Philadelphia, PA (March 16, 2015)–This past Friday it was announced that Boxcino 2014 Middleweight champion Willie Monroe Jr. has accepted the challenge and will fight WBA/IBO and WBC Interim Middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin on May 16 at the Forum in Inglewood,California.
The event will be televised Live on HBO World Championship Boxing® beginning at10:00 p.m. ET/PT.
Monroe of Rochester, New York earned the opportunity on the strength of his three wins in the 2014 Boxcino Middleweight tournament and a ten-round unanimous decision victory over Bryan Vera on January 16.
“On May 16, I will shock the world,” said Monroe.
“I think this is an awesome fight. We have two contrasting styles and that will make for some spontaneous combustion. We will see which style comes out on top on May 16.”
“I want to thank Banner Promotions for standing by me. I also want to thank GGG for accepting the fight. This is a risky fight for him because people have not given me the credit for who I am.” continued Monroe. “I want to also thank Brian Kweder and John Campagna of ESPN for the platform of the Boxcino tournament. I know that it was those three fights that really spingboarded me into this position.”
Said Banner Promotions President Artie Pelullo, “We are extremely happy for Willie. He has worked very hard, and he got this opportunity the old-fashioned way. He earned it. To win the 2014 Boxcino tournament shows that when fighters take risks in their career, and they are willing to fight quality fighters, great things come from it. For that I have to really give a lot of credit to Brian Kweder and John Campagna of ESPN for help facilitating this great run that Willie has been on and which led to this opportunity.”
“When ESPN signed on with Banner Promotions to bring back the Boxcino Championship last year, Artie Pelullo promised that the tournament would produce a world champion just as it did back in the 1990’s,” said Brian Kweder, ESPN senior director of programming and acquisitions. “I’m happy to see Willie Monroe, Jr. get the first shot at delivering on that promise. This fight on May 16th is exactly the reason fight fans should tune in to this year’s crop of talent appearing in the Boxcino semifinals on April 10thon Friday Night Fights.”
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Verona, NU (January 16, 2015)–Below is the video from Thursday’s weigh in for the NABA/NABO Middleweight title bout that will feature Willie Monroe Jr. and Bryan Vera. Also included are pre fight interviews with Monroe Jr., Vera, Petr Petrov and Hank Lundy.
(NOTE–The Petrov – Lundy bout has been cancelled due to Lundy’s failure to weigh in at the 135 pound limit.
The show begins live on ESPN 2 at 9 PM ET.
Media outlets may copy/paste the embedded codes on their websites.
Monroe Vera Weigh in 011515
Bryan Vera 011515
Willie Monroe Jr. 011515
Petr Petrov 011515
Hank Lundy 011515
Host of the January 16th bouts, the Oneida Indian Nation’s Turning Stone Resort Casino continues to distinguish itself as a premier destination for professional sporting events, including nationally-televised boxing matches and PGA-level golf. The January 16th fight will mark Turning Stone’s 13th nationally televised boxing event in less than two years, helping establish the resort as a mecca for knockout televised fights. Boxing legends Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather Jr. have promoted televised fight cards at the resort within the last year and Turning Stone has hosted televised boxing events on ESPN, Showtime, HBO, and NBC in the last two years. Located in Upstate New York, the four-season resort offers world-class entertainment and gaming, prestigious restaurants, luxury spa facilities, and award-winning accommodations.Tickets for the January 16th ESPN Friday Night Fights at Turning Stone are on sale now at the Turning Stone box office, in person or by calling 315.361.7469, or online at Ticketmaster. Tickets are $60 for ringside seats, $35, $25, and are subject to additional fees. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., with the first bout scheduled for 7:00 p.m. The live ESPN telecast starts at 9pm.
Professional media requesting credentials for the January 16 fight must contact Kelly Abdo, Turning Stone Public Relations Manager at 315.366.9291 orkelly.abdo@turningstone.com.
About Turning Stone Resort CasinoA premier four-season, destination resort in Upstate New York, the Oneida Indian Nation’s Turning Stone Resort Casino is conveniently located about 30 miles east of Syracuse at NYS Thruway exit 33. Turning Stone was named “Most Excellent Golf Resort” in 2010 by Condé Nast Johansens. The Academy of Country Music named Turning Stone “Casino of the Year” in 2009. The resort offers world-class gaming, golf, entertainment, accommodations and spa facilities, and has earned AAA Four Diamond ratings for The Lodge, The Tower Hotel, and Wildflowers restaurant. For more information and reservations, call (315) 361-7711 or (800) 771-7711. Visit the web site at www.TurningStone.com..
