returns Feb 25 at Ballys

Atlantic City, NJ—USBA cruiserweight champion Garrett Wilson returns to action when he takes on fellow-Philadelphian Pedro Martinez in a scheduled eight-round contest on Saturday evening, Feb. 25, in the Grand Ballroom at Bally’s Atlantic City. First fight is 7.30 pm.

Topping the seven-bout card is a scheduled 10-round welterweight contest between undefeatedRonald Cruz, of Bethlehem, PA, and hard-hitting Allen Conyers, of The Bronx, NY.

Wilson, 29, is back at Bally’s for the first time since his last-minute, come-from-behind one-punch knockout over game challenger Chuck Mussachio, of Wildwood, NJ. That 12th-round knockout came in Wilson’s first defense of his USBA cruiserweight title.

He had won the vacant title April 23 at Caesar’s Atlantic City when he pounded out a unanimous 12-round decision over former world-title challenger Omar Sheika, of Paterson, NJ. A pro less than four years, Wilson is 11-5-1, 5 K0s. He is ranked No. 9 in the world by the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and No. 24 by the World Boxing Council (WBC).

Martinez, 28, asked for this assignment, despite his deceiving record of 6-4, 3 K0s. In his last fight Aug. 13 at Bally’s, Martinez avenged a previous setback by turning the tables on Elvin Sanchez, of Paterson, NJ, and winning on points.

The win over Sanchez was Martinez’ only previous fight at Bally’s. Wilson is 3-0 there.

Style-wise, this should be an excellent fight to watch. Neither man is big on defense and both men like to walk forward and slug it out.

Wilson is managed and trained by Rodney Rice. Martinez (left) is managed and trained by Mike Plebani.

In a six-round contest, middleweight Fred Jenkins, Jr., of Philadelphia, PA, takes on Alando Swain, of Trenton,

NJ. Jenkins is 4-0, 2 K0s, while Swain is 4-1, 1 K0. A six-round welterweight match features DeCarlo Perez, of Atlantic City, NJ, vs. Rafael Montalvo, of St. Clair, PA. Perez is 6-1, 2 K0s; Montalvo, 1-1, 1 K0.

Three four-rounder fights complete the card.

Tickets priced at $50 and $75 can be purchased at the offices of Peltz Boxing Promotions (215-765-0922) and all Ticketmaster outlets (800-745-3000) and online at www.peltzboxing.com and www.ticketmaster.com.

In Bethlehem, PA, tickets are available at Pronto Notary, 232 East Third Street, Bethlehem, PA 18105. The phone number is 610-419-6790. Tickets in Bethlehem, PA, also are available from Lemuel Rodriguez at 484-893-9359.