KO Kings of Tomorrow Featuring Claudio Marrero, Juan Carlos Payano & Erickson Lubin Feb. 22, 2014 * Sands Casino Resort * Bethlehem, PA For Immediate Release Iron Mike Productions announces Monthly series at Sands Casino Resort KO Kings of Tomorrow Kicks-off Feb. 22 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. (January 30, 2014) - Hall of Famer Iron Mike Tyson is the youngest World Heavyweight Champion of all-time and in 1987 he was voted Worlds Most Popular Athlete. The living legend became a boxing promoter last year, partnering with Garry Jonas to form Iron Mike Productions, which has announced its new monthly boxing series, KO Kings of Tomorrow, starting February 22, at Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Tyson, of course, isnt the first world champion who turned to promoting after retiring from the ring. He joined a select list of fighters who became boxing promoters, including Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali (see photo gallery below), Roy Jones, Jr., Oscar de la Hoya, Bernard Hopkins and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Tyson also announced that he will perform his acclaimed one-man show, Undisputed Truth, on Feb. 20 at Sands Bethlehem Event Center. The IMP boxing series will be broadcast worldwide as low-cost pay-per-view events over Universal Streaming Network, live from Sands Bethlehem Event Center, for only $4.99 via ustream.tv/universalstreamingnetwork. The Feb. 22nd KO Kings of Tomorrow is loaded from top to bottom, featuring many of the top contenders and prospects in the world. World-rated featherweight Claudio The Matrix Marrero (14-1, 11 KOs) takes on Mexican invader Jose Angel Pepe Beranza (36-28-2, 28 KOs) in the 10-round main event. The World Boxing Association (WBA) rates Marrero, a native of the Dominican Republic, as its No. 9 rated 126-pounder in the world. The slick southpaw lost a close 12-round decision (116-111, 115-112, 114-113) in his last fight (August 23, 2013) to Jesus Marcelo Andres Cuellar for the WBA Interim title. Two-time Dominican Republic Olympian Juan Carlos Payano (14-0, 8 KOs) faces battle-tested Mexican veteran German Panteonero Meraz (46-28-1, 25 KOs) in the 10-round co-feature. Payano had more than 520 amateur matches and he is currently the WBAs top-rated contender (No. 2, the top spot is unrated), as well as ranked No. 10 by the World Boxing Council (WBC) and No. 15 by the International Boxing Federation (IBF). One of the best prospects in the world, Erickson The Hammer Lubin (2-0, 2 KOs), meets Mississippis upset-minded Tirobio Ball (4-1-1, 1 KO) in a four-round Special Welterweight Attraction. Lubin, fighting out of Orlando (FL), was considered Team USAs No. 1 overall prospect for the 2016 Olympics prior to him signing a promotional contract with Iron Mike Productions last October 1 on his 18th birthday. The explosive southpaw captured a gold medal at the 2012 National PAL Championships, among his many significant accomplishments as an amateur boxer. Cuban light heavyweight Humberto El Don Savigne (11-8, 8 KOs), fighting out of Miami, squares off against former world title challenger Tommy Karpency (21-4-1, 14 KOs) in another 10-round bout. Savigne is rated No. 4 by the WBA. Karpency is a local favorite from Adah, Pennsylvania, who took then-World Boxing Organization (WBO) 175-pound champion Nathan Cleverly the full distance in 2012. Another powerful southpaw, Cuban-born super featherweight Alexei The Mexican-Cuban Collado (17-0, 16 KOs) puts his undefeated record on the line against tough Mexican veteran Edgar Basuras Riovalle (36-16-2, 25 KOs) in an eight-round match-up. The 25-year-old Collado, who defected to Ireland and now lives in Miami, has stopped all but one of his 17 opponents as a professional. Riovalle has been knocked out only once in his last 14 fights dating back to 2010. Another standout IMP prospect, Orlando featherweight Dennis Galarza (2-0, 1 KO), plans to continue impressing in a scheduled four-rounder versus Jesus Gonzalez (1-1), of Mexico. Also fighting on the undercard in a six-rounder are a pair of unbeaten welterweights, popular Moossen (PA) resident The Who Can Mexican Samuel Vasquez (11-0, 7 KOs), the two-time All-Army and Armed Forces Champion, and Dominican Republic fighter Berlin The Rock Abreau (7-0., 5 KOs). Azerbaijan middleweight Farid Aghaev will make his pro debut in a four-round fight vs. an opponent to be determined. All fights and fighters are subject to change. Tickets priced at $200.00, $125.00, $75.00 and $50.00 are on sale and available to purchase at the Sands Event Center Bethlehem Box Office, sandseventcenter/event/details/ko-kings-of-tomorrow-featuring-mike-tyson/, all TicketMaster outlets, ticketmaster, or call 1-800-745-3000. To inaugurate the KO Kings of Tomorrow series one lucky ticket holder will be selected to sit ringside with Iron Mike. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. ET with the first bout scheduled to start at 7:15 p.m. ET. For additional information go online at IronMikeProductions or sandseventcenter/event/details/ko-kings-of-tomorrow-featuring-mike-tyson/ ABOUT IRON MIKE PRODUCTIONS (IMP): Founded in 2013 by CEO Garry Jonas and Hall of Famer Mike Tyson, Iron Mike Productions is a full-service boxing promotional company with offices located in Deerfield Beach, Florida and Las Vegas, Nevada. IMP is committed to changing traditional boxing promotion by advocating for its fighters successes, inside the ring and out, throughout their professional careers and into retirement. For additional information go online at IronMikeProductions, friend on Facebook at Facebook/IronMike Productions, or follow on Twitter @IronMikeProd. -30 CONTACTS: Bob Trieger, Iron Mike Productions, 978.664,4482, bobtfcp@hotmail Jo Mignano, Mike Tysons publicist, jmignano@kruppnyc Press Credentials: Amanda Kasinecz, Sands Event Center, 610.297.7405, Amanda.kasinecz@sandseventcenter Jack Dempsey, The Manassa Mauler, stopped boxing after his 1927 fight against Gene Tunney. He promoted a few bouts before entering show business as an actor. Here Dempsey (R) stands with the second most popular athlete of the famed Golden Era, Babe Ruth (L). Joe Louis, the Brown Bomber, is considered by many historians as the greatest heavyweight champion of all time. He retired briefly in 1948 and one of his first promotions was the Ezzard Charles-Jersey Joe Walcott fight for the title Louis vacated. Muhammad Ali, known simply as, The Greatest, is certainly one of the most famous people of all time. After his final bout in 1981 against future champion Trevor Berbick, he entered the promotional business under the banner, MAPS (Muhammad Ali Professional Sports). Mike Tyson and his business partner, Garry Jonas, formed Iron Mike Productions in 2013. Their motto: the best interest of the fighter comes first in any decision making.
Posted on: Fri, 31 Jan 2014 19:53:10 +0000