FLINT, Mich., (December 10, 2024)– Ahead of Thursday night’s “BIG TIME BOXING USA” event taking place live at Dort Financial Center in Flint, hometown star and No. 8-ranked IBF Junior Middleweight Ardreal Holmes, Jr and Michigan’s surging contender Joey Spencer joined a media open workout last Friday at Berston Field House in Flint, Mich.
On Tuesday, Holmes also worked out in front of the media at Berston and was joined by the undefeated Samantha Worthington, who takes on Jaica Pavilus and fellow women’s boxer Caroline Veyre of Montreal, who will take Gabriela Bouvier in a 10-round bout for the WBC International Featherweight Title. In addition, Macomb’s Kahmel Makled alsoparticipated as he prepares to make his pro boxing debut.
This will be the sixth “BIG TIME BOXING USA” card since the series launched in February and is inarguably the series’ strongest lineup to date from top to bottom, including Michigan’s Da’Velle Smith. All the action takes place at Dort Financial Center in Flint, with the top four bouts airing live on DAZN (8p ET/5p PT), the undisputed global home of boxing. Tickets for the event are on sale now and can be purchased online HERE or in-person at the Dort Financial Center Box Office.
Ardreal Holmes Jr., who, if successful on Thursday, will be on the doorstep of competing for his first world title, said: “This is a dream come true for me, and I can’t wait for Thursday night.
“I can’t believe this is happening really. I still feel like the kid riding his bike down the street. Now, I feel like my dream is finally coming true. I hope the city of Flint comes out to see it.
“I feel like I have sacrificed and dedicated myself to become a world champion. I’ve been coming to the gym since I was 11 or 12 years old, and I thank my promoter Dmitriy Salita.”
On headlining in his hometown once again “It’s indescribable. I’ve been dreaming of this since I was 15. I’m 15 years in, and I feel like I’m just starting out. A lot of these fighters on the card, I came up with them. It feels like the amateurs all over again. I’m just happy to see everyone get to that new level and compete alongside them. It feels like a real-life action move. I can’t wait to get out there and see what everyone else has been working on.”
On balancing his training “It’s still a learning experience. Sometimes, I still overwork myself because I want it that bad. This fight, I will be way sharper. In the last fight, I felt that I had overworked myself. This time, I eased up on the gas a little bit, and I feel much sharper. Boxing is one of those sports where a loss can set you back tremendously, so every time I go out there, I need to be the sharpest.”
Samantha Worthington:
“After a couple of Olympic runs, I decided to make the move to become a professional. Starting my career with multiple knockouts affirmed my decision and let me know I was right where I was supposed to be.
“I don’t plan for knockouts. They sort of just come. I scored my first knockout when I was 13 years old and was like, ‘Oh my gosh. What did I just do?’ That power has always been there for me, so it just comes naturally.
“Claressa (Shields, her friend and co-promoter) and I were on Team USA together a couple of times. The first time was when we were both on the Youth Championships team in 2013, so we just became best friends. Fast forward to 2015, we were both on Team USA. We continued to grow that friendship. When I turned pro, she was always there, advocating for me and being that mentor. It’s really special and full circle moment in our careers, being the first fighter she has signed in her promotion.”
Joey Spencer:
“When I was younger, guys like Ardreal Holmes Jr. were the people I idolized. They were the ones doing what I wanted to do. Fighters like Claressa [Shields] were the people who set the standard for the ones coming up.
“I’ve been at most of the cards these guys have fought on just to be there in support. I’ve always wanted to fight at the Dort Financial Center. It is sort of a bucket list thing for people in this area.”
Caroline Veyre:
“I’ve been training for this fight for the past two months, and everything went great during training camp. My opponent is going to be tough, and we both have our sights set on that belt.
“I’ve fought 10 rounds once before and this is what we have trained for.
“I am very familiar with the rich boxing tradition and history in Detroit and Flint, the home of Claressa Shields. I’m looking forward to putting on a great show for the fans. No predictions, but I’m ready for a war if it has to be a war.”
Kahmel Makled:
“I am extremely excited. Blessed, to say the least. It wouldn’t be possible without my team, my manager, Salita Promotions, and DAZN to let me be on the card. It’s special. It’s something I worked for a very long time.
“I had about 30 amateur fights, so relatively short compared to some other guys. I was ranked in the top ten in the country at 189 pounds, and I was a two-time Detroit Golden Glove Champion.
“I know that my opponent (Dominque Dunning) has a decent amount of MMA experience, but this is also his pro debut in boxing.
“There are many reasons why I got into boxing, but the biggest reason is that I have always been obsessed with boxing. I loved boxing when I was a kid; I loved watching it. My parents weren’t a huge fan of it, so it was set in stone once I turned 18, and team sports were not a thing. After my first boxing lesson, there were no more questions.”
