Training over the long Thanksgiving weekend, three of the top boxers on the upcoming Broadway Boxing card shared their thoughts on the family holiday as they prepare for battle on Thursday, December 5th at Terminal 5 in Manhattan, NY. The 112th edition of Broadway Boxing will be live streamed exclusively on UFC Fight Pass. Headlining the event is super featherweight O'Shaquie "Ice Water" Foster (16-2, 10 KOs) of Houston, TX in a ten-round clash against Alberto "The Transformer" Mercado (16-3-1, 3 KOs), of Puerto Rico. "Thanksgiving is all about family," said the 26 year-old Foster. "I am thankful for the family that I have. We never had much growing up, but they've always been very supportive of my boxing career from my very first bout starting as an amateur.
"I am also thankful just to be alive. There was a dark time when things were going the wrong way quickly. I was into all sorts of things I had no business doing; I wasn't exactly obeying the law. But I'm happy for the man I am today. I formed my own team and they have had my back ever since. The future seems very bright and I'm going to keep shining on Thursday, December 5th. "I am also thankful for my team that supports me in and out of the ring. We have been working hard the last few years through each Thanksgiving and every holiday and it's definitely paying off. I'm getting a great deal more recognition from the fans and media, but they haven't even seen half of what I can do. Wishing everyone the very best family Thanksgiving."
Co-featured is a ten-round women's bout on December 5th, former champion Ana Laura "La Monita" Esteche (14-5-3, 2KOs) of Argentina faces former "Merciless" Mary McGee (25-3, 13 KOs), of Gary, IN, for the vacant IBF 140-pound title. "Thanksgiving means being thankful to my promoter Lou DiBella and my manager Brian Cohen for believing in me and providing me with the opportunity to win the IBF 140-pound title," said McGee. "I'm very thankful that this will position me to provide a better life for my son.
"Training on the holidays, especially Thanksgiving, is something I've always done throughout my career. I've always understood the challenges it takes to be a world champion and this is something I've dreamed about since I started boxing. Thursday, December 5th, will be the culmination of all my hard work and truly be the best holiday season for me. Wishing everyone a joyous Thanksgiving."
Undefeated heavyweight Stephan "Big Shot" Shaw (12-0, 9 KOs), of St. Louis, MO, also spoke about Thanksgiving prior to his fight on December 5th against Gregory "Bad News" Corbin (15-2, 9 KOs), of Dallas, TX, in a scheduled ten-round bout. "I'm very thankful to be alive, healthy, pursuing my dreams and making them a reality with each fight," said the 27 year-old Shaw. "I'm thankful for my wife and two sons, my family means the world to me. Thanksgiving to me also means being thankful for my parents raising me the right way. I'm thankful for God's grace and mercy. I'm overall thankful for the life God has given me.
"Finally, I'm very thankful to Lou DiBella for taking me under his wing and continuing to help me build my career. Being part of his team has allowed me to be more focused on training and preparing for each fight."
----------------------------------
Two undercard bouts will also be part of the UFC Fight Pass stream on December 5th. Popular Puerto Rican lightweight Victor "El Turu" Padilla (6-0, 5 KOs), of Berlin, NJ, will face Fredric Bowen (6-3-1, 3 KOs), of Jackson, TN, in a six-round tilt. Also, Mikkel "Slikk Mikk" LesPierre (21-1-1, 6 KOs), of Brooklyn, NY, clashes with Roody Pierre "Rude Boy" Paul (16-5-2, 6 KOs), of Terrebonne, Quebec, Canada, in an eight-round 140-pound bout.
Others seeing action in separate bouts include lightweight Christian Bermudez (1-0, 1 KO), of Brooklyn, NY, light heavyweight Frederic Julan (11-0, 9 KOs), of Brooklyn, NY, cruiserweight newcomer Matthew Tinker (1-0, 1 KO), of Long Island City, NY, and welterweight Mathew Gonzalez (9-0, 6 KOs), of Ridgewood, NY. More information on these bouts will be announced shortly.
