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Yankee Stadium may be the house that Ruth built, but The Paramount in Huntington was built by boxer Chris Algieri, who will make his triumphant return July 20 to further his quest for a world title.
“It will be a tremendous Saturday night of boxing with ‘The Pride of Huntington’ looking to remain undefeated before his hometown crowd,” said Star Boxing’s Joe DeGuardia at a pre-fight press conference at The Fox Hollow in Woodbury.
“From the top of the ticket down through the undercard, The Paramount will be rocking with outstanding professional boxing.”
The aptly-named “Rockin Fights 9” will showcase the undefeated Algieri, 16-0 (7 KO), vs. Junior Welterweight “Mighty Mike” Arnaoutis, 24-8-2 (11 KO).
The former USBA and NABO Junior Welterweight Champ has more experience than Algieri, but the former MMA champ said his ring smarts will give him the edge.
“The operating room will be the ring and Chris Algieri will be the doctor,” DeGuardia said, noting that the “Pride of Huntington,” who comes to the fight with a Masters Degree in nutrition, put his medical school studies on hold to pursue a world title. “Don’t let his looks fool you-he’s one tough boxer.”
According to DeGuardia, whose Star Boxing has been bringing quality boxing to the Paramount and other venues for 20 years, Algieri is about one year away from a world title match and
has been exhilarating crowds, especially at The Paramount, with some amazing fights.
His last match at The Paramount was in February when he defeated Jersey City prospect Jose Peralta Alejo in a brawl that was broadcast live on NBC’s Fight Night.
“I’ve had a tremendous camp and I am ready to go,” the hometown hero told his fans. “Don’t let my calm demeanor fool you. When I step into the ring, I’ll be a different person.”
Sporting a shiner under one eye at the press conference from an aggressive sparring session was undercard favorite Rich “Kid Brasil” Neves, a 6-0-1 (3 KO) Junior Middleweight.
He’ll be stepping into the ring against New York City’s Enver “The Great” Halili, 3-1 (1 KO). “I’ve had a tremendous camp,” Neves said. “I’m ready for battle.”
“I’m coming to fight. I’m coming to win and that’s exactly what I’m going to do,” said another undercard star, Lightweight Alan Gotay, 5-0 (3 KO), of Huntington, who will go up against Michael Doyle, 1-2, of Prichard, AL.
Also on stage before a throng of reporters, family and friends in Fox Hollow’s Winter Garden Room was Junior Welterweight Anthony “Showtime” Karperis, 4-1 (2 KO), of Hicksville who will duke it out with Jonathan Cuba, 6-5-1 (4 KO), of Queens. “Thank you to Star Boxing and the Paramount for giving us this opportunity to show the world what we got.”
“Headliner Chris Algieri made his way up through Star Boxing undercards and I fully expect these fighters, thanks to their grit and devotion to the sport, to headline a show of their own someday,” DeGuardia said. “Be prepared for Thunder and Lightning.”
The Saturday night “Rockin Fights 9” card will also feature the professional debut of Super Middleweight and Golden Gloves champ Vincenzo D’Angelo of Glen Cove vs. Michael Mitchell, 1-1-1, of Paterson, N.J.
Also stepping into the pro ring for the first time will be Middleweight Wendy “The Haitian Hurricane” Toussaint of Huntington vs. On’rey Towns, 0-1, of Hillside, NJ.
Starting at $50, advance tickets for “Rockin Fights 9” are available through Star Boxing (
www.StarBoxing.com, 718-823-2000) and Ticketmaster (www.Ticketmaster.com, 800-745-3000.). Tickets are also available at The Paramount Box Office (www.Paramountny.com, 631-73-7300.).
