Tag Archives: James Ballard

boxing

SALITA AND LOCAL FIGHTERS TO JOIN CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION FORGOTTEN HARVEST TO DISTRIBUTE FOOD TO DETROIT’S UNDERPRIVILEGED

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On the morning of Tuesday, May 10, promoter Dmitriy Salita will continue his mission to mix the revival of Detroit boxing with a strong social conscience.
From 9-12 am, Salita and several fighters from his upcoming “Detroit Brawl” event, will help the Forgotten Harvest organization pass out food to deserving families at New Bethel Baptist Church, located at 8430 C L Franklin Drive (aka Linwood St) in Detroit.
The group of local fighters joining Salita includes main event participant Demetrius Banks, co-main event fighter James Gordon Smith, as well as James Ballard and Darrell Van Horn.
Scheduled for Saturday, May 14, at the Masonic Temple in Downtown Detroit, “Detroit Brawl” will feature Banks (6-0, 4 KOs) in the six-round cruiserweight main event against Bronx-based cruiserweight Emilio Salas (5-1-1, 3 KOs), as well as Smith (9-0, 6 KOs) in the six-round co-main event against Mexico’s Pablo Cupul (8-19, 5 KOs). Ballard (6-0, 3 KOs) will face Chicago’s Edgar Perez (6-18, 3 KOs) in a six-round super middleweight scrap, while middleweight Van Horn (8-0, 5 KOs) will go against Torreon, Mexico’s Francisco Reza (13-17, 10 KOs) in a four-rounder.
Tickets for “Detroit Brawl” are on sale now and are priced at $28, $38, $63, $93, $100 and $123. They are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com, by calling 800-745-3000, or by visiting the Masonic Temple box office.
Forgotten Harvest is dedicated to relieving hunger in metro Detroit and preventing nutritious food waste. Established in 1990, Forgotten Harvest now has 280 recipient agencies in its network, including emergency food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless and domestic shelters, children’s homes, senior centers and group homes.
Servicing Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties, Forgotten Harvest’s small and dedicated professional staff cover 2,000-square miles per day, bringing relief to 800 locations.
In other “Detroit Brawl” action, Lansing junior middleweight Antonio Urista (7-1, 2 KOs) will face Greenwood, Indiana’s Pablo Sanchez (7-1, 5 KOs) in a four-round bout. Russian cruiserweight Alexey Zubov (10-1, 6 KOs) will look to bounce back from his first career loss by taking on the capable Ernest Reyna (8-3, 4 KOs) of Corpus Christi, Texas, in a six-rounder. And in four-round welterweight bout between undefeated fighters, Turkmenabat, Turkmenistan’s Serdar Hudayberdiyev (1-0, 1 KO) will face Marco Russell (1-0-1) of Henderson, Nevada. East Pointe, Michigan, cruiserweight Clarence Dubose (2-0, 2 KOs) will battle fellow Michigander Karinn Davis (2-6, 2 KOs) of Jackson in a four-round battle; and Brooklyn via Georgia super lightweight Giorgi Gelashvili (3-0, 2 KOs) will face Jackson, Michigan’s Alfred Hall (4-11-2, 2 KOs) in a four-round bout.

On fight night, doors open at 6:30 pm and the first fight is at 7:15 pm. The Masonic Temple is located at 500 Temple Street in Detroit. All bouts subject to change.

 
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Salita is also proud to announce that Detroit’s premier casino has once-again agreed to sponsor, along with some new local businesses including Thomas Magee’s Sporting House Whiskey Bar and its proprietor, Erik Olson.
Your downtown playground, Greektown Casino Hotel is consistently voted Detroit’s Best Casino. Located right in the hub of the historic Greektown district it’s impossible to be any closer to the action. No matter what you want to play, Greektown Casino Hotel has your non-stop gaming action. From the newest slots and table games to live poker, Greektown Casino Hotel has 100,000 square feet of exciting, action-packed choices and so many thrilling ways to win!
Greektown Casino Hotel features a 30-story hotel with 400 stunning guestrooms and suites devoted to your comfort. And for your culinary needs, you can savor eclectic cuisine at one of their outstanding restaurants: Prism, Bistro 555 and The Market District.
For your special event or corporate gathering, Greektown Casino Hotel offers impeccable service in addition to a variety of exceptional spaces to help make your event an unforgettable experience.
Thomas Magee’s Sporting House Whiskey Bar offers patrons an old-school sports and whiskey bar in Downtown Detroit’s Eastern Market district. Thomas Magee’s prides itself on providing every sport, every game, and every fight, plus great beer and whiskey!
For event information, visit themasonic.com and SalitaPromotions.com. On fight night, doors open at 6:30.
For more information on the “Detroit Brawl” or Salita Promotions, visitwww.salitapromotions.com. The Greektown Casino Hotel is located at 555 E Lafayette Street in Detroit. For more information, visit them online atgreektowncasino.com. Twitter: @GreektownCasino.

Thomas Magee’s Sporting House Whiskey Bar is located at 1408 E Fisher Service Drive in Detroit. For more information, call 313-263-4342 or visit their official Facebook
page: www.facebook.com/ThomasMageesSportingHouseWhiskeyBar
boxing

FIGHTING OUT OF KRONK GYM, BANKS SEES SOUTHPAW OPPONENT SALAS AS NOTHING NEW

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Given the number of world-class southpaws he’s been in with at the world-famous Kronk Gym in Detroit, undefeated Motown-based cruiserweight Demetrius Banks (6-0, 4 KOs) says he’s not at all concerned about facing Puerto Rican New Yorker Emilio Salas (5-1-1, 3 KOs).
The pair will meet on Saturday, May 14, at the Masonic Temple in Downtown Detroit, in the six-round main event of Salita Promotions’ “Detroit Brawl,” event. In the six-round co-main event Detroit’s undefeated bantamweight James Gordon Smith (9-0, 6 KOs) and Mexico’s Pablo Cupul (8-19, 5 KOs).
Tickets for “Detroit Brawl” are on sale now and are priced at $28, $38, $63, $93, $100 and $123. They are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com, by calling 800-745-3000, or by visiting the Masonic Temple box office.
“Because my experience, fighting a southpaw is not much of an adjustment,” said Banks during a break in training. “Being at Kronk, I’ve boxed world-class southpaws like (former WBO Middleweight Champion) Andy Lee and (current WBC Light Heavyweight Champion) Adonis Stevenson to name a few. It’s not a big deal for me. I fought so many southpaws, in the beginning of my career, it was more difficult to box a right hander.”
Banks, a former football star and a committed mentor to Detroit’s youth, says that despite it being his first main event, he’s not feeling any extra pressure. “The way I look at it, it’s just another day. I don’t let the situation overwhelm me. I guess after the fight is over I’ll exhale and soak it all in. As of right now I’m ready to go to war. It doesn’t bother me what order we fight in.”
Of opponent Salas, Banks says he’s not expecting any surprises.
“I didn’t’ need to see much of him to know what I’m getting. I probably watched part of a round and he’s what I would expect. I saw things in him I can exploit. I also know he’s on a five-fight win streak. He’s 6′ 3″ tall, out of the Bronx and he’s a southpaw. I guess he’s coming to win, but I can’t let this guy take food off my plate.”
Banks says he’s aware that at age 35, there is no time to waste and he is working hard at Kronk with head coach Javan Hill and assistant trainer Richard Phillips, knowing that this fight is critical if he is to ever rise to contender status.
“This fight presents a big opportunity for me, especially with Dmitriy doing so many big things in boxing. If I win this fight, it gives me the opportunity to sign with him. I feel like I need to hurry. Because of my age, I have a smaller window of opportunity and I understand it. This is an opportunity for me to step it up and get things going.”
So how does he see things going against Salas?
“I definitely see a fight in my mind before it happens. I always visualize them beforehand. I see the things I don’t want to happen, the things that can’t happen and things I want to do. He’s going to come out and try to show he’s tough and come to fight and win. He’s not me though. He’s not fleet-footed or as slick as me. I’ll trick him and touch him to his body. That will give me a lot of target. I will break him down from the body up.
On the Detroit Brawl undercard, Lansing junior middleweight Antonio Urista (7-1, 2 KOs) will face Greenwood, Indiana’s Pablo Sanchez (7-1, 5 KOs) in a four-round bout. In addition, Russian cruiserweight Alexey Zubov (10-1, 6 KOs) will look to bounce back from his first career loss by taking on the capable Ernest Reyna (8-3, 4 KOs) of Corpus Christi, Texas, in a six-rounder. And in four-round welterweight bout between undefeated fighters, Turkmenabat, Turkmenistan’s Serdar Hudayberdiyev (1-0, 1 KO) will face Marco Russell (1-0-1) of Henderson, Nevada.
In a six-round super middleweight scrap, Detroit’s super middleweight James Ballard (6-0, 3 KOs) will face Chicago’s Edgar Perez (6-18, 3 KOs); Detroit middleweight Darrell Van Horn (8-0, 5 KOs) will go against Torreon, Mexico’s Francisco Reza (13-17, 10 KOs) in a four-rounder; East Pointe, Michigan, cruiserweight Clarence Dubose (2-0, 2 KOs) will battle fellow Michigander Karinn Davis (2-6, 2 KOs) of Jackson in a four-round battle; and Brooklyn via Georgia super lightweight Giorgi Gelashvili (3-0, 2 KOs) will face Jackson, Michigan’s Alfred Hall (4-11-2, 2 KOs) in a four-round bout.
On fight night, doors open at 6:30 pm and the first fight is at 7:15 pm. The Masonic Temple is located at 500 Temple Street in Detroit. All bouts subject to change.
 
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Salita is also proud to announce that Detroit’s premier casino has once-again agreed to sponsor, along with some new local businesses including Thomas Magee’s Sporting House Whiskey Bar and its proprietor, Erik Olson.
Your downtown playground, Greektown Casino Hotel is consistently voted Detroit’s Best Casino. Located right in the hub of the historic Greektown district it’s impossible to be any closer to the action. No matter what you want to play, Greektown Casino Hotel has your non-stop gaming action. From the newest slots and table games to live poker, Greektown Casino Hotel has 100,000 square feet of exciting, action-packed choices and so many thrilling ways to win!
Greektown Casino Hotel features a 30-story hotel with 400 stunning guestrooms and suites devoted to your comfort. And for your culinary needs, you can savor eclectic cuisine at one of their outstanding restaurants: Prism, Bistro 555 and The Market District.
For your special event or corporate gathering, Greektown Casino Hotel offers impeccable service in addition to a variety of exceptional spaces to help make your event an unforgettable experience.
Thomas Magee’s Sporting House Whiskey Bar offers patrons an old-school sports and whiskey bar in Downtown Detroit’s Eastern Market district. Thomas Magee’s prides itself on providing every sport, every game, and every fight, plus great beer and whiskey!
For event information, visit themasonic.com and SalitaPromotions.com. On fight night, doors open at 6:30.
For more information on the “Detroit Brawl” or Salita Promotions, visitwww.salitapromotions.com. The Greektown Casino Hotel is located at 555 E Lafayette Street in Detroit. For more information, visit them online atgreektowncasino.com. Twitter: @GreektownCasino.

Thomas Magee’s Sporting House Whiskey Bar is located at 1408 E Fisher Service Drive in Detroit. For more information, call 313-263-4342 or visit their official Facebook
page: www.facebook.com/ThomasMageesSportingHouseWhiskeyBar
boxing

FEATURED FIGHTS, ALL PARTICIPANTS ANNOUNCED FOR SALITA PROMOTIONS’ LATEST DETROIT BRAWL AT MASONIC TEMPLE DOWNTOWN

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Detroit, MI (April 26, 2016) – The featured fights and undercard fighters have been announced for Salita Promotions’ latest old-school night of boxing entitled “Detroit Brawl” onSaturday, May 14, at the Masonic Temple in Downtown Detroit.
In the night’s six-round cruiserweight main event, Detroit’s Demetrius Banks (6-0, 4 KOs) will take on Bronx-based Puerto Rican cruiserweight Emilio Salas (5-1-1, 3 KOs) and in the six-round co-main event, undefeated bantamweight James Gordon Smith (9-0, 6 KOs) will face California via Mexico’s Pablo Cupul (8-19, 5 KOs).
Tickets for “Detroit Brawl” are on sale now and are priced at $28, $38, $63, $93, $100 and $123. They are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com, by calling 800-745-3000, or by visiting the Masonic Temple box office.
Scheduled to appear on the undercard are a variety of up-and-coming prospects from Michigan and around the world, including Detroit’s super middleweight James Ballard (6-0, 3 KOs), super middleweight Darrell Van Horn (8-0, 5 KOs), East Pointe cruiserweight Clarence Dubose (2-0, 2 KOs), Lansing junior middleweight Antonio Urista (7-1, 2 KOs), Russian cruiserweight Alexey Zubov (10-1, 6 KOs), Brooklyn via Georgia super lightweight Giorgi Gelashvili (3-0, 2 KOs), Turkmenistan’s former Asian Games Amateur Champion, Serdar Hudayberdiyev (1-0, 1 KO) and comebacking Warren, Michigan, super lightweight Luigi Gjokaj (2-2, 2 KOs).
Ballard is scheduled for six rounds. All other fights will be four-rounders. Opponents will be announced shortly.
Promoter Dmitriy Salita says he’s happy to be able to offer a consistent boxing series to Detroit fans, allowing them to follow the progress of local fighters, as well as fighters from abroad.
“We are back with another Detroit Brawl and I’m very excited,” said Salita. “This series is a tremendous success and this one will be the best yet. We have another great assortment of local and international prospects, many of them facing each other in an iconic venue in Detroit. It’s going to be another old-school boxing show and I’m proud to be putting it on for the great fans of Detroit. It was my goal for this series to be about making Detroit the city where young fighters can progress in their careers in competitive match-ups.”
On fight night, doors open at 6:30 pm and the first fight is at 7:15 pm. The Masonic Temple is located at 500 Temple Street in Detroit. All bouts subject to change.
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Salita is also proud to announce that Detroit’s premier casino has once-again agreed to sponsor, along with some new local businesses including Thomas Magee’s Sporting House Whiskey Bar and its proprietor, Erik Olson.
Your downtown playground, Greektown Casino Hotel is consistently voted Detroit’s Best Casino. Located right in the hub of the historic Greektown district it’s impossible to be any closer to the action. No matter what you want to play, Greektown Casino Hotel has your non-stop gaming action. From the newest slots and table games to live poker, Greektown Casino Hotel has 100,000 square feet of exciting, action-packed choices and so many thrilling ways to win!
Greektown Casino Hotel features a 30-story hotel with 400 stunning guestrooms and suites devoted to your comfort. And for your culinary needs, you can savor eclectic cuisine at one of their outstanding restaurants: Prism, Bistro 555 and The Market District.
For your special event or corporate gathering, Greektown Casino Hotel offers impeccable service in addition to a variety of exceptional spaces to help make your event an unforgettable experience.
Thomas Magee’s Sporting House Whiskey Bar offers patrons an old-school sports and whiskey bar in Downtown Detroit’s Eastern Market district. Thomas Magee’s prides itself on providing every sport, every game, and every fight, plus great beer and whiskey!
For event information, visit themasonic.com and SalitaPromotions.com. On fight night, doors open at 6:30.
For more information on the “Detroit Brawl” or Salita Promotions, visitwww.salitapromotions.com. The Greektown Casino Hotel is located at 555 E Lafayette Street in Detroit. For more information, visit them online at greektowncasino.com. Twitter: @GreektownCasino.
Thomas Magee’s Sporting House Whiskey Bar is located at 1408 E Fisher Service Drive in Detroit. For more information, call 313-263-4342 or visit their official Facebook page:www.facebook.com/ThomasMageesSportingHouseWhiskeyBar
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About

Salita Promotions
Salita Promotions was founded in 2010 by Dmitriy Salita, a professional boxer and world-title challenger who saw the need for a promotional entity to feature boxing’s best young prospects and established contenders in North America and around the world. Viewers watching fighters on worldwide television networks including Showtime, ESPN, Spike TV, Universal Sports Network and MSG have enjoyed Salita Promotions fight action in recent years. We pride ourselves on offering our fighters opportunities inside and outside the ring. Salita Promotions looks forward to continuing to grow and serve the needs of fight fans around the globe.
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Salita Promotions Wins Big! Detroit Brawl a Motor City Success on Saturday Night

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Promoter Dmitriy Salita of Salita Promotions wishes to thank the multitude of fans and everyone involved in the great success of his debut “Detroit Brawl” show in Detroit last Saturday, February 6.
Held at the beautiful Masonic Temple Downtown, the well-attended “Detroit Brawl” featured a night of entertaining fights with an old-school Detroit feel. Even Detroit greats Thomas Hearns and Hilmer Kenty were in attendance.
“I was very happy with the entire event,” said Salita. “The fans came out, the fighters fought hard and in that classic venue, it felt like a boxing show from days gone by. I wish to thank everyone from Kronk and especially Javan Hill, as well as Dennis Turner and the staff at the Masonic for all their help. And to the Detroit boxing community in general, who helped get the word out on the show and helped make it such a success.”
Salita, who says this was the first of a series of regular shows, says he won’t rest on the success of the first event for long.
“We are looking at doing the second Detroit Brawl in early spring,” he said. “It is so apparent that this city loves its boxing and I’m proud to be bringing it to them.”
Dates and venue “Detroit Brawl 2” will be announced in the near future.
Results from the inaugural Detroit Brawl
Detroit Brawl Results
Dimash Niyazov (9-0-3, 4 KOs) W6 (UD) James Lester (10-10, 4 KOs)
Scores: 58-55, 58-55, 59-54.
James Gordon Smith (9-0, 6 KOs) KO2 Antwan Robertson (10-15-1, 5 KOs)
Time: 2:21.
Eudy “AK47” Bernardo (21-0, 15 KOs) KO 2 Ben Odamattey (16-13-3, 9 KOs)
Time: 1:18.
Edward Williams (11-1-1, 4 KOs) W6 (UD) Angel Figueroa (4-3-1)
Scores: 60-54, 59-55, 60-54.
James Ballard (6-0, 3 KOs) TKO3 Nathan Bedwell (5-16, 2 KOs)
Time: 1:39.
Emilio Salas (5-1-1, 3 KOs) KO2 Karinn Davis (2-6, 2 KOs
Time: 2:16.
Serdar Hudayberdiyev TKO4 Kevin Shacks (0-2)
Time: 1:33
Kane Heron (3-0, 2 KOs) TKO1 Brian Otey (0-2)
Time: 1:33
boxing

Full Card Announced for Saturday Night’s ‘Detroit Brawl’ at Masonic Temple

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The full card has been announced for promoter Dmitriy Salita’s “Detroit Brawl” thisSaturday, February 6, at 6:30 pm at the iconic Masonic Temple in Downtown Detroit.
In the night’s main event, WBA #14-ranked cruiserweight Junior “Hurricane” Wright (14-1-1, 11 KOs) of Chicago will face Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s Chris “Nightmare” Stallworth (9-3, 3 KOs) in a six-round cruiserweight battle. The powerful 29-year-old Wright has already challenged for a world title and is looking to secure another opportunity.
In the intriguing six-round co-main event, undefeated New York (via Kazakhstan) lightweight Dimash Niyazov (8-0-3, 4 KOs) takes on Detroit’s capable James Lester (10-9, 4 KOs). While Niyazov has the unbeaten record, Lester has been in with stronger opposition and always been competitive.
Topping the undercard, Detroit’s undefeated bantamweight James Gordon Smith (8-0, 5 KOs) will go against Saint Paul, Minnesota veteran Antwan Robertson (10-14-1, 6 KOs).
Tickets for “Detroit Brawl” are priced at $28, $38, $48, $63, $93, and $123 and are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com, by calling 800-745-3000, or by visiting the Masonic Temple box office. For event information visit themasonic.com and SalitaPromotions.com.
In other exciting action, Detroit’s Ed Williams (10-1-1, 4 KOs) will face Angel Figueroa (4-2-1) of Lorain, Ohio, in a six-round welterweight bout.
In a super lightweight six-rounder Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic’s undefeated Eudy Bernardo (20-0, 14 KOs) goes against Ben Odamattey (16-12-3, 9 KOs) of Accra, Ghana. Bernardo, considered a strong up-and-coming prospect, is now trained by Detroit’s former world champion Frank Tate and is looking for a world title opportunity in the very near future.
In four-round bouts, light heavyweight James Ballard (5-0, 2 KOs) of Detroit battles Nathan Bedwell (5-15, 4 KOs) of Lexington, Tennessee; cruiserweight Emilio Salas (4-1-1, 2 KOs) of Coamo, Puerto Rico, faces Jackson, Michigan’s Karinn Davis (2-5, 2 KOs); and Canadian super welterweight Kane Heron (2-0, 1 KO) will face Michigan’s Brian Otey (0-1).
Rounding out the action in a very special pro debut, Turkmenistan’s former Asian Games Amateur Champion, Serdar Hudayberdiyev will face Kevin Shacks (0-1).
Can’t make it to the live event? gfl.tv will be broadcasting the event in full, online worldwide, starting at 7:30 pm EST for the low price of $14.99. VOD of the event will be available starting at 8:00 pm EST.
boxing

Detroit Brawl on Fox News Detroit

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Detroit has a history of producing some of the best boxers and trainers in the sport, and the fight-world spotlight will be shining on the motor city again this coming weekend with the “Detroit Brawl.”
The professional boxing series showcases fighters from around the world to compete in Detroit at the Masonic Temple on Feb. 6. Three of the local boxers involved in the event dropped by Fox2 Sunday morning to preview the event.
Learn more about the Detroit Brawl at their official website and tickets are available here.
Tickets for “Detroit Brawl” are priced at $28, $38, $48, $63, $93, and $123 and are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com, by calling 800-745-3000, or by visiting the Masonic Temple box office. Please Note: Tickets purchased at the $123.00 price level include three free-drink tickets for patrons 21 years of age and older. For event information, visit themasonic.com and SalitaPromotions.com. On fight night, doors open at 6:30.

For more information on the “Detroit Brawl” or Salita Promotions, visit www.salitapromotions.com. The Greektown Casino Hotel is located at 555 E Lafayette Street in Detroit. For more information, visit them online atgreektowncasino.com. Twitter: @GreektownCasino.
boxing

Greektown Casino to Host ‘Detroit Brawl’ Professional Boxing Event on February 6th

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Promoter Dmitriy Salita of Salita Promotions is proud to announce that Detroit’s Greektown Casino Hotel has signed on as principal sponsor of his first Detroit Brawl professional boxing event.

Scheduled for Saturday, February 6, at the iconic Masonic Temple Downtown, “Detroit Brawl” will feature a diverse array of up-and-coming prospects and established contenders from Michigan and around the world including Detroit’s James Gordon Smith (8-0, 5 KOs), Ed Williams (10-1-1, 4 KOs), James Ballard (5-0, 2 KOs), and Antonio Wade (1-0, 1 KO), undefeated Dominican Eudy Bernardo (20-0, 14 KOs), Brooklyn’s Dimash Niyazov (8-0-3, 4 KOs) and the professional debut of Turkmenistan’s former Asian Games Amateur Champion, Serdar Hudayberdiyev.

Former world title challenger and currently world-ranked cruiserweight Junior Wright of Chicago (14-1-1, 11 KOs) will fight in the night’s eight-round main event.
“I am delighted to have such a prestigious establishment like Greektown Casino as my principal sponsor for this fantastic event,” said Dmitriy Salita. “It is good to see they are getting behind professional boxing in Detroit and supporting its resurgence. I’d like to thank their team for the vote of confidence and look forward to delivering a world-class event that is worthy of their support.”
“We are happy to support the rebirth of world-class boxing in the city of Detroit with Salita Promotions, through the Detroit Brawl series,” said Ryan Bufalini, Senior Director of Marketing at Greektown Casino.
Your downtown playground, Greektown Casino Hotel is consistently voted Detroit’s Best Casino. Located right in the hub of the historic Greektown district it’s impossible to be any closer to the action. No matter what you want to play, Greektown Casino Hotel has your non-stop gaming action. From the newest slots and table games to live poker, Greektown Casino Hotel has 100,000 square feet of exciting, action-packed choices and so many thrilling ways to win!
Greektown Casino Hotel features a 30-story hotel with 400 stunning guestrooms and suites devoted to your comfort. And for your culinary needs, you can savor eclectic cuisine at one of their outstanding restaurants: Prism, Bistro 555 and The Market District.
For your special event or corporate gathering, Greektown Casino Hotel offers impeccable service in addition to a variety of exceptional spaces to help make your event an unforgettable experience.
Tickets for “Detroit Brawl” are priced at $28, $38, $48, $63, $93, and $123 and are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com, by calling 800-745-3000, or by visiting the Masonic Temple box office. For event information visit themasonic.com and SalitaPromotions.com. On fight night, doors open at 6:30.
For more information on the “Detroit Brawl” or Salita Promotions, visitwww.salitapromotions.com. The Greektown Casino Hotel is located at 555 E Lafayette Street in Detroit. For more information, visit them online at greektowncasino.com. Twitter:@GreektownCasino.
boxing

Fighter/Promoter Salita Says Detroit Was the Obvious Choice for Upcoming Series of Professional Boxing Shows

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‘Detroit Brawl’ Begins Saturday, February 6, at the Masonic Temple
 
“I strongly feel that Detroit has a lot of potential to become a hub for pro boxing. Not only with its own talented fighters, but also for boxers from around the country and around the globe. With consistency, competitive fights and talented boxers there’s a tremendous amount of potential for world-class boxing in the city of Detroit.” Dmitriy Salita
World-class boxer turned promoter Dmitriy Salita, of Salita Promotions, says the choice to base his new series of live fights in Detroit was an easy one to make. A city and state that has produced such all-time greats as Floyd Mayweather, Tommy Hearns and Joe Louis to name a few, as well as legendary trainers such Emanuel Steward and Eddie Futch is, according to Salita, the perfect place to launch a succession of top-notch boxing shows.
Appropriately entitled the “Detroit Brawl,” the series will kick off at the iconic Masonic Temple in Downtown Detroit on Saturday, February 6 at 6:30 pm. Featured that night will be a diverse array of up-and-coming prospects and established contenders from Michigan and around the world including Detroit’s James Gordon Smith (8-0, 5 KOs), Ed Williams (10-1-1, 4 KOs), James Ballard (5-0, 2 KOs), and Antonio Wade (1-0, 1 KO), as well as former world title challenger and currently world-ranked cruiserweight Junior Wright of Chicago (14-1-1, 11 KOs), undefeated Dominican Eudy Bernardo (20-0, 14 KOs), Brooklyn’s Dimash Niyazov (8-0-3, 4 KOs) and the professional debut of Turkmenistan’s former Asian Games Amateur Champion, Serdar Hudayberdiyev.
Tickets for “Detroit Brawl” are priced at $28, $38, $48, $63, $93, and $123 and are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com, by calling 800-745-3000, or by visiting the Masonic Temple box office. For event information visit themasonic.com and SalitaPromotions.com.
“Detroit is America’s great comeback city and boxing fans love a comeback,” said Salita, who once challenged for a world title and currently sports a 35-2-1, 18 KOs record as a fighter. “This city has some of the best homegrown boxers in the country and the world and we plan to highlight those talents throughout this series. I thought it was a natural to run consistent high-class show here. Detroit and the State of Michigan, as a whole, have a rich boxing culture: The boxing fans here will respond positively. And for the local up-and-comers, they will have a place close to home to build a fan base.”
Though he is Ukraine-born and Brooklyn-raised, Salita has a long history with the area, having trained here since early in his fighting career.
“I’ve been coming to Detroit for six years, to train at the Kronk Gym with Emanuel Steward and Sugar Hill, his nephew,” explained Salita. “I got a chance firsthand to see the Detroit boxing culture and witness its tremendous talent!”
33-year-old Salita started boxing at age 13 at Starret City Boxing Club in Brooklyn, New York, and went on to become a highly decorated amateur boxer before his professional career. “At the time I started boxing, the Starrett City Boxing Club was run by Jimmy O’Pharrow. It was one of the best gyms in New York City. It produced some of the best fighters in the world today. We all came up together and had ‘fights of the year’ sparring sessions almost every night. The competitive nature of those sparring sessions are what made me so successful in boxing, and when I came here to the Kronk gym I witnessed that same atmosphere.”
Still an active fighter, after losing his challenge to world champion Amir Khan in 2009, Salita says he looked around at his options and decided that with his strong fan base, becoming a promoter was a natural progression. Salita says he’s proud of diversity and talent level he’s been able to provide for the inaugural show of the series.
“I like that this show has several of Detroit’s up-and-coming stars and boxers from different places around the world as well.  Junior Wright is world-ranked and one of the best cruiserweights in the world. He’s looking to get back to another world title shot. Eudy Bernardo, an undefeated lightweight prospect from the Dominican Republic, is looking to rise to the top of the division. And the Detroit fighters are some of the best including James Ballard, Eddie Williams and James Gordon Smith, a former national champion in the amateurs. Antonio Wade is another hot prospect from the Detroit area. We’ve also got Asian games gold medalist Serdar Hudayberdiyev making his pro debut. He’s already the greatest fighter his country has ever produced. People are flying out from Turkmenistan to see the fight. I’m very excited about this show and for the future of boxing in this great city!”