Press Release: Brooklyn’s Curtis “Showtime” Stevens (15-1, 11 KOs) will be an 11th hour replacement for Sechew Powell in the co-main event, when he faces veteran Jonathan Corn (47-15-2, 26 KOs) in a 10-round super middleweight season finale of Broadway Boxing Presented by StubHub this Thursday night, December 14th, at the Grand Ballroom at the Manhattan Center. In a throwback to the golden days of boxing, it will be Stevens’ third fight in 30 days. Stevens just captured the New York State light heavyweight title on December 1st in a ten-round unanimous decision victory over Dhafir Smith (16-15-4, 3 KO’s) at Vernon Downs. On the November 15th Broadway Boxing card at Manhattan Center, Stevens avenged his only career loss when he scored a unanimous decision victory over a tough-minded Marcos Primera in eight rounds.
DiBella Entertainment’s newly signed James “Buddy” McGirt, Jr. (12-0, 7 KOs), son of the legendary former champion and current top trainer Buddy McGirt, Sr., makes his DBE debut in an eight-round middleweight affair against Dennis Sharpe (17-3-3, 4 KOs) of Jersey City, NJ, in the co-main event. The season’s wrap up also includes an appearance by Dash-DiBella Promotion’s Gary “Kid” Stark, Jr. (17-0, 8 KO’s) of Staten Island against Vernie Torres (27-2, 15 KO’s) of Los Angeles in the 10-round New York State Junior Featherweight Title bout.
“Three fights in 30 days is a great throwback to the old days,” said DBE president Lou DiBella. “It’s great for Curtis and great for the fans. Buddy McGirt, Jr. makes his New York debut along with some very talented New York fighters, so it will be an exciting night of boxing.”
"I followed James' career and believe he's one of the top prospects in the middleweight division,” added DiBella. “Under the tutelage of his dad Buddy McGirt, one of the best trainers in the game, James Jr. has a bright future as a DBE fighter. We can't wait for Thursday night.”
McGirt, the flashy southpaw and rising star, comes into the bout undefeated with five of his last six victories coming by way of TKO. Most recently, he scored an impressive decision victory over fellow “son of a legend” Stephon Pryor (son of Aaron) in a bout televised by Showtime’s ShoBox. He looks to continue his rise on December 14th when he makes his Broadway Boxing debut.
Continuing his Broadway Boxing run, Staten Island native Gary “Kid” Stark Jr. (17-0, 8 KO’s), will see action for the eighth time in the friendly confines of the Manhattan Center. Coming off of a dominant and near shutout performance over Carlos Diaz on September 20th in the Hammerstein Ballroom, “Kid” will look to continue his rise up the junior featherweight rankings in a ten round bout and show why he is considered one of the most promising and talented prospects in New York City.
Also, Shaun George (12-1-2, 5 KO’s) of Brooklyn vs. Roosevelt Johnson (5-8-1, 1 KO); Maureen Shea (7-0, 3 KO’s) of the Bronx vs. Rocio Vazquez (6-4, 1 KO) of Mexico; Robert Semidei (1-0) of Brooklyn vs. Harvey Phillips (pro debut); and first time pro Eusebio “El Gallo” Flores of Queens via Mexico City vs. Tolan Tascoe (pro debut) will also appear on the New York-stacked fight card featuring fighters from every borough in the city. Also appearing will be Atlantic City’s Patrick Majewski (1-0, 1 KO), who will look to repeat on his September 20th Broadway Boxing knockout performance in a four round middleweight affair against Ken Dunham (pro debut).
The two editions of Broadway Boxing will air on a later date in high definition exclusively on HDNet and in over 30 million homes on SportsNet New York in the New York Metropolitan Area, Comcast SportsNet Chicago, Comcast SportsNet Southeast, Comcast SportsNet West and Comcast Local – Detroit. Broadway Boxing is sponsored by StubHub, HBO Sports, the motion picture Rocky Balboa and Gallagher's Steak House.
Tickets are available by calling DiBella Entertainment at 212-947-2577. Two dollars of every ticket purchased for the December 14th edition of Broadway Boxing Presented by StubHub will be donated to the Council for Unity.
