Tag Archives: Donovan Dennis

John Thompson reflects on Boxcino semifinal win and looks forward towards the final on May 22

Newark, NJ (April 21, 2015)John “Apollo Kidd” Thompson has begun preparations for his May 22 Boxcino final bout against Brandon Adams. (17-1, 12 KO’s).
The fight will take place on Friday, May 22 in Corona, California and will live on ESPNFriday Night Fights.
Thompson is in Virginia, training under Kay Koroma and he is looking to win the prestigious tournament against Thompson in the 10-round bout at the Omega Products International Outdoor Arena in Corona, California.
Thompson (16-1, 5 KO’s) is coming off a 8-round split decision over previously undefeated Stanyslav Skorokhod on April 10 in Bethlehem, PA.
“I outboxed the guy,” said Thompson.  I focused on what I needed to focus on and that was using my jab.    I also focused on not to exchange and bang with him and I did a pretty good job of that.”
“As well as I fought, I do not think that was even my best win.”
Now he looks towards Adams.  Adams of Los Angeles has experience in the Boxcino finals as his only loss was to  Willie Monroe Jr. in last year’s Middleweight finals.
“I am happy to be in the finals.  This is an opportunity that will be the uprising of my career,” continued Thompson.
“Brandon is a brawler.  He will have a few weeks to come up with a strategy to beat me.”
Said Thompson’s promoter, Vito Mielnicki of GH3 Promotions, “I believe we are longer, been in tougher and the better boxer.  Brandon is a good fighter but I think he is too green.  I know he had a brief amateur career and he could be too green for John.”
GH3 Promotions features undefeated Middleweight Antoine Douglas, Super Middleweight’s Jerry Odom & Derrick Webster, undefeated Super Bantamweight Adam Lopez as well as Jr. Middleweight John Thompson, Jr., undefeated Welterweight Jerrell Harris,undefeated Super Bantamweight Qa’id Muhammad, undefeated lightweight Oscar Bonilla and Light Heavyweight Lavarn Harvell to the GH3 Promotions stable.

Boxcino 2015 Jr. Middleweight and Heavyweight semifinals to be held on Friday, April 10 at the Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem, PA

Philadelphia (March 31, 2015)–It is less than two weeks away from the semifinals of the Boxcino 2015 heavyweight and jr. middleweight tournaments that will take place on Friday night, April 10th and will be held at the Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem, PA.

 

The show will be televised live on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights with the Boxcino semifinal fights beginning at 9 PM ET.

 

All semifinal bouts are scheduled for eight rounds.

 

In the heavyweight division, Andrey Fedosov (26-3, 21 KO’s) will take on Lenroy Thomas (19-3, 8 KO’s).  Fedosov is coming off a first round pounding of Nate Heaven while Thomas won a 7-round drawbreaker over former U.S. Olympian Jason Estrada.

 

In the second semifinal, Razvan Cojanu (13-1, 7 KO’s) will take on Donovan Dennis (11-1, 9 KO’s).

 

Cojanu is coming off a 7-round drawbreaker win over Ed Fountain while Dennis stopped Steve Vukosa in 4-rounds.

 

In the jr. middleweight division, Stanyslav Skorokhod (9-0, 7 KO’s) battles John Thompson (15-1, 5 KO’s).

 

Skorokhod was very impressive in taking out Michael Moore in four rounds. Thompson took a six round unanimous decision over Ricardo Pinnel.

 

Brandon Adams (16-1, 11KO’s) battles Vito Gasparyan (15-3-5, 8 KO’s).

 

Adams stopped Alex Perez in five rounds while Gasparyan won a six-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Simeon Hardy.

 

A full undercard will be announced shortly.

 

This event starts at 7pm.  Ticket prices are $100, $75, $50.  Tickets can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com1-800-745-3000 and at the box office at the Sands Bethlehem Event Center.

For credentials, contact:  Marc Abrams at marc@banner-promotions.com

 

Follow Banner Promotions on social media for all the latest Banner and #Boxcino2015 updates:

@BannerBoxing #TeamBanner ; @Boxcino2015 #Boxcino

Facebook.com/BannerPromotions; instagram.com/BannerBoxing

Boxcino 2015 Jr. Middleweight and Heavyweight semifinals to be held on Friday, April 10 at the Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem, PA

Bethlehem, PA (February 26, 2015)–On Friday night, April 10th, a special night of boxing will commence from the Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem, PA, as the Boxcino 2015 Jr. Middleweight & Heavyweight semifinals will take place on the same evening.
The show is promoted by Arthur Pelullo’s Banner Promotions and will be broadcasted live on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2
Over the past two weeks, the quarterfinals took place in both divisions, and the match-ups on April 10 are as follows:
In the Jr. Middleweight division:
Brandon Adams (16-1, 11 KO’s) will fight Vito Gasparyan (15-3-5, 8 KO’s) whileStanyslav Skorokhod (9-0, 7 KO’s) battles John Thompson (15-1, 5 KO’s).
In the Heavyweight division:
Andrey Fedosov (26-3, 21 KO’s) will take on Lenroy Thomas (19-3, 9 KO’s) andRazvan Cojanu (13-1, 7 KO’s) squares off with Donovan Dennis (13-2, 10 KO’s).
All four Boxcino semifinal bouts are scheduled for eight rounds.
“We are very excited to be bringing the Boxcino semifinals to the Sands in Bethlehem,” said Banner Promotions President Arthur Pelullo.
“It should be a great night of boxing to determine who the finalists will be in the Jr. Middleweight and Heavyweight divisions.”

This event starts at 7pm.  Ticket prices are $100, $75, $50.  Tickets can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com1-800-745-3000 and at the box office at the Sands Event Center.

 

Follow Banner Promotions on social media for all the latest Banner and #Boxcino2015 updates:

@BannerBoxing #TeamBanner ; @Boxcino2015 #Boxcino

Facebook.com/BannerPromotions; instagram.com/BannerBoxing

Fedosov, Dennis, Thomas and Cojanu advance in Boxcino Heavyweight tournament

Fedosov, Cojanu, Dennis and Thomas
 
Verona, NY (February 22, 2015)Andrey Fedosov, Donovan Dennis, Lenroy Thomas and Razvan Cojanu all scored victories in their quarterfinal bouts in the Boxcino Heavyweight tournament at the Turning Stone Resort Casino.
The show was promoted by Banner Promotions and was broadcasted live on ESPN’sFriday Night Fights.
All Boxcino bouts were scheduled for 6 rounds.
Dennis took out previously undefeated Steve Vukosa in round four.

Dennis dominating Vukosa
Dennis was the much quicker fighter from the outset and landed hard shots on Vukosa from early on.  In round three, Dennis dropped Vukosa from a hard combination.  Vukosa was never the same as he was staggered a few more times and even looked like he had no defense as he tried to turn his back several times on Dennis until he was dropped again in the fourth round and the fight was stopped at2:52.
Dennis, 222 lbs of Davenport, Iowa is now 13-2 with 10 knockouts.  Vukosa, 218 lbs of Quincy, Massachusetts is now 10-1.
“He was a patient fighter and early on, I took what I could get,” said Dennis.  “I was working off my jab and started to connect.  I trained very hard and I had a lot more in the tank.  I was a little mad that it was stopped early.  I can’t wait to get back in the gym and work on getting better.”
Andrey Fedosov scored an emphatic 1st round stoppage over Nate Heaven
In round one, Fedosov dropped Heaven with a thudding left hook.  He sent him to the canvas for a 2nd time with a devastating three punch combination that sent Heaven to the deck for a second time and the fight was stopped at 2:53.

Fedosov knocking Heaven Down
Fedosov of Los Angeles via Russia is now 24-3 with 21 knockouts.  Heaven, 227 lbs of Ocla, FL. is now 9-2.
“Everything went as planned,” said Fedosov.  “My plan was to shorten the distance and use my power and you see what happened.”
Razvan Cojanu won a drawbreaker decision over Ed Fountain.
Fountain did his best to get inside and force that action under the ineffective jab of Cojanu.  Both guys had success on the inside during the grueling fight and the bout was even after six.
Fountain started the 7th with a nice left that split open the right eyelid of of Cojanu.  Cojanu was able to fight back and land a hard combination on the ropes and that proved to be the difference in the fight.
Cojanu, 265 lbs of Las Vegas via Romania is now 13-1.  Fountain, 236 1/2 lbs of Furguson, MO is now 10-1.

Cojanu and Fountain
“I could not see anything and I won the fight with one eye,” said Cojanu.
“Buddy McGirt told me to jab more and that could have made it easier.”
Said Fountain, “I fought hard.  The referee did not help me but I will see Razvan again after the tournament.
Lenroy Thomas opened up the Boxcino quarterfinals with a drawbreaker decision over former U.S. Olympian Jason Estrada.
Each guy traded some good shots over the first two-plus rounds.  Thomas landed a solid three punch combination in round three.  Estrada was effective when he was able to get in the straight right.
In round four, the two clashed heads and it caused a small cut on the forehead of Estrada.  The bout was competitive with each guy taking turns being the boss in short spurts.  After the sixth round, the bout was a even on the scorecards and they went to the seventh and deciding drawbreaker round.
In that extra frame, Thomas boxed well by landing quick combinations to a visibly tired Estrada and he was declared the winner by unanimous decision.
Thomas, 237 lbs of St. Petersburg, Florida is now 19-3.  Estrada, 261 lbs of Providence, Rhode Island is now 20-6.

Lenroy Thomas
“I showed that hard work pays off,” said Thomas.
“In the extra round, I had to dig deep and show my boxing skills.”
Thomas will meet Fedosov in one semifinal while Dennis will battle Cojanu.
Both semifinals will take place on Friday, April 10 at the Sands in Bethlehem, PA
Greg Jackson registered two knockdowns en route to a four round unanimous decision over Paulo Souza in a Jr, Middleweight bout.

Jackson lands a hard jab
Jackson dropped Souza in round two and then again in round four with a wicked left hook to the head.
Jackson, 150 lbs of Philadelphia won by scores of 40-34 on all cards and is now 5-1-1.  Souza, 149 lbs of Woburn, MA is now 0-6.
Guillermo Sanchez scored a 1st round stoppage over Pablo Batres in a scheduled 6-round Jr.Welterweight bout.
Sanchez landed a right hook that sent Batres down for the count at 1:44 of round one.
Sanchez, 132 lbs of Buffalo, New York is 15-14-1 with 6 knockouts.  Batres, 137 lbs of Tuscon, Arizona is 6-12-1.
Jesus Alvarez Rodriguez opened the night with a 4th-round stoppage over Bryan Abraham in a scheduled 8-round Welterweight bout.

Jesus Alvarez Rodriguez
Rodriguez scored two knockdowns in the 2nd round and seemingly hurt Abraham with every punch after.  In round four, Rodriguez landed a hard flurry in the corner and the bout was stopped at 2:48 of round four.
Rodriguez, 145 lbs of Los Mochis, Mexico is now 13-0 with 10 knockouts.  Abraham, 144 lbs of Schenectady, New York is 6-21.

Photos by Shane Sims of Banner Promotions

 

The entire Boxcino tournament is promoted by Arttie Pelullo’s Banner Promotions.
About Turning Stone Resort Casino A premier four-season, destination resort in Upstate New York, the Oneida Indian Nation’s Turning Stone Resort Casino is conveniently located about 30 miles east of Syracuse at NYS Thruway exit 33. Turning Stone was named “Most Excellent Golf Resort” in 2010 by Condé Nast Johansens. The Academy of Country Music named Turning Stone “Casino of the Year” in 2009. The resort offers world-class gaming, golf, entertainment, accommodations and spa facilities, and has earned AAA Four Diamond ratings for The Lodge, The Tower Hotel, and Wildflowers restaurant. For more information and reservations, call (315) 361-7711 or (800) 771-7711. Visit the web site at www.TurningStone.com..

Boxcino Heavyweight quarterfinal weights from Verona, NY

Verona, NY (February 19, 2015)–Weights from Friday night’s Boxcino Heavyweight quarterfinal fights at the Turning Stone Resort Casino

Donovan Dennis 222 – Steve Vukosa 218

Andrey Fedosov 220 1/2 – Nate Heaven 227

Razvan Cojanu 265 – Ed Fountain 236 1/2

Jason Estrada 261 – Lenroy Thomas 237

Greg Jackson 150 – Paulo Souza 149
Jesus Alvarez Rodriguez 145 – Bryan Abraham 144
Guillermo Sanchez 132 – TBA

Promoter: Banner Promotions
Venue: Turning Stone Resort Casino
1st Bell:  7 PM (Boxcino quarterfinals begin at 9 PM ET on ESPN 2)
Photos by Shane Sims / Banner Promotions
The entire Boxcino tournament is promoted by Banner Promotions. This Friday’sfights will be televised live on ESPN’s Friday Night fights beginning at 9 PM ET.
There will be a post fight press conference immediately following the completion of the last bout in the Cypress Room.

Tickets for the February 20th ESPN Friday Night Fights at Turning Stone are on sale now at the Turning Stone box office, in person or by calling 315.361.7469, or online at Ticketmaster. Tickets are $60 for ringside seats, $35, $25, and are subject to additional fees.

Host of the February 20th bouts, the Oneida Indian Nation’s Turning Stone Resort Casino continues to distinguish itself as a premier destination for professional sporting events, including nationally-televised boxing matches and PGA-level golf. February 20th fight will mark Turning Stone’s 14th nationally televised boxing event in less than two years, helping establish the resort as a mecca for knockout televised fights. Boxing legends Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather Jr. have promoted televised fight cards at the resort within the last year and Turning Stone has hosted televised boxing events on ESPN, Showtime, HBO, and NBC in the last two years. Located in Upstate New York, the four-season resort offers world-class entertainment and gaming, prestigious restaurants, luxury spa facilities, and award-winning accommodations.Tickets for the February 20th ESPN Friday Night Fights at Turning Stone are on sale now at the Turning Stone box office, in person or by calling315.361.7469, or online at Ticketmaster. Tickets are $60 for ringside seats, $35, $25, and are subject to additional fees. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., with the first bout scheduled for 7:00 p.m. The live ESPN telecast starts at 9pm.

Professional media requesting credentials for the February 20 fight must contact Kelly Abdo, Turning Stone Public Relations Manager at 315.366.9291 orkelly.abdo@turningstone.com.

About Turning Stone Resort Casino A premier four-season, destination resort in Upstate New York, the Oneida Indian Nation’s Turning Stone Resort Casino is conveniently located about 30 miles east of Syracuse at NYS Thruway exit 33. Turning Stone was named “Most Excellent Golf Resort” in 2010 by Condé Nast Johansens. The Academy of Country Music named Turning Stone “Casino of the Year” in 2009. The resort offers world-class gaming, golf, entertainment, accommodations and spa facilities, and has earned AAA Four Diamond ratings for The Lodge, The Tower Hotel, and Wildflowers restaurant. For more information and reservations, call (315) 361-7711 or (800) 771-7711. Visit the web site at www.TurningStone.com..

Boxcino 2015 Heavyweights by the numbers

Verona, NY (February 18, 2015)–This Friday night at the Turning Stone Resort Casino, the Boxcino 2015 Heavyweight tournament will begin with four quarterfinal bouts.
The entire Boxcino tournament is promoted by Banner Promotions. This Friday’s fights will be televised live on ESPN’s Friday Night fights beginning at 9 PM ET.
Below is a statistical breakdown of the competitors for the quarterfinal bouts.

Heavyweights

Oldest: Steve Vukosa– 37

Youngest: Ed Fountain– 26

Most Fights: Andrey Fedosov– 28

Least Fights: Vukosa, Ed Fountain & Nate Heaven– 10

Most Rounds: Jason Estrada — 177

Least Rounds: Heaven — 23

Most KO’s: Fedosov– 20

Winning %: Vukosa & Fountain– 100%

KO%: Fedosov– 71.4 %

Total Record of 8 Fighters: 114-14 (89.1%)-65 KO’s

The weigh in will be Thursday, February 19 at 5 PM in the Cypress Room.
There will be a post fight press conference immediately following the completion of the last bout in the Cypress Room.

Tickets for the February 20th ESPN Friday Night Fights at Turning Stone are on sale now at the Turning Stone box office, in person or by calling 315.361.7469, or online at Ticketmaster. Tickets are $60 for ringside seats, $35, $25, and are subject to additional fees.

Host of the February 20th bouts, the Oneida Indian Nation’s Turning Stone Resort Casino continues to distinguish itself as a premier destination for professional sporting events, including nationally-televised boxing matches and PGA-level golf. February 20th fight will mark Turning Stone’s 14th nationally televised boxing event in less than two years, helping establish the resort as a mecca for knockout televised fights. Boxing legends Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather Jr. have promoted televised fight cards at the resort within the last year and Turning Stone has hosted televised boxing events on ESPN, Showtime, HBO, and NBC in the last two years. Located in Upstate New York, the four-season resort offers world-class entertainment and gaming, prestigious restaurants, luxury spa facilities, and award-winning accommodations.Tickets for the February 20th ESPN Friday Night Fights at Turning Stone are on sale now at the Turning Stone box office, in person or by calling315.361.7469, or online at Ticketmaster. Tickets are $60 for ringside seats, $35, $25, and are subject to additional fees. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., with the first bout scheduled for 7:00 p.m. The live ESPN telecast starts at 9pm.

Professional media requesting credentials for the February 20 fight must contact Kelly Abdo, Turning Stone Public Relations Manager at 315.366.9291 orkelly.abdo@turningstone.com.

About Turning Stone Resort Casino A premier four-season, destination resort in Upstate New York, the Oneida Indian Nation’s Turning Stone Resort Casino is conveniently located about 30 miles east of Syracuse at NYS Thruway exit 33. Turning Stone was named “Most Excellent Golf Resort” in 2010 by Condé Nast Johansens. The Academy of Country Music named Turning Stone “Casino of the Year” in 2009. The resort offers world-class gaming, golf, entertainment, accommodations and spa facilities, and has earned AAA Four Diamond ratings for The Lodge, The Tower Hotel, and Wildflowers restaurant. For more information and reservations, call (315) 361-7711 or (800) 771-7711. Visit the web site at www.TurningStone.com..

Boxcino 2015 Heavyweight training camp quotes Former U.S. Olympian Jason Estrada replaces Mario Heredia

 
For Immediate Release

Verona, NY (February 17, 2015)–This Friday night at the Turning Stone Resort Casino, the Boxcino 2015 Heavyweight tournament will begin with four quarterfinal bouts.
Former U.S. Olympian, Jason “Big Six” Estrada is a replacement in the tournament for Mario Heredia who bowed out of the tournament for medical reasons.

Estrada of Providence, Rhode Island was a member of 2004 United States Olympic team and turned professional later that year.  He has solid wins over James Northey (11-1), Lance Whitaker (32-4), Moultrie Witherspoon (14-1) &  Derek Bryant (20-4-1).

Below are quotes from the competitors for the heavyweight fights this Friday.

Steve Vukosa--“Training is going great.  I have been getting extra work shoveling all the snow here in Massachusetts.   I haven’t really checked much on Donovan Dennis.  I am excited to get in the ring and am excited for this opportunity.”

vs
Donovan Dennis “Training camp is good.  I had great sparring and am in good shape.  I am ready and have been anxious for the last couple weeks.  I am ready for whatever I have to do to win the fight.”
Razvan Cojanu–“Everything has been great.  I am ready to go.  I had top sparring and it went great.  To be honest, I don’t know much about Ed Fountain other then he is a southpaw.  That doesn’t matter to me as I just go in there and do my job.”
vs.

Ed Fountain–“Training camp is pretty good. I am the underdog, and I am going to have some fun.  I hope he brings his best so I can prove myself.  I know he is a veteran.  I look forward to knocking him out and putting myself at the top of the tournament.”

Lenroy Thomas–“Training went well.  I am disappointed by the change of opponents.  I just believe in myself and my faith.  I watched some videos of Estrada, and he comes to fight.  He brings the fight.  It will be a good fight, and I will be victorious.”

Vs.

Jason Estrada–“I am a late entry, but I have been in camp.  I am in pretty good shape.  This is such a good opportunity that I could not pass it up, and I am throwing my hat in the ring.  I do not know much about my opponent.  My dad did the research.  I am just going in to fight my fight.  From my amateur background, I have seen many styles.  It is not hard because I have seen so many styles.  I can adapt and may the best man win.”

Nate Heaven–“Training is going great.  I have had lots of sparring.  I have been running, and I am in great condition mentally and physically.  I just keep charging along.  From what I have seen, he will try to put a lot of pressure.  He is aggressive and likes to go to the body.  We are just preparing for whatever he comes up with.  Training has been so well that we just want to take this from training to the ring.”
vs.

Andrey Fedosov–“I am ready to my best in this tournament! I had a great camp.”

The weigh in will be Thursday, February 19 at 5 PM in the Cypress Room.
There will be a post fight press conference immediately following the completion of the last bout in the Cypress Room.

Tickets for the February 20th ESPN Friday Night Fights at Turning Stone are on sale now at the Turning Stone box office, in person or by calling 315.361.7469, or online at Ticketmaster. Tickets are $60 for ringside seats, $35, $25, and are subject to additional fees.

Host of the February 20th bouts, the Oneida Indian Nation’s Turning Stone Resort Casino continues to distinguish itself as a premier destination for professional sporting events, including nationally-televised boxing matches and PGA-level golf. February 20th fight will mark Turning Stone’s 14th nationally televised boxing event in less than two years, helping establish the resort as a mecca for knockout televised fights. Boxing legends Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather Jr. have promoted televised fight cards at the resort within the last year and Turning Stone has hosted televised boxing events on ESPN, Showtime, HBO, and NBC in the last two years. Located in Upstate New York, the four-season resort offers world-class entertainment and gaming, prestigious restaurants, luxury spa facilities, and award-winning accommodations.Tickets for the February 20th ESPN Friday Night Fights at Turning Stone are on sale now at the Turning Stone box office, in person or by calling315.361.7469, or online at Ticketmaster. Tickets are $60 for ringside seats, $35, $25, and are subject to additional fees. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., with the first bout scheduled for 7:00 p.m. The live ESPN telecast starts at 9pm.

Professional media requesting credentials for the February 20 fight must contact Kelly Abdo, Turning Stone Public Relations Manager at 315.366.9291 orkelly.abdo@turningstone.com.

About Turning Stone Resort Casino A premier four-season, destination resort in Upstate New York, the Oneida Indian Nation’s Turning Stone Resort Casino is conveniently located about 30 miles east of Syracuse at NYS Thruway exit 33. Turning Stone was named “Most Excellent Golf Resort” in 2010 by Condé Nast Johansens. The Academy of Country Music named Turning Stone “Casino of the Year” in 2009. The resort offers world-class gaming, golf, entertainment, accommodations and spa facilities, and has earned AAA Four Diamond ratings for The Lodge, The Tower Hotel, and Wildflowers restaurant. For more information and reservations, call (315) 361-7711 or (800) 771-7711. Visit the web site at www.TurningStone.com..