Dino Duva will promote the hard punching youngster, and his father, legendary Hall of Famer Lou Duva, will serve as co-manager with his partner Phil Forte.

Toma will show his considerable wares on the undercard of the DiBella Entertainment show featuring light heavyweights Shaun George vs. Jaffa Ballogou in the main event of February 25 at BB King's in Manhattan.

The New York boroughs have a high Albanian population, and Toma already has a huge following.

"I had heard about him and his success in the New Jersey Golden Gloves," says Dino. "When I finally got a chance to meet him, he told me he wanted to turn pro. Some mutual friends told him to talk to us about working with me and my father. Rini, my father and I bonded quickly, and signed contracts soon after.”

"He is a tremendous puncher," added Duva, "and that’s what we need in the heavyweight division today, power punchers that excite the fans. I can see him progressing very quickly in the heavyweight division. I know that he is popular with the Albanian New Yorkers, who are great fans, and I am excited about building him as a future heavyweight star."

“He’s a strong guy who comes to fight,” says Lou Duva. “He gives fight fans a real show. I think he can do it, people like him. He has charisma to go with the talent.”

“I feel very good, I am very happy, I am a lucky guy to sign with Dino,” says the 25-year-old Toma. “I am very excited about fighting in New York in front of my family and friends, I am actually very nervous, but I know I will do well."

“I am a boxer puncher, and very fast hands," said the native of Lexha, Albania. "I come with a lot of power, I can also take a good punch, and my conditioning is very good, too.”

Toma migrated to the United States seven years ago from Albania, where boxing was prohibited, but he excelled as a three time Greco Roman wrestling champion.

Rocky Marciano is his idol. "The reason I started boxing was that I was delivering some books from the store, and I saw pictures of Rocky Marciano. He inspired me. Someone told me I had big fists like him, and that we looked similar."

If Toma resembles Marciano in the ring in the slightest bit, he has quite a future ahead of him. Dino and Lou Duva hope so.

For tickets call DBE at 212 947-2577

Share/Save | (0) comments | Add your comments
Click to read more boxing articles by Boxing Press

Discuss in Boxing Forum

---

Related Boxing Articles...

• Boxing Veteran Jaffa Ballogou Set For Ring Return

  Former WBC Super Middleweight International Champion and WBA title challenger Jaffa “The African Assassin” Ballogou, 45-6 (39), has announced he will to return to the ring in the near future. >
  
  

• Shaun George Aims To Knock Out Eric Harding December 6

  Donna Brooks has no doubts in her mind about the skill level of Shaun George. "I've seen it since day one when we signed him," said Brooks, president of Hall >
  
  

• Boxing Prospect Shaun George Gunning For A Top 15 Fight At Light Heavy

  Brooklyn's Shaun George knew he had to do more than just earn a victory; he needed to make an impression. Squaring off against his most difficult assignment to date, dangerous >
  
  

• Boxing Prospect Shaun George Calls Out World Rated Adrian Diaconu

  Light heavyweight contender Shaun George wants what every self-respecting pugilist craves: The most challenging assignments available. With Chad Dawson preoccupied with Glen Johnson, Adrian Diaconu has no engagements booked in >
  
  

• Team Byrd Issues Statement Following Loss To Shaun George

  Tracy Byrd issued the following statement today to fans and friends concerned about her husband Chris after his loss this week to Shaun George: "Chris is ok. His spirits >
  
  

• Shaun George Calls Out Glen Johnson

  Recently, a press release was issued in which Glen Johnson called out the likes of Roy Jones Jr., Bernard Hopkins, Chad Dawson and Clinton Woods. Johnson claimed to be feared >
  
  

• Boxing Info: Chris Byrd vs. Shaun George May 16

  For years, Shaun George has waited patiently for his chance to rise to the top of his division. His journey comes to a head on May 16, when the Brooklyn >
  
  

• Prospect Shaun George Gets Eric Harding On December 8

  Light heavyweight prospect Shaun George seeks to take a big step towards his goal of winning a world title and closing out the year with a bang. Dangerous Philadelphian Eric >
  
  

• Prospect Shaun George Gets Eric Harding On December 8

  Light heavyweight prospect Shaun George seeks to take a big step towards his goal of winning a world title and closing out the year with a bang. Dangerous Philadelphian Eric >
  
  

• Boxing Prospect Shaun George Back In Action August 9

  Fresh off of a thrilling victory over Richard Hall this past May, Shaun George of Brooklyn, NY is poised to impress in his West Coast debut against the well-traveled Matthew >
  
  

---

Boxing News Tags: , Dino Duva, Jaffa Ballogou, Lou Duva, Shaun George