DETROIT (May 5, 2025)– Salita Promotions will present an electrifying night of fights on Friday, June 6, at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, NY, as part of International Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Weekend. This highly anticipated event, titled “Hall of Fame Fight Night,” will be broadcast live worldwide on DAZN and is promoted in collaboration with ALL THE SMOKE FIGHT, the dynamic digital content platform led by boxing legend Andre Ward.

As a burgeoning leader in the boxing world, Salita Promotions is committed to developing top-tier talent and delivering compelling narratives that resonate with fans. The partnership with ALL THE SMOKE FIGHT enhances the promotion’s ability to tell the stories of today’s boxing stars while celebrating the rich history of the sport.

The event is headlined by USBA American heavyweight titlist Brandon Moore (17-1, 10 KOs), who will square off against the undefeated Stanley Wright (14-0, 11 KOs). Moore is entering the fight after a victory over previously undefeated Skylar Lacy, while Wright is coming off a major upset victory over previously undefeated heavyweight standout Jeremiah Milton. This clash pits two of the best rising American heavyweights, both eager to carve their names into boxing history.

Moore, a standout from Florida and the 2019 Golden Gloves Champion, showcased his dominance in his last bout, which ended in a disqualification win. Meanwhile, Charlotte’s Wright, fresh off his stunning upset, is poised to seize the moment and challenge Moore’s momentum in this important American heavyweight showdown.

“It’s a tremendous honor to bring Hall of Fame Fight Night to Turning Stone Resort Casino on June 6 to help launch the Boxing Hall of Fame’s Induction Weekend,” said Dmitriy Salita, president of Salita Promotions. “We are deeply committed to developing the next generation of champions — guiding fighters from the early stages to the world stage.  This card has it all — world champions, top contenders, and rising prospects, all with world championship potential, matched in competitive fights. Partnering with ALL THE SMOKE FIGHT adds an exciting new dimension, giving fans a closer look at the inspiring personal journeys behind the athletes. The in-ring excitement, combined with the storytelling through our partnership with ATS FIGHT, will create a truly memorable event for boxing fans around the world.” 

Presale tickets for Turning Stone Rewards Card members are available starting tomorrow, Tuesday, May 6, at 10 a.m. ET at turningstone.com. Guests will have the option to upgrade their ticket for access to the Boxing Hall of Fame Lounge. This add-on will provide guests with exclusive access to the Lounge, which includes the opportunity to meet Boxing Hall of Fame inductees during the event. There are limited tickets available for the Boxing Hall of Fame Lounge Access upgrade.

The DAZN televised card will also feature world-rated contenders and boxing’s hottest prospects, including U.S. Olympic Team Captain Joseph Hicks Jr. (12-0, 8 KOs). Hicks is fresh off a TKO victory over previously undefeated, highly touted Keon Papillion, looking to continue his ascent. 

In addition, national amateur champion Joshua James Pagan (12-0, 4 KOs) will face off against Lancaster, Pa.’s James Bernadin (13-2-1, 6 KOs). Pagan is one of Salita’s brightest prospects and is entering his fourth fight in just over a year. He continues to impress as he dispatches increasingly tough opposition. To date, Pagan has faced and beaten four undefeated fighters in and around the lightweight division. A WBA’s regional lightweight champion, Bernadin enters this co-feature bout on the strength of three straight victories. The 32-year-old Haitian native will make his first outing in 2025 against one of the fastest rising prospects in the sport.

Also on the DAZN card is recently signed Salita Promotions champion Franchon Crews-Dezurn (9-2, 2 KOs), the reigning WBC and WBA Unified Super Middleweight World Champion, who will defend her titles against Mexico’s 2024 Olympian Citlalli Ortiz (4-1, 1 KO).  The undercard will feature Puerto Rico’s first women’s Olympic boxer Ashleyann Lozada (1-0), highly touted Brooklyn, N.Y. heavyweight Pryce Taylor (7-0, 5 KOs), and Salita Promotions’ middleweight prospect Da’Velle Smith (11-0, 8 KOs) who has been routinely compared to Hall of Famer Tommy “The Hitman” Hearns for his poise, quiet confidence and significant punching power.

Induction Weekend takes place Thursday, June 5 to Sunday, June 8, when the International Boxing Hall of Fame will enshrine several all-time greats, including eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao, Vinny Paz, Michael Nunn, Yessica Chavez, and Mary Jo Sanders, among others. This event is not just about the fights; it’s a celebration of the sport’s rich history and the future stars who will carry the torch.

Along with this incredible night of boxing, International Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Weekend’s four days of non-stop boxing action and events will feature several events at Turning Stone, including:

The Banquet of Champions: Held on Saturday, June 7 at 6:30 pm in the Turning Stone Event Center, the annual Banquet of Champions will celebrate some of boxing’s greatest legends and most memorable moments.

Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony: On Sunday, June 8 at 2:30 pm, the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony held at The Showroom at Turning Stone will recognize this year’s outstanding class of honorees and officially welcome them to the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Boxing fans can also look forward to events throughout the weekend at the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, including ringside talks, a celebrity fist casting, a boxing autograph card show and more. On Sunday, June 8 the Parade of Champions will also kick off in downtown Canastota at 12:00 pm.

ABOUT SALITA PROMOTIONS:   

Salita Promotions was founded in 2010 by Dmitriy Salita, a professional boxer and world-title challenger who saw the need for a promotional entity to feature boxing’s best young prospects and established contenders in North America and around the world. Viewers watching fighters on worldwide television networks including SHOWTIME, HBO, ESPN, Spike TV, Universal Sports Network, UFC Fight Pass, DAZN, ESPN+ and MSG have enjoyed Salita Promotions fight action in recent years. We pride ourselves on offering our fighters opportunities inside and outside the ring. Salita Promotions looks forward to continuing to grow and serve the needs of fight fans around the globe.  

ABOUT TURNING STONE:   

A renowned, award-winning destination resort in Upstate New York, the Oneida Indian Nation’s Turning Stone Resort Casino features world-class amenities including five hotels, two luxurious spas, five golf courses, more than 20 dining options, a 125,000 square foot Las Vegas-style gaming floor, TS Sports, a state-of-the-art sports betting lounge, The Showroom, an intimate concert venue, a 5,000 seat arena, and several nightlife venues. Conveniently located 30 miles east of Syracuse at NYS Thruway exit 33, Turning Stone was named the #1 Best Gaming Resort in New York by Casino Player Magazine and the #1 Best Overall Dining in 2023. Turning Stone has also earned the prestigious Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Award for The Lodge, Wildflowers restaurant, TS Steakhouse, and Sk?:n??: Spa, and, for more than a decade, the AAA Four Diamond Award for The Lodge, The Tower Hotel, and Wildflowers restaurant.

For more information and reservations, call (315) 361-7711 or (800) 771-7711. 

DETROIT (November 12, 2024)– Salita Promotions returns to Flint, Mich., on Thursday, December 12 with the next edition of BIG TIME BOXING USA, the sport’s leading talent developmental series, featuring a fight card loaded with some of boxing’s top prospects, including Michigan’s Ardreal “Bossman” Holmes Jr., Joey Spencer, Da’Velle “Hitman 2.0” Smith and Leon Lawson III.

This will be the sixth BIG TIME BOXING USA card since the series launched in February and is inarguably the series’ strongest lineup to date from top to bottom. All the action takes place at Dort Financial Center in Flint, with the top four bouts airing live on DAZN, the undisputed global home of boxing. Tickets for the event go on sale on Wednesday at 11 am ET and can be purchased online HERE or in-person at the Dort Financial Center Box Office. 

After successfully defending his USBA Junior Middleweight title in September, Flint native Holmes (16-0, 6 KOs) returns to his hometown to put his title on the line once again in the main event against an experienced challenger, French veteran Ahmed El Mousaoui (35-6-1, 9 KOs).

Fan favorite Spencer (18-1, 11 KOs) from nearby Fenton, Mich., will contest a 10-round bout at 160 pounds. Spencer has rebounded with two wins since suffering his lone defeat to undefeated, highly rated Jesus Ramos in March 2023.

Spencer will fight for the second time as a professional in his home state of Michigan. “It was the best experience to fight in front of fans and friends from all over the state,” Spencer said. “I grew up fighting alongside Ardreal Holmes and Leon Lawson – training and traveling together to tournaments and even sparring one another as we grew into the same weight class.

“Big Time Boxing is a very cool series and Dmitriy Salita is doing a lot for Michigan boxing. I’m psyched for Dec. 12, and will be ready to put on a show.”

“My team and I are proud to announce the strongest BIG TIME BOXING USA fight card to date,” Salita said. “Since the series launched in February we have been building and growing this series to become the premier talent developmental platform for young fighters and this fight card is the best of them all. We thank DAZN for providing the global platform for these fighters to shine and earn their shot at a world title. And we thank the fans of Flint for supporting their hometown heroes and the sport of boxing overall. We had a terrific show in September at the Dort Financial Center and this fight card is even more loaded with hard-hitting talent.” 

Smith, who has been touted as Detroit’s finest, undefeated middleweight prospect since Tommy Hearns, is coming off an impressive victory over Gilberto Pereira dos Santos in Puerto Rico last month. Smith is 10-0 with 8 knockouts and looks to build on his momentum when he returns to the ring against William Townsel (8-1, 6 KOs) from Virginia Beach. This matchup represents the first big test for Smith, who is regarded as the second coming of the legendary Hearns for his combination of speed, power and physique. Townsel previously upset Nadim Salloum, who was 12-1 coming into the bout, on the March edition ofBIG TIME BOXING USA.

Flint native Lawson (16-1, 9 KOs), cousin of Anthony and Andre Dirrell, is back after an impressive performance in September when he dominated Argentinian Luis Alberto Veron to earn his second-straight TKO. Lawson’s super welterweight opponent is to be determined. Additionally, former world title challenger Byron Rojas (28-4-3, 11 KOs) will fight on the card.

Surging talent Samantha Worthington (9-0, 7 KOs) from Lexington, Ky., will compete for the third time in 2024 as she defends her undefeated record in a women’s super lightweight bout. Worthington is ranked No. 2 in the IBF, No. 4 in the WBO and No. 6 in the WBC and WBA at 140 pounds. Worthington is promoted by the “GWOAT”, unified women’s world champion and Flint native Claressa Shields and T-Rex Promotions. Shields and Worthington were U.S. Olympic teammates in 2016.

Shields added that Worthington is a fighter Flint fans won’t want to miss. “Samantha is going to showcase the relentless work ethic and tremendous skill that first caught my eye and are pushing her up the rankings,” Shields said. “Samantha is on a path to challenge the sport’s top fighters, with future world title bouts against the likes of Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano well within her reach. Michigan fans, get ready to watch a rising star in women’s boxing right in your own backyard.”

ABOUT SALITA PROMOTIONS: 

Salita Promotions was founded in 2010 by Dmitriy Salita, a professional boxer and world-title challenger who saw the need for a promotional entity to feature boxing’s best young prospects and established contenders in North America and around the world. Viewers watching fighters on worldwide television networks including SHOWTIME, HBO, ESPN, Spike TV, Universal Sports Network, UFC Fight Pass, DAZN, ESPN+ and MSG have enjoyed Salita Promotions fight action in recent years. We pride ourselves on offering our fighters opportunities inside and outside the ring. Salita Promotions looks forward to continuing to grow and serve the needs of fight fans around

DETROIT – April 25, 2024 – Salita Promotions’ top American heavyweight Jermaine Franklin Jr. (22-2, 14 KOs) returns to his home state of Michigan to take on former US Olympian Devin Vargas (22-10, 9 KOs) from nearby Sylvania, OH, in the 10-round main event of the next installment of the “Big Time Boxing USA” boxing series on Thursday, May 23, from Wayne State Fieldhouse in Detroit and live on global premier sports platform DAZN (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT).

In an intriguing eight-round co-feature, undefeated former national amateur champion Joshua James Pagan (9-0, 4 KOs) of Grand Rapids, MI, will take the biggest step up of his young career in a dangerous test against fellow undefeated prospect Roger Hilley (13-0, 8 KOs) of Chattanooga, TN, for the Junior NABF Super Lightweight Championship.

True to BIG TIME BOXING’s emerging format, several local prospects will appear in the night’s supporting televised bouts, including Detroit’s undefeated “Hitman 2.0” Da’Velle Smith (8-0, 6 KOs), once-beaten Dearborn-based KO artist Husam Al Mashhadi (9-1, 8 KOs), Mount Clemens, Michigan’s undefeated and hard-punching Luis Quintero (7-0, 7 KOs). 

Tickets for the live event are on sale now and can be purchased online HERE or in-person at the Wayne State Fieldhouse Box Office.

“We have assembled some of the baddest men from the Detroit boxing scene for this fight card,” said Dmitriy Salita, president of Salita Promotions, which is amid its first multi-event agreement with DAZN. “Future world champions facing tough competition in a true test of mettle and looking to take the next step — this is what the Big Time Boxing series is all about. Each man is hungry to make a statement of his own, especially Jermaine, who is one of America’s top-ranked heavyweights. I want to thank DAZN for giving all the fighters a worldwide platform to show out for Detroit. And I thank the Detroit boxing community for coming out to support their favorite hometown fighters.”

Still young for a heavyweight contender, the 30-year-old Franklin got back into the win column with a dominant 10-round unanimous decision (100-90 twice, 99-91) over the previously unbeaten Isaac Munoz Gutierrez last July in Detroit. A native of Saginaw, MI, Franklin was coming off a pair of close and thrilling decision losses to former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and top contender Dillian Whyte in his previous two outings.

Against Vargas, Franklin will be coming back after a 10-month layoff and looking to continue working his way back into contention.

“I want to show the world the new Jermaine,” said Franklin during a break in training. “I have some new smoke to show boxing fans. I learned so much after the Joshua fight. I must trust myself and my skills. My team told me, ‘If you want the belt, you have to go for it.’ You will see a new Jermaine. I promise that.”

Franklin says the hometown crowd will be all the fuel he needs for a spectacular performance.

“I’m so hyped to fight in front of my family and friends. I get a chance to come home and give my family a welcome-home knockout. I have been to some great places to fight but nothing comes close to fighting at home in front of family.”

The 2021 U.S. Amateur Welterweight National Champion, 24-year-old Pagan turned pro in January 2022. Showing steady improvement, Pagan was last seen in October, when he scored a unanimous six-round decision over respectable veteran Braulio Rodriguez at Motor City Casino in Detroit. 

Reminiscent of the acclaimed ShoBox series, Pagan says taking on fellow undefeated Hilley in a “Someone’s 0 will Go” matchup this early in his career is a significant risk, but also a chance to increase his growing reputation at 140 pounds.

“I’m very excited to be fighting in the co-feature of Big Time Boxing in Detroit. I cannot wait to show the world what Joshua Pagan can do. On May 23, I’m getting a victory and nothing less.”

Known in boxing circles as “The Hitman,” Roger Hilley hails from Chattanooga, Tennessee. The 29-year-old southpaw with power in both hands and sound boxing fundamentals, was last seen winning the American Boxing Federation Inter-Continental Lightweight title with a unanimous decision over rugged gatekeeper Oscar Bravo last May. Before embarking on his now seven-year professional boxing career, Hilley amassed an amateur record of 97-20 and fought in the 2012 and 2016 Olympic trials. He has also worked in camps with Floyd Mayweather Sr. and “Money” Mayweather himself.

“I’ve been blessed with a good team and I’m very grateful for the opportunity to compete and showcase my skills in the Motor City,” said Hilley. “Opportunities like this don’t come very often for me, so believe me I will be taking full advantage. After May 23, fight fans will remember my name!”

The 23-year-old Smith made his pro debut in September 2021, winning the WBC’s inaugural Big Belt Championship by knocking out Ricky Evans in the first round. Smith would follow that triumph with a pair of knockouts in November 2021 and May 2022, before winning a unanimous decision over Devontae McDonald last August. The Kronk Gym-trained middleweight prospect was most recently seen taking a wide unanimous decision over Argentina’s Rolando Wenceslao Mansilla in the inaugural “Big Time Boxing USA” event in February.

While it’s far too early to make binding proclamations, the 6’ 2” Smith has already been generating plenty of online buzz as the next coming of the legendary Detroiter Thomas “Hitman” Hearns. While his opponent, along with Al Mashhadi, and Quintero’s are still TBA, Smith says he’s just focused on the task at hand and not worried about the labels that fans are putting on him.

“I don’t know too much about my next opponent,” admitted Smith. “I just focus on myself and what I’m doing inside and outside of the gym. It’s always been me vs. me, and at this point in my career, things are getting more and more serious. I’m ready to take on bigger challenges and go to the next level. I’m just staying humble through it all and working very hard to prepare myself for those moments.”

This will be the third boxing event at Wayne State Fieldhouse, the home to the Detroit Pistons’ G-League affiliate, the Motor City Cruise, after “Big Time Boxing USA” debuted at the venue in February.

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ABOUT SALITA PROMOTIONS

Salita Promotions was founded in 2010 by Dmitriy Salita, a professional boxer and world-title challenger who saw the need for a promotional entity to feature boxing’s best young prospects and established contenders in North America and around the world. Viewers watching fighters on worldwide television networks including SHOWTIME, HBO, ESPN, Spike TV, Universal Sports Network, UFC Fight Pass, DAZN, ESPN+ and MSG have enjoyed Salita Promotions fight action in recent years. We pride ourselves on offering our fighters opportunities inside and outside the ring. Salita Promotions looks forward to continuing to grow and serve the needs of fight fans around the globe.

Check the Salita Promotions YOUTUBE CHANNEL for regular updates of the modern world’s greatest fighters, contenders and prospects in action.