Toronto, Ontario, Canada (June 13, 2016) – Lee Baxter Promotions is proud to announce the start of a new series in Canada “World Championship Boxing: The Next Generation” kicking off Thursday, July 28 at Danforth Music Hall in Toronto, Ontario.

The series will feature up and coming fighters looking to get to the next level in the near future. Most of the boxers are from Canada but some will travel from various parts of the globe to showcase their skills.

“I’ve had the idea of doing this for awhile and am glad it’s officially coming to fruition,” said Lee Baxter. “Canada has many talented fighters hungry to make it to the next level. Unfortunately, there aren’t the same amount of opportunities here that there are elsewhere. It also took me awhile to to find the right venue and I’m glad we found it at the Danforth Music Hall here in Tornoto because it’s a great place. The goal of “World Championship Boxing: “The Next Generation” is to provide a platform for fighters that believe they can make a name for themselves and aspire to make it to the top in this sport.”

In the main event, super featherweight Alex Dilmaghani (10-1, 2 KO’s) makes his Canada debut in a ten round bout. Born in England, the 24-year-old had his first eight bouts in England before relocating to Mexico for his last three fights. In 2016, Dilmaghani moved to Canada and signed with Lee Baxter Promotions. This is his first fighter under their banner and he’s looking to make a big statement.

Lightweight Steven Wilcox of Hamilton, Ontario will fight in the eight round co-feature. With an outstanding 13-1-1 record and five wins by knockout, the slick southpaw fought for the WBC International championship in 2015, battling undefeated Mick Gadbois to a draw. The popular Wilcox has been matched tough the last few years and his lone defeat came via controversial decision.

Tim “The Irish” Cronin, 7-1-1 (2 KO’s) is scheduled to box in a six round light heavyweight contest. Since dropping his pro debut, the Etobicoke, Ontario native is undefeated in eight fights.

Junior middleweight Mayron Zeferino and heavyweights Mladen Mijas and Augistino D’Aluisio are slated to appear in four round bouts.

All opponents will be announced shortly.

Sponsored by Everlast, Vonbets, Hardknocks Boxing Club & Labatts Brewery, tickets to “World Championship Boxing: “The Next Generation are on sale now for $45, $55 and $65 by calling 416-797-3375. Doors open at 6:30 pm and the first fight is scheduled for 7:30.

Manchester, England (June 9, 2016) – Peter Fury, father and trainer of unbeaten WBO #6 rated heavyweight Hughie Fury, recently announced that his son has been suffering from acne conglobata.

Unlike regular acne, which doesn’t impact day to day living and typically is treatable with nonprescription medications, acne conglobata causes extreme fatigue, fevers and joint pain. The condition led to what Team Fury admits was a subpar performance against Fred Kassi, where he won the WBO Intercontinental belt by way of technical decision. This opened the door for critics of his progression.

Following the win over Kassi, the 21-year-old was formally diagnosed with acne conglobata by respected Dr. Ian R White. According to Dr. White, Hughie had problems for more than five years and his condition worsened since it went untreated. He’s since been placed on various medications and is improving daily.

“I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, Hughie was only at 30 percent against Kassi and he’s been battling this condition in most of his pro fights,” said Peter Fury. “Dr. White said this is the worst case of acne conglobata he’s seen in five years. Thankfully, Hughie’s improving. His stamina and overall health are way better now than it was even a few months ago. Dr. White deserves a ton of credit for that.”

On July 9, Fury risks his 20-0 record against an opponent to be named at the Manchester Arena. The bout takes place as part of the world heavyweight championship rematch between champion Tyson Fury and legendary Wladimir Klitschko. The card is one of the biggest in 2016 and a significant stage for young Hughie to showcase his talent. To ensure he performs on his grandest stage yet, Hughie’s been in an intense training camp alongside his cousin Tyson and expects a big improvement from the Kassi fight.

“I’m feeling a lot better and that has made this training camp much better for me thus far,” said Hughie Fury. “We still have a month to go before fight night and I’m waiting to find out who my opponent is. Regardless of who it is, I’m prepared for an impressive showing July 9. My team expects that I will be 100% in the near future. My plan is to fight for and win a world title in 2017.”

Hackensack, NJ (June 7, 2016) – World Bare Knuckle Boxing heavyweight champion Bobby Gunn is deeply saddened by the passing of Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson.

For the last several years, rumors were circulating of a matchup between Gunn and the backyard fighting legend turned professional fighter.

The two had discussed a match and Gunn personally challenged Kimbo after his courageous come from behind victory over Ken Shamrock in June 2015. Due to what had been said about one another publicly, Gunn thought it may be an intense meeting. Surprisingly, it was the exact opposite.

“I thought there would’ve been a lot of animosity between us since the fight had been discussed and I was pretty adamant about facing him,” said Gunn. “The truth is, and you can see it in the video on YouTube, he was a very nice man. When the cameras were off, we ended up discussing how our sons were both up and coming fighters, our families and other things. At that point, I earned more respect for him as a human being than I ever would have if we fought.”

Last night, Gunn was notified that Kimbo was admitted to the hospital and in bad shape. Shortly thereafter, multiple outlets reported he passed away at 42. As a family man first and fighter second, Gunn was devastated.

“It was very sad to read that he passed, especially at such a young age and so quickly. He has six children and a loving wife that he left behind. Once you got past the rough street fighter, Kevin Ferguson was a very nice person and everybody who met him felt the same way. I’d like to send my condolences to his friends, fans and most importantly his family.

Gunn also plans to pay respects to Kimbo and his family in the ring.

In my next fight, I’ll be defending my bare knuckle championship against Shannon Ritch. The fight is scheduled to be near his hometown of Miami, Florida and I’ll be dedicating the defense to Kimbo Slice. I’d like to personally invite his family to attend the event. 305 forever.”

Baltimore, MD (June 1, 2016) – Jake Smith’s Baltimore Boxing Promotions returns to Michael’s Eighth Avenue in Glen, Burnie MD for another action packed card Thursday, June 16.

Tickets purchased in advance start at $25, reserved seats are available for $35, reserved tables for ten are $350, $50 VIP seats and $500 VIP tables for 10 are on sale now by calling 410-375-9175 or logging onto Baltimoreboxing.com. Doors open at 6:30 pm and the first fight starts at 8. All ticket holders 21 years and older are invited to the official after party at Ferndale Tavern at 7215 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd in Glen
Burnie.

In association with this exciting evening of action, Baltimore Boxing is teaming up with Baltimore-based nonprofit Unified Efforts. Founded by former Baltimore detective Debbie Ramsey four years ago, Unified Efforts is a full-service bullying prevention organization. On the 16th, Unified Efforts will speak to the crowd about anti bullying, pass out pamphlets and run a special 50/50 raffle. Their mascot, “Humble the Bee”, will also be on hand to promote the cause.

“Unified Efforts is looking forward to another great event with Baltimore Boxing,” said Ramsey. “We’re going to continue to bring awareness about bullying prevention and alternatives to violence for Baltimore’s youth. Baltimore Boxing is a leader in organized youth athletic programs that showcases how proper training, discipline and a focus on respect for others will help young men and women reach their fullest potential academically and socially. Together, we can end bullying!”

In the main event of the evening, rising prospect Stefon “Showtime” McCray of the Baltimore Boxing Gym faces 2016 Golden Gloves titlist TJ Mottinger. A standout basketball player in high school and college, McCray is already making a name for himself inside the squared circle. Mottinger, the current East Coast Champion, looks to avenge a prior loss to McCray.

The McCray-Mottinger bout is for the Maryland State Heavyweight Title and East Coast Championship.
Baltimore Boxing’s Clayton Frazier meets Elvis Banegas in a rematch. Frazier is one of the biggest ticket sellers in the area and brings a great crowd every time he fights but Banegas has plans to silence his loyal followers.

Tyrell Boyd, Justin “Psycho” Sykes, Ashton “The Goon” Sykes, Destiny Day Owens, Allen “The Hampden Hammer” Burris and young phenom Tommy Coe Jr. will all appear in separate bouts against opponents to be named.

“The 16th is guaranteed to bring excitement,” said Jake Smith. “We’ve got two highly anticipated rematches and many other quality fighters on the card. Tyrell Boyd is one of this area’s best kept secrets and Tommy Coe Jr. is one of the best young fighters around. It’s also great to be working with Deborah and Unified Efforts. They’re a great organization and it’s my pleasure to assist however I can with anti-bullying. Kids in schools across the country are being bullied and it needs to stop immediately. Everybody who comes out on the 16th are not just supporting the fighters, they’re helping the anti-bullying movement that can literally save lives.”

Fort Myers, FL (May 24, 2016) – Welterweight Bryant “Goodfella” Perrella of Fort Myers, FL faces his toughest foe to date when he challenges Washington, DC’s David “Day Day” Grayton Saturday, June 4.

The anticipated ten round match up between unbeaten southpaws takes place at the Bell Centre in Montreal as part of a Premier Boxing Champions card on ESPN.

Both Perrella, 13-0 (12 KO’s), and Grayton, 14-0 (10 KO’s), were heralded amateurs that have been dominant thus far in the paid ranks. As is typically the case when two noteworthy prospects meet, the winner moves a step closer to contention while the fighter who falls short often has to climb back up the mountain.

With Grayton undefeated in his own right and also very hungry to advance his career by emerging victorious, Perrella’s taken his training to new heights. The 27-year-old has traveled throughout the Sunshine State for quality sparring and is strengthening his body by doing regular aquatic training. This has helped him remove weight properly so there won’t be any surprises on the scale. To further assist, Perrella hired a private chef to ensure he’s refueling his body properly.

Overall, Perrella’s team is confident about the match up against Grayton and believes the hard work in the gym is an integral part why Bryant will have his hand raised June 4.

“Camp has been great,” said Perrella’s trainer Michael Nowling. “Bryant is treating this camp like we’re preparing for a world title fight. Most importantly, he’s got a calm demeanor and clear head with no distractions whatsoever. He is not nervous about the fight or overly anxious. A lot of guys may feel overwhelmed since this a win in a fight like this likely gets the winner to the next level but not Bryant. He’s been a true professional in the gym since day one and seeing him kick it up a notch further solidifies my confidence that June 4 will be the night he puts the boxing world on notice.”

Tickets are available by going to http://www.evenko.ca/html/tickets/boxe-jun2016/index_en.html and the bout will air at 11 pm ET/8 PM PT.

Baltimore, MD (May 18, 2016) – Baltimore Boxing middleweight prospect “Dangerous” Donald Wallace is slated to make his pro debut against fellow newcomer Brian Straus in a four round match up Saturday evening at the ABC Sports Complex in Springfield, VA.

In the last year, Wallace went from a virtual unknown to a respected up and comer in the notoriously tough Baltimore-Maryland-DC region. A participant in the 2016 Olympic Qualifiers, Wallace exceeded expectations but ultimately came up short after dropping a debatable decision to well-regarded Sharif Rahman.

Since the defeat to Rahman, Wallace has been fighting with a chip on his shoulder and the kind of hunger necessary to make it in a sport brutal as boxing. Now that his brief but successful amateur career is behind him, Wallace is focused on his future in the paid ranks.

“I’m excited and have been working on getting my weight down,” said Wallace. “My last few amateur fights I fought too heavy but that’s no longer an issue. I’ve already had experience boxing without the headgear during the Olympic Qualifiers so I’m not worried about that aspect. I actually like that the gloves are smaller in the pros because I’m looking for a knockout or stoppage in the first round to enter the pros in style!”

Jake Smith, Wallace’s manager and trainer, has been involved in the fight game for more than three decades and is a firm believer in him.

“Donald came to me with no experience but the desire to learn and improve. He is an incredibly hard worker and has come very far in a short period of time. I believe his work ethic alone will take him places in this sport and I’m looking forward to Saturday night.”

Tickets are available by calling 410-375-9175.

Fans can interact with Donald on Twitter @Wallytbe and for more information on Baltimore Boxing, visit Baltimoreboxing.com.

Manchester, Lancashire, UK (May 16, 2016) – Fast rising heavyweight Hughie Fury has been ranked #6 in the world by the World Boxing Organization (WBO).

Fury captured the WBO’s Intercontinental belt April 30 via 7th round technical decision over awkward Fred Kassi. At 21 years old, Fury has a perfect 20-0 professional ledger and stopped ten of his opponents. During the last fifteen months, Fury’s passed multiple tough tests having outpointed noteworthy fighters in Andriy Rudenko, George Arias, Dominick Guinn and Kassi.

On July 9, Fury looks to shine on his biggest stage yet when he faces an opponent to be named in a ten or twelve round fight. The fight will appear on the undercard of the world heavyweight championship showdown between champion Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko at the Manchester Arena.

Hungry but humble, Fury is very pleased with his world ranking and plans to win the WBO world championship.

“I’m overwhelmed that the WBO has me listed in the top six in the world,” said Fury. “I’m a loyal person and will repay the WBO by winning their world title just like my cousin Tyson.”
Even with his notable success and high praise throughout the boxing world, Fury’s been battling a grueling opponent out of the ring that has prevented him from being 100 percent.

According to Dr. Ian R. White, Fury’s suffering from acne conglobata which could result in malaise, fluctuating fevers and joint pain. The condition has to be treated aggressively with medications in order to keep his career progressing.

Thankfully, he’s responding well and things are looking up.
“I’ve been dealing with fatigue and a skin problem that caused my body to breakdown. I know people in the boxing world have taken note of this and I appreciate their concern. The good news is I have been given treatment to clear my skin once and for all. I’m 21 years old and am going to show the world what I’m about in the next year and hopefully there will be another world champion in the Fury family.”

Fury’s opponent will be announced shortly.

Fans can interact with Fury on Twitter @hughiefury.

For Myers, FL (May 11, 2016) – Welterweight sensation Bryant “Goodfella” Perrella will face his toughest foe to date when he challenges fellow unbeaten southpaw David “Day-Day” Grayton Saturday, June 4 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

The Perrella-Grayton bout serves as the co-main event of a Premier Boxing Champions card televised on ESPN.

Living and fighting out of Fort Myers, FL, the heavy-handed Perrella has a stellar 13-0 professional ledger with 12 wins by knockout. Against Grayton, the 6’0 Perrella fights on TV for a third consecutive time, previously halting both Chaquib Fadli and Ramon Ayala. Prior to that, Perrella impressively stopped dangerous Patrick Boozer, ending a remarkable year and a half run where he took out three previously unbeaten fighters. As an amateur, Perrella competed in the 2012 US Olympic Trials where he defeated current rising star Regis Prograis before coming up short against Sammy Vasquez and eventual winner Errol Spence.

Hailing from talent-laden Washington, DC, Grayton is an excellent 14-0 and has ten kayos. In October 2015, Grayton bested often-avoided Martin Wright over eight rounds. Fighting under the tutelage of George Peterson, who developed Paul Williams into one of boxing’s best fighters, Grayton had an excellent amateur pedigree of his own. In 2010, he defeated the aforementioned Spence to capture National Golden Gloves title and he also won bronze at the 2012 tournament.

“I know he’s undefeated and is coming to fight but this is a big step up for him,” Perrella said of Grayton. “I expect him to try and drag me into a dog fight. Regardless of what he brings, I’m looking forward to come out on top with a great performance. I’ve fought the better opposition and have been asking for harder fights. I believe I’m an overall better fighter and on June 4 everybody will see that.”

Michael Nowling, Perrella’s head trainer, is very familiar Grayton and is equally as confident his fighter will emerge victorious.

“David Grayton is a strong and athletic southpaw that is coming to win. Regardless, he’s never fought anybody like Bryant Perrella. For some time now, I’ve wanted Bryant to step up and fight another prospect because I believe he’s better than a lot of guys out there. Against Grayton, our plan is to break him down and win in style. Doing so in a fight like this can set us apart from other prospects.”

The card is promoted by Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM) and is headlined by a bout featuring light heavyweight contender Artur Beterbiev against 2008 Argentinean Olympian Ezequiel Maderna.

Tickets will be available on Groupeyvonmichel.ca/eng/tickets.html shortly.

Biloxi, MS (May 6, 2016) – Rite Hook Promotions CEO William Hunter is not afraid to present his fighters with challenging and potential career changing opportunities. Having successfully promoted and built his boxers locally in Biloxi, Hunter is a firm believer that fighters can win anywhere under fair circumstances.

“It’s always a pleasure working with hungry fighters that aren’t scared to bite down on their mouthpiece and give it everything they’ve got whether it’s in a tune up fight or against the best in the world. There are only a handful of guys willing to take these opportunities and see that there’s a bigger picture if they win.”
Two of those men are Rite Hook’s very own Manny “Shake em’ Up” Woods and Mike “Concrete” Bissett.

Living and fighting out of St. Petersburg, FL, Woods travels to Lincoln, RI to challenge undefeated Jimmy Williams Friday, May 13 in a six round junior middleweight bout. A former football standout who received multiple NFL tryouts, Williams is 10-0-1 with 5 knockouts and fought all of his bouts in Connecticut or Rhode Island. While undefeated, Williams hasn’t fought the same level of opposition as Woods.

With a solid 15-4-1 ledger and 5 knockouts, Woods won five of his last six bouts and is fresh off a unanimous decision victory over tough Mexican Elias Espadas last month. Earlier in his career, Woods outpointed future title contender Wilky Campfort and then unbeaten Shelden Moore. With an experience advantage and recent hot streak, Hunter is confident his fighter will be the first to defeat Williams.

“First and foremost I respect Jimmy because he’s a great athlete and has been through a lot in his personal life. I think he’s a good boxer but Manny’s already been in deep waters. He knows what it’s like to have the odds stacked against him and do what he has to in order to get the W. Jimmy’s never been in this position before and I believe he’s biting off more than he can chew against Manny.“

One week later in Central Point, OR, Bissett faces highly touted Mike Wilson in a cruiserweight matchup. A two-time US amateur champion, Wilson is 13-0 with 7 victories by KO and was considered a top prospect when he came out of the amateurs. Currently doubling as a fighter and promoter, Wilson’s last five bouts took place in his native Oregon and he’s stopped his last three foes.

Born in Mississippi and based in Tampa, FL, the hard-hitting Bissett’s professional ledger reads 10-8 with 7 knockouts. He’s fought a number of notable fighters including 2012 Olympians Michael Hunter and Dominic Breazeale, rising star Stivens Bujaj and then unbeaten Milos Pantelic twice. A winner in three of his last four, Bissett’s career best victory came in 2014 when he outpointed popular contender Nicholas Iannuzzi. Much like his stalemate Woods against Williams, Bissett has the experience advantage having been in tough multiple times.

“Wilson is a very good fighter and I’ve heard about him for years. He’s done a great job of promoting himself and building the sport of boxing in Oregon. With that said, Mike Bissett has been in the ring with a number of top cruiserweights and proven his toughness. I think both him and Manny will make statements in the upcoming weeks and move onto bigger fights.”

For more information on Rite Hook Promotions, visit Ritehookpromotions.com

Manchester, Lancashire, UK (May 4, 2016) – Undefeated heavyweight sensation Hughie Fury will appear in a featured bout on the undercard of the world heavyweight championship rematch between unified champion Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko Saturday, July 9 at the Manchester Arena.

The bout will take place in front of more than 21,000 fans and be seen by millions more around the world on various television outlets.

Widely regarded as one of the best young heavyweights on the planet, the 21-year-old Fury has an outstanding 20-0 ledger with 10 wins by knockout. On April 30 in London, Fury scored a clear-cut technical decision over tricky switch hitter Fred Kassi to capture the WBO Intercontinental championship when the fight was stopped early due to an accidental clash of heads. Since turning pro in March 2013, Fury’s been matched tough and defeated the likes of Andriy Rudenko, George Arias, Dominick Guinn and the aforementioned Kassi.

Having already faced quality opponents while many young heavyweights build their records against subpar opposition, Fury’s team is looking for another tough challenge July 9.

“Hughie Fury is taking fights that no other heavyweights are taking,” said Peter Fury, his father and trainer. “Forget being built up on handpicked opponents, we’re facing guys that are here to win and give us a hard fight. He’s coming off of back to back tough fights. Look at his career so far compared to other prospects. Last year, we scored a clear win over Andriy Rudenko, who was 25-1 and his only defeat came via controversial decision to current heavyweight champion Lucas Browne. That will give you an idea where he’s at and I believe he’s the next force in the heavyweight division.”

Fury’s opponent will be announced shortly and the bout will be scheduled for either ten or twelve rounds.

Hackensack, NJ (May 3, 2016) – Undefeated middleweight Bobby Gunn Jr. and debuting cruiserweight Henry Stewart, both of Hackensack, NJ, scored victories last Saturday at the Tyndall Armory in Indianapolis, IN.

Coming off more than a year layoff, Gunn Jr. met hardcore veteran Guy Packer. Gunn Jr., who was regularly in the gym during the layoff, was the sharper fighter. Packer, a 20 year pro that fought the likes of Cornelius Bundrage, Michael Oliveira, Dominique Dalton, J’Leon Love, Vernon Paris & Joe Greene among others, looked to use his experience against his 19-year-old foe. Gunn Jr. boxed well however, the bout was halted on multiple occasions due to issues with the ring and canvas. In the fourth and final round with Gunn Jr. hoping to close the show, there was yet another issue with the ring and the bout was sent to the scorecards early.

Scores were 39-37 twice and a head-scratching 38-38.

Gunn Jr is now 6-0 with 4 wins by knockout.

Stewart, a cousin of the Gunn Family, made his professional debut one to remember by destroying Darrel Sohm in 25 seconds. A hard hook followed by a straight right put Sohm down and showed the boxing world that the 21-year-old Stewart enters the paid ranks with heavy hands.

“I’m very proud of my guys,” said Bobby Gunn Sr., a former IBA cruiserweight champion and Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Famer who manages and trains both fighters. “Little Bobby was working hard in the gym during the layoff and was fine tuning a number of things. He also grew into his body and is now a solid middleweight. Henry on the other hand is a good sleeper prospect. He’s has excellent power in both hands and will continue to improve in all aspects.”

The next bouts for Gunn Jr. and Stewart will be announced shortly.

Bayamon, PR (April 29, 2016) – 122 pound powerhouse Luis “Orlandito” Del Valle looks to continue his march towards the top of his division when he faces hard hitting Thomas “KO” Snow in an eight round bout Friday, May 13 at the D.C. Armory.

The fight will air live on BET at 10 PM ET.

Living and fighting out of Bayamon, PR, Del Valle’s professional record is 21-2 with 16 wins coming by way of knockout. A former NABA featherweight titlist, Del Valle destroyed Josh Crespo inside of two rounds April 9 in New Hampshire. Against Snow, Del Valle will look for his fourth straight win by stoppage.

Hailing from Capitol Heights, MD, which is 30 minutes from the nation’s capital, Snow enters the ring with an impressive 18-2 ledger and 12 victories via knockout. A winner in eight of his last nine, Snow looks to put the boxing world on notice with a victory in front of his friends and family on the 13th.

“This is my second straight fight against a confident opponent close to their hometown,” Del Valle said from his training camp in Puerto Rico. “Fights like these add fuel to my fire because knocking out Thomas Snow in DC makes a bigger statement than doing it anywhere else.”

Del Valle also thinks a victory over Snow in front of a worldwide audience on BET will play a big role in moving him up the rankings.

“I really believe this fight is going to get me back where I need to be. Fighting on TV is very important at this stage of my career and I’d like to thank Roc Nation for this great opportunity. I also want to thank Thomas Snow for stepping up to the plate, even though he’s going to regret it afterwards!”

Promoted by Roc Nation as part of their “Throne Boxing” series, the card is headlined by a ten round bout featuring rising star Dusty Harrison against contender Mike Dallas.

Tickets are on sale now by going to Ticketmaster.com/event/15005069CFC435E1.

New York, NY (April 15, 2016) – WBC USNBC junior middleweight champion Boyd “Rainmaker” Melson is remaining busy outside of the squared circle raising funds, speaking to various groups and helping multiple causes.

Last month, Melson spearheaded a fundraiser at SPiN NYC that netted $5,000. To help fundraising efforts, Melson literally let anybody who donated $50 or more at the event get in the ring with him for three minutes and throw punches at him. The funds were split 50/50 between Team Fight to Walk an BOXER INC. Melson recently joined the Board of Directors for BOXER INC. which is a NYC based nonprofit founded by Melson’s close friend and former amateur boxer Mustafa Abullah. BOXER INC. is a mentorship program through the use of boxing to help develop leadership, discipline and offer exercise to youth at inner-city schools in New York City. Academy Award Winner Susan Sarandon, a part owner of SPiN, helped promote the event on social media and personally expressed her interest in running a second fundraiser this fall.

Less than 24 hours after the SPiN event, Melson was a special guest speaker at the United Spinal Association Connecticut Chapter’s annual gala. The Connecticut Chapter honored Melson’s speaking at their gala by donating $2500 to Team Fight to Walk.

On Tuesday, April 12, Melson, a 2003 West Point grad, headed to the the army base of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. During his time at Fort Bragg, he spoke to Delta Company, 3rd Military Information Support Battalion (Airborne). This Battalion is a PSYOP (Psychological Operations) Battalion in the US Special Operations Command that directly supports the United States Army Special Forces. At the end of Melson’s speech to Delta Company, he was asked to return two more times this year.

This request involves Melson, an Army Reserve Captain himself, returning in July to deliver a speech to the entire 3rd Military Information Support Battalion followed by a speech to the United States Special Operations Command Care Coalition in the fall. The Care Coalition was formed to offer support to Armed Forces members that served in the Navy Seals, Delta Force, Special Forces, or Ranger Battalion, and were injured in combat now facing physical disabilities.

In the last few months, the “Rainmaker” has voluntarily offered his time addressing youth of all ages at multiple tri-state area elementary, middle and high schools as well as delivering a pre-game pep talk to the Johns Hopkins University Women’s Basketball Team prior to their game. Melson, upon invitation, attended the Jewish Youth Organization BBYO’s (B’nai B’rith) annual event in Baltimore. He was partnered with former NFL Quarterback Jay Fiedler as they both took turns sharing their individual journeys as Jewish professional athletes with a few hundred Jewish high school aged teens.

Four days after visiting Fort Bragg, Melson will be in Aston, Pennsylvania for a three day Spinal Cord Injury and Concussion forum. The event features a special exhibition hockey game featuring many former NHL players and other notables helping raise money for both of these physical challenges. The event is sponsored by Johnson&Johnson, a company Melson once worked for. During this event, Melson will speak on Spinal Cord Injuries and perform a ceremonial puck drop to kick the game off.

“The universe continues to conspire. When you follow what is in your heart with divine love, I believe that the universe submits. When this submission takes place allowing its elements to conspire, what is beating in your heart with divine love becomes a tangible space. I just have to keep moving forward with the same type of stamina I needed inside the ring. I can’t get tired. This fight has many rounds to it. Our FDA Approval to begin conducting this study is less than a year out- that round is almost here!

Salem, NH (April 10, 2016) – Super bantamweight contender Luis “Orlandito” Del Valle of Bayamon, PR scored a dominant second round stoppage over local favorite Josh Crespo Saturday, April 9 at Rockingham Park in Salem, NH.

With a standing room only crowd on hand, Del Valle pressured Crespo early in the opening round and found a home for right hands. In the second, Del Valle continued to connect with clean shots including a perfectly placed hard overhand right to Crespo’s temple that sent him crashing to the canvas. The game Crespo got up and immediately stumbled back to the canvas but incredibly made it back to his feet before the count of 10. Seconds later, Del Valle swarmed his badly hurt foe and landed a number of punches until Crespo’s corner threw in the towel at 2:17.

“I knew early in the first round that I was the stronger fighter and would be able to hurt him with my punches,” Del Valle said after improving his record to 21-2 with 16 KO’s. “I give him all the credit in the world for stepping up to fight me and having tremendous heart. I thought the referee was going to stop it because I’ve never seen a fighter get knocked down, stand up, fall again then get back up in less than ten seconds.”

Del Valle who scored his third consecutive stoppage since losing a controversial decision to Luis Rosa, is confident that he’ll land another bout against a top fighter in the very near future.

“I did what I had to do last night and it’s onto bigger and better things. In my mind, Darchinyan is the only fighter to defeat me and I’ve grown a lot since then. There are many great fighters at 122 pounds that I’d love to get in the ring with and I’m confident it will happen soon.”

Del Valle’s next bout is scheduled to be televised and formal details will follow shortly.

Fans can interact with Del Valle on Twitter @Orlanditoboxing or Facebook.com/Orlandito-Del-Valle-111406195543360.

Baltimore, MD (April 6, 2016) – Jake Smith’s Baltimore Boxing Promotions will once again take over Michael’s Eighth Avenue Thursday, May 5 in Glen Burnie, MD.

The card will serve as a tribute to Murray “Bushwacker” Smith Sr., the father of Baltimore Boxing’s Jake Smith. Smith Sr., a well-known figure in the Baltimore area for decades, was a longtime event promoter who lost his battle with Melanoma in 2013.

Tickets purchased in advance start at $25, reserved seats are $35, reserved tables for ten are $350, $50 VIP seats and $500 VIP tables of 10 can be purchased by calling 410-375-9175. Doors open at 6:30 pm and the fights begin at 8.

Topping the card will be a showdown between local star Joey “Bazooka Joe” Veazy and Andre Harris of Pasadena, MD. Fighting out of the Baltimore Boxing Club, Veazy won numerous titles since his earliest days in the sport and is one of the top prospects in the talent-rich DC-Maryland-Virginia area. A big ticket seller, a legion of “Bazooka Joe” supporters come out every time he fights.

Veazy and Harris meet for the East Coast 154 pound championship in what will be Veazy’s final amateur bout.

Tyrell Boyd of the Upton Boxing Club meets Genc Pllana for the East Coast middleweight title. Boyd is a former champion and looks to recapture the crown while Pllana is fresh off an upset win over well regarded Donald Wallace.

Popular Clayton Frazier and former Stevenson University basketball standout Stefon McCray are slated to appear on the card against opponents to be announced. Additional bouts will be added shortly.

“Joey’s been representing the Baltimore Boxing Club and training there for a while now,” said Smith, who is also the owner and head trainer at Baltimore Boxing Gym. “We’ve had great success during his amateur career but I’m looking forward to turning him pro in the immediate future. On the 5th, fans will not only get to see Veazy fight for a title in his last amateur match but also a middleweight championship fight between Tyrell Boy and Genc Pllana. Pllana surprised all of us by beating Donald Wallace last time out and Boyd wants his title back. We’ve also got Clayton Frazier and Stefon McCray competing plus additional fan friendly bouts to be added.”

St. Petersburg, FL (April 3, 2016) – Jacksonville, FL’s Juan Aguirre spoiled what was expected to be a homecoming for popular junior middleweight Ali Tareh Saturday, April 1 at the Bayfront Hilton in his hometown of St. Petersburg, FL.

Headlining Mad Integrity Fight Sports’ “Bombs Away 5” the main event boxers entered the ring for their eight round junior middleweight fight to a standing room only crowd, which packed the venue prior to the start of the first fight. A big ticket seller who had a large group of supporters on hand, Tareh took his time in the early going. Aguirre, a pressure fighter, looked to close the gap and connect with a hard shot upstairs. With seconds remaining in the opening stanza, Aguirre saw an opening and unleashed a devastating left left hook that knocked Tareh out cold at 2:59.

Aguirre is now 7-17-1 with 1 knockout. Tareh, who received a standing ovation upon returning to his feet, slides to 13-12-5 with 6 wins by knockout.

The six round co-featured bout marked the return of highly touted featherweight Jose “Lil Pacquiao” Resendez of Bradenton, FL. Coming off a year and a half layoff, Resendez met once-beaten Raul Chirino of Miami. A spitting image of a right handed Manny Pacquiao physically and stylistically, Resendez went to work from the opening bell. Resendez dominated the action with blazing fast combinations to the body and head before dropping Chirino towards the end of the first.

Resendez went back to work in the second and hurt his foe again but the game Chirino hung in tough and landed some counter shots against the ultra-aggressive Resendez. Smelling the blood from the damaged he’d done in the prior two rounds, Resendez continued to aggressively attack Chirino with hard combinations. Resendez was credited with his second knockdown of the evening when the referee ruled the ropes kept Chirino up. Dazed from taking many clean punches, he was in no position to continue and the bout was stopped at 2:03 of the third.

Resendez, who was mobbed by picture snapping fans after the win, improves to 5-0 with 2 KO’s. Chirino is now 7-2 with 3 KO’s.

Welterweight Armando “The Gentleman” Alvarez of Miami scored a one punch knockout over Tampa’s Lee “Holliwood” Dawson in the second of their eight round bout. After dominating the first round by throwing a plethora of punches against the defensive minded Dawson, Alvarez dropped him with a hard right hand for the ten count at 1:24 of round two.

Alvarez ups his professional ledger to 9-0 with 5 knockouts while Dawson’s record slips to 2-2-4.

In what was without a doubt the fight of the night on an evening full of action, junior lightweight Michael “Choko Guillen scored a dramatic last minute stoppage of Rafael “Junito” Rivera. Guillen immediately came at Rivera winging aggressive shots to the body and head. Rivera, who recognized his opponent left himself open during the relentless attack, scored a flash knockdown with a counter left hook. Undeterred, Guillen continued to swarm Rivera at a frenetic pace in the second and third while the latter found success tagging his wide open opponent with crisp counter shots.

With the crowd on their feet in the fourth and final round, Guillen cornered Rivera and dropped him with a hard shot to the body. Rivera immediately vomited and was counted out at 2:29.

Guillen, of Edgewater, FL, is now 2-0 with 1 knockout. Tampa’s Rivera is 1-2 (1 KO).

Highly touted Cuban junior welterweight Yordan Frometa went the distance for just the second time as a pro against awkward Farkhad “Crazy Russian” Sharipov. Frometa, who now calls Miami home, was the busier fighter and showed power in both hands. Sharipov however forced him to work from bell to bell by punching from different angles while regularly switching between orthodox and southpaw.

Scores were 59-55 and 60-54 twice. Frometa’s record is now 8-0 (6 KO’s). Sharipov, of Kissimmee, FL by way of Kyrgyzstan, is 4-8 with 1 knockout.

Middleweight prospect Steed “The Stallion” Woodall of Houston, TX by way of Birmingham, UK broke down Bradenton, FL based Bolivian Juan Raya en route to a third round TKO. With world renowned Ronnie Shields in his corner Woodall thoroughly dominated with hard shots to the body and head until Raya’s corner threw in the towel at 2:40 of the third.

Woodall improves to 10-1-1 with 7 KO’s. Raya slides to 2-5 with 1 knockout.

“This was an incredible card from end to end,” said Joey Orduna of Mad Integrity Fight Sports. “The fans definitely got their monies worth and I owe a special thanks to everybody involved with the event. Fights like these are what the sport is all about and if we continue to give the fans entertainment, the interest in the sport will only grow.”

For updates on Mad Integrity Fight Sports, please visit Facebook.com/MadIntegrityFightSports

Other results:

Heavyweights: Jose Medina (2-0 Winter Haven, FL) UD4 Todd Bradley (0-2 Brandon, FL) 40-36 3X

Super Middleweights: Arnold Hill (6-10 4 KO’s St. Petersburg, FL) MD4 Rashad Jones (4-7-2 2 KO’s Selma, AL) 38-38 and 39-37 2x

Ali Tareh – 153.4 Juan Aguirre – 153
Jose Resendez – 125.2 Raul Chirino – 125.6
Armando Alvarez – 148.2 Lee Dawson – 148.6
Jose Medina – 267 Todd Bradley – 210.8
Victor Kulakovski – 151.4 Paulie Simpson – 150.2
Michael Guillen – 130.4 Rafael Rivera – 132.4
Arnold Hill – 162.8 Rashad Jones – 164.2*
Yordan Frometa – 142 Farkhad Sharpiov – 141
Steed Woodall – 163.4 Juan Raya – 164.2

* Jones’ second attempt

Promoter: Mad Integrity Fight Sports

Venue: Bayfront Hilton

First Bout: 7 PM

Tickets: 813-507-5110

Bayamon, PR (April 1, 2016) – Super bantamweight contender Luis “Orlandito” Del Valle returns to the ring Saturday, April 9 to face New England titlist Josh Crespo in an eight round bout at Rockingham Park in Salem, NH.

Tickets from $35 are on sale by calling 860-982-2532 or 603-898-2311.

A blood and guts warrior who gives fans their monies worth every time he enters the squared circle, Del Valle has an outstanding 20-2 record with 15 wins by knockout. In November 2015, the Bayamon native stopped 50-plus fight veteran Jose Juan Beltran after two rounds in Comerio, Puerto Rico. Currently signed to an exclusive promotional contract with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Sports, Del Valle has his sights set on another big fight but first must conquer the task at hand.

Born and raised in New Haven, CT, Crespo is riding a wave of confidence having defeated Jorge Abiague (9-1) for the New England super bantamweight championship last November. Crespo’s professional ledger is a deceptive 6-2-3 with 2 KO’s but he’s unbeaten in his last five, facing two undefeated fighters in the process.

If victorious, Del Valle is expected to appear in a televised bout in the immediate future. While some potentially view this fight as a given for Del Valle prior to bigger and better things, the 29-year-old knows that records don’t tell the whole story and Crespo’s hunger can’t be overlooked.

“I’ve got big plans but that all goes out the window if I don’t do what I have to against Crespo,” Del Valle said from his training camp in Puerto Rico. “Anybody who really knows boxing understands that a record doesn’t determine how good a fighter is. I’ve seen Crespo before. He’s tough and willing to take on anybody which is evident by the fact that he’s facing me rather than a lesser opponent. I’m training like I’m the underdog since this fight is close to his hometown and I’ve got a lot on the line.”

Fans can interact with Del Valle on Twitter @Orlanditoboxing or via Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Orlandito-Del-Valle-111406195543360

St. Petersburg, FL (March 28, 2016) – Joey Orduna of Mad Integrity Fight Sports is proud to announce that unbeaten junior welterweight knockout artist Yordan “Cuba” Frometa and middleweight prospect Steed “The Stallion” Woodall have been added to the “Bombs Away 5” Fight Card Saturday, April 2 at the Bayfront Hilton in St. Petersburg.

A limited number tickets are still available by calling 813-507-5110. Doors open at 6:30 and the opening bell will sound at 7 pm.

Hailing from Pinar del Rio, Cuba and currently based in Miami, FL, Frometa puts his 7-0 record on the line against fellow Florida transplant Farkhad “Crazy Russian” Sharipov of Kissimmee in a six round contest. Frometa, who has six wins by knockout, captured the U-17 and junior world championships as part of Cuba’s globally renowned amateur program. The hard-hitting Frometa however faces his toughest opponent to date on the 2nd.

At 4-7 with one knockout, Sharipov doesn’t have a glossy record but has already proven he’s willing to fight anybody, anytime, anywhere. The 31-year-old has faced seven unbeaten foes including 2008 US Olympian Raynell Williams, well-regarded Semajay Thomas and Kevin Watts. The iron-chinned Sharipov has never been stopped and is a standout mixed martial artist who has a solid 15-6 professional ledger.

Born in the United Kingdom and residing in Miami, Woodall started his career 9-0-1 with six of those wins coming by knockout. In his last fight, Woodall fought on ShoBox: The New Generation for the NABF title but was stopped in the fourth round by Steve Rolls. To get back on track, Woodall’s been working hard in Houston, TX under top trainer Ronnie Shields.

Opposing Woodall will be Juan Fernando Raya of Bolivia. Raya, 2-4 (1 KO), is fighting for the third time in Florida and most recently dropped a decision to undefeated Omar Albanil in Tampa.

“I’m glad we were able to add two more quality fighters to the card,” said Orduna. “The locals were already raving about other fights on the card and now there’s even more to be excited about. Tickets are close to being sold out and there will be no better place to be than the Bayfront Hilton on April 2.

With the additions of Frometa-Sharipov and Woodall-Raya, Mad Integrity Fight Sports will have a total of ten fights. Headlining is popular Ali Tareh, 13-11-5 (6 KO’s) of Tampa against Juan Aguirre, 6-16-1, of Jacksonville in an eight round welterweight matchup as well as the much discussed featherweight fight between St. Petersburg’s Jose “Lil’ Pacquiao” Resendez, 4-0 (2 KO’s), and Miami’s Raul Chirino, 7-1 (3 KO’s), over six rounds.

Other match ups include welterweight Armando “The Gentleman” Alvarez (8-0) of Miami against Tampa’s Lee “Holliwood” Dawson (2-2-3) junior lightweight Michael Guillen (1-0) of Port Orange versus Tampa’s Rafael Rivera (1-1) and St. Petersburg welterweight Viktor Kulakovski (4-2) challenging Paulie Simpson (2-1) of Tampa. Light heavyweight “King” Kenmon Evans (2-0) of New Smyrna Beach, St. Petersburg middleweight Raynard Hill (5-10) and heavyweight Jose Medina (1-0) of Winter Haven will also appear in separate bouts.

For more information and updates, please visit Facebook.com/Madintegrityfightsports.

Winter Haven, FL (March 21, 2016) – As a young boy growing up in Puerto Rico, Jose Medina looked up to the same fighters that are forever etched in their rich boxing history.

From Felix Trinidad to Miguel Cotto and Juan Manuel Lopez, Medina had many outstanding fighters to admire. There was one major difference however. Medina was significantly larger than all of the greats that grew up on the boxing crazed island that sits 1,100 miles south of Key West.

At 6’3 260 lbs, Medina is more than 75 pounds bigger than the largest native Puerto Rican to capture a world title in Jose Torres. Those sizing up Medina before seeing him in action may question his conditioning but the 19-year-old is not just sheer bulk though. In the gym, stablemates called him “Kung Fu Panda” due to his shockingly impressive agility and nimbleness inside the squared circle.

As an amateur, Medina captured three Puerto Rican National Championships before relocating to Florida in 2015 where he captured the Florida State Police Athletic League (PAL) title along with Silver in the Paul Murphy Championships. He also quickly gained a large following, as the Orlando area has one of the largest Puerto Rican populations in the US.

However, that doesn’t mean there weren’t doubters.

“When he first came here, he never did strength training before,” said trainer Marco Fazzani. “People saw him when we first went into gyms and they thought he was a slouch because of his appearance. That until we got him in the ring and everybody realized Medina is no joke. Since he’s been training here, he grew two inches and became a lot physically stronger. We’re also working every day to improve his physique.”

On March 4, Medina made his professional debut at the A La Carte Event Pavilion in Tampa against Richard White. Admittedly nervous, Medina overcame the expected jitters that came with removing the headgear for the first time and scored a second round knockout.

Having gone through the White bout without incident, Medina is fighting for the second time in less than 30 days when he meets Todd Bradley of Brandon, FL in a four round bout as part of Mad Integrity Fight Sports’ “Bombs Away 5” Saturday, April 2 at the Bayfront Hilton in St. Petersburg, FL. As a fighter who is still developing in many aspects, Medina understands the importance of staying busy and is excited rather than nervous for his second professional fight.

“I’m very thankful to be fighting on this card,” said Medina. “We’re expecting a great turnout on April 2. I’ve seen Bradley fight before but I never give my game plan away. Most importantly, I want to give my fans great entertainment and emerge victorious.”

Promoter Joey Orduna of Mad Integrity Fight Sports, who was admittedly surprised when seeing Medina in action, is looking forward to having him on the card.

“Jose has a ton of talent and he is definitely going to be a staple in the Tampa-St Petersburg area as he develops. He’s already got a very good fan base and as a heavyweight with speed and power, the amount of people that follow him will only grow. I’m excited to see him go to work on the 2nd and believe those that haven’t seen him before are in for a treat.”

The Medina-Bradley matchup is featured on a ten bout card promoted by Mad Integrity Fight Sports at the Bayfront Hilton in St Petersburg, FL. The card includes a number of Sunshine State scraps including the main event between welterweight Ali Tareh, 13-11-5 (6 KO’s) of Tampa against Juan Aguirre, 6-16-1, of Jacksonville in an eight rounder along with the highly anticipated lightweight matchup between St. Petersburg’s Jose “Lil’ Pacquiao” Resendez, 4-0 (2 KO’s), and Raul Chirino, 7-1 (3 KO’s), out of Miami. The card features a total of ten bouts and tickets from $35 are on sale now by calling 813-507-5110.

For more information and updates, please visit Facebook.com/Madintegrityfightsports.

Seneca, MO (March 18, 2016) – On March 25, junior middleweight prospect Dillon “White Lightning” Cook will find himself in a familiar place but with a new challenge when he battles Justin DeLoach in an eight round bout on ShoBox: The New Generation at the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, OK.

Tickets for the event promoted by DiBella Entertainment and Holden Productions are $45, $55 and $75 and can be purchased by logging onto Buffalorun.com or Stubwire.com.

Unbeaten in 16 professional bouts with six wins by knockout, Cook’s fought five of his last seven matches at the Buffalo Run, winning handily each time. A member of Holden Productions’ “Four State Franchise”, the popular Cook is from nearby Seneca, MO and fought in front of sellout crowds on multiple occasions. While these are definite advantages for Cook, DeLoach comes into the ring with an impressive background.

Against DeLoach, 13-1 (7 KO’s), Cook is taking a significant step up in competition and will do so before a national audience. Hailing from Augusta, GA and based in Houston, TX, DeLoach trained alongside top fighters including IBF junior middleweight champion Jermall Charlo, undefeated Jermell Charlo, Bryan Vera and Edwin Rodriguez amongst others. Recently, Team DeLoach announced that his new chief second is former two division champion Paul Williams and highly respected George Peterson will work as an assistant.

To prepare for DeLoach, Cook’s been training out of the Heartland Boxing Gym and travels to various gyms for sparring as he anxiously waits for the opening bell on March 25.

“I’m excited for the fight but trying not to let the pressure of fighting on TV get to me,” said Cook, a former National Junior Golden Gloves titlist and six time Kansas City Golden Gloves winner. “(To specifically prepare for DeLoach) we’re working on (technique to counter) his style. DeLoach is a good fighter I’ve seen him fight a few times he’s fast and a busy fighter but I’m pretty fast myself. I expect to match his speed, if not beat it.”

Cook also acknowledges his advantages and never second guessed taking the step up in competition.

“I’m a smart fighter and can adapt well (plus the) hometown crowd is definitely a benefit. I knew we’d step (up the competition in the near future) and this is a great time for it. I’ve had 16 professional fights and am ready to show the world that I’m capable of going to the next level.”

Cook’s promoter, Tony Holden, is confident in his fighter and believes the locals will come out droves to support him.

“I’m proud to see him get a shot on a national stage. He’s a key part of the “Four State Franchise” and is a big crowd draw. He’s worked very hard and I expect him to put forth a tremendous performance. I’d like to personally thank Showtime as well for this incredible opportunity.”

The Cook-DeLoach bout opens up a quadrupleheader live on Showtime (10:30 PM ET). The card also features highly regarded junior welterweight Regis Prograis (16-0) against Aaron Herrera (29-4-1), two showdowns where somebody’s 0 must go between unbeaten welterweights Ivan Golub (10-0) and Marlon Aguas (9-0) and junior welterweights Ivan Baranchyk (9-0) vs Nicholas Givhan (16-0-1)

Tampa, FL (March 3, 2016) – Joey Orduna’s Mad Integrity Fight Sports returns to the beautiful Hilton Bayfront Hotel in St. Petersburg, FL for “Bombs Away 5: Turf Wars” Saturday, April 2.

Tickets from $35 are on sale now by calling 813-507-5110.

Returning to St. Pete’s for the first time in nearly three years, Mad Integrity Fight Sports ran two highly successful cards at the Hilton Bayfront which featured future TV fighters Amos Cowart and Clarence Booth.

Headlining the card is an eight round Sunshine State showdown between popular welterweight Ali Tareh of Tampa and Jacksonville’s Juan Aguirre. Tareh, who has fought all but three of his professional bouts in Florida, has a 13-11-5 ledger with 5 wins by knockout. The owner of Fight Fitness Center in nearby Pinellas Park, Tareh has won four of his last six bouts but is coming off a decision loss to Javier Garcia last July. Originally from Guatemala, Aguirre has a reputation for his fearlessness and incredible durability. In his most recent fight, Aguirre extended unbeaten prospect Armando Alvarez the distance while making him work from bell to bell.

Talented featherweight Jose “Lil Pacquiao” Resendez, 4-0 (2 KO’s), of Brandon, FL returns to the ring against crafty Cuban Raul Chirino, 7-1 (3 KO’s), in the highly-anticipated co-feature. A mirror image of boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, Resendez is fighting for the first time since December 2014. The Resindez-Chirino bout is scheduled for six rounds and expected to steal the show.

Undefeated Armando “The Gentleman” Alvarez, 8-0 (4 KO’s), will trek north from Miami, FL to battle Tampa’s Lee “Holliwood” Dawson a six round welterweight contest. Alvarez is a talented boxer-puncher with a loyal fan base that follows him wherever he fights while Dawson will look to make it five straight without a defeat.

In four round bouts, hard-hitting St. Petersburg based Ukrainian Victor Kulakovski (4-2) meets fellow Floridian Paulie Simpson (2-1) of Tampa in the junior middleweight division, Tampa’s Rafael Rivera (1-1) squares off against New Port Richey, FL’s Michael Guillen (1-0) in a lightweight matchup and Pensacola, FL’s Beden Laurent (2-3) challenges Miami’s Serge Cadeus (1-1) at super middleweight.

In other action, Tampa’s Christina Swanson-Campfort (3-1), Leanthony Fleming (1-1) of Lakeland, St. Petersburg’s Raynard Hill (5-10), New Smyrna Beach’s, “King” Kenmon Evans (2-0), Ruskin’s Martin Lagunas (2-0), and Justin Pauldo (6-1) of Orlando will all appear in separate bouts.

“We’re excited to be back in St. Petersburg and I’d like to thank the staff at the Bayfront for making this a reality, said Joey Orduna. “In return, we’re providing them with an outstanding local-themed fight card that everybody will definitely enjoy. I’m expecting another great crowd with fans from all across the Sunshine State come April 2nd.”

For more information and updates, please visit Facebook.com/Madintegrityfightsports.

Baltimore, MD (February 24, 2016) – Jake Smith’s Baltimore Boxing Promotions returns to Michael’s Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, MD for “Madness at Michaels” Thursday, March 10.

The card is topped by two title bouts and features some of the area’s notable rising fighters.

Tickets purchased in advance start at $25, reserved seats are $35, reserved tables for ten are $350, $50 VIP seats and $500 VIP tables of 10 can be purchased by calling 410-375-9175. Doors open at 6:30 pm and the fights begin at 8.

In the main event, fans will be treated to a heavyweight title bout when “Dangerous” Dallas Butts challenges Drew Ryan for the East Coast Super Heavyweight crown. Butts is making a quick return to the ring, having fought January 28.

Renowned Joey “Bazooka Joe” Veazy of the Baltimore Boxing Club will do battle with Travis Roberts for the East Coast Junior Middleweight belt. The wildly popular Veazy, who has been ranked both nationally and internationally, has his sights set on turning pro in the near future.

Fast rising light heavyweight Donald Wallace meets Genc Pllana. Wallace, who fights out of the Baltimore Boxing Club, was amongst the biggest surprises during the 2016 Olympic Trials and went from being virtually unknown to one of the most discussed fighters on the local scene.

In other action, Clayton Frazier challenges Joe Nolan while former basketball star Stefon McCray, Tyrell Boyd and Ernest Hall all face opponents to be announced.

“Michael’s Eighth Avenue has been great for Baltimore Boxing,” said Jake Smith. “The crowd loves coming out to Michael’s and we’re going to reward them with two title fights and a special attraction bout featuring a future star in Donald Wallace. The community’s interest in Baltimore Boxing’s events has been strong and it’s important to me that we give them a great event.”

Biloxi, MS (January 27, 2016) – Rite Hook Promotions returns to the Hard Rock Casino for an exciting night of action Saturday, February 13 in Biloxi, MS.

Dubbed as “Valentines Massacre” tickets for this ten bout card start at $20 and are on sale at Ticketmaster and the Hard Rock Casino box office. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance as Rite Hook’s May 2 show was standing room only.

Topping the card is a six round cruiserweight showdown between Biloxi’s very own Mike “Concrete” Bissett and Houston, TX’s “Rocking” Rodney Moore. A big draw locally, the 31 year old Bissett faced notables Steve Bujaj, Milos Plantelic and 2012 US Olympian Michael Hunter. In August 2014, Bissett scored a career best victory over contender Nick Ianuzzi. Known for having an iron chin, Moore’s been stopped just once in 29 fights while battling countless contenders including Randy Griffin, Richard Hall, George Khalid Jones, Quantis Graves, Andrey Fedosov and Murat Gassiev.

The co-featured bout of the evening marks the return of unbeaten middleweight Bobby “The Prodigy” Bryant of Mississippi in an eight round matchup with hardcore veteran Louis Leija. Fighting for the first time since 2012, Bryant’s 15-0 with 9 wins by knockout. A boxer since he was 9, Bryant was a standout amateur and has big expectations as a pro. Hailing from San Antonio, TX, Leija’s pro career started eight months before Bryant was born. Leija, 21-15-1 (15 KO’s), faced boxing legend Floyd Mayweather, former champions Jesus Chavez and Derrick Gainer as well as Ben Tackie, Emanuel Augustus and 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist Yudel Jhonson.

Rite Hook’s very own Manny “Shake Em’ Up” Woods, 13-4-1 (5 KO’s), travels from Tampa, FL to challenge 41 fight veteran Aaron Anderson of Tennessee in a six round junior middleweight contest. A winner in three of his last four, Woods hope to move onto bigger fights with a victory.

In separate undercard matches, unbeaten Joey Bryant of Memphis, TN, Justin Pauldo of Orlando, FL, Birmingham, AL’s Keandre Leatherwood and Atlanta, GA’s Justin Brunetti will all face opponents to be named.

“The fans are in for a real treat on the 13th,” said William Hunter of Rite Hook Promotions. “A lot of these fighters will be in TV bouts in the near future and tickets are very affordable. Last time, we had a standing room only crowd and everybody was asking about our next show. I look forward to showcasing great talent with this card and all of our future events.”

For more information, visit Ritehookpromotions.com.

Miami, OK (January 22, 2016) – Heavyweight sensation Trey Lippe-Morrison will compete in his final six round contest when he faces Thomas Hawkins in the main event of a Holden Productions card at the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, OK.

Coming from the talent laden city of Houston, TX Hawkins has a 4-1 record with one win by knockout. Although he will enter tomorrow’s fight as the underdog, he sees it as added motivation to spoil future plans for Lippe-Morrison.

“When nobody expects you to win, it puts all of the pressure on your opponent. I’ve seen film on Trey and he’s a tough kid. My trainer knew his father well and Trey is a straight forward fighter just like his dad. As long as I work on what we did in training, we expect to win!”

Perfect as a pro with ten wins all by knockout, Lippe-Morrison’s jaw-dropping power has drawn comparisons to his father. Currently training under the tutelage of Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Boxing Club, the popular Vinita, OK native has huge expectations in boxing circles but must first get past Hawkins.

“It feels good to be moving up from six to eight rounds if all goes as planned,” said Lippe-Morrison. “I don’t know much about Hawkins outside of some footage I saw on YouTube where he appeared to be a patient and smart fighter that will make you pay for mistakes. My plan is to box him and get rounds in. I never go for knockouts they just happen to come.”

“Trey is the real deal and I plan to put him in big fights within the next year,” said promoter Tony Holden. “We are going to keep stepping him up and hope to get him rounds but he continues to knock out every man in front of him. I have no doubt that Trey Lippe-Morrison is the next American heavyweight star.”

Highlighting the undercard will be Lippe-Morrison’s “Four State Franchise” stablemates in separate bouts. Along with Lippe-Morrison, the Four State Franchise has fought in front of standing room only crowds on multiple occasions.

Bartlesville, OK based welterweight Jarrett “The Legacy” Rouse will look to make it 9-0 when he squares off with Arkansas’ Juan Parra over six stanzas.

Welterweight Jesse Cook of Seneca, MO aims for his sixteenth victory but Corpus Christi, TX’s John David Charles will attempt pull off the upset and win for the second time in three bouts. Cook and Charles will do battle over six rounds.

In a six round special attraction junior middleweight bout, unbeaten Nathan Gallimore travels from Evanston, IL to put his 10-0-1 ledger on the line against 34 fight veteran Rahman Yusubov of Texas.

“The Four State Franchise continues to impress in the ring and the demand for them is unlike anything I’ve seen since I promoted Tommy Morrison,” said Holden. “All of these guys can fight and I look forward to seeing them in bigger bouts in the near future.”

New York, NY (January 22, 2016) – WBC USNBC 154 pound champion Boyd “Rainmaker” Melson will serve as a special guest speaker for Johnson & Johnson during their Veterans Leadership Council Town Hall Meeting Thursday, February 18th in Raritan, New Jersey.

A 2003 West Point graduate, Melson was personally invited to speak by retired Army Colonel and current J&J employee Irving Smith, who was Melson’s Minority Admissions Representative and mentor when he applied to West Point as a teenager. On the 18th, Melson will present to J&J employees who are part of J&J’s Veterans Leadership Council with respect to the topics of Traumatic Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury. A former standout salesman for J&J’s Ethicon Division, Melson’s success in and out of the ring is still closely monitored by J&J’s CEO and fellow West Point graduate Alex Gorsky.

“Johnson and Johnson will always exist within an independent aspect of my heart. I am overwhelmed with pride that the honor of speaking to J&J’s Veterans Leadership Council is now extended to me as I was once myself a Veteran working for J&J” said Melson.

Last week, Melson was honored at Johns Hopkins University as a military superstar. He was their guest of honor for their Men’s and Women’s basketball game, and upon personal request from the women’s basketball team’s coach, he delivered a pre-game inspirational talk to the ladies on that team.

In regard to J&J, Melson said it “it was a great place to work. They were extremely supportive of my boxing career and the mission of Team Fight to Walk. Many of J&J employees are loyal supporters that purchased tickets to see me fight. I am personally asking J&J CEO Alex Gorsky to attend this lecture on the 18th. It is very important to me that he learns how close we are towards receiving FDA Approval to conduct the clinical trial in the United States that Team Fight To Walk has worked the past 5.5 years to raise money for.”

For more information about Team Fight to Walk, please visit Teamfighttowalk.com. Tax deductible donations can be made on the website or by texting “Walk” to 20222.

New York, NY (January 11, 2016) – 2003 West Point graduate, philanthropist and WBC USNBC junior middleweight titlist Boyd “Rainmaker” Melson will be recognized as a military star prior to the Johns Hopkins men’s basketball game Saturday, January 16 at the Goldfarb Gymnasium in Baltimore, MD.

An active Army Reserve Officer who was chosen for the World Class Athlete Program (WCAP), Melson won four United States Army Championships, a gold medal at the Armed Forces Boxing Championship and was selected as an alternate for the 2008 US Olympic Team. Melson turned pro in 2010 and donated 100% of his purses towards a pending trial to help cure Chronic Spinal Cord Injuries. Overall, he’s raised more than $350,000 between his 17 professional bouts, three charity galas and other events.

On the 16th, Melson will present the game ball to officials while being escorted by Johns Hopkins’ ROTC cadets and the school will play a video at halftime titled “Still Fighting for the Cure”, which chronicles Melson’s journey to raise funds for a pending clinical trial that could impact hundreds of thousands suffering from Chronic Spinal Cord Injuries.

“There are so many brave men and women that serve or served our country, especially in that region” said Melson. “The fact they thought of me is amazing. Never in a thousand years did I anticipate being honored as a military star by one of the best colleges in the country for my efforts in the ring and with Team Fight to Walk. I believe the video will move those in attendance and have them feeling the same way I did the first time Christan told me her story. It is truly a blessing that I have been chosen for this at a time where we need all the support we can get as we move closer towards the trial taking place.”

The video can be watched by going to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4KvLQYWQ0E. Melson also partook in a candid interview with Donna Drake on CBS talk show “Live it Up” that can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbnXF6srafA.

For more information about Team Fight to Walk, please visit Teamfighttowalk

New York, NY (December 29, 2015) – Junior middleweight boxer and philanthropist Boyd “Rainmaker” Melson has been nominated for Most Inspirational by Ring Magazine.
Having dedicated most of his life during the last 13 years to help cure Chronic Spinal Cord Injuries, Melson’s selfless efforts have been chronicled by various media outlets. The visibility of the cause he fights for and organization he donates 100% of his fight purses to, Team Fight to Walk, has grown tremendously during the last few years.
The 2003 West Point graduate also helped organize three successful “Fighting for the Cure” galas and successfully lobbied New York’s powers that be to reinstate a bill that allocates a percentage of each moving violation towards Spinal Cord Injury research. Last summer, the 15-1-1 junior middleweight along with Dr. Wise Young, Dr. Patricia Morton and others met with Congressman Chaka Fattah at a briefing at the Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC to discuss clinical trials that could help hundreds of thousands suffering from Spinal Cord Injuries walk again. Word from Congress about the trial going forward is expected within 90 days.
Overall, Melson’s raised more than $350,000 for Team Fight to Walk.
“Last December the WBC honored me with their Ambassador Of Peace Award and this past July the NABF honored me with their Humanitarian Award,” said Melson, who captured the WBC USNBC title with a career best performance in May 2015. “A sport that I was forced to first partake in because of a mandatory gym class at West Point my Plebe (freshman) year along with my belief how I could use the boxing ring in order to help find a way to help people walk again has turned into this.”
“My only hope is that any human being learning of this story, especially children, internalize the following: understand your power of creating a vision, understanding what your own abilities are to achieve that vision and prepare to suffer while holding on to that vision for as long as their is air in your lungs. I believe my experience throughout this journey so far has shown again how one person can be the raindrop that creates the storm of change. What is real in our minds is real. I’m honored that Ring Magazine included me and I hope the publicity helps raise funds and awareness for Spinal Cord Injuries. Thank you to the sport I love for sharing my dream.”
To support Melson, please visit the comment section of ringtv.craveonline.com/news/407191-2015-ring-awards-finalists-for-most-inspirational or tweet @Ringmagazine. For more information about Team Fight to Walk, please visit Teamfighttowalk.com. Tax deductible donations can be made on the website or by texting “Walk” to 20222.

Oklahoma City, OK (November 18, 2015) – Undefeated middleweight Bo “Hands of War” Gibbs Jr. will face his toughest challenge to date when he faces Delray “The Rainmaker” Raines in a ten round bout Saturday, January 9 at the Firelake Arena in Shawnee, OK.

The card is promoted by HD Boxing and tickets will be available shortly on cpnboxoffice.com or by calling 405-273-1637.

A solid amateur who made it to the US Championships and National Golden Gloves, Gibbs Jr. has a perfect 14-0 record with seven wins by knockout. Having fought all of his bouts in Oklahoma, Gibbs Jr. brings a large crowd with him each time he enters the squared circle. So far, the 24-year-old Carney native has been dominant as a pro and he’s confident his string of success will continue against Raines.

“It’s a step up on the pro level but I had over 100 amateur fights and faced a lot of top guys. I know he’s fought a lot of good opponents but he’s never been in the ring with me. I plan to show him things he hasn’t seen before. I’m strong, young and I’m fast but most importantly I’m smart. I believe I can do it all in the ring. The fans will see what I’m about because I guarantee I’ll win on the 9th.”

A familiar face among locals, Delray Raines, 19-11-2 (14 KO’s), is undefeated in the Sooner State. Living and fighting out of Paris, AR, Raines made headlines by knocking out local contender Tracy Sneed and fighting to draws against former NABA kingpin George Tahdooahnippah and top rated Carson Jones. Never one to back down from a challenge, Raines has faced WBA junior middleweight champion Erislandy Lara, former titlist David Lemieux, Joe Greene, Tarvis Simms, Aaron Mitchell, Alfredo Angulo, Dominik Britsch and Ronald Hearns. Even with the aforementioned experience advantage, Raines believes Gibbs Jr. is a good fighter.

“I don’t knock anybody he’s faced and am not looking past him,” said Raines. “I don’t expect this to be an easy fight because he’s a big puncher and was a good amateur. I know his promoter has faith in him otherwise they wouldn’t be stepping him up. On another note, I’m originally from Oklahoma and I’d love to get more respect here for what I’ve done in the ring against the hometown fighters. On the 9th, I’m planning to continue my streak of success here by using my experience, reach and knowledge en route to victory.”

“This is a very interesting fight,” said Promoter Bobby Dobbs of HD Boxing. “Raines is a huge step up for Bo. He’s fought many of the world’s best and had three of his best performances here in Oklahoma. Bo is a very talented fighter and he’s won all of his fights handily. At the same time, he’s never face anybody with Delray’s experience. I give him a ton of credit for wanting to test himself. This is a tough fight for both guys and an evenly matched bout that fans will enjoy.”

In separate undercard bouts, female featherweight standout Nikki Burleson of Oklahoma City meets Tiffany Alexander, Shawnee’s very own Dennis Knifechief faces surging Californian Martin Morales and lightweight knockout artist Nico Venetis travels from Hamburg, Germany to face an opponent to be named.

Additional bouts will be announced shortly and for more information, go to hdboxing.net.

Comerio, Puerto Rico (November 15, 2015) – 122 pound contender Luis “Orlandito” Del Valle improved to 20-2 with 15 knockouts following a one-sided beatdown of 56-fight veteran Juan Jose Beltran yesterday evening at the Auditorio Municipal in Comierio, Puerto Rico.

Fighting in front of a passionate hometown crowd, Del Valle dominated from the get go, dropping his Mexican foe in the opening round then following up with an onslaught of punches. Del Valle continued to take the fight to Beltran in the second, ripping him with hard shots to the body and head. Beaten and battered, Beltran elected not to come out for the third round, sending the pro-Del Valle crowd into a frenzy.

“I went in there and did what I had to,” said Del Valle. “Beltran came into this fight over the original contract weight by a significant amount, so I had to make him pay the price because I work hard in camp. Even with the unexpected weight issue, I did what I was expected to.”

With Beltran out of his way, the Bayamon native has his sights set on the 122 pound division’s upper echelon.

“The reason I am in this sport is to be the best and fight the best. Since I’ve had a few setbacks, I know I’ve got to show the boxing world that I’m still here. For my next fight, I’d love to face anybody ranked in the top fifteen of the super bantamweight division. I have what it takes to beat these guys and get a title shot. I’ll do whatever it takes to get there!”

Fans can interact with Del Valle on Twitter @Orlanditoboxing.