CES honoring Rocky Marciano
For
Immediate Release
Estrada-Whitaker
Headlines ESPN2 Friday Night Fights, April 4
at Twin River Event Center, RI
PROVIDENCE (March 27, 2008)
– The great Rocky Marciano will be posthumously
inducted into the CES Ring of Honor in a special
ceremony during the April 4th “Heavy Hitters”
pro boxing show, airing on ESPN2 Friday Night
Fights live from Twin River Events Center in
Lincoln, Rhode Island.
2004 U.S. Olympian Jason “Big Six”
Estrada fights former NABO/NABA/WBC Continental
Americas champion Lance “Mount”
Whitaker in the 10-round main event on “Heavy
Hitters,” promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s
Classic Entertainment, Inc. (CES).
CES president Burchfield established the CES
Ring of Honor in 2005 in order to pay respect
to inductees for their special accomplishments
and contributions to New England boxing. Charter
members were 5-time world champion Vinny “The
Pazmanian Devil” Paz, former WBA and WBC
welterweight title-holder Marlon “Magic
Man” Starling, and 3-time The Ring Fighter
of the Year (2001-2003) participant “Irish”
Micky Ward. Other CES Ring of Honor members
include former 3-time world champion “El
Gallo” Jose Antonio Rivera, Ray “Sucra”
Oliveira, world light heavyweight contender
“Iceman” John Scully, famed Connecticut
trainer Johnny Dukes, and 2008 U.S. Olympian
Demetrious “Boo Boo” Andrade.
Marciano retired unbeaten and fought 28 of his
49 pro fights in Providence, winning 24 by knockout,
and his legend lives, especially in his native
New England. “Rocky was one of the greatest
heavyweight champions of all-time,” Burchfield
said. “Providence is the boxing capital
of New England today. Fans here loved and respected
Rocky as much as he was in Brockton. We’re
thrilled that Rocky’s brother, Peter,
and other members of the Marciano family will
be attending the CES Ring of Honor induction
ceremony on April 4. It’s our way of remembering
Rocky and thanking his family for all of the
great memories he gave us.”
Burchfield is sending two of his young lions,
Estrada (11-1, 2 KOs), and unbeaten cruiserweight
sensation “Awesome” Aaron Williams
(16-0-1, 11 KOs), out into their stiffest tests
to date against the massive 6’ 8”
Whitaker (32-4-1, 27) and former NABO title-holder
Andre “Tombstone” Purlette (40-2,
35 KOs), respectively.
Estrada completed his amateur career in the
U.S. with an amazing 261-14 record. TheProvidence-native
became the first boxer to win both the U.S.
Nationals and U.S. Challenge three years (2001-2003)
in a row. “Big Six” won a unanimous
10-round decision versus former world title
challenger Charles Shufford in his last fight
on January 25. Whitaker, however, has beaten
former world champions Oleg Maskaev (KOs) and
Al “Ice” Cole, as well as previously
undefeated Robert Davis (22-0), and 2-time world
title challenger Monte Barrett.
Williams, fighting out of Las Vegas but making
Providence his second home, takes on 40-fight
winner Purlette (40-2, 35 KOs) in the 10-round
co-feature.
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Super Bowl Champion Player Zak DeOssie Special
Guest at “Heavy Hitters”
Former Brown University star football player
Zak DeOssie, who was a linebacker/special team
player last year for the Super Bowl-winning
New York Giants, will be a special guest at
“Heavy Hitters.” DeOssie will be
available to meet fans along with his father,
former NFL player Steve DeOssie, who co-owns
(with former Buffalo Bills lineman Fred Smerlas)
Fred & Steve’s Steakhouse at Twin
River.
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Power punching Providence super middleweight
Joey “KO Kid” Spina (21-1-1, 15
KOs) provides chief support on the undercard
versus TBA.
Lowell (MA) light heavyweight “Irish”
Joey McCreedy (7-1, 5 KOs) meets “Hurricane”
Henry Mayes (6-5-1, 4 KOs), while Lynn (MA)
flyweight Isander Beachamp (4-0, 1 KO) faces
pro debuting Rob Bell.
Also slated to fight against opponents to be
determined are popular undefeated Providence
light heavyweight Jarrod Tillinghast (9-0, 3
KOs), as well as Iraqi War veteran and Westfield
State College graduate, Quincy (MA) super middleweight
Chris Traietti (7-1, 4 KOs), and Providence
junior welterweight Diego Pereira (1-0, 1 KO).
All fights and fighters are subject to change.
Tickets for “Heavy Hitters” are
priced at $35.00 (ADA stage seating only), $40.00,
$50.00, (Bronze), $75.00 (Silver), $100.00 (Gold)
and $150.00 (Jimmy’s Platinum Club) and
will soon be available to purchase by calling
CES (401.724.2253/2254), going on line at www.cesboxing.com
or www.twinriver.com, at the Twin River Event
Center (100 Twin River Road, Lincoln, RI), or
any TicketMaster location. CES is accepting
ticket orders now at 401.724.2253/2254. Contact
CES (401.724.2253/2254/www.cesboxing.com) or
Twin River Events Center (877.82.RIVER/ www.twinriver.com)
for more information. Doors open at 6 PM/ET,
first bout at 7 PM/ET.
(Twin River has waived its 18+ rule for “Heavy
Hitters.” Anybody under the age of 18
must be accompanied at all times by an adult
and they must enter through the West entrance.)
