Vanda vs. Kost Headlines Friday’s Boxing Show In Minnesota

ByBoxing Press

Former IBA Americas light middleweight champion Matt “The Predator” Vanda continues his mission to return to world title contention when he faces bitter cross-town rival Kenny “KO” Kost on Friday night in the 10-round main event, headlining “The Brawl In St. Paul: A Father’s Day Special,” at “The Legendary Roy Wilkins Auditorium” in St.. Paul.

Vanda (36-3, 21 KOs) and Kost (11-3, 6 KOs) come from the opposite side of the tracks, so to speak, socially as well as professionally. Vanda is a product of the tough East Side of St. Paul, while Kost grew up in the more affluent St. Paul suburb of White Bear Lake.

Matt turned pro in 1996 at the tender age of 17-½. Kenny, on the other hand, went on to become a decorated amateur and he didn’t fight for money until only four years ago.

Unbeaten featherweight knockout sensation Wilton “Pretty Warrior” Hilario (8-0, 7 KOs), fighting out of St. Louis Park (MN), returns in the six-round co-feature against former NABF super bantamweight champion Ricardo “El Rayo” Medina (30-17-4, 17 KOs), of Mexico.

Watch On The Web
“The Brawl In St. Paul: A Father’s Day Special” will be shown on CrystalClearSports.net for those unable to attend the show. A special pre-fight show begins at 6:00 PM/CT with the first bout at 7:00 PM. All of the action will be available via the “Crystal Clear Instant Replay” archive following the event.

Crystal Clear Sports is a web-casting company covering sporting events across the Midwest. Visit CrystalClearSports.net for more information.

Also scheduled to fight on the card is super middleweight Jon Schmidt (2-0, 2 KOs), of Blaine (MN), against Robert Kliewer (2-2, 2 KOs), of Maplewood (MN); Minneapolis heavyweight Drew Peterson (1-1) versus James Taylor in his pro debut, Osseo (MN) super middleweight Caleb “Golden” Truax (1-0, 1 KO) takes on Nick Whiting (0-4), of Bemidji (MN), and Minneapolis cruiserweight Phil “The Drill” Williams (3-0, 3 KOs) faces Brandon Burke (0-2-1).

Light welterweight Paul Fernandez (0-0-1), versus TBA, as well as youngsters Dexter Dunsworth and Rafael Riva making their pro debuts against each other, are all slated to fight on Friday night’s undercard against opponents to be determined. All bouts and fighters are subject to change.

Tickets, priced at $32.00, $57.00 and $102.00, are on sale at The Legendary Roy Wilkins Auditorium, all TicketMaster locations, on line at Ticketmaster.com, or charge by phone at 651.989.5151. Doors open at 6 PM/CT, first bout at 7 PM/CT.

To view the web reality series “Behind The Brawl,” filmed and edited by critically-acclaimed and award-winning documentary director Michael Wilson, go to http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfmfuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=20301256.
For more information about “The Brawl in St. Paul” go to www.theroy.org or www.soboxing.com.