A huge crowd of media and fans crowded into Exhibition Hall at The Times Union Center in Albany, New York on Thursday afternoon as Star Boxing held a final press conference for “KO AT THE TU” an evening of world class professional boxing set for this Saturday night, February 4th.
Both main event participants, Joe “The Future” Hanks and monstrous Cuban Rafael Pedro expressed full confidence heading into their ten round heavyweight battle for Hank’s IBA Heavyweight World Title.
Also ready for battle at the press conference were world ranked bantamweights Sahib Usarov of Moscow, Russia and Cuban Yan Barthelemy who will be featured in the co-main event for the WBO Inter-Continental World Title.
On Friday, February 3rd at 4:30pm, fans are invited to the Official Public Weigh-In where the fighters on the six-bout card will face-off for the final time prior to their scheduled bouts.
The weigh-in will take place at the Hampton Inn and Suites located at 25 Chapel Street in Albany.
Finally, on Fight Night, Saturday, February 4th at 6:30pm, doors will open at the Times Union Center with the first bell at 7:30pm. Following the main event, fans are welcome to stay at the Times Union Center where they can participate as extras in the filming of “The Challenger”, a major motion picture which will use the arena for its final boxing scenes.
ALBANY, NEW YORK (February 1, 2012)
Star Boxing will host a Public Press Conference on Thursday, February 2nd at 12.30pm EST at The Times Union Center to announce final details of “KO AT THE TU”, an evening of world class professional boxing set for this Saturday night, February 4th.
WHO : Joe DeGuardia: Star Boxing, President
Joe Hennessy: Times Union Center, Corporate Sales
Joe “The Future” Hanks: IBA Heavyweight World Champion
Rafael Pedro: Cuban Heavyweight Challenger
Sahib Usarov: Undefeated Russian Bantamweight
Yan Barthelemy: Cuban Bantamweight Challenger
WHAT: Public Press Conference
WHERE: Times Union Center: Exhibition Hall
51 South Pearl Street
Albany, NY, 12207
WHEN: Thursday, February 2, 2012, 12.30PM Media Arrival 1pm Start (ET)
“KO AT THE TU” is headlined by an IBA Heavyweight World Title Bout between undefeated champion Joe “The Future” Hanks of Newark, New Jersey vs monstrous Cuban Rafael Pedro.
The co-main event will feature a WBO Inter-Continental World Title Bout between Sahib Usarov of Moscow, Russia against Cuban Olympic Gold Medalist Yan Barthelemy.
Among those rounding out the six bout card will be a junior middleweight bout headed by Kevin Rooney Jr., who’s father, Kevin Rooney Sr. trained legendary heavyweight champion Mike Tyson to his first title.
Tickets, priced at $30, $40, $50 and $75, are available through Ticketmaster, (www.Ticketmaster.com, 800-745-3000) or at the Times Union Center Box Office, (www.timesunioncenter-albany.com), and at all local Wal-Mart Music Centers. Tickets are also available by calling Star Boxing at 718-823-2000 or on their website www.starboxing.com.
**Discounted Student Tickets available at the Times Union Box Office only through February 3rd for $37 with valid ID.
ABOUT STAR BOXING:
Star Boxing, Inc. has been in operation since1992. Star Boxing has worked to produce some of the most exciting and memorable boxing events in recent history. Star has continued to work with and develop a number of very exciting world champions, world rated contenders and young prospects. Star has consistently brought credibility, integrity, and exciting fights to the boxing industry. For more information on Star Boxing, visit the official website at www.starboxing.com and follow them on Twitter and Facebook.
ABOUT THE TIMES UNION CENTER:
Upstate New York’s premiere sports and entertainment facility, the Times Union Center, located in Albany, NY, is excited to welcome boxing back after a 14 year hiatus. Hosting boxing in 1990, 1991, 1992, and 1997, the Times Union Center offers the perfect atmosphere for championship events, and our fans are ready for championship boxing to make its long awaited return to the biggest stage in the Albany. Nestled between Hall of Famer Mike Tyson’s hometown of Catskill, NY, and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, NY, the Capital Region is a great boxing community for both fighters and fans locally and in our surrounding areas. Albany, NY is easy to get to from anywhere! Amtrak offers direct trains from New York City, Buffalo and all points in between, and major interstates from points east, west, north and south intersect in the capital region making it easy to drive from all parts of the state. For more information, please visit their website at www.timesunioncenter-albany.com
MEDIA CONTACTS
Chadd Ryan
Times Union Center
518-487-2015
Chadd.Ryan@timesunioncenter-albany.com
Star Boxing
718-823-2000
PR@StarBoxing.com
Bernie Bahrmasel
DOUBLE B PUBLICITY
773-592-2986
BernieBahrmasel@yahoo.com
As in September, I once again ran out of gas in the 10th & 11th championship rounds of October & November with this column, but I recovered to complete them and will unleash a few more flurries to close out the 12th and final round.
In the first week of October, Hassan N’Dam won a UD over Curtis Stevens in an eliminator for the right to challenge Jermaine Taylor who defeated aging Sam Soliman to regain the IBF Middleweight title. How Taylor even earned this title shot is another story altogether, but it is all irrelevant as he is now the champion. However he will not have too much time to savor his victory as he has assault and battery charges pending against him and an upcoming court fight that may turn out to be the toughest fight of his life, just when things started to look up for him in boxing, we wish him luck.
