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Crown Boxing, a Las Vegas company that has been promoting professional fight cards for the past two years, has announced that the Crystal Clear Sports Network will televise future bouts.
Crown Boxing matchmaker Frank Luca said his company will launch its affiliation with CCSN on June 15 at the Orleans Hotel and Casino with a card featuring the Global Boxing Union junior welterweight championship bout between Belinda Laracuente and Melissa Del Valle. Luca said his boxing shows will air internationally on broadband.
“We’re fortunate to have two very supportive partners as our company continues to grow,” Luca said. “Boyd Gaming gave us our start in Las Vegas and the Crystal Clear Sports Network will enable us to present our shows to a world-wide audience.”
Crown debuted in Las Vegas in October 2005 when Jose Alberto Gonzalez won the IBA featherweight title by out pointing Marcos Licona at the Stardust Resort and Casino, then owned by Boyd Gaming. The Stardust has since been demolished to make way for Echelon Place, a $5 billion Boyd Gaming hotel and casino scheduled to open in 2010.
Last October Crown began presenting boxing shows at the Orleans, also owned by Boyd.
The Laracuente -Del Valle match will mark the seventh world championship fight presented in Las Vegas by Crown.
Luca’s own Las Vegas ring experience dates to the 1970s when he trained noted heavyweight Earnie Shavers for a series of important fights. In 1978 Shavers knocked out Ken Norton in the first round at Caesars Palace to earn a title fight with Larry Holmes.
The following year at Caesars Palace, Shavers was defeated by Holmes after knocking down the champion in the seventh round. Luca had previously trained Shavers for his 1977 world championship match with Muhammad Ali in Madison Square Garden. Ali won a 15-round decision.
Luca, a native of Canton, Ohio, has spent more than 40 years in the sport as a competitor, cornerman, trainer, matchmaker and promoter. He has trained more than 350 professional fighters in his career and has worked with contenders or champions in 14 world title bouts.
Tickets are $25 for general reserved seating and $50 for ringside. The fight is available on television for $9.95 at www.ActionRanch.com. Doors open at 6 p.m. Boxing starts at 7 p.m.
