By Mike Stafford: The NHL owners have locked out the players, so the New York Islanders have yet to step foot inside Nassau Coliseum. Then came the news this week that those very same Islanders — Long Island’s only major sports franchise – are moving to the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
But alas, there is some good news for Long Island sports fans. Promoters Bob Duffy and David Schuster give you professional boxing on Nov. 1 at the Plattduetsche Park Restaurant in Franklin Square. The card features some of Long Island’s best boxing talent. The main event pits Hicksville’s Tommy Rainone against Missouri’s Robbie Cannon in a 10-round bout for the IBA Americas welterweight title, a match being sponsored exclusively by Knockout Pest Control. Rainone, one of the Island’s top ticket sellers, returns to Long Island for the first time in almost four years. During his time away, Rainone has fought in Madison Square Garden and was on the first-ever card at the new Yankee Stadium.
“I’m very excited to be fighting on Long Island again,” said Rainone. “I’m a true New Yorker, I’ve been all over the state. I’ve fought and won in all five boroughs. I’m not sure who was the last fighter to do that before me. It’s been so long since I’ve been able to perform in my backyard, so I’m very much looking forward to it. There’s no place like home.”
While most ringsiders don’t consider the IBA Americas belt a major title, it’s still enough to motivate Rainone.
“Fighting for the IBA Americas welterweight title provides me with plenty of extra motivation, especially since I am fighting for it just a couple of miles away from where I grew up in Elmont,” said Rainone, who is 32 and has an 18-5 record. “Still, at the end of the day, belt or no belt, the most important thing is to win. I’ve seen a little footage of Robbie Cannon and I know he had a big amateur career, but the pros are a whole different ballgame.”
Cannon, 27, had a stellar amateur career. He won six Missouri Golden Gloves titles and competed in more than 150 amateur bouts. His pro record is 12-7-2 and he has been matched very tough throughout his career. He battled contender Tyrese Hendrix and recently fought undefeated prospect Omar Figueroa on the Miguel Cotto-Floyd Mayweather Jr. card in Las Vegas.
The rest of the November 1st card includes some very good young fighters from Long Island. Undefeated Oceanside prospect Mike Brooks meets Brooklyn’s Bryan Acaba, Undefeated New Hyde Park slugger Richie Neves fights Arkansas’s Willie Bryant and former New York Golden Gloves champ Anthony Karperis fights Brooklyn’s Ray Velez. In a female bout, world-ranked lightweight Cindy Serrano fights Angel Gladney.
“It’s been a busy year for boxing shows on Long Island,” said Rainone. “With Star Boxing doing regular shows and now with Bob Duffy and David Schuster doing regular shows, it’s a great thing. There is really a ton of talent on Long Island right now. There are so many good fighters. The scene is as good if not better than it was in the early 1990s when Buddy McGirt, Jake Rodriguez and Willy Wise were carving out successful careers. I’m very happy to be a part of the current movement taking place and pulling for all the guys from here to go as far as they can in the pro ranks.”
For ticket information, call the Plattduetsche Park Restaurant in Franklin Square at (516) 354-3131. The card is sponsored by Knockout Pest Control, Westbury Jeep, Huntington Humidor and Berry Care Gum.
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