PRESS RELEASE: Hall of Famer Lou Duva, his grandson Louie (Dino’s son) and Staten Island prospect Nicky DeMarco took a midday jaunt on the Staten Island Ferry today to announce the exciting under card put together by Duva Boxing  for this week’s Friday Night Fights: Staten Island Knockouts headlined by the Darnell Wilson-Emmanuel Nwodo 12-round cruiserweight slugfest on June 29, 2007 at the St. George Theater (34 Hyatt Street), in conjunction with the Dr. Theodore Atlas Foundation.

Teddy Atlas met the group upon arrival on Staten Island shores, accompanied by members of the media, and walked over to the historic St. George Theater just a few blocks from the ferry dock. The unbeaten DeMarco (2-0, 2 KOs) gets to fight on his home turf against Markel Muhammad (2-4) of Columbus, Ohio, in a four round lightweight tilt. The evening’s co-feature will pit a pair of New Jersey light heavyweights – Charles Cavallo (15-0, 6 KOs) of Trenton squares off against Newark’s Marlon Hayes (23-7, 11 KOs) in an eight-round affair at the benefit for the Dr. Theodore Atlas Foundation.
 
“Fighting in your own backyard is great,” said DeMarco, the grandson of former lightweight champ Nick DiMarco. “It says time on the commute. Being involved with greats like Lou Duva and Teddy Atlas is phenomenal.”

“This kid is going to bring the house down,” said Duva. “He comes forward and is really going to delight the fans.”

“When you look at the St. George Theater, it reminds you of the old fight clubs that had character and atmosphere,” said Atlas. “This fits that mold because we have the local kid on the show. People will be saying ‘I’m here to see Nicky.’ That it assists the Atlas Foundation is a huge plus.”

Part of the proceeds from event ticket sales will go to the Atlas Foundation, which assists the needy and less fortunate in the New York area and throughout the country. Staten Island native and renowned fight trainer Teddy Atlas will be in his customary position as ringside analyst on the ESPN2 Friday Night Fights broadcast, with Joe Tessatore delivering the blow by blow. The first bout of the evening is at 8:00 PM, and airtime for the broadcast is at 10:00 PM.


The rest of the undercard includes: unbeaten Jersey City’s Ray Biggs, Jr. (6-0, 5 KO’s) against Oscar Gonzalez (9-8-1, 3 KO’s) of Tampa in a six-round junior middleweight contest; undefeated Marcus Johnson (11-0, 8 KO’s) imports from Killeen, Texas, to take on Kippy Warren (17-7, 9 KO’s) of Atlanta in a six-round super middleweight bout; Brooklyn’s Reggie LaCrete (3-0, 2 KO’s) faces Gerrard Williams (0-2, 1 KO) of Phoenix in a four-round light heavyweight contest; and Gerald Jordan (1-0) against Lawrence Jones (2-0, 1 KO) of Washington DC in another four rounder. 
 

The main event will feature a battle of Maryland pitting Nigerian import Nwodo against hard punching Wilson with a regional title on the line in a battle of knockout artists.  Nwodo (21-3, 17 KOs) has reeled off 10 straight victories.  Wilson is a winner of three in a row, and has a ring record of 21-5-2, including 18 triumphs by way of KO.

 

“We are extremely excited about bringing a big time televised boxing card to Staten Island,” said Duva, “and are proud to contribute part of the box office gate to the

 

p. 2, Staten Island Knockouts undercard

 

Dr. Theodore Atlas Foundation to assist in the great charitable works that it does. I hope everyone attends this historic event.

 

‘It will be fun for Teddy to broadcast a fight card on his home turf,” added Duva, “so we are looking forward to an extra special night featuring a pair of big hitters in the main event. We intend on this show being the start of regular cards on Staten Island.”

 

“I am thrilled about this show for three reasons,” said Atlas. “First, pro boxing hasn’t been on Staten Island for quite a while, and bringing the Friday Night Fights here is going to be well received. Secondly, to celebrate the passion of Staten Island sports fans and help the foundation is important and gratifying to me. Thirdly, to work with an old friend like Dino Duva will make it that much more satisfying.”

 

This event is presented by Duva Boxing in association with Final Forum and Sugar Han Promotions. Tickets are priced at $150, $50 and $30, and are available by calling Duva Boxing at 973-237- 0999. Staten Island locations for ticket purchases will also be announced shortly.