NEW YORK (June 11, 2007) – Pro boxing goes upscale when “Black-Tie Boxing” comes to New York City on June 27 as caviar and champagne replace hot dogs and beer, tuxedos and gowns become required attire and fashion models serve as round card girls, at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.
 
“Black-Tie Boxing,” presented by Thomas Gallagher Productions, Inc., will be broadcast live on ESPN2 Wednesday Night Fights, headlined by a 12-round super middleweight title fight between former USBA champion Yusaf Mack (22-1-2, 14 KOs), rated No. 15 by the IBF, and Puerto Rican power puncher Jose Juan “Zeus” Vasquez (16-1-1, 9 KOs).
 
In a pair of eight-round co-feature events, former world heavyweight title contender “Big” Michael Grant (41-3, 31 KOs), former IBC and NABF champion, returns to the ring after a two-year absence against tough veteran Billy “The Kid” Zumbrun (21-8-1, 11 KOs); former Intercontinental welterweight champion Nick “Ace” Acevedo (17-2, 9 KOs), star of the The Contender II television reality series, faces dangerous light middleweight Max “Holy Hands” Cuevas (9-5-1, 5 KOs).
 
“We’re bringing class back to boxing,” promoter Mathew Sheldon explained. “Everyone will be served a delicious three-course dinner and we’re going back to the twenties and thirties style of dress in boxing, when men wore tuxedos and women gowns. This is going to be a classy, wealthy crowd. Some of the crazy stuff you may see at other fights you won’t see here. They’ll be sitting at tables, not on folding chairs with people standing in front and spilling beer all over the place. We’re trying to bring young blood into our sport, to make it more mainstream than just for boxing fanatics.
 
“Michael Grant looks great. He’s now living in Brooklyn and training at Gleason’s. He’s 267 pounds right now with six-pack abs. Every one wants to see how he looks. He’s making a comeback after suffering some injuries and bad luck. Michael’s a great athlete who is 41-3 with 31 knockouts. He’s only 34 and a few years ago, how many people thought (Oleg) Maskaev would be the world heavyweight champion today? The potential is there for Michael to get right into the heavyweight mix with a few wins.”
 
Scheduled to fight on the show is New York State welterweight champion Allen “Dream Shatter” Conyers (11-2, 9 KOs) versus upset minded Adam Salas (10-10, 2 KOs) in a six-round non-title match. Also slated to be on the undercard in four-round bouts are heavyweights Darrel Madison (4-1, 3 KOs) and Rodney Ray (4-4-1, 4 KOs), and highly decorated amateur super middleweight Mark “The Italian Bazooka” DeLuca (2-0, 2 KOs) vs. TBA.
 
Tickets, priced at $300.00 (dinner included), are on sale by calling Cipriani Wall Street (212.699.4099), Gallagher Productions (646.884.6200) or Sheldon Productions, Inc. (212.624.9363). Tables of 10 are still available for $3,000.00. A portion of the proceeds will go the Veterans Boxers Association (Ring 8 VBA). All bouts and boxers subject to change.