מעיינות קולורדו, Lap. (פבואר 26, 2018) – One of boxing’s most beloved boxer of all-time, “אירי” מיקי וורד, and the Irishman best known for knocking out legendary מייק טייסון into retirement, קווין “The Clones Colossus” McBride, have been selected as honorary team captains, בהתאמה, of Team USA and Team Ireland for the first leg of the three-city 2018 ארה"ב לעומת. Tour איגרוף בצפון מזרח אירלנד.

The tour commences יום שני, מרץ 12, at the newly renovated Royale Entertainment Complex in Boston’s famed theater district. The Boston stop, which is being presented by Budweiser, have general admission tickets for $20.00 and a limited amount of $30.00 reserved tickets on sale and are available to purchase online here.

וורד, 52, is the pride of Lowell, מסצ'וסטס, where he is a living legend. A three-time New England Golden Gloves champion as an amateur boxer, Ward fought professionally between 1985-2003, registering a 38-13 (27 קוס) record as a junior welterweight throughout his pro career. He is best known for his epic trilogy with the late ארטורו גאטי, in which he became the first fighter with double-digit losses to earn a $1-million purse (פעמיים).

An all-action, crowed-pleasing fighter, Ward was involved in three Fight of the Year honors, the first and third of the Gatti trilogy, along with a memorable match with Emanuel Augustus. Ward was the winner in two (first Gatti and Augustus) of those classic fights.

Boston-native Mark Wahlberg portrayed Ward in, הלוחם, a movie about Micky’s life that won two Academy Awards.

“To be honorary captain of Team USA means a lot to me,” Ward said. “It’s great having elite amateur boxing back in Boston with the national teams from the United States and Ireland. It’s especially exciting for me as an Irish-American.”

The 44-year-old McBride was born in Clones, אירלנד. הוא היה חבר ב 1992 Ireland Olympic Boxing Team at the age of 19, competing in the Olympic Games in Barcelona, ספרד. Two years earlier, he represented Ireland at the European Championships and one of his teammates was בילי וולש, Team USA’s current head coach of Team USA and former chief trainer for Team Ireland.

Like other Irish boxers, McBride came to the United States to enhance his professional career, landing in the predominately Irish neighborhood of Dorchester, a working-class section Boston, back in 1999. 6′ 6″, 285-pound McBride started training in Brockton, MA with Goody Petronelli, who had trained נפלא מרווין Hagler, and later Packy Collins, the brother of another Petronelli-trained fighter, אלוף העולם Stevie Collins.

McBride fought professionally between 1992-2011, פורש עם 35-10-1 (29 קוס), highlighted by his shocking sixth-round knockout of Tyson in 2005, driving the “Baddest Man on the Planet” into ring retirement.

“I feel good about being honorary captain of Team Ireland,” remarked the still thickly Irish-brogue McBride, who still lives with his family in Dorchester. “I’m honored to be carrying the Irish flag for these fighters. I’m not sure how many of them remember me as the man who beat Tyson. I know some of the Irish coaches and I still support boxing in Ireland as well as America. I just love boxing. And it’s always a pleasure to be with my friend, מיקי וורד. He’s a good lad.”

The USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour will continue מרץ 15 במרכז MassMutual בספרינגפילד, מסה., concluding מרץ 21 at The Manchester Downtown Hotel in New Hampshire.

All the duals will begin at 7:00 p.m. EST כרטיסים יהיו זמינים לרכישה במהלך השבועות הקרובים. כל עיר תציג עד 12 קצוות, which will all be live streamed, free of charge, באתר האינטרנט של אגרוף ארה"ב (www.usaboxing.org).

Tentatively headlining Team USA’s roster in the Boston dual s 2017 מדליסט הארד באליפות העולם טרוי איסלי (אלכסנדריה, VA). Four-time 2017 international gold medalist וירג'יניה פוקס (אוֹהֶל, TX), 2016 אלוף העולם לנוער 2017 מדליסט הכסף קונטיננטל אליפות עלית, Delante ג'ונסון (קליבלנד, OH), ו 2016 מדליסט ארד נוער אליפות העולם ו 2017 אלוף הלאומי במשקל כבד סופר אגרוף ארה"ב, ריצ'רד טורז (Tulare, כגון).

Full team rosters for each city will be released closer to the start of the tour.

מרץ 12: קומפלקס בידור רויאל, בוסטון, מסה.

מרץ 15: מרכז MassMutual, ספרינגפילד, מסה.

מרץ 21: מלון Downtown מנצ'סטר, מנצ'סטר, N.H.

כל מתאגרף ואת ההתקפים כפופים לשינוי.