Lewiston, Maine (January 5, 2016) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its next event, “NEF 21: THE IMMORTALS” on Saturday, February 6, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine. The fight card is scheduled to feature both mixed-martial-arts (MMA) and professional boxing bouts. Earlier today, NEF announced the main event of the professional boxing portion of the “NEF 21” fight card. Northeast Junior Welterweight Champion Brandon “The Cannon” Berry (10-1) will take on the undefeated Tollison Lewis (2-0) in a super welterweight contest scheduled for six rounds.
“This is a classic battle of size and strength against technique,” said NEF co-owner and promoter Nick DiSalvo. “In one corner you have a polished boxer with a solid amateur background in the form of Brandon Berry, and he will be fighting in a heavier weight class in this bout. In the other corner you have a powerful brawler with an MMA background in the form of Tollison Lewis, and he has fought most of his career at 155 and 170-pounds. You can’t script a better contrast in styles for a bout like this. Just about anything could happen. It’s anyone’s fight. It’s going to be wild in the Colisee when this one goes off.”
Berry is coming off what many consider to be the defining win of his still-young professional career over gritty Mexican veteran Roberto Valenzuela (73-70-2) last November at “NEF XX.” Despite suffering a bad cut above his eye early in the fight, Berry maintained his composure and looked sharp on his way to a unanimous decision victory in the first eight-round fight of his career. The West Forks, Maine native was a 2013 Northern New England Golden Gloves champion as an amateur. The fight with Lewis is expected to be the last Berry will compete in above his usual 140-pound junior welterweight division.
“It’s great to be getting back in action inside the ring so soon, especially after suffering such a nasty cut over my eye from my last fight in November,” said Berry. “Thank you NEF for putting yet another very tough opponent in front of me. Tollison is a class act in and out of the ring, and I think our styles will make a crowd pleasing bout. I remember being undefeated still and I know how important keeping the ‘0’ on the record is. Tollison is a big, strong athlete and I’m sure he will be more than prepared. Both him and I understand competition, and will most likely be friends after this event. I’m glad to be sharing this main event fight with him, and may the best man win!”
Tollison Lewis’s foray into the boxing world was unplanned. In October 2014, just 24-hours prior to the start of the first “NEF Boxing” event, Lewis stepped in to face boxing veteran John Webster (8-7-1) after Webster’s previous opponent fell out. NEF executives, familiar with Lewis’s striking prowess in his MMA bouts, asked Lewis to take the fight at the last minute and Lewis did not hesitate to oblige. He went on to bully Webster for four rounds, (including knocking Webster out of the ring onto the timekeeper’s table), scoring a unanimous decision victory. This past November, in yet another dominant performance in the NEF boxing ring, Lewis stopped Zenon Herrera (0-1) with a third-round TKO. A win over a boxer of Berry’s caliber, no doubt, would propel Lewis to the next level in the sport. Lewis is a member of Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (CMBJJ) in Lewiston where he trains under boxing coach Scott Frost.
“Brandon is a tough guy and a good boxer,” said Lewis. “I’m expecting a war. I’ll be bringing everything I got, and I know he will too, but I’m planning on staying undefeated. I’m not going to run my mouth. I have a lot of respect for Berry, but fans do not want to miss this. This fight will be a war and steal the night. Thank you NEF and Brandon, let’s do it man!”
New England Fights’ next event, “NEF 21: THE IMMORTALS,” takes placeSaturday, February 6, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine. Tickets for “NEF 21” start at just $25 and are on sale now atwww.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée box office at 207.783.2009 x 525. For more information on the event 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.”
About New England Fights
New England Fights (“NEF”) is a fight events promotions company. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for Maine’s fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.