On Saturday, March 5, 2022, in the Lincoln Ballroom of the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center in Dearborn, Michigan, Salita Promotions will present another edition of the “Detroit Brawl” series, this time featuring Saginaw, Michigan, heavyweight spoiler Robert Simms (11-3, 3 KOs) taking on undefeated New Yorker Moses “ThunderHands” Johnson (8-0, 7 KOs) in the 10-round main event.
Tickets for “Detroit Brawl” start at $35. Order tickets online or call or visit the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center Box Office (313.943.2354) at 15801 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn during Box Office hours: Thursday and Friday from 11 am to 4 pm and 5 pm to 8:30 pm on the day of the event.
A proven spoiler, in six years as a professional, Simms has faced a number of quality opponents, often as the B side of the bout sheet, taking upset victories over then 15-1 Joe Cusumano (W 6), then 8-0-2 Colby Madison (W 8), and in his last ring appearance, a unanimous decision over then 8-1 Aaron Quintana last March. Still improving, Simms has lost only one fight of his last seven.
Born and raised in Huntington, New York, 29-year-old Johnson has gone undefeated, thus far, in his four-year career, stopping all but one opponent. As an amateur, Johnson was a 2015 Golden Gloves Champion in the super heavyweight open class. Johnson has worked as a sparring partner for top heavyweight Daniel Dubois. Simms represents, by far, his toughest opponent to date.
Featured in the co-main event will be Detroit super middleweight Winfred Harris Jr. (21-1-1, 10 KOs). Also seeing action will be undefeated middleweight terror Marlon Harrington (6-0, 5 KOs), as well as popular Grand Rapids, Michigan-based former amateur stars Joseph “Sug” Hicks Jr. (1-0, 1 KO), and Joshua Pagan (1-0, 1 KO) in separate four-rounders.
All undercard opponents will be announced shortly.
“The last Detroit Brawl was a tremendous success and we’re coming back to the same terrific venue for another night of world-class Michigan boxing,” said event promoter, Dmitriy Salita. “We’ve got many of the best prospects in the state that will be in tough match-ups, starting with our heavyweight main event, that I can’t pick a winner of. Both guys have a lot to prove, so it should be a sensational night of boxing from beginning to end.”
PLEASE NOTE: Tickets ordered online will be mailed up to one week prior to event date. Tickets ordered within a week of event will be placed in will call in the box office for pickup. A limited quantity of VIP tickets are also available by calling Lina at 313.529.7604.
The Ford Community & Performing Arts Center is located at 15801 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn. On fight night, doors open at 6:30 pm and the action starts at 7:00 pm. This event will also be streamed on the Salita Promotions’ YouTube Channel.
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, HBO, ESPN, Spike TV, Universal Sports Network, UFC Fight Pass, DAZN, ESPN+ 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.
Check the Salita Promotions YOUTUBE CHANNEL for regular updates of the modern world’s greatest fighters, contenders and prospects in action.
Pagan will make professional debut on Salita Promotions’ ‘Detroit Brawl’ event on January 22 at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center in Dearborn, MI
Salita Promotions proudly announces the signing of Grand Rapids, Michigan-based 2021 USA National Amateur Welterweight Champion Joshua “Double J” Pagan to a promotional contract.
After starting boxing at age 13, in honor of his trainer/father Tony who also boxed, Pagan had approximately 90 fights as an amateur, culminating in winning three State Golden Gloves Championships and this year’s USA national Championships in Shreveport, Louisiana.
A smooth boxer with a mean streak, 21-year-old Pagan will make his professional debut on Saturday, January 22, 2022, in the Lincoln Ballroom of the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center in Dearborn, Michigan, as Salita Promotions returns for another instalment of their popular “Detroit Brawl” series of professional boxing shows.
“I’ve been part of the amateur boxing game for a while now,” explained Pagan. “It’s time to challenge myself again and start something new. Pro boxing is the same sport, but a different game. I want a new challenge.”
The young phenom will face Steubenville, Ohio’s Glenn Mitchell (3-6, 3 KOs) in a four-round welterweight battle to support the 10-round middleweight main event featuring WBC #9- and WBO #15-ranked middleweight Hugo “The Boss” Centeno Jr.
“I’ve watched some fights of his on YouTube,” revealed Pagan.
“Mitchell is a rugged guy. I can’t overlook him because it only takes on mistake. I’m going in there to get my first win and showcase my skills and show the Detroit fans what I can do.”
A non-stop student of the sport, while working with his father/trainer Tony, Pagan says he’s been sparring more rounds than usual against local professionals and picking up their tricks of the trade to prepare.
“I feel I got a good deal and he seems real straightforward and genuine,” added Pagan about the deal with Salita. “We got hooked up by my good friend Joseph Hicks, who is also fighting on the card. I sent him some of my fights for Dmitriy to watch and he liked what he saw, so he told us to get a hold of him. I want to win a world championship. I’ve always dreamt of being on the big stage and fighting in the big fights. I don’t get nervous in big fights. If anything I get more focused. I’m more than ready and very excited for this new challenge. I’m ready to go. I’m training hard and I will be in the best shape I’ve ever been in on January 22.”
“He seems like a really down-to-earth guy,” added father Tony. “He seems like a good promoter and we think he’ll help us grow and do what we have to do. Joshua’s greatest strength is that he’s willing to work hard and wants to keep learning. Those are his best assets. He never stops learning and he really loves the sport.”
Promoter Salita, who has enjoyed several successes in his mission to help revive Michigan boxing, says Pagan is a talented new addition to his growing stable.
“Joshua is a young new talent with tremendous potential,” said Salita. “He’s a very hard worker in the gym with exceptional boxing skills. He’s a new prospective star from the state of Michigan and I’m happy to be working with him and his father to help them reach his potential. He has a lot of fans coming out to watch his professional debut, which will be against a tough opponent with nine more fights.”
In the night’s co-main event is power-punching undefeated Detroit middleweight “prospect to watch” Marlon Harrington (5-0, 4 KOs) will appear in a six-rounder vs. TBA.
Featured in separate eight-round battles, each against opponents to be announced, will be the always-exciting top super-featherweight contender Alejandro “Pork Chop” Guerrero (12-2, 9 KOs) of Irving, Texas; as well as Detroit super middleweight Winfred Harris Jr. (20-1-1, 10 KOs); and undefeated Houston-based welterweight Quinton Randall (8-0, 2 KOs).
And in a very special six-round pro debut will be Salita Promotions’ most recent promotional signee, popular Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Team USA Captain and bonafide amateur star Joseph “Sug” Hicks Jr., who will begin his fast-track route to potential stardom against TBA.
Tickets for “Detroit Brawl” start at $35 (service fees will apply). Order tickets online or call or visit the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center Box Office (ph: 313.943.2354) at 15801 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn during Box Office hours: Thursday and Friday from 11 am to 4 pm and 5 pm to 8:30 pm on the day of the event. PLEASE NOTE: tickets ordered online will be mailed up to one week prior to event date. Tickets ordered within a week of event will be placed in will call in the box office for pickup. A limited quantity of VIP tickets are also available by calling Lina at 313.529.7604.
