By: Ken Hissner
Yes, a writer’s nightmare this Friday in Philly thanks to the Pennsylvania Boxing Commission. We can only make one!
Both promoters Manny Rivera of Hard Hitting Promotions (SugarHouse) and Marshall Kauffman of Kings Promotions (2300 Arena) held press conferences Wednesday night. At SugarHouse Casino most of the boxers on the card were at this event with approximately 100 people in attendance. The show is was sold out in three days per promoter Manny Rivera of Hard Hitting Promotions.
At SugarHouse Casino the main event has Philly heavyweight Joey “The Tank” Dawejko, 18-4-4 (11), meeting Kelvin Nunez, 15-0 (14), of Carolina, PR, over 8 rounds. “I look forward to bigger fights and feel I will be champion someday. I want to thank my manager Mark Cipparone for believing in me. My trainer Freddie Roach is in with Miguel Cotto but I feel confident about this fight and am not looking past it. I am at the crossroads of my career. This fight could put me in the WBC rankings where I belong,” said Dawejko.
The co-feature has Philly’s fast rising bantam Christian Carto, 12-0 (11), meeting Luis Fernando Saavedra, 7-3 (3), of MEX, over 8 rounds. “I want to thank the promoter Manny Rivera and matchmaker Will Ruiz and that’s about all I have to say,” said Carto. He’s a young man who lets his fists do his talking in the ring.
Philly’s Pizarro brothers were scheduled to fight but only 17 year-old lightweight Branden, 8-0 (4), will be in with Christian Rivera, 6-0 (5), of Bayamon, PR, over 6 rounds. Branden keeps asking to step up the competition and this fight should be his toughest opponent. The older brother feather Angel Jr., 3-0 (2), was scheduled to fight but his opponent failed to show.
Philly Lightweight Sam Teah, 11-1-1 (5), meets Maynard Allison, 9-2 (6), from NC, who is now living in Philly, in a 6. Philly Heavyweight making his Philly debut is former amateur champion Darmani Rock, 9-0 (5), meeting Carlos Cotto, 8-1 (5), of San Juan, PR, in a 6. This should be a fight with plenty of fireworks when the “big boy’s” start slugging it out. “It’s good to finally fight in front of my home crowd,” said Rock.
Philly’s Jeremy Cuevas, 5-0 (4), meets Jose M Castro, 5-9 (3), of Carolina, PR, in a lightweight 6. “I want to thank God and for the opportunity to fight on this card. Cuevas is a “Diamond in the rough” who has gotten little recognition and he can fight. Super featherweight Gadwin Rosa, 4-0 (3), of Ocala, FL, meets veteran Jesus Lule, 11-24-1 (8), of Ft Myers, FL, in a 4. Kurt Wolfheimer is the PR man and did a fine job MC’ing the press conference.
“I want to thank the fighters for without them this wouldn’t be possible. Please come and see old school boxing at its best. There are five fighters on this card that could be the main event. We appreciate promoter Greg Cohen for allowing us to have Joey Dawejko in the main event.
At the 2300 Arena the main event is Philly’s super welter Tyrone Brunson, 25-6-2 (23), meeting Manny Woods, 16-6-1 (6), of St. Pete’s, FL, in a 10 rounder. The co-feature is Wilmington lightweight Omar “Super O” Douglas, 17-2 (12), facing Mexican Isaias Martin Gonzales, 22-9 (14), of Tucson, AZ, in an 8.
Also from Wilmington is middleweight Kyrone “Shut It Down” Davis, 12-1 (5), meeting Jaime Barboza, 19-12 (9), of Costa Rica, 8 rounds. Super middleweights both from Philly are Brandon “Brob” Robinson, 7-1 (6), and Christopher “Ice” Brooker, 12-4 (5), which promises to possibly “steal the show”.
Possibly the best prospect in Philly Jaron “Boots” Ennis, 16-0 (14), at welterweight is a late addition and will meet knockout artist George “El Terrible Sosa” Rosa, 15-10-1 (15), of NJ. Heavyweight Joe Hanks, 21-2 (14), of Newark, NJ, takes on Joe Caudle, 7-0-1 (5), of Raleigh, NC, 8 rounds. Super bantamweight Marcus Bates, 7-0-1 (6), of DC, meets Antonio Rodriguez, 11-19-1 (5), of Durango, MEX, over 6 rounds.
In 4’s will be super bantam Romuel Cruz of Philly making his debut meeting Rondarius Hunter, 1-1 (1), of Atlanta, GA. Welter Rasheed Johnson, 2-1 (1), of Willow Grove, meets Readings, Kashon Hutchinson, 3-3 (1). Philly Super lightweight Shamsuddeen Justice, 1-0 (1), takes on Latorie Woodberry, 1-5 (0), of Roanoke, VA. Philly Lightweight Christopher Burgos, 0-1, meets Mexican Gerardo Tiburcio, 1-0 (1), of Coatesville. Heavyweight Colby Madison, 4-0-1 (3), of Owings Mill, MD, meets Randy Easton, 4-9-2 (4), of Sunbury, PA. Marc Adams is the PR man.
