KANSAS CITY, Kan. (August 14, 2025) – Marco “El Tiburon” Romero (9-0, 8 KOs) is preparing for his first professional fight at home in Olathe, Kansas, on September 6. His living legend manager and head trainer, John Brown, has advised Romero to observe future Hall of Famer Oleksandr Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) as a perfect example for his development.
Turner Boxing Academy, owned and operated by Brown in Kansas City (KS), is promoting “The Homecoming,” a professional/amateur boxing card to be headlined by hometown hero Romero, on September 6, at Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center in Olathe, Kansas.
Usyk, a proud Ukrainian who captured a gold medal for his country in the 2012 Olympic Games in London, was the undisputed world cruiserweight champion before moving up to duplicate that feat, not once but twice, as a heavyweight.
“Usyk is a good example for Marco to follow,” Brown explained. “I have him watching videos of Usyk. He’s such an impressive guy, in and out of the ring, and that’s why I’m pushing Marco in his direction. I’m a big fan of Tyson Fury, but I’m trying to instill Usyk’s traits in Marco as a fighter because of Usyk’s tenacity and will, top conditioning, and boxing science knowledge. I’m a realist about life and boxing, how tough they both are, but I always teach my boxers that to be successful in this sport, as well as in life, they need to be obsessed for success.”
“I never really paid attention to Usyk until recently,” Romero added. “He is definitely one of a kind. His movement, footwork, and output for a heavyweight is insane, especially since he’s not on the big side in the heavyweight division. Usyk is a beast!”
“The Homecoming” is a fundraiser for the Turner Boxing Academy. The primary sponsor of this event is McCarthy Auto Group, and a part of the proceeds will be donated to Safe Kids Johnson County.
Romero, 19 years old and a 23-time national amateur champion, will be fighting in his first scheduled 8-round bout. Romero takes on Javier Dario Aragon (7-1-1, 3 KOs) in the main event. This bout will also mark Romero’s debut as a middleweight with him moving down one division from super middleweight, where he has competed since turning professional.
To watch a recent American Dream TV feature story of Romero, click HERE.
Undefeated Topeka (KS) heavyweight John “Iron Man” Cantrell (14-0, 13 KOs) faces Portland “The Prince” Pringle (5-5, 1 KO), who is from Lexington, Kentucky, in the 8-round co-featured event.
The undercard will feature popular Kansas City (KS) welterweight Marcell Davidson (6-0, 4 KOs) in a 4-round match versus Ociel Vazquez (2-1, 2 KOs), of Dallas. Davidson was a 2-time winner of The Ringside World Championships, as well as a 2019 National Golden Gloves Tournament gold medalist.
Leawood (KS) cruiserweight Ben Turla will make his pro debut in a 4-round match versus Randy “SPAWN” Martina (1-0, 1) from Fort Riley, Kansas. Turla was a 3-time national amateur champion, including top honors at the 2022 USA Boxing Elite Championships.
Opening the pro side of the card is a 4-round welterweight battle between Anthony Adams, Jr. (6-1, 5 KOs), of Kansas City (KS), and Topeka’s Marquis Hawthorne (1-0, 1 KO).
Card subject to change.
Tickets are on sale and reasonably priced at $75.00 (reserved rows 1-3) and $40.00 (general admission) for purchase online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-homecoming-pro-boxing-in-olathe-ks-tickets-1513153987309?aff=ebdssbdestsearch. Contact Turner Boxing Academy at 913.515.6431 or www.turnerboxing.com for more information.
A 4-bout USA Boxing-sanctioned amateur card, starting at 6:30 p.m. CT, will precede the pro card.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. CT.
INFORMATION
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Facebook: #MarcoRomero #TurnerBoxingAcademy
About Turner Boxing Academy: Turner Boxing Academy (TBA) is a non-profit youth boxing club run by volunteers who are passionate about the sport and the positive impact it has on young people. The academy is based inside the Turner Recreation Center in Kansas City, Kansas. It is dedicated to providing a safe and supportive environment for kids to learn and practice the art of boxing.
TBA is committed to instilling discipline, confidence, and a strong work ethic in our young athletes. We believe in the power of boxing to build character and resilience, and we are passionate about helping our students unlock their full potential both inside and outside the ring.
About McCarthy Auto Group: McCarthy Auto Group is a family-owned network of full-service automotive dealerships and repair centers, proudly headquartered in the Kansas City metro. With more than 30 years of deep-rooted local history, we’ve grown to operate 9 award-winning dealerships across Missouri and Kansas, along with 4 well-established Collision centers.
As a company of over 700 employees, it offers a wide selection of new and used vehicles backed by transparent financing, fair pricing, and an unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction. McCarthy Auto Group remains dedicated to giving back awarding over 60 local scholarships annually and supporting numerous community partners, including the Boys & Girls Clubs, American Cancer Society, Kansas City Crime Commission, area high schools, animal shelters, and many more.
About Safe Kids Johnson County: Safe Kids Johnson County (KS) is led by the Johnson County Health Department, which provides a dedicated and caring staff, operation support and other resources to assist in achieving its common goal: keeping your kids safe. Based on the needs of the community, this coalition implements evidence-based programs, such as car-seat checkups, safety workshops and sports clinics, which help parents and caregivers prevent childhood injuries.
