Queens, NY (November 21, 2012) – Super middleweight contender Will “Power” Rosinsky of Queens, NY makes his return to the ring Wednesday, December 19 when he faces battle tested contender Otis “Triple OG” Griffin in an eight round featured bout at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City.

The winner of Oscar De La Hoya’s “Next Great Champion” TV series, Griffin’s fought some of the top fighters in and around the light heavyweight division including Marcus Oliveira, Yusaf Mack, Danny Green, Jesse Brinkley, Shawn Hawk, Cedric Agnew and Jeff Lacy. The Sacramento, CA native, who played pro football prior to boxing, knocked out former world champion Byron Mitchell in 2010 and has wins over 4 undefeated opponents.

“I’m thrilled about this because his team made numerous inquiries about fighting me,” stated Rosinsky, who works full-time as an EMT for the FDNY. “He’s a very experienced fighter who lost some controversial decisions against world class opponents. Against me, there will be no controversy because the judges won’t be needed!”

Rosinsky, who is amongst the most popular fighters in the New York area, has an excellent 16-2 professional ledger with 9 wins by way of knockout. The 2005 United States Amateur titlist holds impressive wins over Aaron Pryor Jr., Zane Marks and Yasin Rashid. In October 2011, Rosinsky fought on a national stage for the first time, dropping a controversial decision to top-notch Edwin Rodriguez on Showtime.

In his most recent bout, Rosinsky lost a gutsy decision to former undisputed middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik on HBO. Against Pavlik, the popular New Yorker recovered from a flash knockdown to open a cut below Pavlik’s left eye, but ultimately dropped a competitive ten round decision.

“I’m looking forward to returning to the Big Apple,” said Rosinsky, who fought 15 of his 18 bouts in New York City. “I’ve had many good memories here and I’m putting the work in during my training to make sure that the fans will enjoy a great fight on the 19th.”

Tickets are available on Teamfighttowalk.com. All tickets purchased will be available at the will call window on fight night under the credit card holder’s name.

Baltimore, MD (November 10, 2012) – Jake Smith’s Baltimore Boxing Promotions in association with Baltimore Boxing & Fitness hits the Du Burns Arena Friday, December 7 with “Bombs Away on Pearl Harbor Day,” a special tribute card loaded with matches featuring the best local boxers.

Taking place on the 71st anniversary of Pearl Harbor, Baltimore Boxing will honor the late Mike “The American Dream” Dietrich, a beloved local star who tragically passed away in March 2010 at the age of 26. In his honor, the first ever “Mike Dietrich Award” is being presented to legendary boxing trainer Frank Gilbert and a canned food drive takes place throughout the evening for the church Dietrich attended.

“This is going to be one of my most memorable nights in boxing,” said Smith, who trained and promoted Dietrich. “Mike was not only one of my favorite fighters, he was a close friend and the kid had a heart of gold. I’ve wanted to do something like this for awhile and there’s no better place to give an award in his honor than in the same building he had some of his most memorable moments in.”

Topping the fight card is a highly-anticipated matchup between Maryland State and East Coast Middleweight titlist Jerome Featherstone of Baltimore and Salisbury’s Maynard Sterling. A local high school wrestling legend that starred at the University of Oklahoma, Featherstone’s unbeaten in the ring and continues to improve rapidly at the Baltimore Boxing & Fitness Gym. A veteran of 40 fights, Sterling competed in national tournaments and is a former Metro titlist.

The co-featured bout of the evening pits Baltimore native Jamal Dyer vies for the East Coast Welterweight belt when he challenges Jeffrey Rodriguez of Lancaster, PA.

Additional bouts featuring top local fighters will be added shortly.

For the second time in 2012, Baltimore Boxing is proudly teaming up with the American Red Cross Gala of the Chesapeake Region to help with relief efforts. A special silent auction will take place throughout the evening along with a 50/50 raffle, with all proceeds going to the Red Cross.

“The American Red Cross is deeply appreciative of the public’s interest in our work, particularly surrounding the disaster relief operations for Hurricane Sandy,” said Kristen Duncan, Regional Events & Recognition Coordinator for the American Red Cross of the Chesapeake Region. “We are so fortunate to be part of a community that is called to act when others are in need. Baltimore Boxing has been great to work with and we are looking forward to a great event. They are helping us gain exposure with new audiences and bringing our mission to the forefront of their organization. We could not be more grateful of their support.”

Tickets for “Bombs Away on Pearl Harbor Day” start at $20 and are available at Baltimoreboxing.com and at the Baltimore Boxing & Fitness Gym. VIP tables are also currently on sale, ranging from $200 to $500. All VIP ticketholders can enjoy free hors d’oeuvres and half priced drinks from 7-8 pm. Doors open at 6:30 and the first bout is scheduled for 8:15.

Junior Middleweight Captain Boyd “Rainmaker” Melson, a West Point graduate and Army Reserve Officer, was featured in the latest issue of Sports Illustrated. The New York native donates all of his fight purses to justadollarplease.org, a 501(C)(3), to help support bringing trials to the United States to cure Spinal Cord Injuries. Melson, 10-1-1 (4 KO’s), also started Team Fight to Walk, a team of pro fighters that also support the cause through social media, word of mouth and personal donations amongst other ways. Currently, more than 300,000 Americans, including 40,000 veterans, suffer from serious Spinal Cord Injuries and are unable to get the care they need in the US.

I am privileged to be able to spend my ordinary life sharing the stories of extraordinary people,” said Bryan Graham, who wrote the story for Sports Illustrated. “Few if any of those figures are more exceptional than Boyd Melson. In an age of perfunctory, hands-off athlete philanthropy, Melson’s mission in the cruelest sport — where one punch can take your life — represents the pinnacle of selflessness. He is not the first sportsman to be driven by a higher calling, but how many have given so completely and without pretense? What he’s done and continues to do is reshaping our idea of a professional athlete.”

For more information, go to justadollarplease.org or teamfighttowalk.com.

New York, NY (October 24, 2012) – Although he’ll go down in history as a member of the first fight ever at the Barclays Center in his native Brooklyn, NY, Captain Boyd “Rainmaker” Melson left the ring last Saturday night a frustrated fighter.

“I won this fight at worst 4 rounds to 2 with the mutual knockdowns canceling each other out,” the West Point graduate said of his six round junior middleweight bout with rugged veteran Jason Thompson. “I got caught early on in a round that I was winning before I got knocked down and won the rest of after. Additionally, I controlled the ring generalship.”

With close to 300 fans cheering him on, Melson got off to a rough start, suffering a knockdown during the first stanza. After retaking control in the second round, Melson stormed back in the third, decking Thompson with a hard hook immediately followed by a straight left, but was unable to finish his game foe off. During the final three rounds, Thompson landed a few hard clean punches each round while Melson continued to connect with a significantly higher volume of more visibly effective punches. He also demonstrated a better level of conditioning down the stretch by finishing strong.

Thompson continued to fight Melson hard despite receiving more punishment as the final round came to a close for the two New Yorkers. Virtually all of the ringside media members believed Melson’s consistency in pressing the fight and landing significantly higher visibly effective blows throughout the bout clearly earned him the victory.

After six exciting rounds to kick off a historic evening of boxing, all three judges scored the bout 56-56.

“I’m very upset with the decision,” stated Melson, who fought three times since August, all while working a fulltime job for Johnson&Johnson and serving as an Army Reserve Officer. “There was maybe one round outside of the first that I could’ve given to him, so that’d make it 4 rounds to 2 in my favor. This is one of my most frustrating moments in professional boxing, but I am sure I will have more. Most important, I need to keep working harder to ensure I am doing all I possibly can to not leave any doubt in the judges eyes as to my earning a clear victory.”

Even with the draw, the popular Brooklynite recognized there were some good things that came out of the evening.

“On the contrary, there were many positives tonight. I was blessed with the opportunity to be a part of history and there were a lot of people who wanted to speak to me about what I fight for. Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy Promotions were extremely generous to not only allow me to fight on their card, but to match my purse by personally donating to Justadollarplease.org. I loved fighting at the Barclays Center and hope to be on another card in the near future. I also had one of the most special moments of my life when my best friend Christan Zaccagnino, who is my inspiration for what I do, wheel in her chair down the aisle with me as I walked to the ring for my bout. I will never forget that moment.”

Melson, one of the most popular local fighters in the New York area, will take a brief break from boxing after fighting seven times since October 2011.

In association with the 501 (C) 3 nonprofit Justadollarplease.org, Melson and his best friend Christan Zaccagnino created Team Fight to Walk, whose mission is to raise awareness within the boxing community as well as the entire nation about the importance of bringing Clinical Trials to the United States to help cure Spinal Cord Injuries. Team Fight to Walk is comprised of Melson, Zaccagnino, former Rutgers football player/ESPY honoree Eric LeGrand, two-time cruiserweight champion Steve “USS” Cunningham, title contender DeAndre “The Bull” Latimore, Edgar “El Chamaco” Santana, Hector “Machito” Camacho Jr., 2008 US Olympians Demetrius “Boo” Andrade and Shawn Estrada along with prospects Sid “The Messenger” El Harrak, Jeff “TNT” Spencer, Denis “Da Momma’s Boy” Douglin, Will “Power” Rosinsky, Floriano “Italiano” Pagliara, Danny “Little Mac” McDermott, Vinny “The Lion” O’Brien, Ahmed “Prince of Egypt” Samir and Delen “Sniper” Parsley.

New York, NY (October 18, 2012) – With four world title bouts scheduled and an undercard stacked with elite talent kicking off boxing’s debut at the Barclays Center, Captain Boyd “Rainmaker” Melson understands they’ll be a ton of people watching him Saturday evening. Additionally, Golden Boy Promotions Founder and boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya announced that he’s personally contributing to Justadollarplease.org, the charity Melson’s donated all of his fight purses to.

“There’s definitely a lot of pressure on me for this fight but I’m far more excited than nervous, especially after Oscar announced at the press conference that he’s helping Justadollarplease.org,” said Melson, who twice fought on big cards headlined by world title matchups. “This is something different than ever before because I’m going to be a part of history and people have been talking about the first fight card at the Barclays Center as long as I can remember.”

To ensure he’s sharp as a razor inside the squared circle, Melson returned to the gym just three days after dominating Yolexcy Leiva on September 22. Against Leiva, Melson displayed drastic improvements from his prior bout, but knows he’ll have to be even better when he fights in front of a packed house in his native Brooklyn.

“It’s an honor to be fighting on the same night as some of the sport’s top talents,” said Melson, who attended Brooklyn Technical High School, which is a five minute walk from the Barclays Center. “There are a lot of people coming to see me fight and all of the other fighters on the card have large fan bases too. I can’t wait to go out and give the fans a great performance. I’ve never been this excited before!”

Melson battles tough New Yorker Jason Thompson, who fought six undefeated opponents, and his full fight purse will once again go to Justadollarplease.org to support bringing clinical trials to the United States to help cure Spinal Cord Injuries.

In association with the 501 (C) 3 nonprofit Justadollarplease.org, Melson and his best friend Christan Zaccagnino created Team Fight to Walk, whose mission is to raise awareness within the boxing community as well as the entire nation about the importance of bringing Clinical Trials to the United States to help cure Spinal Cord Injuries. Team Fight to Walk is comprised of Melson, Zaccagnino, former Rutgers football player/ESPY honoree Eric LeGrand, two-time cruiserweight champion Steve “USS” Cunningham, title contender DeAndre “The Bull” Latimore, Edgar “El Chamaco” Santana, Hector “Machito” Camacho Jr., 2008 US Olympians Demetrius “Boo” Andrade and Shawn Estrada along with prospects Sid “The Messenger” El Harrak, Jeff “TNT” Spencer, Denis “Da Momma’s Boy” Douglin, Will “Power” Rosinsky, Floriano “Italiano” Pagliara, Danny “Little Mac” McDermott, Vinny “The Lion” O’Brien, Ahmed “Prince of Egypt” Samir and Delen “Sniper” Parsley.

For more information or to make a donation, go to teamfighttowalk.com or Justadollarplease.org. All specific questions about the nature of the Clinical Trial to cure Spinal Cord Injury can be sent to boydmelson@yahoo.com.

Baltimore, MD (October 16, 2012) – Jake Smith’s Baltimore Boxing Promotions is proud to announce that they’ve donated a first row VIP table to students from Perry Hall High School for this Saturday’s “Bully Beatdown” fight card at the Du Burns Arena.

On August 27, tragedy struck at Perry Hall when 15-year-old sophomore Robert Gladden Jr. opened fire inside the cafeteria, wounding a special needs student before being subdued by two teachers. Gladden Jr., who reportedly did not have a specific target, was bullied by classmates and had 11 guns at his nearby home.

“When I first heard about the Perry Hall shooting, I was sick to my stomach,” stated Smith, who also donated to the American Breast Cancer Foundation and American Red Cross Gala of Central Maryland earlier this year. “I have a daughter that goes to school in the Baltimore area and it scares me knowing that she could’ve been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Bullying in our schools is a serious issue and the victims need to know that there is help out there because we need to avoid issues like this at all costs. The anti-bullying movement is more important now than ever before and I want to do whatever I can to make a difference!”

All of the guests from Perry Hall will be seated ringside for a special evening of Olympic-style boxing and anti-bullying awareness. All “Bully Beatdown” attendees are going to receive informal pamphlets about stopping bullying and a number of local pro fighters will speak to the crowd about the issue throughout the evening.

Advanced general admission tickets for $20, floor seating at $30 and VIP seats for $50 are available by calling 410-375-9175 or logging onto BaltimoreBoxing.com. All VIP ticketholders can enjoy free hors d’oeuvres and half priced drinks from 7-8 pm.

VIP ticketholders also have exclusive access to meet and greet five-time world champion and boxing great Vinny Paz, the event’s special guest attendee. Paz, who participated many of the most exciting fights in boxing history, defeated the likes of Hall of Famer Roberto Duran (twice), Lloyd Honeyghan, Gilbert Dele, Greg Haugen and Dana Rosenblatt among others.

Headlining the card is a three round East Coast Middleweight Championship matchup between surging star and former University of Oklahoma wrestling standout Jerome Featherstone of Baltimore and Keith Samuels.

In supporting bouts, junior welterweight Alex Livichuzhca meets Jose Cabb for Baltimore bragging rights. Former Penn State Boxing captain AJ Williams meets Bobby Sha of York, PA in a middleweight contest. Former Detroit Tigers prospect Ryan Roberson of Silver Spring, MD makes his debut against Mike Lloyd in a heavyweight contest and a number of other local are scheduled to fight on the card.

Doors for “Bully Beatdown” open at 6:30 pm and the first bout is scheduled for 8:15.

New York, NY (October 15, 2012) – Captain Boyd “Rainmaker” Melson of New York City by way of Brooklyn, NY will challenge fellow New Yorker Jason Thompson in a six round junior middleweight contest Saturday, October 20 on the inaugural fight card at the Barclays Center.

The heavy-handed Thompson fought a number of quality fighters, including contenders Jonathan Gonzalez and Mike Jones, 2008 US Olympian Sadam Ali and junior middleweight prospect Steve Martinez. Although his official professional ledger is 5-6-1 with 4 knockouts, Thompson’s anything but a safe opponent. Thompson owns two first round stoppages against previously unbeaten opponents and fought a total of six undefeated fighters.

“Thompson’s fought a lot of top guys and he’s not just coming for the paycheck,” said Melson, who is less than a month removed from an impressive victory over Yolexcy Leiva. “He’s also from New York and there’s a ton of pride involved when two guys from the same area face one another. I expect him to have a lot of people in the arena that will be rooting against me and that’s not something I’m accustomed to.”

Since turning pro in November 2010, the West Point graduate’s won 10 of his 11 bouts, displaying solid boxing skills along with good power in both hands. Although he’s won most of his fights handily, Melson recognizes that he’s got to keep improving with every performance.

“A lot of people told me my last fight was my best as a pro,” said Melson, who was selected as an alternate for the 2008 Olympics. “There are still things I’m working on and plan to showcase against Thompson. He’s a very tough opponent regardless of what his record is and I’m expecting a solid challenge on Saturday evening.”

Tickets to the first ever boxing card at the brand new Barclays Center are available on Teamfighttowalk.com. The website also has t-shirts and wristbands on sale, with 100% of the money (along with Melson’s entire fight purse) going to Justadollarplease.org to support bringing trials to the United States to cure Spinal Cord Injuries.

In association with the 501 (C) 3 nonprofit Justadollarplease.org, Melson and his best friend Christan Zaccagnino created Team Fight to Walk, whose mission is to raise awareness within the boxing community as well as the entire nation about the importance of bringing Clinical Trials to the United States to help cure Spinal Cord Injuries. Team Fight to Walk is comprised of Melson, Zaccagnino, former Rutgers football player/ESPY honoree Eric LeGrand, two-time cruiserweight champion Steve “USS” Cunningham, title contender DeAndre “The Bull” Latimore, Edgar “El Chamaco” Santana, Hector “Machito” Camacho Jr., 2008 US Olympians Demetrius “Boo” Andrade and Shawn Estrada along with prospects Sid “The Messenger” El Harrak, Jeff “TNT” Spencer, Denis “Da Momma’s Boy” Douglin, Will “Power” Rosinsky, Floriano “Italiano” Pagliara, Danny “Little Mac” McDermott, Vinny “The Lion” O’Brien, Ahmed “Prince of Egypt” Samir and Delen “Sniper” Parsley.

For more information or to make a donation, go to teamfighttowalk.com or Justadollarplease.org. All specific questions about the nature of the Clinical Trial to cure Spinal Cord Injury can be sent to boydmelson@yahoo.com.

Tacoma, WA (September 25, 2012) – The “CageSport XXI” card will air on ROOT SPORTS Friday, October 5 from 10-11 pm, Friday, October 12 midnight-1 am and Sunday, October 21 11 pm-midnight.

The card takes place Saturday evening at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma. Doors open at 6 and the first fight is at 7.

With a total of ten professional bouts scheduled, “CageSport XXI” features five undefeated fighters including Brent Knopp, Brandon Dudley, Emmanuel Sanchez, Jacob Boysen and Julian Erosa, along with stars such as Brandon Pitts, Sean Villalva and Ryan Mulvihill.

In addition to an exciting night of action, fans will be treated to expert commentary from a special trio of broadcasters.

The always-entertaining Danny Bonaduce became a star during his childhood as a member of the hit TV show The Partridge Family. Bonaduce participated in several celebrity boxing events, competing against famed attorney Robert Shapiro, actor Barry Williams of the Brady Bunch and former MLB MVP Jose Canseco, who was 100 lbs heavier and 1 foot taller than him. Bonaduce can currently be heard during morning drive time on Seattle’s KZOK 102.5 FM in Seattle and is a part of the hit TV series World’s Dumbest.

Known for his unbelievable MMA knowledge, Jeff Osborne is a former UFC announcer who later played an integral part in the rise of women’s MMA. In addition to being involved in early matches of Frank Mir, Mike Brown and Jon Fitch, Osborne promoted the first ever all-female MMA card in 2002, drawing more than 1,800 fans.

Ironically, future Fighter of the Year and two-time world champion Miesha “Cupcake” Tate was one of the bouts featured on Osborne’s all-female card. Born and bred in Tacoma, Tate’s match with Rhonda Rousey on the Showtime Network was the most watched women’s fight in history.

“I’m very happy ROOT SPORTS is going to play the fights on three separate occasions,” said promoter Brian Halquist of Halquist Productions. “We have a lot of hardcore fight fans who’ve been waiting for something like this for awhile and I believe they’ll tune in to watch the best fighters that CageSport has to offer.”

Tickets are available on ticketmaster.com or by going to the Emerald Queen box office. For more information and the latest updates, go to Halquistproductions.com or http://www.facebook.com/pages/CageSport-MMA/188915101800

New York, NY (September 25, 2012) – Less than three days after soundly defeating Yolexcy Leiva, popular junior middleweight Boyd “Rainmaker” Melson is preparing for his next challenge.

On October 20, Melson will fight in a six round bout against an opponent to be named as part of a historic card at the brand new Barclays Center in his hometown of Brooklyn, NY. With four world title fights, an undercard stacked with top-tier talent and a sellout crowd expected, the West Point Graduate is fighting on the biggest platform of his career. In the aforementioned bout against Leiva, Melson received praise for making noticeable improvements, but knows he still has a lot of things to work on.

“There are still plenty of adjustments I have to make to be at the high level I was during my amateur career,” said Melson, who in addition to having a 10-1 professional ledger, works full time for Johnson&Johnson and is an active Army Reserve Officer. “With the proximity of this bout to my one last weekend, there’s no time for rest. This is a huge card and one of the most anticipated in recent memory. I must make a strong statement in this fight because it will undoubtedly lead to bigger and better things.”

Melson’s opponent will be announced shortly.

Tickets for Melson’s fight starting at $56 are available on Teamfighttowalk.com and must be ordered by October 14. Melson’s entire fight purse will be donated to Justadollarplease.org to support brining a trial to America to help cure Chronic Spinal Cord Injuries.

In association with the 501 (C) 3 nonprofit Justadollarplease.org, Melson and his best friend Christan Zaccagnino created Team Fight to Walk, whose mission is to raise awareness within the boxing community as well as the entire nation about the importance of bringing Clinical Trials to the United States to help cure Spinal Cord Injuries. Team Fight to Walk is comprised of Melson, Zaccagnino, former Rutgers football player/ESPY honoree Eric LeGrand, two-time cruiserweight champion Steve “USS” Cunningham, title contender DeAndre “The Bull” Latimore, Edgar “El Chamaco” Santana, Hector “Machito” Camacho Jr., 2008 US Olympians Demetrius “Boo” Andrade and Shawn Estrada along with prospects Sid “The Messenger” El Harrak, Jeff “TNT” Spencer, Denis “Da Momma’s Boy” Douglin, Will “Power” Rosinsky, Floriano “Italiano” Pagliara, Danny “Little Mac” McDermott, Vinny “The Lion” O’Brien, Ahmed “Prince of Egypt” Samir and Delen “Sniper” Parsley.

For more information or to make a donation, go to teamfighttowalk.com or Justadollarplease.org. All specific questions about the nature of the Clinical Trial to cure Spinal Cord Injury can be sent to boydmelson@yahoo.com.

Queens, NY (September 23, 2012) – Captain Boyd “Rainmaker” Melson of New York City won for the tenth time in eleven fights Saturday evening by earning a clear-cut six round decision over upset-minded Yolexcy Leiva.

Fighting in one of the featured bouts at the Resorts World Casino’s first ever boxing card, Melson decked Leiva in the opening stanza with a picture perfect hook, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Leiva made it back to his feet and tried to drag Melson into a dogfight, but the West Point graduate’s boxing ability steered him clear of any serious danger. For the majority, Melson’s ring generalship, counter hooks and timing enabled him to control the junior middleweight contest.

Melson, who was in better condition than his prior bout, buzzed Leiva on multiple occasions and finished strong.

Scores were 59-54 twice and 58-55.

“I didn’t have such a battle against weight for this fight so I wasn’t fatigued,” said Melson, whose entire fight purse was donated to Justadollarplease.org to support a trial in American to help cure chronic Spinal Cord Injuries. “He was coming at me the whole fight and it allowed me to effectively box.”

Even with what most considered the strongest performance of his pro career, Melson was his own harshest critic.

“I moved to my left too often and got hit with some hard shots that I shouldn’t have. I should’ve jabbed more and have to do even better my next fight because I was still getting hit too much.”

Melson, 10-1 (4 KO’s), returns Saturday, October 20 as part of a historic boxing card taking place at the brand new Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.

More information about Melson’s October 20 bout will be available shortly on Teamfighttowalk.com.

In association with the 501 (C) 3 nonprofit Justadollarplease.org, Melson and his best friend Christan Zaccagnino created Team Fight to Walk, whose mission is to raise awareness within the boxing community as well as the entire nation about the importance of bringing Clinical Trials to the United States to help cure Spinal Cord Injuries. Team Fight to Walk is comprised of Melson, Zaccagnino, former Rutgers football player/ESPY honoree Eric LeGrand, two-time cruiserweight champion Steve “USS” Cunningham, title contender DeAndre “The Bull” Latimore, Edgar “El Chamaco” Santana, Hector “Machito” Camacho Jr., 2008 US Olympians Demetrius “Boo” Andrade and Shawn Estrada along with prospects Sid “The Messenger” El Harrak, Jeff “TNT” Spencer, Denis “Da Momma’s Boy” Douglin, Will “Power” Rosinsky, Floriano “Italiano” Pagliara, Danny “Little Mac” McDermott, Vinny “The Lion” O’Brien, Ahmed “Prince of Egypt” Samir and Delen “Sniper” Parsley.

For more information or to make a donation, go to teamfighttowalk.com or Justadollarplease.org. All specific questions about the nature of the Clinical Trial to cure Spinal Cord Injury can be sent to boydmelson@yahoo.com.

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New York, NY (September 17, 2012) – Although popular junior middleweight Boyd “Rainmaker” Melson won 9 of his 10 professional fights including four by knockout, he believes the best is yet to come.

As an amateur, the West Point graduate a number of tournaments and traveled with some of the world’s most heralded boxers for international competitions. Along the way, he impressed beat future pro standouts such as Charles Hatley, DeAndre Latimore and Keith Thurman. Melson also battled future world champion Austin Trout and rising stars Erislandy Lara, Danny Jacobs, Adam Trupish and Demetrius Andrade amongst others.

“I was right there with all of the top guys,” said Melson, who was a member of the Army’s World Class Athlete Program (WCAP). “As a pro, I’ve done a decent job but to get to the next level, adjustments are necessary.”

On Saturday evening, Melson will have the chance to make the aforementioned adjustments when he meets Brooklyn based Cuban Yolexcy Leiva in a six round special feature bout at the World Casino in Queens, NY. Leiva, 5-4 (4 KO’s), faced four undefeated foes, most recently losing a split decision to Thomas LaManna in Atlantic City, NJ. Like many fighters from his native land, Leiva’s a tough fighter that has no issue turning a boxing match into a dogfight.

To ensure he’s ready for a high-paced fight, Melson’s added additional cardio and endurance drills so he can be in the best condition of his pro career.

“This was something I had to do. In the amateurs, people knew me as a well-conditioned fighter that threw a lot of punches. As a pro, my energy level hasn’t been where I wanted it to be but that will all change. My camp for this fight helped me make the necessary changes so I can return to top form and entertain the fans come Saturday evening.”

Melson’s entire fight purse is being donated to Justadollarplease.org to support a trial in American to help cure chronic Spinal Cord Injuries.

Tickets are available on Teamfighttowalk.com and all tickets purchased will be left at the will call window under the cardholder’s name.

In association with the 501 (C) 3 nonprofit Justadollarplease.org, Melson and his best friend Christan Zaccagnino created Team Fight to Walk, whose mission is to raise awareness within the boxing community as well as the entire nation about the importance of bringing Clinical Trials to the United States to help cure Spinal Cord Injuries. Team Fight to Walk is comprised of Melson, Zaccagnino, former Rutgers football player/ESPY honoree Eric LeGrand, two-time cruiserweight champion Steve “USS” Cunningham, title contender DeAndre “The Bull” Latimore, Edgar “El Chamaco” Santana, Hector “Machito” Camacho Jr., 2008 US Olympians Demetrius “Boo” Andrade and Shawn Estrada along with prospects Sid “The Messenger” El Harrak, Jeff “TNT” Spencer, Denis “Da Momma’s Boy” Douglin, Will “Power” Rosinsky, Floriano “Italiano” Pagliara, Danny “Little Mac” McDermott, Vinny “The Lion” O’Brien, Ahmed “Prince of Egypt” Samir and Delen “Sniper” Parsley.

For more information or to make a donation, go to teamfighttowalk.com or Justadollarplease.org. All specific questions about the nature of the Clinical Trial to cure Spinal Cord Injury can be sent to boydmelson@yahoo.com.

Tacoma, WA (September 14, 2012) – Fight fans will receive a special treat when Halquist Productions’ “CageSport XXI” takes over the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, WA with an unprecedented three feature bouts Saturday, September 29.

For the first time ever, CageSport airs on ROOT SPORTS. Additionally, the broadcast crew is comprised of world famous personality Danny Bonaduce, former UFC announcer Jeff Osborne and two-time fighter of the year Miesha “Cupcake” Tate.

Lightweight Brandon Dudley of North Bend, WA risks his perfect 4-0 record against Springfield, OR resident Emmanuel Sanchez in a three round contest.

Unbeaten in both the pros and as an amateur, Dudley’s forced most of his foes to tap out in the opening round. He’s yet to find himself in any serious danger since entering the octagon and is creating a major buzz amongst MMA fans, who’ve expressed their eagerness to see him fight again.

A winner in his last two bouts, most recently scoring a second round submission over Travis Jackson, Sanchez believes that he’ll be the one to end the hype behind his highly-touted opponent.

Four-time amateur champion Brent “Mankill” Knopp is scheduled to face Brandon Pitts over three rounds in the middleweight division.

The fighting pride of Burien, WA, Knopp’s built a reputation as one of the most explosive strikers in the sport. On July 14, Knopp stopped Darrio Mobley on the “CageSport XX” card.

A natural light heavyweight, Pitts is moving down a division for the biggest challenge of his career. Fresh off a first round TKO on August 4, Pitts plans to use his size and momentum to bring home a victory to Portland, OR. Pitt is trained by 2000 Olympic Greco-Roman Wrestling Silver Medalist Matt Linland out of the world famous Team Quest Gym. The gym was started by Linland along with UFC legends Randy Couture and Dan Henderson.

In featured undercard bouts, rising star and Yakima, WA native Julian Erosa risks his unbeaten record against Bend, OR based chokehold master Jason Gybles. Erosa, who forced most of his opponents to tapout, faces the fellow submission artist in a three round lightweight contest.

Featherweight standouts Jacob Boysen and Ryan Mulvihill will meet in a three rounder for Northwest region supremacy.

At 3-0, Boysen most recently stopped Rob Dyer in the opening round. The Seattle, WA sensation has looked fantastic thus far but is taking a major step up in competition.

Mulvihill, of Spokane, WA fought on six “CageSport” cards, providing the fans with quality bouts each time out. Earlier this year, he took the aforementioned Erosa four rounds before losing by submission. A winner in four of his last six, Mulvihill is faced with yet another tough opponent on the 29th.

“This is going to be a night everybody involved will remember,” said promoter Brian Halquist. “The CageSport brand has grown so much over the years and with the ROOT SPORTS broadcast, things will go to a whole new level. I’m beyond excited for everything that will unfold come September 29!”

Six additional three round undercard matches will take place featuring local standouts Dave Courchaine, Matt Kovacks, Chris Wheaton, Jose Rico, Andy Paves and Damen Wood.

Tickets are available to the ten bout fight card on ticketmaster.com or by going to the Emerald Queen box office. For more information and the latest updates, go to Halquistproductions.com or http://www.facebook.com/pages/CageSport-MMA/188915101800

Tacoma, WA (September 7, 2012) – The CageSport series’ highly-anticipated debut on Root TV will feature an outstanding broadcast team of Miesha “Cupcake” Tate, Danny Bonaduce and Jeff Osborne.

The card takes place Saturday, September 29 at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma.

Root Sports is owned and operated by DIRECTV Sports Networks. Root Sports owns regional telecast rights for many professional and collegiate teams including the Seattle Marines, Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Utah Jazz, Big Sky Conference and Gonzaga University. They also broadcast Big 12, Pac-12 and Conference USA games for both basketball and football.

A lifelong entertainer with an array of talents, Bonaduce’s a familiar face to people from all walks of life. In 1970, Bonaduce burst onto the scene by starring on the hit show “The Partridge Family”. Danny continued to appear on various shows, most recently making a splash on the critically acclaimed TV series World’s Dumbest. In 2000 Bonaduce landed on the highly rated radio program, The Jamie and Danny Show. Currently, he has a show in Seattle called The Danny Bonaduce Show.

A passionate member of the fight community, Bonaduce is undefeated in the celebrity boxing and wrestling circuit, facing fellow celebrities such as Donny Osmond, Barry Williams, attorney Robert Shapiro, and 6’4 240 lb former baseball MVP Jose Canseco.

Jeff Osborne is known throughout the world as an MMA play by play announcer. Osborne commentated UFC 33-37 and is considered one of the top broadcasters in the industry.

Jeff has seen MMA from every angle; broadcasting to promoting and even fighting. In 2002 Osborne promoted the first ever all female MMA show that drew over 1800 fans to the event. Between the initial MMA event and 2010, Osborne has put on 6 all-women’s MMA shows which are arguably half of all-female events in that time span. On one of those shows, a future superstar named Miesha Tate made her pro debut.

Born and raised in Tacoma, Tate is amongst the top female mixed martial artists on the planet and fought under the CageSport banner earlier in her career. Tate, 13-3, has an enormous following and fought multiple times on the Showtime Network. Currently under contract with globally renowned Strikeforce, the bantamweight superstar won Fighter of the Year in 2010 and 2011. In her most recent match, Tate submitted Julie Kedzie in the third round.

A former world champion, Tate’s March 2012 bout against Rhonda Rousey was the most viewed female MMA fight in history.

“This broadcast team is one of a kind and the fact that they’re doing our first card on Root TV is that much more of a reason to check out the action,” exclaimed promoter Brian Halquist, CEO of Halquist Productions. “Miesha, Danny and Jeff all have unique personalities backed by great knowledge of the fight game. I’m really excited to hear them and know that the viewers on Root TV will be treated to a great telecast.”

The official “CageSport XXI” lineup will be announced in the coming days. For more information, go to Halquistproductions.com or Northwest.Rootsports.com.

Verona, NY (September 3, 2012) – Tony “Lightning” Luis lived up to his moniker by taking out veteran Andres Ledesma inside of one round Saturday evening at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, NY.

Fighting in the United States for the first time as a professional, the highly-touted Ontario, Canada native caught Ledesma with a picturesque left hook to the body. The punch, which literally echoed throughout the arena and sent the crowd into a frenzy, put the hard punching Colombian down for the count just 1:57 into the contest.

After the bout, hordes of fans made their way towards Luis to congratulate him on a job well done.

“I’m glad I made a statement in my US debut,” said Luis, who improved to 15-0 with 7 knockouts and fought for the first time under the Greg Cohen Promotions banner. “I caught him with my favorite punch and this fight couldn’t have gone any better!”

Luis’ next fight will be announced shortly.

New York, NY (August 29, 2012) – Captain Boyd “Rainmaker” Melson of New York City is set to challenge cement-fisted Cuban Yolexcy Leiva Saturday, September 22 at the first ever boxing card at World Casino in Queens, NY.

Known for his humanitarianism and large fan base, Melson, 9-1 (4 KO’s), scored a lackluster decision victory over Khalik Memminger on August 2. Leading up to that bout, Melson was on antibiotics for an infection, which kept him out of the gym and made cutting weight a daunting task. The day before weighing-in, he was 13 pounds over the limit but he miraculously made weight. However, he was weak and lacking energy on fight night, ultimately leaving him extremely dissatisfied with his performance.

“The fight against Memminger was my worst performance as a pro and I was more upset about it than most of the fans,” stated Melson. “Regardless, I can’t ever look like that again and expect to win.”

Born in Cuba and based in Brooklyn, NY, Leiva’s no stranger to tough fights, sharing the squared circle with undefeated opponents on four occasions. With a deceptive 5-4 professional ledger, Leiva has four wins by knockout, most notably demolishing hometown favorite Benny Costantino in March. On August 18, he dropped a split decision to undefeated Thomas LaManna following a six round slugfest.

“I know this guy is a lot tougher than my last opponent and I must be 100 times better than I was last time out,” said Melson, who donates his entire fight purse to Justadollarplease.org to help fund a trial to help cure Spinal Cord Injuries. “That fight is no longer a part of my consciousness as I only care right now about creating a new and more proud memory September 22. People spend their hard earned money to watch me fight, and I bust my jump in the gym so that I can shine come showtime!”

Melson and Leiva will meet in a six round special attraction bout on a card promoted by New Legend Boxing, Old World Boxing and W.O.N. Promotions.

Tickets are available on Teamfighttowalk.com.

In association with the 501 (C) 3 nonprofit Justadollarplease.org, Melson and his best friend Christan Zaccagnino created Team Fight to Walk, whose mission is to raise awareness within the boxing community as well as the entire nation about the importance of bringing Clinical Trials to the United States to help cure Spinal Cord Injuries. Team Fight to Walk is comprised of Melson, Zaccagnino, former Rutgers football player/ESPY honoree Eric LeGrand, two-time cruiserweight champion Steve “USS” Cunningham, title contender DeAndre “The Bull” Latimore, Edgar “El Chamaco” Santana, Hector “Machito” Camacho Jr., 2008 US Olympians Demetrius “Boo” Andrade and Shawn Estrada along with prospects Sid “The Messenger” El Harrak, Jeff “TNT” Spencer, Denis “Da Momma’s Boy” Douglin, Will “Power” Rosinsky, Floriano “Italiano” Pagliara, Danny “Little Mac” McDermott, Vinny “The Lion” O’Brien, Ahmed “Prince of Egypt” Samir and Delen “Sniper” Parsley.

For more information or to make a donation, go to teamfighttowalk.com or Justadollarplease.org. All specific questions about the nature of the Clinical Trial to cure Spinal Cord Injury can be sent to boydmelson@yahoo.com.

Cornwall, ON (August 22, 2012) – Rising junior welterweight star Tony “Lighting” Luis of Cornwall, Ontario, Canada will make his highly-anticipated United States debut Saturday, September 1 when he faces hardcore veteran Andres Ledesma at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, NY.

The Luis-Ledesma match-up is slated for six rounds and takes place prior to the HBO doubleheader topped by the Gennady Golovkin-Grzegorz Proska middleweight title match.

A huge ticket seller who’s recognized as one of Canada’s prized prospects, Luis, 14-0 (6 KO’s), is expected to bring a nice crowd with him when he travels north of his nation’s border. The 24-year-old stopped his last three opponents, most recently dispatching of Ferenc Szabo April 7. Shortly after the victory, he signed with US-based Greg Cohen Promotions and plans to captivate the American boxing public.

A true ring veteran, the hard-hitting Ledesma’s faced a number of top fighters. The Miami based Colombian’s shared the squared circle with former world champion Jesus Chavez, Ronny Rios, Mikey Faragon, Juan Carlos Burgos, Raul Martinez, Jose Miguel Aguiniga and Mario Santiago amongst others. On May, 2 2007, Ledesma scored a vicious fifth round KO over hot prospect Gary Stark Jr in New York City, which further validated his power.

“I don’t take anybody lightly,” said Luis, a former WBC Continental Americas champion. “He’s been matched against a number of world class guys and I am expecting him to be at his best because I’m going to be on my A-game.”

Luis also sees this bout opening the door to a bright future in the Land of Opportunity.

“I want to make a big impression in my US debut so I can move onto bigger and better things. It all starts with this fight and I know that I’ve got to win impressively before I can move onto the next level.”

Tickets are available by going to http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/000048FF03E5DED6?artistid=923310&majorcatid=10004&minorcatid=33 or calling the Turning Stone Casino at 1-877-833-7469.

Tacoma, WA (August 19, 2012) – Grizzled veteran Robert Osiobe of Nigeria made his “Battle at the Boat” debut a successful one by scoring a razor-thin majority decision over Forth Worth, TX’s Jose Hernandez Saturday evening in Tacoma.

The 88th edition of “Battle at the Boat” was promoted by Halquist Productions and took place at the Emerald Queen Casino.

An evenly-matched contest between tough lightweights, both men boxed patiently during the first nine rounds, counterpunching for the majority. Osiobe and Hernandez each landed some solid shots, most notably a hard jab that knocked out the Texan’s mouthpiece. In the closing stanza, an aggressive Osiobe and efficient Hernandez fought in close quarters hoping for a knockout, but the final bell left the bout in the judges’ hands.

Scores were 96-94 twice and 95-95.

Osiobe improves to 13-5-4 with 6 knockouts. Hernandez, who dropped a number of close decisions, falls to 13-6-1 with 5 wins by knockout.

Portland, OR native Osvaldo Rojas, 7-2-2 (2 KO’s), took an impressive decision over fan favorite Nate Serrano, 4-2-1 (3 KO’s) in the six round welterweight co-feature. Rojas and Serrano, of nearby Yakima, WA, previously fought to a scintillating six round draw on June 2, but this time the visitor took control.

Rojas, who brought a group of vocal fans down Interstate 5 with him, fought most of the contest from the outside and did so successfully against his shorter foe. Serrano did his best to keep the fight in close quarters however Rojas had a good amount of momentum. In the fifth, Serrano was buzzed by a multi-punch combo but battled back hard in the sixth.

All three judges ruled in Rojas’ favor by the tally of 59-55.

In what turned out to be the most exciting match of the evening, Visalia, CA’s Jose Leon scored a gutsy second round TKO over Kalispell, MT resident Jesse Uhde. Uhde appeared en route to scoring an impressive victory early on, decking Leon with a hard hook in the opening round. Early In the second, Leon was rocked again with another hook and his glove touched the canvas, but the tides ultimately turned. Moments later, Leon connected with a strong shot to Uhde’s face that put him down. Uhde got up on unsteady legs and stumbled into the referee, forcing him to stop the bout at 43 seconds of round number two.

Leon ups his record to 3-1-1 with 2 KO’s, while Uhde slips to 2-2 (1 KO).

In other undercard action, locals Omar Avelar of Moses Lake, WA and Eltopa, WA’s Andres Ramos scored impressive victories. Portland’s Gabriel Pineda also emerged victorious.

“This was a very exciting card,” said promoter Brian Halquist. “We had a lot of hungry fighters on this card and everybody fought extremely hard. I’m definitely impressed with what I saw.”

Halquist Productions returns to the Emerald Queen September 29 with a stacked MMA card followed by “Battle at the Boat 89” on November 3.

Information about both events will be available shortly.

During the last 23 years, Halquist Productions built a reputation in the boxing world for their loyalty, honesty and integrity. In 1997, Halquist Productions ran their inaugural “Battle at the Boat” series, which remains successful to this day. Halquist Productions promoted many world title bouts and their fight cards have been seen on ESPN, HBO and Showtime.

Jose Hernandez: 134.5 Robert Osiobe: 134.5

Nate Serrano: 146 Osvaldo Rojas: 146.5

Omar Avelar: 138.5 William Fernandez: 134

Gabriel Pineda: 138.5* Matthew Flores 134

Jose Leon: 149 Jesse Uhde: 150

Andre Ramos: 129 Frank Mendez: 131.5

* Pineda 2.5 lbs over contract limit

Promoter: Halquist Productions

Venue: Emerald Queen Casino

Tickets: Ticketmaster.com

First Bout: 7 PM

Seattle, WA (August 16, 2012) – Halquist Productions has finalized their lineup for “Battle at the Boat 88.” The card is taking place at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, WA on Saturday and features a total of six action-packed matchups.

Tickets are still available on ticketmaster.com or by visiting the Emerald Queen box office.

Topping the bill is an intriguing ten round lightweight contest between Fort Worth, TX’ Jose Hernandez and Robert Osiobe of Ughelli, Nigeria. Both fighters, who are yet to decline a difficult challenge, look to make a statement by emerging victorious.

Hernandez, 13-5-1 (5 KO’s) and Osiobe, 12-5-4 (6 KO’s), faced Luis Ramos, Rances Barthelemy, Matt Remillard, Sharif Bogere, Michael Angelo Perez, Evgeny Gradovich and Spend Abazi among others. The likable lightweights combined to face an incredible 15 unbeaten opponents, going the distance in 14 of those bouts. Unlike the majority of their matches, this is a showcase opportunity for both fighters on a level playing field.

Easily the most talked about local matchup in recent memory, the six round co-feature pits Yakima’s favorite son Nate Serrano against Portland OR’s Osvaldo Rojas in a highly-anticipated rematch. Serrano, 4-1-1 (3 KO’s) went toe-to-toe with Rojas, 6-2-2 (2 KO’s), on June 2 in a bout that ultimately ended in a draw and both are promising to emerge victorious this time around.

The rest of the undercard features locals in four round bouts, which are expected to take place before a packed house on fight night. Omar Cruz, a Moses Lake, WA resident who’s also a mixed martial artist, meets Kelso, WA’s William Fernandez. A second battle featuring Washington State natives will see Andres Ramos (Eltopa) challenge Frank Mendez (Longview), while Visala, CA resident Jose Leon squares off against Jesse Udhe of Lakeside, MT. Gabriel Pineda, who hails from Hillsboro, OR, meets Matthew Flores, the pride of Twin Falls, ID, to round off the card.

“The local feel is something I really enjoy,” said promoter Brian Halquist. “Some of these fighters are from non-boxing states and don’t have the same opportunity as guys from places like New York, California or Texas. I’m excited about this card on multiple levels, from the main event, to the Serrano-Rojas rematch and of course the preliminary matches. In fact, it’s usually the undercard fights that are often the best, so I advise all ticketholders to get to the venue early.”

Doors open at 6 pm and the opening bell is scheduled for 7.

During the last 23 years, Halquist Productions built a reputation in the boxing world for their loyalty, honesty and integrity. In 1997, Halquist Productions ran their inaugural “Battle at the Boat” series, which remains successful to this day. Halquist Productions promoted many world title bouts and their fight cards have been seen on ESPN, HBO and Showtime.

Tacoma, WA (August 9, 2012) – On June 2, welterweights Nate Serrano and Osvaldo Rojas engaged in one of the most exciting bouts in “Battle at the Boat” history.

Serrano, a retired marine who has a gargantuan fan base at the Emerald Queen Casino and Rojas, a rugged Oregonian, slugged it out throughout their unforgettable six round contest. Both men had their moments and the crowd remained at the edge of their seats from bell to bell.

Upon the bout’s completion, both men were met with a round of applause from the appreciative crowd. A case could’ve been made for either man to emerge as the victor and the pro-Serrano crowd wasn’t sure whose hand would be raised when the scorecards were read.

Ultimately, the judges ruled it a split draw, opening the door for a rematch. Just moments after the official decision came, Serrano, 4-1-1 (3 KO’s), and Rojas, 6-2-2 (2 KO’s), agreed they’d meet again August 18 as part of the “Battle at the Boat 88” fight card.

“I’ve seen so many proposed rematches of great fights fall apart for one reason or another,” said Brian Halquist, CEO of Halquist Productions. “From the time their first fight ended, I really wanted them to meet again. Thankfully, both fighters were 100 percent behind an immediate rematch and I commend them for giving the fans what they want.”

Like his counterpart Serrano wants to provide excitement and turn the draw into a win. The Yakima native, whose fought all of his professional bouts for Halquist at the Emerald Queen Casino, is confident he made the necessary adjustments to do so.

“It was a great fight,” Serrano said of his first fight with Rojas. I thought everybody enjoyed it and that’s why we agreed to do it again. I feel like I edged him out but it was a very close fight. The difference this time is that I’m not going to waste any punches.”

He also recognizes the importance of keeping his loyal fans happy.

“In my eyes, there’s always pressure on me to go out there and put on a good performance for my fans, my team and myself. It means a lot the fans support me so strongly and I’m happy to perform for them. It does help when I get the support and it’s a good feeling to know that they like my fights. To reward them, I expect to be victorious on the 18th.”

The highly anticipated Serrano-Rojas rematch serves as the co-feature to the ten round lightweight battle between hungry veterans Jose Hernandez and Robert Osiobe.

Highly touted junior welterweight Ray Lampkin Jr. of Portland fights for the second time in as many fights on a BATB card when he meets Randell Corpuz of Yakima. The son of title contender Ray Lampkin Sr., the younger Lampkin posted a 67-7 amateur record and amongst the Pacific Northwest’s most promising prospects.

Also appearing in undercard bouts are four rounders between Jose Leon of Los Angeles, CA and Lakeside, MT’s Jesse Udhe, along with matchups between Hillsboro, OR resident Gabriel Pineda and Twin Falls, ID native Matthew Flores as well as Andres Ramos of Spokane, WA against Frank Mendez of Longview, WA.

Tickets starting at $25 are available at the EQC box office or by going to Ticektmaster.com.

Doors open at 6 pm and the opening bell is scheduled for 7.

During the last 23 years, Halquist Productions built a reputation in the boxing world for their loyalty, honesty and integrity. In 1997, Halquist Productions ran their inaugural “Battle at the Boat” series, which remains successful to this day. Halquist Productions promoted many world title bouts and their fight cards have been seen on ESPN, HBO and Showtime.

Colorado Springs, CO (August 8, 2012) – Abel “Truth Serum” Perry is sick of opponents pulling out of fights and the 6 ½ months wasted because of it.

With a five bout winning streak intact Perry, 18-5 (9 KO’s), twice was scheduled for a potentially career-changing match against Antonio Margarito, but the “Tijuana Tornado” surprisingly elected to retire. To make matters worse, the retirement took place following an initial postponement due to an injury. After spending time in camp alongside middleweight titlist Gennady Golovkin and stablemate Carson Jones, the Colorado City, CO native signed to fight hard-hitting Emmanuel Steward protégé Tony Harrison August 25 in Michigan.

Shortly after agreeing to face Harrison, Perry’s manager Bobby Dobbs received an offer for unbeaten Alex Perez in New York City. Out of respect, Dobbs turned the Perez fight down because he’d agreed for Perry to fight Harrison.

Although he’s not recognized at the level of Margarito, Harrison, 9-0 (8 KO’s) is very highly regarded and Perry was training hard to hand him his first career defeat. To his total disgust, Harrison decided that he wanted an easier opponent and backed out of the fight.

“This is so frustrating because I signed the contract and was ready to go,” said Perry. “Harrison comes from Emmanuel Steward’s stable so I thought he would’ve taken fight. He is a talented guy from a world class camp but I would be the best opponent he’s ever faced. Maybe he was worried because of my experience.”

Even with the recent letdowns, Perry’s still confident something big will happen in the near future.

“I’m committed to making a name for myself and hope to get back in the ring as soon as possible. I want to step up and take on more tough opponents in meaningful fights. I want to show people in the fight community that I’m worth keeping an eye on.”

Fans can interact with Abel by going to http://www.facebook.com/abelperry or HDboxing.net.

Tacoma, WA (August 6, 2012) – Battle at the Boat veteran Jose “Loco” Hernandez and Robert Osiobe have replaced the Juan Garcia-John Jackson bout as the main event for “Battle at the Boat 88” Saturday, August 18 at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, WA.

The original headliner was scrapped due to unforeseen circumstances but the new main event is expected to produce fireworks from the opening bell.

The definition of a tough luck contender Hernandez, 13-5-1 (5 KO’s), is known for taking on all comers with no questions asked. Although many of his fights took place as the so called “opponent” the Fort Worth, TX native defeated contender Noe Bolanos, unbeaten Jairo Sanchez and the aforementioned Juan Garcia. He’s also received no love from the judges, dropping controversial decisions to hometown favorites Michael Angelo Perez, Luis Ramos, Matt Remillard and Oscar Meza.

Born in Nigeria and based in Denmark, Osiobe is also recognized for his willingness to challenge the best. Osiobe, 12-5-4 (6 KO’s), battled 9 undefeated foes and the five men to beat him were a combined 74-1-1. Although he went all-out against the likes of Rances Barthelemy, Evgeny Gradovich, Martin Kristjansen and Spend Abazi, Osiobe has never been knocked out.

“Strange things take place in this sport, but as you know, everything happens for a reason,” stated promoter Brian Halquist, CEO of Halquist Productions. “I love the new main event and this is going to be a slugfest. Both men fought top-notch opposition and are eager to make a statement. For some reason, almost all of the replacement fights on my card turned out to be better than the original one was expected to be.”

The Hernandez-Jackson bout is set for ten rounds in the lightweight division.

Retired Marine and local superstar Nate Serrano, 4-1-1 (3 KO’s), will look to best Osvaldo Rojas, 6-2 (2 KO’s), in the semi-main event. Serrano, of Yakima, WA, and Portland, OR’s Rojas fought to an entertaining six round draw in June and agreed to a rematch just minutes after exiting the ring. The rematch is set for six rounds in the welterweight division.

The undercard also pits junior welterweights Portland native Ray Lampkin Jr., 1-0, against Yakima’s Randell Corpuz 2-1-1. Lampkin is the son of Ray Lampkin Sr., who challenged legend Roberto Duran for the lightweight title in 1975. In a battle of debuting cruiserweights looking to make a statement, Cody Kraylavich meets Cody Gates in a four round affair.

Tickets starting at $25 are available at the EQC box office or by going to Ticektmaster.com.

Additional bouts will be added shortly.

Doors open at 6 pm and the opening bell is scheduled for 7.

During the last 23 years, Halquist Productions built a reputation in the boxing world for their loyalty, honesty and integrity. In 1997, Halquist Productions ran their inaugural “Battle at the Boat” series, which remains successful to this day. Halquist Productions promoted many world title bouts and their fight cards have been seen on ESPN, HBO and Showtime.

New York, NY (July 30, 2012) – Captain Boyd “Rainmaker” Melson will have an extra special pack of supporters when he returns to the squared circle Thursday evening.

Melson, 8-1 (4 KO’s), is expecting a group of 20 patients from the New York chapter of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association (NYCSCIA) to cheer him on when he battles tough Texan Khalik Memminger at New York City’s Roseland Ballroom. The patients recently viewed Melson’s Team Fight to Walk trailer, which chronicles his commitment to bringing clinical trials to the United States that would help cure Spinal Cord Injuries.

To accommodate Melson’s newfound supporters, promoter Lou Dibella and the Roseland Ballroom arranged special seating so the patients’ wheelchairs could fit comfortably in the venue.

“My new supporters provide additional inspiration to win impressively,” said Melson, a West Point graduate and Army Reserve Officer who donates his fight purses to Justadollarplease.org. “I owe special thanks to Dr. Patricia Morton for showing them the video as well as Lou Dibella and the Roseland Ballroom for making sure that the NYCSCIA group will be able to enjoy my fight.”

DiBella, who promoted four of Melson’s fights, is impressed by his supporters and humanitarianism.

“We’re very proud of him and happy that these people are going to be attending our fight. We’re rooting for the developments that will assist them in the future and it’s my pleasure to have Boyd on my cards because of what he is doing to help make this a reality.”

A limited number tickets are available on Teamfighttowalk.com. All tickets purchased on Teamfighttowalk.com must be picked up at the Roseland Ballroom’s will call window on fight night under the credit card holder’s name.

In association with the 501 (C) 3 nonprofit Justadollarplease.org, Melson and his best friend Christan Zaccagnino created Team Fight to Walk, whose mission is to raise awareness within the boxing community as well as the entire nation about the importance of bringing Clinical Trials to the United States to help cure Spinal Cord Injuries. Team Fight to Walk is comprised of Melson, Zaccagnino, former Rutgers football player/ESPY honoree Eric LeGrand, two-time cruiserweight champion Steve “USS” Cunningham, title contender DeAndre “The Bull” Latimore, Edgar “El Chamaco” Santana, Hector “Machito” Camacho Jr., 2008 US Olympians Demetrius “Boo” Andrade and Shawn Estrada along with prospects Sid “The Messenger” El Harrak, Jeff “TNT” Spencer, Denis “Da Momma’s Boy” Douglin, Will “Power” Rosinsky, Floriano “Italiano” Pagliara, Danny “Little Mac” McDermott, Vinny “The Lion” O’Brien, Ahmed “Prince of Egypt” Samir and Delen “Sniper” Parsley.

For more information or to make a donation, go to teamfighttowalk.com or Justadollarplease.org. All specific questions about the nature of the Clinical Trial to cure Spinal Cord Injury can be sent to boydmelson@yahoo.com.

Tacoma, WA (July 27, 2012) – On Saturday, August 18, lightweights Juan Garcia and John “Action” Jackson will go toe to toe at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, WA when they headline Halquist Productions’ “Battle at the Boat 88.”

Tickets from $25 are on sale now and can be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets or the EQC box office.

Garcia, 16-3 (5 KO’s), hails from Phoenix, AZ and took many tough fights thus far, challenging the likes of David Rodela, Cornelius Lock and “Battle at the Boat” veteran Jose Hernandez. Only six of Garcia’s 19 opponents had losing records and he’ll enter the ring wit a two bout winning streak.

Known in the boxing world as “Action Jackson,” 26-year-old John Jackson was born in Detroit, MI and fights out of Miami, FL. With a 15-3 professional ledger and 13 wins by way of knockout, the cement fisted Jackson perfected his craft at the famed Kronk Gym. Prior to turning pro, he won medals at numerous amateur tournaments en route to being one of the hottest prospects in boxing when he turned pro in 2005.

The Garcia-Jackson showdown is scheduled for ten rounds.

Local hero and retired Marine Nate Serrano, 4-1-1 (3 KO’s), has his sights set on revenge when he meets Osvaldo Rojas, 6-2 (2 KO’s), in the co-featured bout of the evening. Serrano, of Yakima, WA, and Portland, OR’s Rojas met in June at the Emerald Queen, battling to a crowd-pleasing six round draw. The two welterweights will once again duke it out in a six rounder.

The undercard also pits junior welterweights Portland native Ray Lampkin Jr., 1-0, against Yakima’s Randell Corpuz 2-1-1. Lampkin is the son of Ray Lampkin Sr., who challenged legend Roberto Duran for the lightweight title in 1975. In a battle of debuting cruiserweights looking to make a statement, Cody Kraylavich meets Cody Gates in a four round affair.

“I’m very excited to see how these match-ups will play out on the 18th,” stated Brian Halquist, CEO of Halquist Productions. “I’ve always loved matching two hungry guys like Garcia and Jackson because 99 times out of 100, they leave everything in the ring. Serrano and Rojas is another solid fight and Ray Lampkin Jr. really impressed me in his pro debut, so I encourage all of the fight fanatics in the Pacific Northwest to come out and show their support.”

Additional bouts will be added shortly.

Doors open at 6 pm and the opening bell is scheduled for 7.

During the last 23 years, Halquist Productions built a reputation in the boxing world for their loyalty, honesty and integrity. In 1997, Halquist Productions ran their inaugural “Battle at the Boat” series, which remains successful to this day. Halquist Productions promoted many world title bouts and their fight cards have been seen on ESPN, HBO and Showtime.

New York, NY (July 23, 2012) – West Point graduate Captain Boyd “Rainmaker” Melson will challenge veteran Khalik Memminger in a six round junior middleweight contest Thursday, August 2 at the Roseland Ballroom in the heart of New York City.

One of the Empire State’s biggest ticket sellers, Melson had to withdraw from a June 14 bout after suffering an eye injury and hasn’t entered the squared circle since his unforgettable eight round war with Delen Parsley in March. Melson, 8-1 (4 KO’s), also built a strong rapport with fans and members of the media since he’s donated all of his fight purses in addition to partaking in exciting bouts.

With a deceptive professional ledger of 6-8-3 (3 KO’s), the tough Texan was in a number of controversial bouts, dropping a split and majority decision in addition to the three draws. His biggest victory to date came back in 2007 when he upset hometown favorite Victor Montemayor. Memminger’s fighting for just the second time outside of the Lone Star State and is coming off of a decision victory against Fabian Cancino in July 2011.

“Memminger is no pushover and I know he’s coming to New York City to try to hurt me,” stated Melson, whose donating his full fight purse Justadollarplease.org in association with a Clinical Trial taking place in the United States to help cure Chronic Spinal Cord Injuries. “He’s been in tough fights and is by far the most experienced professional I have been in the ring with yet. As I do with everything I am passionate about, I have pushed myself hard in camp in preparation for a hard night’s work August 2nd.”

Melson also shared that he is extraordinarily excited because of recent news that the New York City Chapter of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association will have about 15 of its members living in wheelchairs in attendance that night to support him.

The card is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and fans can purchase tickets on Teamfighttowalk.com. All tickets purchased on Teamfighttowalk.com must be picked up at the Roseland Ballroom’s will call window on fight night under the credit card holder’s name.

In association with the 501 (C) 3 nonprofit Justadollarplease.org, Melson and his best friend Christan Zaccagnino created Team Fight to Walk, whose mission is to raise awareness within the boxing community as well as the entire nation about the importance of bringing Clinical Trials to the United States to help cure Spinal Cord Injuries. Team Fight to Walk is comprised of Melson, Zaccagnino, former Rutgers football player/ESPY honoree Eric LeGrand, two-time cruiserweight champion Steve “USS” Cunningham, title contender DeAndre “The Bull” Latimore, Edgar “El Chamaco” Santana, Hector “Machito” Camacho Jr., 2008 US Olympians Demetrius “Boo” Andrade and Shawn Estrada along with prospects Sid “The Messenger” El Harrak, Jeff “TNT” Spencer, Denis “Da Momma’s Boy” Douglin, Will “Power” Rosinsky, Floriano “Italiano” Pagliara, Danny “Little Mac” McDermott, Vinny “The Lion” O’Brien, Ahmed “Prince of Egypt” Samir and Delen “Sniper” Parsley.

For more information or to make a donation, go to teamfighttowalk.com or Justadollarplease.org. All specific questions about the nature of the Clinical Trial to cure Spinal Cord Injury can be sent to boydmelson@yahoo.com.

Spencer, OK (July 16, 2012) – Lightweight up and comer Lydell Rhodes is sick of hearing about interstate rival Noah Zuhdi.

The reigning catBOX champion, Zuhdi, 15-1 (12 KO’s), is wildly popular in his hometown of Oklahoma City and receives a good amount of press to go along with his fanfare. Rhodes doesn’t think he deserves it.

“I know Noah’s a smart guy because he’s also a lawyer,” said Rhodes. “I’m currently college but the difference between us is that I’m a fighter who goes to school and he’s a lawyer that happens to box. The problem is he goes around Oklahoma claiming he’s the best. If you think you’re the best, prove it!”

Rhodes, the HD Boxing titlist, also believes there is no use in waiting to make it happen since both men are from the same state and fight in the same weight class.

“Only one of us can be the best 135 pound fighter in this area, so we should get in the ring and fight. We all know that you’ve been fighting a bunch of guys with no pulse and people are sick of seeing mismatches. I’m ready to fight and it’s on his team to make this happen. People ask me about fighting Zuhdi and I’m tired of biting my tongue about the fight. If it did happen, I’d stop him without a doubt because he’s not on my level. As a matter of fact, if he went the distance with me but still lost, I’d give him my purse and we can put that in the contract!”

Under the guidance of Floyd Mayweather Sr. Rhodes is a perfect 10-0 with 5 wins by knockout. Earlier this year, Rhodes scored a dominant 8 round decision over experienced Ira Terry (24-7) and is looking to take another step in the right direction. The Spencer native, who fought seven of his ten bouts in OKC under the HD Boxing Promotions banner, has the support of his team in making the highly anticipated title bout against Zuhdi.

“We would love to make the fight with (Zuhdi’s promotional company) catBOX Entertainment,” stated Bobby Dobbs of HD Boxing. “Both fighters have titles in Oklahoma and fight for the crowd. With that said, Zuhdi isn’t remotely on Lydell’s level and I’d love to see him prove what we both believe!”

Tacoma, WA (July 15, 2012) – Sterling Ford and Patricia Vidonic each proved why they’re amongst the top fighters in their respective weight classes following impressive victories Saturday evening at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, WA.

Headlining the highly-anticipated CageSport XX card, Ford scored an impressive TKO over James Marohl in the second of their three round lightweight bout. In the opening moments, Marohl came out swinging for the fences and landed a few solid shots, but the patient Ford did some damage of his own. At the start of the second stanza, Marohl landed a powerful jab which dropped Ford to his knees.

The gritty Ford recovered and quickly turned the tides against his free-swinging foe. Marohl, who clearly was gunning for a knockout, ran out of gas and Ford begun landing crisp shots. Unlike Ford, Marohl couldn’t recover from the damage and was visibly exhausted, forcing the referee to stop the contest at 3:24.

Ford, of Spokane, WA, is now 14-5. Marohl, who hails from Longview, WA, slips to 6-2.

In the co-featured bout of the evening, “Little” Patricia Vidonic of Medford, OR earned a hard-fought three round unanimous decision over hometown favorite “Slick” Sally Krumdiak. The fight was fought in close quarters early on, with both ladies connecting with knees to the kidney. Towards the end of the opening round, Vidonic took Krumdiak down and connected with big blows, but was unable to close the show.

Vidonic took the fight to the ground in the second stanza, finding a home for hard elbow strikes, causing Krumdiak to bleed from her nose. Behind on the scorecards and backed by rally cries from her sizable fan base, Krumdiak briefly buzzed Vidonic with a hard jab but couldn’t capitalize. Shortly thereafter, the fight returned to the ground, where Vidonic connected with a plethora of hard elbows.

All three judges scored the fight 29-28 for Vidonic, who improved to 6-3. Bellingham, WA’s Krumdiak falls to 9-6.

Burien, WA resident Brent “Road Kill” Knopp, 3-0, scored a dominant second round TKO over visitor Darrio Mobley of Medford, OR. In a battle of unbeatens, Knopp wore down Mosley, 2-1, and delivered a non-stop onslaught until the contest was officially stopped at 3:03.

In other action, Byron Sutton scored a close unanimous decision over Jerome Jones and Beau Hamilton bested Calvin Horton in three rounders, while Shaine Jaime, Benny Vinson, Justin Harrington, Trevor Sojot and Gustavo Lopez all scored impressive stoppages.

“CageSport XX was one of the most exciting events I’ve ever promoted,” said Halquist Productions CEO Brian Halquist, whose promoted more than 100 MMA and boxing cards. “The crowd was awesome and loved all of the fights. This is what combat sports are all about!”

In addition to the solid action, MMA star Miesha Tate, one of the world’s most famous female fighters, was on hand and mingled with fans throughout the evening.

The CageSport series returns to the Emerald Queen Casino Saturday, September 29. For more information, go to Halquistproductions.com.

Sterling Ford – 156 James Marohl – 155
Sally Krumdiak – 113.5 Patricia Vidonic – 114.5
Omar Cruz – 139 Shane Jaime – 136
Benny Vinson – 125.5 Chris Wheaton – 122
Justin Harrington – 155 Levi Paslee – 155.5
Cory Vombaur – 144 Trevor Sojot – 148.5
Brent Knopp – 185.5 Darrio Mobley – 186
Jerome Jones – 175 Byron Sutton – 174
Calvin Horton – 170 Beau Hamilton – 171
Jorey Taylor- 138.5 Gustavo Lopez – 141

Promoter: Halquist Productions

Venue: Emerald Queen Casino Tacoma, WA

Tickets: Ticketmaster.com or Emerald Queen Box Office

New York, NY (July 11, 2012) – Captain Boyd “Rainmaker” Melson will make his highly-anticipated return to the squared circle in a six round junior middleweight bout Thursday, August 2 at New York City’s Roseland Ballroom against an opponent to be named.

Melson, 8-1 (4 KO’s), was scheduled to face Enrique Gallegos June 14 but withdrew after fracturing his eye socket during a sparring session. Thankfully, the New York City native recovered quickly and is eager to get back in the ring.

“I’m really looking forward to this fight,” said Melson, who co-founded Team Fight to Walk along with his best friend Christan Zaccagnino. “A lot of people were telling me how entertaining my last match was and how excited they are to see me fight again. I am expecting another good turnout and owe a special thanks to Lou Dibella for giving me the opportunity to showcase my abilities.”

The card is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and tickets are available by going to Teamfighttowalk.com. All tickets purchased on Teamfighttowalk.com can be picked up at the Roseland Ballroom’s will call window on fight night under the credit card holder’s name.

In association with the 501 (C) 3 nonprofit Justadollarplease.org, Melson created Team Fight to Walk, whose mission is to raise awareness within the boxing community as well as the entire nation about the importance of bringing Clinical Trials to the United States to help cure Spinal Cord Injuries. Team Fight to Walk is comprised of Melson, former Rutgers football player/ESPY honoree Eric LeGrand, two-time cruiserweight champion Steve “USS” Cunningham, title contender DeAndre “The Bull” Latimore, Edgar “El Chamaco” Santana, Hector “Machito” Camacho Jr., 2008 US Olympians Demetrius “Boo” Andrade and Shawn Estrada along with prospects Sid “The Messenger” El Harrak, Jeff “TNT” Spencer, Denis “Da Momma’s Boy” Douglin, Will “Power” Rosinsky, Floriano “Italiano” Pagliara, Danny “Little Mac” McDermott, Vinny “The Lion” O’Brien, Ahmed “Prince of Egypt” Samir and Delen “Sniper” Parsley.

For more information or to make a donation, go to teamfighttowalk.com or Justadollarplease.org. All specific questions about the nature of the Clinical Trial to cure Spinal Cord Injury can be sent to boydmelson@yahoo.com.

Brooklyn, NY (July 11, 2012) – The Judah Brothers Boxing Club, a safe haven for people of all ages living in New York City’s roughest areas, is desperately trying fighting off a serious economic onslaught.

The Judah Brothers Boxing Club is under the banner of the Thornhill Community Supportive Services Incorporated, a 501 (C) 3 non-profit organization based in Brooklyn. Currently, Judah is in the process of making his gym an independent non-profit so he can continue aiding struggling New Yorkers on a daily basis.

Unfortunately, he is behind on the monthly bills and worries that if the gym is forced to close his members would be in serious trouble. To make matters worse, the landlord is planning to raise rent by $2,000 per month in the near future.

“I want to continue providing a positive place for people in bad situations to go but I need all the help I can get,” said Judah, who regularly bought food and drinks for members who couldn’t afford it. My goal is to run a free summer program for underprivileged kids and they’d spend a whole day at the gym instead of the streets. This is very important because kids are out of school now and can get into all kinds of trouble.”

The gym opened in August 2011 and was fully funded by legendary kickboxer and boxing trainer Yoel Judah. Many of the members laced up a pair of gloves for the first time and were educated about the discipline that the sport provides. In addition to a boxing program that’s attracted children as young as five, the gym has martial arts training, a wrestling program, a basketball court and ping pong tables.

All members receive hands-on training from Judah, former two division world champion Junior “Poison” Jones, famed Butterbean conqueror Mitch Rose and Yoel’s son Daniel.

“We have a lot of kids here that are coming for free,” said Judah. “A lot of these kids have (no family life) and no money. The gym keeps them off the streets and out of trouble, which is extremely important.”

With the assistance and dedication of his hard-working trainers, Judah is organizing a series of fundraisers for the gym.

Donations can be made via check to the Thornhill Community Supportive Services Incorporated in association with Judah Brothers Boxing Club, located at 1467 Bedford Ave Brooklyn, NY 11216. The Judah Brothers Boxing Club is located at 400 Liberty Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11207. For more information, please email judahbrothers@gmail.com.

Tacoma, WA (July 10, 2012) –When Brian Halquist put together “CageSport XX,” he followed the same plan that’s helped him earn the notation as one of the west coast’s top promoters; putting the fans first.

Halquist, along with his reliable staff, worked tirelessly on an exciting fight card slated for Saturday evening at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, WA.

A limited number of tickets are still available and can be purchased by going to ticketmaster.com or at the Emerald Queen box office.

Headlining the ten-bout event is a three round lightweight battle between Spokane, WA’s Sterling Ford, 15-4, and interstate rival James Marohl, 6-1, of Longview. Both fighters are on the cusp of landing a big fight and have been on a hot streak during the last few years, winning 11 of their last 12 fights combined.

Female standouts “Slick” Sally Krumdiak of Bellingham, WA and “Little” Patricia Vidonic will go toe to toe in the highly anticipated three round co-feature. Krumdiak and Medford, OR’s Vidonic fought most of the top fighters in and around the strawweight division. Both are regarded as upper echelon fighters and believe a victory will earn them a title shot.

Much like the main bouts, the supporting contests features talented combatants looking to move up the ladder. Unbeaten rising stars Cory Vombaur, Justin Harrington Gustavo Lopez and Shaine Jamie will all look to make waves in separate bouts. Additional matches include Jerome Jones, 4-3, against Byron Sutton, 5-3, along with a battle of unbeaten middleweights when Brent Knopp challenges Darrio Mobley.

“We’re putting our best foot forward with this card,” said Halquist. “The CageSport staff did a great job of making this exciting event a reality and I consider it extremely important for every fight to be one that the fans want to see. If you live in the Pacific Northwest, I’d definitely come out for fight night because you’re in for a real treat of incredible MMA fights!”

Former world champion, Female Fighter of the Year and CageSport veteran Miesha Tate is going to be at the fights as the evening’s special guest. A Tacoma native, Tate will be available for a meet and greet, photo ops and autographs throughout the evening for all ticketholders.

For more information, go to Halquistproductions.com.

Tacoma, WA (July 6, 2012) – “Slick” Sally Krumdiack hails from Washington State. “Little” Patricia Vidonic resides in neighboring Oregon. They each battled top-tier opponents and traveled across the nation in doing so. Both went through ups and downs in their careers, but are currently regarded as elite martial artists. Most importantly, neither Krumdiack nor Vidonic has ever backed down from a challenge. The two have fought the best of the best, sharing the octagon with superstar Tara LaRosa, Rosi Sexton, Hiroko Kitamura, Saori Ishioka and Jessica Penne amongst others.

On July 14 at the Emerald Queen Casino, the tough and talented women square off in the three round co-feature on Halquist Productions’ “CageSport XX” card. Tickets starting at $35 can be purchased on ticketmaster.com or at the Emerald Queen box office.

A well balanced fighter, Krumdiak, 9-5, has the edge in experience. The rugged 29-year-old turned pro in 2006, four years before her foe. Vidonic, a 5’2 submission master, won five of her first six professional fights against quality opposition. Although she dropped her last two bouts by decision, few would be surprised if she emerged victorious on July 14.

“This is one of the most interesting fights we’ve had in a long time,” said promoter Brian Halquist. “Krumdiak and Vidonic are both outstanding fighters who were gutsy enough to accept yet another tough challenge by facing off. The fans are in for a real treat!”

Headlining the card is an interesting three round Evergreen State showdown between lightweights Sterling Ford, 14-5, and James Marohl, 6-1. Both Ford, of Spoake and Longview’s Marohl have been on a tear, winning 11 of their last 12 fights combined. Like the Krumdiak-Vidonic bout, the victor will likely receive a big fight in the near future.

Local prospects Shane Jamie (1-0), Benny Vinson (3-1), Justin Harrington (1-0), Calvin Horton (3-2) and Cory Vombaur (2-0) are set to appear in separate matches. Brent Knopp risks his 2-0 professional ledger record against fellow 2-0 combatant Darrio Mobley and Jerome Jones (4-3) meets Byron Sutton (5-3).

All undercard bouts are also scheduled for three rounds.

Former world champion, Female Fighter of the Year and CageSport veteran Miesha Tate will be on hand as a special cageside guest. A Tacoma native, Tate is available for a meet and greet, photo ops and autographs throughout the evening for all ticketholders.

Tacoma, WA (June 18, 2012) – Welterweight star Sterling Ford will look to continue his recent streak of success when he challenges James Marohl Saturday, July 14 in the main event of “Cagesport XX” at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, WA.

The card is promoted by Halquist Productions and tickets starting at $35 can be purchased on ticketmaster.com or at the Emerald Queen box office.

Hailing from nearby Spokane, WA, Ford has an impressive record of 14-5 with 8 wins by stoppage. The Strikeforce veteran won seven of his last eight bouts, including an impressive unanimous decision victory over Brian McLaughlin at “Strikeforce 17” in July 2011.

Marohl’s rolled through his last four opponents, stopping three of them in two minutes or less. With a professional record of 6-1, the Longview, WA resident is a renowned submission specialist who promoter Brian Halquist gives a ton of credit to for his willingness to take tough fights.

“I tip my hat to Marohl” said the Washington-based MMA and boxing promoter. “Sterling’s fought at an extremely high level and is a top-tier talent. Most fighters want to take their time before moving up the ranks like this, but Marohl is confident that this is the perfect opportunity for him.”

The Ford-Marohl bout is scheduled for three rounds.

Female stars “Slick” Sally Krumdiak of Bellingham, WA and “Little” Patricia Vidonic, a Medford, OR native, battle for supremacy in the three round strawweight co-feature. Both Krumdiak, 9-5, and Vidonic, 5-3, fought at the sport’s highest level. The victor will likely receive a title shot in the near future.

“The co-feature is undoubtedly a main event type of fight,” stated Halquist. “I’m extremely excited for this match-up because Krumdiak and Vidonic are two of the world’s best.”

Tacoma’s very own Meisha Tate, a former world champion, Female Fighter of the Year and CageSport veteran, will be in attendance. Tate, 12-3, is available for a meet and greet, photo ops and autographs throughout the evening for all ticketholders.

A full undercard will be announced shortly and more information is available on Halquistproudctions.com.

Washington, DC (June 11, 2012) – American heavyweight hopeful Maurice “Freight Train” Byarm hates being reminded that his next bout, a Friday Night Fights showdown against cement-fisted Russian Magomed Abdusalamov, takes place July 6.

This isn’t because he’s worried about challenging the undefeated Russian southpaw, it’s due to the fact that he still has to wait more than three weeks until the opening bell.

“Anticipation kills me,” said Byarm, a likable second-generation pugilist. “To be honest, I wish the fight was even sooner!”

To prepare for his highly touted foe, Byarm runs five miles each day and trains at two DC-area gyms with heavyweight contenders Tony Thompson and Malik Scott. Additionally, Byarm, 13-1-1 (9 KO’s), is confident that he’ll perform better than he did in his last bout, a close decision loss to Bryant Jennings.

Under the watchful eye of manager Mike Harris and legendary trainer Adrian Davis, Byarm’s sticking to the basics as he maps out his plan to defeat Abdusalamov.

“He’s a strong puncher but doesn’t like to use his jab,” noted Byarm. “We’ve been working on avoiding his left hand because that’s his biggest weapon. Come July 6, I’m going to put on a good show. This is going to be a great night of boxing and the fans will be treated to an exciting match up between two aggressive heavyweights. I’ve never been so ready for a fight; I wish it was today!”

The 10-round southpaw showdown between Byarm and Abdusalamov is promoted by Greg Cohen Promotions and Sampson Boxing.

Fans can interact with Byarm by visiting Facebook.com/maurice.byarm and for more information on his July 6 bout, go to Gcpboxing.com or Hardrockhotel.com

Big Bear Lake, CA (June 11, 2012) – When junior middleweight Abel “Truth Serum” Perry received word that he’d be facing Antonio Margarito May 26, the Colorado City native was confident that a victory over the former three-time welterweight champion would lead to the kind of opportunity he’s dreamed of since day one.

With many ups and downs during his 6 ½ year pro career, Perry, 18-5 (9 KO’s), won five straight bouts and believed that May 26 would be his sixth. This was until Margarito injured his Achilles 12 days before fight night and the bout was postponed until July.

“Everything was rescheduled for July 7 to my knowledge and I actually saw on the internet that the fight was going to take place on the 21st,” said Perry. “To be honest, I assumed he wasn’t training because he looked heavy in recent photos.”

He also viewed the delay as something that would only benefit him leading up to the fight of his life.

“I was actually grateful for the postponement because many of my fights came on short notice or without a proper training camp. For the Margarito bout, my manager Bobby Dobbs sent me to a training camp in Big Bear Lake, CA where I was working with Carson Jones and Gennady Golovkin. I was sparring world class guys and the extra time would only give me a bigger advantage. This was the perfect situation.”

To his unpleasant surprise, Margarito announced his retirement on June 8, canceling the fight altogether while leaving Perry without the career-changing opportunity.

“It left a sour taste in my mouth. I felt wronged because they changed the date multiple times and I committed so much time preparing for this fight, while I could’ve been looking for another fight. Everybody was writing me off and they expected Margarito to run right through me. If he’s retiring because he doesn’t have what it takes to fight top guys any longer and I’m supposedly a “safe opponent,” why not face me in a farewell fight?”

“This was a major letdown and Margarito handled this like anything but a professional,” stated Dobbs. “My fighter was in camp getting ready to pull off the upset, only for Margarito to cancel the bout after agreeing to reschedule it. I understand that he’s taken a ton of punishment during his career and didn’t want to fight again, but since this is the case, why even sign to face Abel?”

While Dobbs explores other suitable options, Perry will remain at Big Bear as a sparring partner for Jones and Golovkin.

Fans can interact with Abel by going to http://www.facebook.com/abelperry or HDboxing.net.