Lewiston, Maine (May 31, 2016) – The Androscoggin Bank Colisée has a storied history of professional boxing inside the arena’s four walls. On June 18, Russell “The Haitian Sensation” Lamour, Jr. (13-2, 6 KOs) will add the next chapter to that story when he enters the New England Fights (NEF) ring for the first time. At “NEF 24: PROMISED LAND,” Lamour will make his NEF debut in a middleweight bout against Mexican veteran Roberto “El Viejo” Valenzuela (69-71-2, 56 KOs).
“Definitely excited to be making my NEF debut,” said Lamour. “NEF does a lot of shows here in Maine, and from what I hear it’s always a packed show. So I’m looking forward being on this card. I am excited about fighting at the Colisée ’cause I can then say that I fought in the same building that Muhammad Ali fought in and also that it’s right here at home in Maine. Fighting here at home again is always a great feeling, especially when you’re fighting in front of the people that support you the most. Can’t ask for anything better than that when fighting here in your backyard.”
A native of Brooklyn, New York, Lamour entered the Portland Boxing Club shortly after graduating from Deering High School in Portland, Maine. He had a stellar amateur boxing career, finishing with a record of 79-16. Among his numerous amateur accomplishments, Lamour was a five-time New England regional Golden Gloves champion. He competed in the semi-pro World Series of Boxing (WSB) where he was the number-one ranked middleweight in the Americas.
Lamour’s success carried over to the professional ranks where he won his first 11 bouts. Over the course of that impressive run, Lamour would capture the vacant USA New England Middleweight Title with a TKO victory over Laatekwei Hammond (21-6) in Lamour’s hometown of Portland, Maine. Lamour has competed on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights before a national audience. Last month, he scored a TKO win over Borngod Washington (3-17) in Salem, New Hampshire. Lamour hopes to make it two in a row with a win over Valenzuela on June 18.
“He is a journeymen,” Lamour said of his upcoming opponent. “He’s been fighting for a while and has seen many different styles, but to me he’s just someone else that’s in my pathway that I have to beat to get to where I want to be, so I have to get him out of my way.”
Roberto Valenzuela is no stranger to Maine fight fans. He travelled from his home in Sonora, Mexico to Lewiston, Maine last fall to battle Brandon “The Cannon” Berry (11-1-1). Valenzuela would lose the bout via unanimous decision, but he impressed all in attendance with his gritty performance, roughing up Berry and cutting him above the eye in the process. Valenzuela has faced the likes of former world champions Andre Berto (31-4, 24 KOs) and Steve Forbes (35-14, 11 KOs) and current world champion Zahir Raheem (35-3, 21 KOs). He held the Mexican Pacific Coast Super Featherweight Title from 2003 to 2007.
“I am very excited to come back to Maine and fight again,” said Valenzuela through a translator. “I love New England, and I’ve fought in Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont and Rhode Island during the course of my career. I’ve also worked corners in Connecticut and been pulled over for speeding in New Hampshire, so that must count for something. The last time I was in Maine, I busted open Brandon Berry’s eye and waged a bloody war. I’m ready to do the same with Russell Lamour. I hope he’s ready too.”
NEF returns to the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine on June 18, 2016 with “NEF 24: PROMISED LAND.” Tickets for “NEF 24” start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée box office at207.783.2009 x 525.
For more information on the events and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com. In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”