The pride of Denver, undefeated junior welterweight contender “MILE HIGH” MIKE ALVARADO, returns to the ring in his 2009 debut, This Saturday! March 7 at the Mile High Event Center, located directly across from Mile High Racing Park in Commerce City (5155 East 64th Avenue, Commerce City, CO 80022). The top-15 contender will be taking on crafty Emmanuel Clottey, in a 10-round rumble, headlining an action-packed eight-bout bout.
Promoted by Bob Arum’s Top Rank in association with Delgado Promotions, the Alvarado-Clottey brawl will be televised nationally on Azteca America. Doors open at 5 p.m. with the first bout beginning at 6 p.m.
The Final Press Conference and Official Weigh-In will take place, Friday, March 6, beginning at 6 P.M., at Quijote’s Terrace (3700 Morrison Road, Denver, CO.)
Remaining tickets, priced at $60 (Ringside), $45 (Floor Reserved), and $25 (General Admission), can be purchased at TicketsWest outlets, including King Sooper’s, Delgado’s Gym and TicketsWest.com.
Alvarado (24-0, 17 KOs), has knocked out seven of his last eight opponents. Last year was Alvarado’s most impressive as a professional with knockout victories over former world champion Cesar Bazan and gritty contenders Miguel Angel Huerta, Manuel Garnica and Michel Rosales, and a 10-round unanimous decision victory over Jesus Rodriguez. Together, those five opponents had a combined record of 133-31-2 (91 KOs), a winning percentage of 80% and a victory by knockout ratio of 68%. Those impressive victories have lifted Alvarado to a career-high rating of No. 14 by the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Organization (WBO).
Two excellent Denver Post profiles on Alvarado can be found here: (http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_11248717) and(http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_10623426)
Clottey (20-8, 14 KOs), a native of Ghana, now living in Bronx, NY, is the brother of IBF welterweight champion Joshua Clottey. His resume boasts victories over 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist Mohamed Abdulaev (11-0), and Michael Warrick (18-1).
The Co-Main Event will feature Denver’s ROB “Red Hot” Frankel (26-9-1), against RICARDO “Pelon” DOMINGUEZ (26-4-2, 15 KOs), of Mexico. Frankel returns to the ring riding a five-fight winning streak, including a unanimous decision victory over Bobby Pacquiao, brother of 2008 Fighter of the Year and five-division world champion Manny Pacquiao.
McCullough wants one more title shot before hanging up gloves
St. Patrick’s Day Eve, Monday Night, Mar. 16, WaMu Theater in MSG
Sean Mannion to be honored for 25th anniversary of world title fight at MSG
Former WBC bantamweight champion and 1992 Olympic silver medalist, Wayne “Pocket Rocket” McCullough, wants one more world title shot at that’s why he’s fighting St. Patrick’s Day Eve (Monday, March 16) “Erin Go Brawl II” card, presented by Irish Ropes Promotions, at WaMu Theater in the famed Madison Square Garden.
Limerick’s 2004 Irish Olympian Andy Lee (16-1, 13 KOs), 14 years younger than his 38-year-old hero, McCullough, headlines in the 10-round main event against 3-time world title challenger Antwun “Kid Dynamite” Echols (31-9-4, 27 KOs).
McCullough (27-7, 18 KOs), fighting out of Las Vegas by way of Belfast, takes on Mexican super bantamweight Alex “El Diablo” Becerra (19-7, 9 KOs), in the 10 round co-feature.
“Andy Lee was the only one on the Ireland’s 2004 Olympic Boxing Team,” McCullough spoke about his warm relationship with Lee. “I’ve always supported him and feel that he’s good for Irish boxing. We’ve kept in touch and we’re behind each other 100-percent. I believe he will be world champion. I’m looking forward to fighting again on the East Coast and in Madison Square Garden. The Irish packed the house when I fought in New York (1993), Boston (1993 & 1997) or Atlantic City (1998). There are Irish on the West Coast but not as many as on the East Coast. If we brought then all back to Ireland the island would sink.
“My goal is to become world champion within two years. It’s all about promoting and I thank Irish Ropes and Cedric Kushner for this opportunity to fight on St. Patrick’s Day Eve in Madison Square Garden. I should be a 3-time world champion because a lot of people thought I won against (Daniel) Zaragoza and the first (Oscar) Larios fight. I’m 38 but I’ve taken good care of my body. I’m an Irish guy who doesn’t drink and I have a gym in my home. I’m like Bernard Hopkins.”
Making his New York City debut in an 8-round bout is unbeaten light welterweight Dean “Irish Lightning” Byrne, who was an Irish National champion when he lived in Crumlin, and he later captured the Australian light welterweight title in his fifth pro fight. Byrne (10-0, 4 KOs), now fights out of Los Angeles, where he’s trained by Freddie Roach and has sparred at the Wild Card Gym with superstars Manny Pacquiao, Amir Kahn, Juan Marquez and even Oscar De La Hoya for a few rounds.
“He’s a tough kid who is a really good fighter but doesn’t know it yet,” Roach spoke about Byrne. “He’s learning to sit-down on his punches and has had two knockouts since he’s been with me. Dean’s learned a lot sparring with Manny, Amir and the others. He’s a lot of fun to watch, very exciting and cleaver for a young man. Early in his career he fought 10 rounds for the Australian title, so he already has that experience. He’s one of my best prospects.”
Scheduled to fight in 6-rounders on “Erin Go Brawl II” are Irish super featherweight champion Eddie “Pride of Tallaght” Hyland (11-1, 3 KOs), of Dublin; Philadelphia by way of Galway middleweight “Slick Fightin’Irish” Simon O’Donnell (8-1, 5 KOs); Limerick light heavyweight Jamie Power (4-0, 2 KOs) against Reggie “Concrete” LaCrete (4-0-2, 3 KOs), from Brooklyn; Jersey City super featherweight Danny “Little Mac” McDermott (7-1-1, 2 KOs).
Also on the card in 4-round matches are Massachusetts light welterweight Danny O’Connor (4-0, 1 KO), 2008 U.S. Olympic Team alternate; Brooklyn featherweight Sadam Ali (1-0, 1 KO), 2008 U.S. Olympian; former St. Xavier College star football player Tommy Brown, fighting out of Chicago and trained by Kevin Rooney, making his pro debut in the light middleweight division.
County Galway’s Sean Mannion (42-14-1, 14 KOs) will be honored at “Erin Go Brawl II” in honor of the 25th anniversary of his WBA light middleweight title fight at Madison Square Garden against the eventual champion Mike “The Bodysnatcher” McCallum.
Tickets, priced at $50.00, $75.00, $100.00, $150.00, $200.00, and $300.00, are on sale at TicketMaster.com as well as Jack Demsey’s in Manhattan, Hilltop in Elmhurst, and the Heritage in Yonkers.
For more information call Irish Ropes Promotions (212.868.9544) or go on line to www.irishropespromotions.com.