PRESS RELEASE: Promoter Art Pelullo/Banner Promotions will present a sensational fight card on Friday, February 24, 2006, in the Rollins Center Ballroom at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, located at 1131 North DuPont Highway in Dover, Delaware. The featured fights will be televised on Comcast’s CN8 Network on a delayed basis.
The main event, scheduled for 12 rounds, will be an eliminator for the International Boxing Federation’s No. 1 ranking and status as mandatory world title challenger between Rodney Jones, 36-3-1, with 22 knockouts, of Stockton, California, and Raul Frank, 27-4-2, with 13 knockouts, of Brooklyn, New York. Rodney is undefeated - 12-0-1 - in his last 13 fights, and is currently ranked No. 4 by the IBF. Raul is on a five-fight unbeaten run - 4-0-1 - and ranked No. 5 by the IBF.
This fight is the rematch of their fight on October 1, 2005, in Tampa, Florida. The first fight was a match of contrasting styles - Rodney jabbed and boxed effectively, and generally fought at a busier pace, but Raul fought more aggressively and landed the harder punches - and ended as a 12-round draw. The judges scored 117-111 Jones, 115-113 Frank, 114-114.
Super middleweight prospect James McGirt Jr. 10-0, 6 KOs, of Vero Beach, Florida, is scheduled in an eight-round bout against an opponent to be announced.
The card will also feature two local favorites. Larry “The Laser” Marks, 27-7, with 16 knockouts, of Wilmington, Delaware, will fight in a six-round jr. middleweight bout, and Richard Stewart, 6-1, with 5 knockouts, of New Castle, Delaware, will fight in a six-round light heavyweight bout, both against opponents to be announced.
Three more bouts are scheduled to complete the card. All bouts are subject to change without notice.
Doors open at 7:00 P.M., the first fight begins at 8:00 P.M.
Ticket prices range from $30 to $80.
Tickets are available at the Dover Downs Hotel & Casino ticket office; by phone at V.I.P. Services - 1-800-711-5882; all TicketMaster locations, and online at TicketMaster.com.
