NEW YORK – June 26, 2023 – Michigan-based heavyweight Robert Simms has set his sights on a rematch against streaking heavyweight Joe Cusumano after Cusumano scored a career-best victory this past Saturday in stopping longtime heavyweight contender Adam Kownacki. Simms bested Cusumano via unanimous decision in 2018 and believes now is the time for a sequel.

“Now is the perfect time to rematch Cusumano and really show everyone what I’m capable of,” said Simms. “I would think he’d want a chance to avenge a loss. I believe I’m a couple bad scorecards away from being undefeated. Cusumano is easy work and I’d definitely jump at the chance to prove that to a worldwide audience.”

Simms (12-3-1, 3 KOs) is also coming off of a career-best victory as he dominated the previously unbeaten James McKenzie Morrison to earn a unanimous decision last October, earning him a WBC U.S. title. The Saginaw native is 5-1-1 since facing Cusumano and has fought professionally since 2015. Simms’ losses have all come by either split or majority decision and to fighters with a combined 38-1-1 record at the time of facing Simms.

“Robert Simms is coming off a big win and has beaten some highly-regarded prospects in the division, including Cusamano on his way up,” said Dmitriy Salita, President of Salita Promotions, Simms’ promoter. “All of his losses easily could have been judged the other way. Robert can really fight and has shown that he can beat bigger opponents. He is a hard worker who perfected his skills in the art of the sweet science.”

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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. 

Heavyweights Robert Simms and Moses “ThunderHands” Johnson, both say it will be nothing personal when they go to war in the 10-round main event of Salita Promotions’ latest Detroit Brawl, on Saturday, March 5, 2022, in the Lincoln Ballroom of the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center in Dearborn, Michigan.

Saginaw, Michigan’s Simms (11-3, 3 KOs) a proven upset specialist and undefeated, but comparatively untested Johnson (8-0, 7 KOs) of New York, will headline a night of exciting matchups that also features Detroit’s own Winfred “Hot Boy” Harris Jr. (21-1-1, 10 KOs) taking on another veteran known for pulling off surprises, former NABA-US Super Middleweight Champion Dashon “Fly Boy” Johnson of Riverside, California, and unbeaten WBC #10- and IBF #12-ranked super middleweight Vladimir Shishkin (12-0, 7 KOs) looking to stay sharp against Ecuadorian trialhorse Jeyson “Verdugo” Minda (14-6-1, 8 KOs), in a bout scheduled for eight rounds.

Tickets for “Detroit Brawl” start at $35 and can be purchased by clicking HERE or by calling or visit the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center Box Office (313.943.2354) at 15801 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn during Box Office hours: Thursday and Friday from 11 am to 4 pm and 5 pm to 8:30 pm on the day of the event.

“Things went pretty good,” said Simms of his preparations for the big fight. “We’ve been working out three times a day, sparring and stuff like that. Some strength training and working out later at night to get used to it. I’ll be ready.”

Simms, who beat 8-1-1 Aaron Quintana in his last outing in March of last year, has also beaten 8-0-2 Colby Madison, 15-1 Joe Cusumano, and forced top heavyweight prospect George Arias to settle for a close majority decision victory in the past three years.

“I have too much experience for him,” added Simms about why he will win the old-school showdown against Johnson. “I’ve already beaten some undefeated fighters and guys with every style you will ever see. I don’t think he will have anything new for me. He’s got a lot of knockouts, but he hasn’t had a lot of tough opposition. I’m not saying he’s not a good fighter, but he hasn’t been through a war yet to show what he really has. The way I can move and box and hit without getting his throws a lot of heavyweights off. You can’t really prepare for what I do. It’s hard to find a 5’ 11” guy who can move like I do and almost impossible to get a sparring partner to do the same thing. The movement and having to punch down is what gives me the advantage against bigger guys. We are both doing a job. It’s not personal, but that night, I’m going to school him.”

Also not feeling a grudge match scenario, Johnson says he’s looking forward to answering questions about himself against the tricky veteran Simms.

“It’s nothing personal, but somebody has to win and it’s going to be me,’ he said. “I’m going there to put the work in and continue my winning streak, but I wish him the best after that.

Johnson, who spends time working with young amateur boxers in his spare time, says he wants it too badly to lose on March 5. “I have too much heart and determination for him. Boxing is my life. It’s not something I do part time. I eat, sleep and breathe boxing.”

“Johnson vs Simms is a bonafide top-level crossroads fight between an upcoming undefeated contender and a proven world-class upset artist in Robert Simms,” said an excited Dmitriy Salita of Salita Promotions. “This is a great fight, which tops off a sensational card featuring some of the best prospects and contenders in boxing from Michigan, US and abroad. Detroit is on its way to being one of the hubs for world-class professional boxing.”

Also seeing action that night will be undefeated middleweight terror Marlon Harrington (6-0, 5 KOs) stepping up in class to face Montevideo, Uruguay’s Andres Viera (11-4, 8 KOs) in a six-round brawl.

Featured in separate four-rounders will be popular Grand Rapids, Michigan-based former amateur stars Joseph “Sug” Hicks Jr. (1-0, 1 KO) taking on Justin Baesman (0-2) of Herlong, California, and Joshua Pagan (1-0, 1 KO) taking on Italy’s Christian Danilo Guido (8-22, 6 KOs).

Making their Detroit Brawl debuts will be Dearborn’s own 19-year-old undefeated southpaw Husam Al Mashhadi (2-0, 2 KOs) in a super welterweight four-rounder against Texas veteran Leslie Michael Klekotta (3-8, 2 KOs); and Detroit’s Vernon Webber making his heavyweight pro debut against also debuting Michigander Luke Sills.

Rounding out the action will be undefeated Gordie Russ II, who will hope to keep his record perfect (currently 3-0, 3 KOs) against Minnesota’s Salome Flores Torres (1-5).

PLEASE NOTE: Tickets ordered online will be mailed up to one week prior to event date. Tickets ordered within a week of event will be placed in will call at the box office for pick-up. A limited quantity of VIP tickets is also available by calling Rhyan Neco: 313.765.7698.

The Ford Community & Performing Arts Center is located at 15801 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn. On fight night, doors open at 6:30 pm and the action starts at 7:00 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.

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

On Saturday, March 5, 2022, in the Lincoln Ballroom of the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center in Dearborn, Michigan, Salita Promotions will present another edition of the “Detroit Brawl” series, this time featuring Saginaw, Michigan, heavyweight spoiler Robert Simms (11-3, 3 KOs) taking on undefeated New Yorker Moses “ThunderHands” Johnson (8-0, 7 KOs) in the 10-round main event.

Tickets for “Detroit Brawl” start at $35. Order tickets online or call or visit the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center Box Office (313.943.2354) at 15801 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn during Box Office hours: Thursday and Friday from 11 am to 4 pm and 5 pm to 8:30 pm on the day of the event.

A proven spoiler, in six years as a professional, Simms has faced a number of quality opponents, often as the B side of the bout sheet, taking upset victories over then 15-1 Joe Cusumano (W 6), then 8-0-2 Colby Madison (W 8), and in his last ring appearance, a unanimous decision over then 8-1 Aaron Quintana last March. Still improving, Simms has lost only one fight of his last seven.

Born and raised in Huntington, New York, 29-year-old Johnson has gone undefeated, thus far, in his four-year career, stopping all but one opponent. As an amateur, Johnson was a 2015 Golden Gloves Champion in the super heavyweight open class. Johnson has worked as a sparring partner for top heavyweight Daniel Dubois. Simms represents, by far, his toughest opponent to date.

Featured in the co-main event will be Detroit super middleweight Winfred Harris Jr. (21-1-1, 10 KOs). Also seeing action will be undefeated middleweight terror Marlon Harrington (6-0, 5 KOs), as well as popular Grand Rapids, Michigan-based former amateur stars Joseph “Sug” Hicks Jr. (1-0, 1 KO), and Joshua Pagan (1-0, 1 KO) in separate four-rounders.

All undercard opponents will be announced shortly.

“The last Detroit Brawl was a tremendous success and we’re coming back to the same terrific venue for another night of world-class Michigan boxing,” said event promoter, Dmitriy Salita. “We’ve got many of the best prospects in the state that will be in tough match-ups, starting with our heavyweight main event, that I can’t pick a winner of. Both guys have a lot to prove, so it should be a sensational night of boxing from beginning to end.”

PLEASE NOTE: Tickets ordered online will be mailed up to one week prior to event date. Tickets ordered within a week of event will be placed in will call in the box office for pickup. A limited quantity of VIP tickets are also available by calling Lina at 313.529.7604.

The Ford Community & Performing Arts Center is located at 15801 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn. On fight night, doors open at 6:30 pm and the action starts at 7:00 pm. This event will also be streamed on the Salita Promotions’ YouTube Channel.
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.

Having always been too small to compete on even terms with boxing’s giants, Saginaw, Michigan’s Robert Simms says he welcomes the WBC’s new Bridgerweight division (200-224 pounds) and would happily face #1-rated Oscar Rivas or any another world-rated contender for its inaugural belt.

A slick technician with good speed and punching power in the mold of all-time-great Michigan fighter James Toney, Simms (10-3, 3 KOs) has used his surprising athleticism and ring smarts to sit in the pocket and conserve energy, yet seldom get hit flush against full-sized heavyweights. But the 5? 11? Simms, currently ranked the #20 contender in the new weight class, says he’ll be a dangerous handful for anyone under 225 lbs, especially the Montreal-based Colombian Rivas.

“Let’s do it. I would beat him,” said Simms. “He’s just another standard heavyweight, nothing special and he’s really stiff as a fighter. I believe that with my skills I would be able to pick him apart. It’s my dream to win a WBC belt.”

It’s not that Simms didn’t have any success at heavyweight. In June of last year at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, a 227-lb Simms took away the undefeated 0 of local favorite Colby Madison with a clear-cut unanimous decision.

A latecomer to the sport at age 24, Simms says he took fights out of shape and way above his most effective weight class “just to see what he could do.” But having recently gotten engaged, the father of five says he’s re-dedicated himself to the sport. In his most recent ring appearance, in October of last year, Simms looked like a different fighter. Coming in at just 198 lbs., Simms utilized his speed and strong technical skills to score a unanimous decision over fellow Michigander Demetrius Banks.

“The height of a heavyweight never bothered me,” continued Simms. “It was the weight that would wear me down. I’ll have stamina all day long at this lower weight class. There’s nobody in this division with my footwork and skills and accuracy.”

“This is the weight class for Robert Simms,” said his promoter, Dmitriy Salita. “He’s been floating around cruiserweight and heavyweight division all of his career and he’s beaten and come close to beating some very good fighters. I believe Robert has the skills and now the size and strength to be a force in the bridgerweight division.”

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.

Philadelphia, PA (June 24, 2019)–Three-time Olympian, Anvar Yunusov remained perfect by stopping Angel Luna in the 2nd round of their scheduled eight-round junior lightweight bout.

The fight headlined an eight-bout card at The 2300 Arena and was promoted by King’s Promotions in association with Titans Boxing Promotions.

Yunosov dropped Luna with a right hook in round one. That was followed by a flurry of punches that Luna barely survived. It didn’t take long, as in round two, Yunusov landed a perfect straight left that deposited Luna on his back. Yunusov jumped on Luna, and the bout was stopped at 56 seconds.

Yunusov of Philadelphia via Tajakistan is now 8-0 with four knockouts.

Robert Simms scored an upset victory as he handed Colby Madison his 1st loss by pounding out a eight-round unanimous decision in a heavyweight bout.

Madison fought through a badly swollen left eye that occurred in round five. Simms had a bad cut over his right eye, but was able to come through by scores of 80-72 twice and 79-73.

Simms of Saginaw, Michigan is now 9-3. Madison of Owings Mills, Maryland is 8-1-2.

Rasheen Brown stopped debuting Lionell Tidwell in the 2nd round of their scheduled four-round super bantamweight fight.

Brown landed a perfect straight left that sent Tidwell down and the bout was stopped at 1:18 of round two.

Brown of Philadelphia is 4-0 with one knockout.

2016 U.S. Olympian Paul Kroll kept his perfect mark in-tact as he scored a memorable 1st round stoppage over Hector Mercado in a scheduled six-round welterweight bout.

Kroll landed a right to the head, that sent Mercado down on his leg. Mercado’s right leg was dangling off of his ankle, and the bout was stopped at 1:23.

Kroll of Philadelphia is 4-0 with four knockouts. Mercado is 3-11.

Kashon Hutchinson won a six-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated James Martin in a welterweight bout.

Hutchinson scored a flash knockdown in the opening frame, and that proved to be distance as he took all cards 57-56.

Hutchinson of Reading, PA is 5-5. Martin of Philadelphia is 4-1.

Jonathan Torres won a four-round unanimous decision over Hugo Rodriguez in a bantamweight contest.

Torres of Bethlehem, PA dropped Rodriguez in round four, and cruised to the victory by 40-35 scores.

Torres is 5-0. Rodriguez of Mexico is 0-5.

Kevin Asmat stopped Weusi Johnson in round three of their scheduled four round junior lightweight bout.

Asmat dropped Johnson in round’s one and two, and Johnson was stopped on his feet at 2:44 of round three.

Asmat of North Bergen, NJ is 6-2 with five knockouts. Johnson of Wilmington, Delaware is 3-13-1.

Khainell Wheeler registered his 2nd consecutive 1st round stoppage as he stopped Tywaski Hendrix in their scheduled four-round super middleweight fight.

Wheeler dropped Hendrix twice and the fight was stopped immedately upon the 2nd knockdown at 2:45.

Wheeler of Bethlehem, PA is 2-0 with two knockouts. Hendrix of Little Rock, Arkansas was making his pro debut.