ONEIDA NATION HOMELANDS (April 16, 2014) The parade of world-class, nationally televised boxing events continues at Turning Stone Resort Casino as the ESPN Friday Night Fights Boxcino Championship tournament will hold its middleweight semifinals in the Event Center, this Friday, April 18.
The middleweight semifinal bouts will be eight rounds each, and will feature Willie Monroe Jr. (16-1, 6 KOs) of Rochester, NY taking on undefeated Vitaliy Kopylenko (23-0, 13 KOs) of Ukraine. The other semifinal bout pits Brandon Adams (13-0, 9 KOs) of Los Angeles, CA against Raymond Gatica (14-2, 9 KOs) of Austin, TX. Kopylenko, Adams, and Gatica each advanced to the semifinals with knockout victories February 28. Monroe won a unanimous decision in his quarterfinal bout, for his sixth consecutive victory.
The ESPN telecast will also feature a heavyweight bout, as Nat Heaven (8-0-1, 6 KOs) of Ocala, FL takes on Donovan Dennis (11-1, 9 KOs) of Davenport, IA, scheduled for six rounds.
The undercard includes a welterweight matchup featuring prospects Greg Jackson (3-0-1, 1 KO) of Philadelphia, PA and Cornelius Whitlock (3-0-2, 2 KOs) of Baltimore, MD meeting in a bout set for four rounds. Junior middleweight Simeon Hardy (11-0, 9 KOs) of Brooklyn, NY meets Rahman Yusubov (9-14, 7 KOs) of Dallas, TX in a six-rounder.
In other action, Cecil McCalla (17-0, 6 KOs) of Randallstown, MD faces Antonio Fernandes (4-16-2) of Brockton, MA in a welterweight bout set for six rounds, while Marcus Hall (6-6-1, 2 KOs) of Rochester, NY meets Raphael Luna (4-7-3, 1 KO) of Albany, NY in the welterweight division, scheduled for four rounds.
All bouts are subject to change.
Presented by Banner Promotions, the 2014 Boxcino Championship includes a lightweight and middleweight tournament. Eight boxers in each weight class made up the initial field. The fighters are all hoping that a strong showing in the tournament will launch them into the world-title picture in their respective weight classes. The championship finals in the lightweight and middleweight divisions will also be held at Turning Stone, Friday, May 23, also live on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights.
Tickets for the April 18 ESPN Friday Night Fights Boxcino Championship semifinals at the Turning Stone Resort Casino Event Center are on sale now. Tickets are priced at $60, $35, $25, and $15, and are subject to additional fees. Call the Turning Stone box office at (315) 361-7469 to order tickets directly, visit www.Ticketmaster.com or purchase tickets at the door Friday night.
Doors open at the Turning Stone Resort Casino Event Center at 6:00 p.m. Friday, April 18. The first undercard bout starts at 7:00 p.m. The live ESPN telecast begins at 9:00 p.m..
Professional media requesting credentials must contact Oneida Nation Public Affairs Manager Brett Stagnitti at (315) 829-8310 or bstagnitti@oneida-nation.org for consideration.
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About Turning Stone Resort Casino
A premier four-season, destination resort in Upstate New York, the Oneida Indian Nation’s Turning Stone Resort Casino is conveniently located about 30 miles east of Syracuse at NYS Thruway exit 33. Turning Stone was named “Most Excellent Golf Resort” in 2010 by Condé Nast Johansens. The Academy of Country Music named Turning Stone “Casino of the Year” in 2009. The resort offers world-class gaming, golf, entertainment, accommodations and spa facilities, and has earned AAA Four Diamond ratings for The Lodge, The Tower Hotel, and Wildflowers restaurant. For more information and reservations, call (315) 361-7711 or (800) 771-7711. Visit the web site at TurningStone.com.
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