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PROVIDENCE (Feb. 22, 2010) – The St. Patrick’s Day celebration will extend two days as Irish-American boxers, led by hot, unbeaten prospect Danny O’Connor, the popular “Irish” Joey McCreedy and 4-time world champion Jaime “Hurricane” Clampitt, will be in action March 19 on the “Shamrock’d” pro card, presented by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc. (CES), at Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, R.I.
“Shamrock’d” kicks-off a recently signed multi-fight deal in 2010 between CES and Twin River that continues May 7, July 9, Sept. 3 and Nov. 12.
“We’re very happy that our Twin River schedule will continue for its fourth straight year,” CES president Jimmy Burchfield said. “The Twin River Event Center is one of the most beautiful venues in all of boxing. There isn’t a bad seat in the house and everybody at Twin River has been great to work with.
“CES will continue to promote evenly-matched, entertaining cards at Twin River, starting March 19th with ‘Shamrock’d,” which is loaded from top to bottom. Some of the most popular and talented fighters in New England will be in action. We’ll be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day – O’Connor, McCreedy and Clampitt are typically tough Irish fighters – but Italian fight fans will be celebrating St. Joseph’s Day.”
O’Connor (10-0, 3 KOs), fighting out of Framingham (MA), is an undefeated junior welterweight prospect who was a 2008 U.S. Olympic Tam alternate. The stylish southpaw faces his stiffest test as a pro in Franklin Gonzalez (13-3, 9 KOs), a dangerous Dominican puncher now living in Brooklyn. O’Connor-Gonzalez is the 8-round main event.
McCreedy (11-4-1, 6 KOs), fighting out of Lowell (MA), is the reigning EBA and New England super middleweight champion. He is dropping down to middleweight to fight an opponent to be determined in a 6-round bout.
Clampitt (20-4-1, 7 KOs) returned to the ring last November after taking 1 ½ years off to have her first baby, taking a 6-round decision from Rachel Clark. The Canadian-born, Warwick (RI) resident faces TBA in a 6-round fight.
A 6-round rematch for the EBA New England lightweight title will be held between unbeaten, defending champion Eddie “The Puerto Rican Sensation” Soto (12-0, 4 KOs) and challenger Sean Eklund (6-4, 1 KO). This inter-state rivalry pits Pawtucket’s (RI) Soto against Lowell’s Eklund, who is trained by his uncle, “Irish” Micky Ward, in a rematch of their hotly-contested, controversial, split-decision, won by Soto last February at Twin River. Soto overcame two knockdowns to win.
Also scheduled to fight Mar. 19 on “Shamrock’d” against opponents to be determined are New Bedford (MA) welterweight Jason “School Boy” Pires (22-3, 9 KOs), the former USBA super bantamweight champion and active New Bedford police officer; Warwick (RI) super middleweight Keith Kozlin (4-0, 2 KOs) and Philadelphia lightweight Frankie Trader (6-0, 2 KOs). Also slated to be in action is the newest member of Team CES, Barnstable (MA) heavyweight prospect Jessie Barboza (2-0, 2 KOs), a 3-time New England Golden Gloves champion. All bouts and boxers are subject to change.
Rollback ticket prices for “Shamrock’d” are $35.00, $50.00, $75.00 and $100.00 and are available to purchase by calling CES (401.724.2253/2254), going online at www.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, at Twin River’s Players Club booth at Twin River, or any TicketMaster location.
Contact CES (401.724.2253/2254/www.cesboxing.com) or the Twin River Event Center (877.82.RIVER/ www.twinriver.com) for more information. Doors open at 6 PM/ET, first bout at 7 PM/ET.
(Twin River has waived its 18+ rule for “ShamRock’d.” Anybody under the age of 18 must be accompanied at all times by an adult and they must enter through the West entrance.)
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