NEW YORK (October 15,
2008) – Nearly a full decade ago, Cedric Kushner promoted his
first show at New York City’s famed Roseland Ballroom and on
November 21, Kushner’s Gotham Boxing returns to the iconic
Manhattan venue with “The Grande Event,” featuring a quartet of
young, explosive talent sporting a combined pro record of 89-1-1
(65 KOs) -- “Ireland’s” John Duddy, Peter “Kid
Chocolate” Quillin, Pawel “Raging Bull” Wolak and
Jorge Luis “The Truth” Teron.
Kushner promoted a
“Heavyweight Explosion” card on pay-per-view on December 8, 1998,
headlined by Jessie Ferguson versus Obed Sullivan and showcasing
future world champions Shannon Briggs, Al “Ice” Cole and Oleg
Maskaev.
Promoting the Big
Apple’s “Fab Four” on Nov. 21, however, is even more special to
the Kushner, the former rock ‘n roll promoter who turned to
boxing nearly a quarter century ago and has promoted more than 30
world champions and 300 title fights worldwide.
“I have lived in New
York for more than half of my life,” Kushner explained. “I
consider myself a New Yorker and enjoy the energy and all he
amenities of this great city. I like to think, if you can’t get
it here, it doesn’t exist. In my mind this is the media capital
of the world and for that reason I believe it’s in everyone’s
best interest to promote in New York, particularly when you’re
promoting new or relatively new fighters.
“I can’t think of a
better show at this level that’s ever been promoted in New York
City with four fighters on the same show, each deserved of being
in a main event themselves, is rather special.”
“The Grande Event” is
headlined by unbeaten middleweight Duddy (25-0, 17 KOs), fighting
out Queens (NY) by way of Derry, Northern Ireland. Rated No. 2 by
the World Boxing Organization, as well as No. 4 by the World
Boxing Council and No. 7 by the International Boxing Federation,
Duddy takes on veteran Sam “The Punching Policeman” Hill
(17-9-1, 10 KOs) in the 10-round main event. Hill has beaten
former world champion and Olympic gold medalist David Reid (TKO9)
and been in with world champions Jermain Taylor and Maselino
Masoe.
Brooklyn’s undefeated
middleweight “Kid Chocolate” Quillin (20-0, 15 KOs) could very
well be the next Kushner-promoted fighter to capture a world
title. Quillin faces an opponent to be determined in the 10-round
co-feature.
New York State
middleweight and Polish National junior middleweight champion
Wolak (22-1, 15 KOs), now living in Brooklyn, is a powerful
puncher who has stopped 15 of his 22 victims to date. He faces
Christian Lloyd Joseph (12-7-3, 5 KOs) in a 10-round bout.
Bronx lightweight
Teron (22-0-1, 15 KOs), trained by former world and Olympic
champion Mark Breland, is the reigning NABO champion. Jorge is
knocking on the door for a world title shot next year, rated No.
4 by the WBO, in addition to No. 12 by the World Boxing
Association and No. 19 by the WBC. He meets TBA in another
10-rounder.
Also scheduled to
fight in separate four-round bouts are Queens light middleweight
Lambrose “Lionheart” Karaolides (1-0), Bronx super
middleweight Hajro Sujak (2-0, 2 KOs), Brooklyn
welterweight Luis “El Mero Mero” Ruiz (3-0, 1 KO),
Brooklyn light middleweight Romain Oliveri (1-0, 0 KOs),
and light welterweight Jonathan Gonzalez, a 2008 Puerto
Rican Olympian making his pro debut.
Tickets, priced at
$50.00, $80.00, $100.00, $150.00 and $200.00, are on sale and
available to purchase by calling Gotham Boxing (212.755.1944),
any TicketMaster outlet, or at the Roseland Ballroom box office.
Doors will open at 6:30 PM/ET, first bout at 7:00 PM/ET.
For more information
call Gotham Boxing or go on line to
www.gothamboxing.com.
