TACOMA, Wash. – Brian Halquist Productions kicks off its 2016 slate of combative sports at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma on Friday with Battle at the Boat 104
The six-bout card will be highlighted by a 10-round super middleweight main event between Dashon Johnson and Izaak Cardona.
Battle at the Boat 104 will have a special Friday start time with doors opening at 7 p.m. and preliminary bouts starting at 8 p.m. Tickets are available through the EQC box office and all Ticket Master Outlets.
Johnson, a former UFC fighter who served as Manny Pacquiao’s main sparring partner prior to Pacquiao’s historic bout against Floyd Mayweather, is coming off the biggest win in his professional career after upsetting Mike Gavronski to capture the WBA-NABA U.S. super middleweight title on Nov. 7.
He faces another huge challenge in the knockout artist Cardona, who was a record of 14-3-0 with all 14 of his victories coming by KO with seven occurring in the first or second round.
“This is an incredible main event to start off the New Year,” promoter Brian Halquist said. “Johnson is coming off a stellar title victory his last time out. He’s been in the ring with some with of the best fighters in the world. Cardona just keeps posting KO after KO. This is going to be an exceptional fight.”
“The fact that Freddie Roach brought on Dashon to be Pacquiao’s main sparring partner in preparation for his fight against Mayweather is more proof that he is a very special fighter,” Halquist continued. “His 50/50 record is very deceiving. Dashon is a fighter who is always in shape and will take any fight even with only a 24-hour notice which he has done for us before. Cardona is huge puncher, 14-3, 14 KOs. So those guys matchup as good as any fight out there. This is going to be a war that the Northwest fight fans will enjoy to start our 2016 season.”
Headlining the undercard will be five-round super featherweight contest between rising Jeremy McCleary and Marco Cardenas.
The 21-year-old McCleary has fought exclusively at the Emerald Queen Casino, making his pro debut on Nov. 2, 2013. McCleary brings a record of 8-1-0 into the bout and is coming off a win over Health Cline on Nov. 7.
Battle at the Boat 104 is brought to you by Brian Halquist Productions. For more information, please visit www.halquistproductions.com and the Battle at the Boat Facebook page.
Battle at the Boat 104 Card
168-pounds (10 rounds)
Dashon Johnson (18-19-3) vs. Izaak Cardona (14-3-0)
131-pounds (5 rounds)
Jeremy McCleary (8-1) vs. Marco Cardenas (4-5-0)
126-pounds (5 rounds)
Rob Diezel (9-6) vs. Marcelo Gallardo (5-3-2)
148-pounds (4 rounds)
Zach Cooper (2-1-2) vs. Will Fernandez (0-3)
160-pounds (4 rounds)
Andre Keys (pro debut) vs. Lexus Pagampao (pro debut)
119-pounds (4 rounds)
Isaiah Najera (2-1) vs. Nestor Hernandez (pro debut)
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ABOUT BRIAN HALQUIST
Brian Halquist Productions is the Northwest premiere fight promotion company creator of the famed “Battle at the Boat” boxing series promoting more than 19 years and over 100 fights at the Emerald Queen Casino. BHP has also built the largest professional MMA series on the USA’s west coast with “CageSport MMA” nearing more than 50 fights. Brian Halquist Productions has promoted events for ESPN, ShowTime and HBO and featured on Showtime’s historic boxing event in St Lucia, West Indies. Brian Halquist Productions has been promoting fights and concerts for over 30 years in the Pacific Northwest.
