Undefeated junior middleweight contender Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade (17-0, 12 KOs), a 2008 U.S. Olympian, will be the headliner for the third consecutive year. Co-promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing and Banner Promotions, Andrade takes on Alexis “Hurricane” Hlores (16-4-2, 12 KOs), who has fought top 5 world-ranked James Kirkland, in the scheduled 10-round main event.
The 24-year-old Andrade, who was the AIBA World amateur champion in 2007, is currently world rated No. 4 by the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and No. 5 by the World Boxing Organization (WBO), as well as No. 10 by the World Boxing Council (WBC) and No. 15 by the World Boxing Association (WBA).
Fight To Educate, presented this year in part by Absolute Broadcasting WGAM, The Game, is a unique charity event that combines a love of sports with the vision of assisting children and seniors in need, who with fundraisers like this could be ‘down for the count.’ During the past 10 years, Fight To Educate has raised more than $500,000 in donations benefiting local New Hampshire non-profit organizations.
Twenty-year-old junior lightweight prospect Toka Kahn-Clary, fighting out of Providence by way of Liberia, has been added to next Thursday evening’s (Sept. 20) 11th annual Fight To Educate Pro-Am boxing card at Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester.
Kahn (2-0, 2 KOs), promoted by Bob Arum’s Top Rank, made his pro debut on June 29 in Providence, stopping Jonathan Caban in the second round. He followed that up with a opening round knockout of Jamil Winfield in their August 18 fight in Atlantic City.
Undefeated junior middleweight Chris Gilbert (4-0, 3 KOs), of Windsor (VT), meets upset specialist Antonio Chaves Fernandez (2-7), of Brockton (MA) by way of the U.S. Virgin Islands, in the six-round co-feature. This past weekend Fernandez upset previously unbeaten Irish National amateur champion Michael McLaughlin in Boston. Gilbert vs. Fernendez could easily steal the show because of the aggressive styles of both fighters.
Three amateur matches are also on tap featuring Claremont (NH) middleweight Neiko Clow, Vermont State Golden Gloves Champion and New England Golden Gloves finalist, vs. TBA; West Forks (ME) light welterweight Brandon Berry, another Vermont Golden Gloves Champion, vs. Rhode Island State Golden Gloves Champion Tevin Aleau, of Providence (RI); 90-pound boxer Thomas Blumenfield, National Junior Olympics Champion from Claremont (NH), vs. TBA.
Proceeds from the 11th annual Fight To Educate will benefit SEE Science Center (www.see-sciencecenter.org), The Bobby Stephens Fund for Education (www.stepheneducationfund.com), and New Horizons for New Hampshire.
Tickets, priced at $50.00 and $25.00 (general admission), are available to purchase by going online at www.ticketmaster.com, calling Ticketmaster at 800.745.3000, or at the Verizon Wireless Arena Box Office or any Ticketmaster location.
Table tickets for a night of professional boxing and Black Tie dinner, as well as an auction and meet-and-greet with special boxing legends such as former world heavyweight champion James “Buster” Douglas, who knocked out Mike Tyson in one of the biggest upsets in boxing history, as well as three of New England’s all-time greatest boxers, “Irish” Micky Ward, John “The Quietman” Ruiz and “Dangerous” Dana Rosenblatt. Ward was a three-time participant in the Fight of the Year, as well as the World Boxing Union junior welterweight champion, whose life was portrayed in the award-winning movie, “The Fighter.” Two-time WBA heavyweight champion Ruiz is the first and only world heavyweight champion of Latino heritage who fought in 12 world title fights Rosenblatt is a former WBU and International Boxing Association middleweight champion who defeated the Outstanding Boxer of the 1976 Olympics, Howard Davis, Jr., as well as multiple time world champions Vinny Paz and Terry Norris. Call Stephen Singer at 603.669.4100 for more details about this special opportunity.
The dinner starts at 5:30 p.m. ET, doors for boxing open at 7:30 PM/ET with the first bout scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.
Go online to www.fight2educate.com or www.verizonwirelessarena.com for additional information.
