Boxing News Boxing News
2008 U.S. Olympian Sadam Ali has been added to the October 31 Halloween Night “Fright Night At The Sun” pro boxing card, presented by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc. (CES), in a 4-round welterweight bout at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
World-rated light heavyweight Joey “KO Kid” Spina (25-1-1, 17 KOs) headlines “Fright Night At The Sun” against former world champion Lou “Honey Boy” Del Valle (36-6-1, 22 KOs) in the 10-round main event.
“Sadam is like Vinny Paz in the ring,” promoter Jimmy Burchfield said. “He goes all out and boxing people really love that style. He’s a real puncher and a great kid. Sadam Ali is the future. We’re all excited about having another US Olympian fighting on one of our cards.”
Ali (3-0, 2 KOs), fighting out of Brooklyn, was the first Arab-American to represent the U.S. Boxing Team in the Olympics, as well as the first New York City boxer on the U.S. Olympic squad in 20 years.
He was a highly-decorated amateur since he stared boxing 13 years ago, including 3-time PAL National Championships champion, as well as 2-time National Golden Gloves Tournament and Under-19 National Tournament gold-medal winner.
Taking this fight against an opponent to be determined on only two weeks notice, Ali explained, was an easy decision because he’s always working hard in the Coney Island gym with his trainer, Andre Rozier.
“I feel good about this fight,” the 21-year-old Ali commented. “I’m always in the gym. I’m excited and ready. I don’t know what style I’ll use, other than be exciting, until I figure out my opponent. Sometimes I use my speed to box, other fights I’ll come in and take out my opponent. In either case I’m coming to win.”
Ali, who has comfortably made the adjustment from amateurs to the pros, started in karate at the tender age of four, but he switched to boxing four years later after watching Prince Naseem Hamed. “I liked his energy and the support he received from his fans,” Sadam explained. “I loved watching his fights but I don’t really fight like him.
“I’m comfortable as a pro. There’s not that much of a difference other than no head gear and smaller gloves. I have my goals and dreams, but I’m not looking forward, just focusing on one fight at a time. I know where I can get and this is just the beginning.”
One of the hottest prospects on the East Coast, UBC junior welterweight champion “Hammerin’” Hank Lundy (15-0-1, 9 KOs), of Philadelphia, fights an opponent to be determined in the 10-round co-feature.
On the undercard in separate 4-round bouts are a pair of promising Hartford (CT) prospects from Puerto Rico, Hartford junior middleweight David Bauza (2-0, 2 KOs) against Rafael Jastrzebski, and light welterweight Edwin Soto (1-0, 1 KO) versus pro debuting Rasheed Francis.
Also fighting on the undercard is unbeaten lightweight Ryan “The Polish Prince” Kielczewski (5-0, 2 KOs), a 2008 National Golden Gloves Tournament runner-up from Quincy (MA), in a 4-round bout against Israel Suarez (2-2).
In two other 4-rounders, undefeated Philadelphia lightweight Frank Trader (6-0, 2 KOs) faces Gustavo Daily, while Long Island light heavyweight Joe Smith, Jr., 2008 New York Golden Glove champion, makes his long-awaited pro debut vs. TBA. All fights and fighters are subject to change.
Tickets for “Fright Night At The Sun,” priced at $27.00, $50.00 and $80.00, are available to purchase by calling CES (401.724.2253/2254), going online at www.cesboxing.com or at the Mohegan Sun Box Office.
Ticketmaster customers may log on to www.ticketmaster.com, call Ticketmaster’s national toll-free charge by phone (1.800.745.3000) or visit any Ticketmaster outlet.
For more information contact CES (401.724.2253/2254/www.cesboxing.com) or Mohegan Sun (www.mohegansun.com). Doors open at 6:30 PM/ET, first bout at 7:30 PM/ET.
