Boxing Update: Football Player Zbikowski Added To Cotto vs. Mayorga Show

ByBoxing Press

Baltimore Ravens safety Tommy Zbikowski will make his Las Vegas debut – as a professional boxer – opening the pay-per-view televised broadcast of the “Relentless: Miguel Cotto vs. Ricardo Mayorga” world super welterweight championship fight, Saturday, March 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“Relentless” will be produced and distributed live by Showtime PPV. Zbikowski, who completed his third season with the Ravens, will take on Richard Bryant (1-2, 1 KO), from London, KY, in a four-round heavyweight bout.

“Top Rank welcomes Tommy Z back to the square ring,” said Bob Arum. “We know that Tommy has all the ability to excel in boxing like he has on the gridiron.”

“I’ve played in an AFC championship game and Notre Dame Stadium. I’ve fought at Madison Square Garden and MGM Grand. I would like someone to beat that,” said Tommy Z to the Baltimore Sun.

Tommy Z (1-0, 1 KO), a former star defensive back and team captain for the University of Notre Dame, is also a former Chicago Golden Gloves finalist. He was forced to withdraw from the championship final due to a family emergency. His amateur record was 75-15.

He made his professional debut on June 10, 2006, on the undercard of the Top Rank-promoted Miguel Cotto-Paulie Malignaggi world junior welterweight championship at Madison Square Garden, knocking out Robert Bell (2-2), in just :49 seconds. He is now training with Orlando Cuellar, who also trains former light heavyweight champion Glen Johnson.

Tommy Z will be led into the ring by Troy Smith, who won the 2006 Heisman Trophy while playing at Ohio State. Many of Tommy Z’s Ravens and Notre Dame teammates will be attending the fight, including Ed Reed, the Raven’s Pro Bowl safety, and Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle and former Notre Dame teammate Ty Law, who escorted Tommy Z into the ring for his pro debut at Madison Square Garden in 2006. Tommy will be in Law’s wedding this Saturday.

The Miguel Cotto vs. Ricardo Mayorga WBA super welterweight championship headlines “Relentless” — the four-bout pay-per-view extravaganza — on Saturday, March 12, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nev.

“Relentless: Cotto vs. Mayorga” will be promoted by Top Rank, in association with Cotto Promotions, Don King Productions, Tecate and MGM Grand, and produced and distributed live by Showtime PPV®, beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT.

Remaining tickets, priced at $400, $300, $200, $100, and $50, not including applicable service charges, can be purchased at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino.) Ticket sales are limited to 16 per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster (800) 745-3000. Tickets are also available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.