Tag Archives: Hinckley

Before and After: The Incredible Rebirth of Mikey ‘Baby Face’ Faragon

The incredible rebirth of Albany, New York’s Mikey “Baby Face” Faragon (19-1, 9 KOs) is complete and he will return to action in a six-rounder tonight, Friday, August 9, at a GCP and Rapacz Boxing show at the Grand Casino in Hinckley, Minnesota against Missouri’s Demetrius Wilson.


Faragon was once a super lightweight prospect touted as one of the most promising young fighters to ever come out of the Capital Region, but a severe foot injury forced him out of boxing five years ago.


During his extended recovery, which included several painful surgeries, 32-year-old Faragon fell into depression and unhealthy living and gained a great deal of weight.


With his mobility now restored, Faragon challenged himself to get back in shape and said he would fight again if he could. Pictured above, right, Faragon is back in fighting shape and, against Wilson, will be looking to gauge how much of that immense potential he still has.

Undefeated Middleweight Cem Kilic to take on Joe Amouta on Friday, August 17th in Hinckley, Minnesota

1st bout with new trainer, Buddy McGirt

Beverly Hills, Calif. (July 26, 2018) – Undefeated middleweight prospect Cem Kilic returns to action on Friday night, August 17th at the Hinckley Grand Casino in Hinckley, Minnesota against Joe Amouta in a bout scheduled for eight-rounds.

 

 

 

Kilic (10-0, 6 KOs) will be making his 3rd consecutive appearance at The Hinckley Grand Casino.

 

 

 

The native of Sherman Oaks, California by way of Frankfurt, Germany, Kilic will be making his 1st start under world-renowned trainer Buddy McGirt.

 

 

 

Amouta (7-1-1, 2 KOs) of Minneapolis, Minnesota has wins over 3 undefeated fighters plus 13-1-1, George Carter, Jr.

 

 

 

“I’m excited to get back in the ring on August 17th to one of my adopted fan bases in Minnesota,” said Kilic. “I have been training very hard, improving every facet of my craft. I am in phenomenal shape, I’m more motivated than ever and ready to show what Buddy McGirt and I have been working on in the gym, and finishing off this year with at least 3 more fights!”

 

 

 

“Training camp is going great,” said McGirt.  “This is our first camp together, and every day Cem continues to improve and learn more and more. Cem works very hard in the gym and is getting world class sparring that will make him the better fighter come fight night.” – Buddy McGirt

 

 

 

“Over the last few months we made some positive changes to Cem’s team bringing in a new trainer and strength + conditioning coach.,” said manager Shane Shapiro of No Limit Mindset LLC. “There are not many world class trainer’s like Buddy McGirt, and he has made an immediate impact on Cem in a short time. I’m excited to see all the hard work translate on August 17th!”

 

 

 

 

Kilic is managed by Shane Shapiro’s No Limit Mindset LLC, and is promoted by Greg Cohen Promotions.

 

Brant Stops Hloros with Body Shot and Defends WBA-NABA Championship in Hinckley

On Friday, January 20, in front of a standing-room-only crowd of 3000+ at the Grand Casino’s Events & Convention Center in Hinckley, Minnesota, WBA #3-, IBF #13- and WBO #5-rated middleweight contender Rob “Bravo” Brant stayed busy and defended his WBA-NABA Middleweight Championship by stopping Detroit’s Alexis Hloros.
With a possible title-shot opportunity on the near horizon, the Saint Paul, Minnesota-based Brant (22-0, 15 KOs) wasted no time in dispatching Hloros at2:33 of the first round. A huge body shot dropped Hloros for a count of nine, but he arose still wincing in pain, and was in no condition to continue.
“I was happy with the way the night ended up,” said Brant. “When you get a guy last minute like Alexis Hloros, you have to treat them like they have been training to be the best version of themselves. Overlook them and you can get beat. I feel like I am ready for a bigger name now and am ready to showcase myself at the top level.”
The event, presented by Greg Cohen Promotions in association with David Schuster’s Winner Take All Productions, also featured GCP’s always exciting super welterweight KO artist Skender Halili.
Halili (13-1, 13 KOs) kept his KO percentage at 100% by stopping Wichita’s Romon Barber (7-13, 6 KOs) in the fifth round.
The anvil-fisted Halili landed some bombs early that Barber was able to absorb. However, Halili’s power eventually wore him down. In the fifth, he caught Barber with an uppercut that staggered him backwards into the ropes where he then pounded him relentlessly until the referee stopped the fight. It was a spectacular show of brutal punching power.
“I was very impressed with both our fighters tonight,” said Greg Cohen. “Rob Brant is clearly at the top of his game and ready for a big opportunity. Despite the opponent change on short notice, he handled it the way a future champion should. And Skender Halili continued his run as one of the most exciting punchers in boxing with another fan-friendly win. It was a great event in front of a huge crowd of fans. I am proud to have been able to promote it.”

Top-Rated Brant Defends WBA-NABA Championship Against Hloros This Friday in Hinckley, MN

On Friday, January 20, at the Grand Casino’s Events & Convention Center in Hinckley, Minnesota, WBA #3-, IBF #13- and WBO #5-rated middleweight contender Rob “Bravo” Brant will put his lofty rankings and his WBA-NABA Middleweight Championship on the line against Mount Clemens, Michigan’s Alexis “Hurricane” Hloros (18-5-2, 12 KOs) in a 10-round slugfest.
A native of Saint Paul, Minnesota, Brant (21-0, 14 KOs) will return to his home state to headline “Grand Friday Night Fights” a nine-bout professional boxing event, presented by Greg Cohen Promotions in association with David Schuster’s winner take all productions.
Tickets for “Grand Friday Night Fights” are priced at $800 Table, $100 Ringside, $50 Reserved and $35 General Admission and are available at grandcasinomn.com, Ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster outlets. The entire event will also be streamed live on FloBoxing.tv (7:30 p.m. CST).
“It has been five months since I’ve been in the ring, but haven’t taken much time off,” said Brant. “I have focused on nothing but preparing for the top level of the middleweight division. Though my original opponent fell through last minute, I am well-prepared for whoever is across from the ring from me. I treat everyone across from me like a world champion and I am prepared to showcase the best version of myself.”
“He’s going to have get past me if he wants to fight the best in the division,” said Holoros. “How he does against me will give a good indication of who he is. If he beats me he’s got something. I know he’s undefeated and coming to fight and so am I. I’ve been fighting a lot of years. I’m ready and I’ll put on a performance the fans that night will remember.”
Other Greg Cohen Promotions prospects in action will be all-action super welterweight Skender Halili from Fort Worth, Texas, via Klina, Kosovo; and ultra-talented welterweight prospect Malik “Iceman” Hawkins (10-0, 7 KOs) from Baltimore, Maryland.
Never in a bad fight, the the 26-year-old power-punching Halili will take on Wichita, Kansas, veteran Romon Barber (7-12, 6 KOs) in a six-round battle.
21-year-old Hawkins, a highly decorated amateur boxer and now undefeated professional, will face an opponent yet to be announced in a six-rounder.
“Rob Brant is on the verge of a very big opportunity and I commend him for wanting to stay sharp and not rest on his laurels,” said Greg Cohen. “The Grand Casino has been a terrific site to work with throughout my company’s history and I’m very happy to be returning once again. Our fighters Skender Halili and Malik Hawkins are in good match-ups on the undercard and we’ve got FloBoxing.tv streaming the event online. It’s a great even I’m proud to have the Greg Cohen Promotions name on.”
On fight night, the action starts at 7 p.m. The Grand Casino Hinckley is located at 777 Lady Luck Drive in Hinckley, MN. 
How to Watch FloBoxing Fight Series: Brant vs. Hloros
On TV: Now Available on Roku & Apple TV 4
STREAMING: Available only on FloBoxing. Sign up today for $20 monthly or $150 yearly. Yearly FloPRO access gets you premium content and events from ALL FloSports sites, including FloCombat, FloWrestling, and FloGrappling. The commentary team for Jan. 20 will feature Mike Letourneau, national boxing writer Steve Kim and former heavyweight champion of the world Hassim “The Rock” Rahman.   The eight-bout card will begin streaming on FloBoxing.tv at 7:30 p.m. CST. SIGN UP HERE

Cruiserweight Howard Ready for ‘The Drill’ This Saturday Night in Minnesota

Promoter Greg Cohen says his Atlanta-based cruiserweight Brian “The Bigg Risk” Howard will have to be extremely careful when he fights in the main event this Saturday night (October 1) at the Grand Casino in Hinckley, Minnesota.
 
Howard (11-1, 9 KOs) will face dangerous local veteran Phil “The Drill” Williams (15-8-2, 14 KOs) in a potentially dangerous eight-round showdown.
 
Williams, a devastating puncher, has run hot and cold his entire career, but can be spectacular at times. He holds the distinction of scoring the fastest knockout in boxing history (10 seconds) over Brandon Burke of Iowa in 2007. video
 
Able to switch hit from his southpaw stance to orthodox several times during a fight, Williams has also fought to draws with well-known veterans Caleb Truax and Derrick Findley. In his next to last fight, he won the Minnesota State Cruiserweight Championship by stopping then 15-1 Al Sands in one round.
 
The capable Howard, however, took the undefeated record of Maryland-based Alex Guerrero (15-1) in his last fight and has trained hard for this interesting challenge.
 
“He’s ready for another ‘Bigg Risk’,” said Cohen. “Don’t forget, Brian can punch too. He has prepared for this dangerous challenge and should be ready, even if the best version of Phil Williams shows up on Saturday. Brian is a talented fighter and we have all confidence he will prevail.”
 
On the undercard, Ryan Watson (2-0-1, 2 KOs), a former nationally ranked amateur boxer from Duluth, MN, who is now one of the top prospects in the cruiserweight division competes. Coming off a highly controversial draw, Watson is stepping up the competition by fighting 5-1-1 Lorenzo Selectmon of St. Joseph, MO.

Also of note is the return of Delorien Caraway (6-0 5 KOs) of Minneapolis, MN, one of the top prospects nationally in the 140-pound weight class. Caraway just spent time helping boxing’s top star, Canelo Alvarez, prepare for his upcoming fight.

 
The event will also be streamed live on www.floboxing.tv.

Undefeated Super Bantamweight Adam Lopez destroys Phillip Adyaka in two rounds in Hinckley, Minnesota

San Antonio, Texas (April 24, 2015)— Last Friday night in Hinckley, Minnesota, super bantamweight Adam Lopez scored a sensation second round stoppage over Phillip Adyaka at the Grand Casino.
The bout was part of the off-tv undercard of a CBS Sports Network televised card.
Lopez landed a booming right in round two that sent Adyakaon his back.  Adyaka got to his feet but staggered back and the fight was stopped.
It was his second consecutive 2nd round stoppage under the GH3 Promotions Banner.
“I was trying to hit him with a right.  I was working the body.  I was setting it up from the first round on,” said Lopez.  “I was able to catch him while he was pulling out.”
Lopez only had four stoppages in his first nine bouts, always knew he had the power but he was fighting bigger guys.
“I am growing into my body at 122 pounds.  I always knew I had power.  I started out at 115 pounds fighting these naturally bigger guys.  Now that I am walking around at a heavier weight, I am fighting guys my size and my skills and power have been evident over the last few fights.”
Said Vito Milenicki of GH3 Promotions, “We are extremely pleased with Adam.  When we signed him we knew we had a fighter who was on the upswing and with what he has shown in just two bouts with us, we see not only big things but major opportunities in the next eighteen months or so.”
Lopez is due back on May 22 in Corona, California.
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.

Hogan Outworks Brunson on CBS Sports Network Night of Boxing


 

Photos by Jesse Kelley

 

Australia via Kildare, Ireland’s WBA #12- and IBF #11-rated “Hurricane” Dennis Hogan (21-0-1, 7 KOs) cruised to an entertaining and workmanlike 10-round decision over Philadelphia’s Tyrone “Young Gun” Brunson (22-5-1, 21 KOs) tonight, in the main event of “Championship Boxing on CBS Sports Network” at the Grand Casino Hinckley in Hinckley, Minnesota.

 

Fighting in front of an appreciative sold-out crowd, Hogan outworked the careful Brunson in the majority of rounds to win by scores of 96-94, 98-92 and 97-93 and in the process, picked up the World Boxing Association’s NABA-US Super Welterweight Championship.

 

Hogan closed the show well and seemed to hurt Brunson with a series of clubbing shots. But Brunson was able to survive the onslaught. 

Brunson, who seems to have morphed into a counter puncher since his days as the King of the KO 1 earlier in his career, had a good round eight and seemed to hurt Hogan with a right. He kept it interesting throughout by catching Hogan coming in with right hands.

 

Presented by Greg Cohen Promotions in association with Adam Wilcock’s Fight Card Promotions and produced by David Schuster’s Winner Take All Productions “Championship Boxing on CBS Sports Network” was the debut CBS-televised effort from the promotional team.

 

Several thudding knockouts punctuated the rest of the night’s action.

 

In the night’s co-main event, lightweight slugger Ismael Barroso made quick work of Memphis, Tennessee veteran Ira Terry, knocking him out inside of a round. 

The southpaw Barroso, of El Tigre, Venezuela, moved his record to 18-0-2, 17 KOs by flattening Terry (now 26-14, 16 KOs) with a devastating left hand. Barroso’s reputation seems to grow with every frightening performance. Terry tried moving to his left and being elusive, but it only took one shot from Barroso’s cement fists. Referee Mark Nelson began a count when Terry went down, but quickly waved it off at 2:49.

 

In the televised opener, Saint Paul, Minnesota, middleweight prospect Rob “Bravo” Brant (15-0, 9 KOs)made surprisingly easy work of Miami via Colombia’s Dionisio Miranda (22-11-2, 19 KOs), dropping him for the full count at 2:40 of round two. 

Brant showed superior quickness while landing his rangy shots form outside. A right hand started the trouble for the normally durable Miranda. The follow-up volley forced Miranda down and he elected, probably wisely, not to rise. The crowd-favorite Brant remains undefeated and now has a KO win over a quality mid-level opponent on his resume.

 

In what turned out to be a televised swing bout, American heavyweight prospect Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller, of Brooklyn, New York, moved his impressive record to 12-0-1, 10 KOs by knocking out Nairobi, Kenya’s Raymond “King Kong” Ochieng (26-19-3, 21 KOs) at 1:40of the very first round. 

Miller placed his heavy, accurate shots inside the wild swings of the game Ochieng and caught him with a strong combination against the ropes. Ochieng went down and referee Gary Miezwa waved it off without counting, probably prematurely.

 

Nevertheless, the charismatic Miller looked like a solid prospect taking out a useful veteran in Ochieng, who had gone 10 rounds with Alexander Petkovic in his last fight and handed 36-1 David Rodriguez a TKO 1 loss last July.

 

San Antonio, Texas, super bantamweight Adam “Mantequilla” Lopez (11-0, 6 KOs) furthered his reputation as an up-and-coming prospect by levelling Saint Paul, Minnesota’s Philip Adyaka (4-5, 2 KOs) with a monstrous left hook at 58 seconds of round two. 24-year-old Lopez was too big and too powerful for the smaller Adyaka. Lopez impressed, showing off his world-class weaponry while banging to the head and body, especially with the left hook. Adyaka bravely tried to rise, but stumbled back into the ropes and the fight was waved off.

In a six-round heavyweight match-up, fan favorite Joey “Minnesota Ice” Abell (30-8, 29 KOs) of nearby Coon Rapids, Minnesota, started his comeback by stopping journeyman Travis “Iron Man” Fulton (22-39-1, 21 KOs) of Cedar Falls, Iowa in three rounds. Out of the ring for more than a year, the southpaw Abell finally shook off the rust and got through with a volley of punches against the ropes, which badly stunned Fulton. The came at 34 seconds with Fulton dazed but still standing. I’m starting over. I want to get a couple wins and hopefully get a big fight here,” said Abell, post-fight. Unfortunately, Abell slipped awkwardly in the first round and reportedly suffered a serious ankle injury.

 

In a four-round, all-Minneapolis super heavyweight showdown to open the night, 316-lb Van “The Man” Goodman, now 4-5-2, 4 KOs, picked up a good win over299-lb Brett Murphy, now 1-1, 1 KO via TKO 2. Murphy was down in round one and twice more in round two. A tidy left uppercut was the finishing shot. The time of the stoppage was 1:38.


Undefeated Super Bantamweight to fight Phillip Adyaka Tonight in Hinckley, Minnesota

San Antonio, Texas (April 17, 2015)Tonight at the Grand Casino in Hinckley, Minnesota, undefeated Super Bantamweight Adam Lopez will be back in action when he takes on Phillip Adyaka in a bout scheduled for six-rounds on a card the will be televised by CBS Sports Network
The 24 year-old Lopez is promoted by GH3 Promotions and is coming off an impressive national television debut when he scored a 2nd round stoppage over previously undefeated Pablo Cruz that was televised on Sho Box: The New Generation on March 13 in Westbury, NY.
“Training has been really good,  I am confident because of my last fight.  For this I have had great strength and conditioning as well as sparring.”
Adyaka (4-4, 2 KO’s) was a good amateur in his native Uganda and now resides in St. Paul, Minnesota.
“I watched a little tape of him.  I know he was on the national team and then he defected.  He has won his last three bouts but he has only fought once in the last year.”
Because of the exposure of his last bout, Lopez has picked up a ton of fans who have contacted him via social media.
“A lot of people loved my knockout.  I gained a lot of fans and I think the liked me because the liked the power I displayed in the fight.”
Lopez believes that he has the right team behind him since signing with Vito Mielnicki’s GH3 Promotions.
“Vito is guiding me and he has a gameplan for me.”
“It is going to be a great fight.  I will do my thing and make him have a terrible night.”
Said GH3 Promotions Vito Milenicki, “Adam showed that he not has the talent be he has charisma that will take him a long way in boxing.  We have a ton of confidence that he can be come a star in the years to come.”
Lopez, who is scheduled to be back in the action on May 22 in Corona, CA weighed in at 124 pounds at Thursday’s weigh in.
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.

Weights from Grand Casino Hinckley in Hinckley, Minnesota

 

 

 

Dennis Hogan 153.5 vs. Tyrone Brunson 153

Ismael Barroso 135 vs. Ira Terry 130.5

Rob Brant 161.5 vs. Dionisio Miranda 165

Jarrell Miller 283.5 vs. Raymond Ochieng 244

Adam Lopez 124 vs. Philip Adyaka 119.5

Joey Abell 239.5 vs. Travis Fulton NA

Van Goodman 299.5 vs. Brett Murphy 316.5

 

Promoters: Greg Cohen Promotions in association with Adam Wilcock’s Fight Card Promotions and produced by David Schuster’s Winner Take All Productions

 

Venue: Grand Casino Hinckley in Hinckley, Minnesota

 

TV: CBS Sports Network (10 pm EST

Tickets for “Championship Boxing on CBS Sports Network” start at $35 and can be purchased at the Grand Casino Hinckley Box Office from 8 am to 10 pm (1-800-GRAND21) or at all Ticketmaster outlets, or online atwww.ticketmaster.com.




 

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About Greg Cohen Promotions

 

One of boxing’s premier promotional outfits, Greg Cohen Promotions (GCP) is a well-respected name for staging world-class professional boxing events and promoting elite professional fighters throughout the world.

 

Founder and CEO Greg Cohen has been involved with professional boxing in various capacities since the late 1980s, honing his craft and establishing himself as a shrewd international boxing businessman.

 

Distinguished by his ability to spot and develop raw talent, Cohen made headlines for his expert guidance of, among many others, former WBA Junior Middleweight Champion Austin “No Doubt” Trout, who Cohen helped guide from unknown New Mexico prospect to elite pay-per-view level superstar.

 

In addition to Trout, Greg Cohen Promotions has worked with established names such as former unified and two-time heavyweight champion Hasim “The Rock” Rahman (50-8-2, 41 KOs); and all-time-great multiple-weight class world champion James “Lights Out” Toney (74-7-3, 45 KOs).

 

Current world-rated contenders in the GCP roster include Arash Usmanee, universally recognized as a top-10 super featherweight; former WBA International Middleweight Champion and world-rated middleweight contender Jarrod Fletcher; top-rated featherweight Joel Brunker; cruiserweight Lateef Kayode; Canadian lightweight and TV action hero Tony Luis, and WBA and five-time Irish National Amateur Champion, Dennis Hogan; and Rising Welterweight sensation Cecil McCalla.

 

Greg Cohen Promotions has hosted world-class boxing events in the finest venues throughout the United States and the world and has also proudly provided talent and/or content for several television networks including HBO, Showtime, ESPN, NBC Sports Network, MSG and FOX Sports Net.

Undercard Announced for ‘Championship Boxing on CBS Sports Network’ Event this Friday from Grand Casino Hinckley in Hinckley, MN

The finalized undercard has been announced for Friday’s (April 17) “Championship Boxing on CBS Sports Network” event being held at the Grand Casino Hinckley in Hinckley, Minnesota, and presented by Greg Cohen Promotions in association with Adam Wilcock’s Fight Card Promotions and produced by David Schuster’s Winner Take All Productions.

 

Topping the night’s untelevised action will be one of the most exciting American heavyweight prospects on the horizon, hard-punching Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller (11-0-1, 9 KOs) from Brooklyn taking on always dangerous veteran Raymond Ochieng (26-18-3, 21 KOs) from Kenya in a six-rounder.

 

Miller vs. Ochieng will serve as the main supporting bout before the CBS Sports Network-televised portion of the event, featuring a 10-round main event between Ireland’s WBA #12- and IBF #11-rated “Hurricane” Dennis Hogan and Tyrone “Young Gun” Brunson for the World Boxing Association’s NABA-US Super Welterweight Championship.

 

In the 10-round televised co-feature, Venezuelan KO artist Ismael Barroso (17-0-2, 16 KOs) will face Memphis, Tennessee, veteran Ira Terry (26-13, 16 KOs) in an eight-round showcase. And in the eight-round televised opener, undefeated Saint Paul, Minnesota, middleweight Rob “Bravo” Brant (14-0, 8 KOs) will face Miami via Colombia’s Dionisio “Mister Nocaut” Miranda (22-10-2, 19 KOs).

 

Tickets for “Championship Boxing on CBS Sports Network” start at $35 and can be purchased at the Grand Casino Hinckley Box Office from 8 am to 10 pm (1-800-GRAND21) or at all Ticketmaster outlets, or online atwww.ticketmaster.com.

 

Also featured on the undercard will be the return of popular local heavyweight “Minnesota Ice” Joseph Abell (29-8, 28 KO’s) of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, taking on tough trialhorse Travis Fulton (22-38-1, 21 KO’s) of Cedar Falls, Iowa, in a six-rounder.

 

Also featured will be super bantamweight Philip Adyaka (4-4, 2 KOs) of Minneapolis taking on promising undefeated prospect Adam Lopez (10-0, 5 KOs) of Texas in a six-rounder; and an all-Minneapolis four-round heavyweight brawl between Van Goodman (3-5-2, 2 KO’s) and Brett Murphy (1-0, 1 KO).