On Friday night February 5th one of the most anticipated area debuts in quite some time will take place as former world Junior amateur heavyweight champion Joey Dawejko will fight a four round Heavyweight bout as part of the Special Valentine’s Day card at The Legendary Blue Horizon.
The card is promoted by Vernoca L. Michael and Blue Horizon Boxing promotions Inc.
There will be members from the Red Cross at the Blue Horizon where a station will be set up for donations for relief in regards to the recent Tragic Earthquake that took place earlier this month in Haiti and the boxing community is encouraged to help those in need.
Dawejko from the Tacony section of Philadelphia picked up boxing as a youngster after his grandfather took him to the local Golden Gloves that was ironically held at The Blue Horizon and Dawejko wanted to give boxing a try.
Dawejko started to have success as a junior boxer which facilitated Dawejko to step up the competition. In 2008, Dawejko traveled to Guadalajara, Mexico to compete in the prestigious world Junior Championships.
Four victories later Dawejko captured the championship when he defeated Eric Brechlin of Germany by a score of 9-1 Dewejko won his four bouts by a combined score of 43-16, and Dewejko was anointed the future of USA Boxing.
Dewejko didn’t want to wait another four years for the next Olympics to come around and decided to turn pro after finishing his amateur career with a record of 56-12.
“The wait for the Olympics plus I felt to go out on top was the perfect ending and it was time to go pro”, said the then eighteen year old prodigy.
Dewejko received a phone call that former Heavyweight champion of the world Hassim Rahman needed a sparring partner and Dewejko jumped at the chance to work with Rahman.
“I was still an amateur when that happened. It actually was before the world junior championship. I guess he liked what he saw in those sessions and we kept in touch.”
After sparring with Rahman for a second camp, Dawejko signed a contract with Rahman as the former champ is now the manager of young Dawejko.
Since then Dawejko has sparred with former WBC Heavyweight champion Samuel Peter as he prepared to take on Eddie Chambers.
Dawejko turned pro on September 26, 2009 in Kinder, Louisiana against thirteen fight veteran Royphy Solieau. Dawejko scored a knockdown in pounding out a six round unanimous decision.
Dawejko showed that he was a throwback as he fought six rounds in his pro debut rather than the four rounder’s that most fighters take in the first fight.
Now in Dawejko’s second start he will get to perform in front of the hometown fans.
“I go to just about all the fights at The Blue Horizon and sometimes I get lost in thought as I am always envisioning being in that ring and performing for the knowledgeable crowd that Blue Horizon has and I can’t wait until February 5th to display my skills in front of them”
Rahman will be ringside to watch his protégé fight undefeated Ricardo Johnson (1-0) of Ohio in the four round bout.
In the main event, USBA Jr. Middleweight champion, Derek “Pooh” Ennis (19-2-1, 12 KO’s) of Philadelphia will take on Edwin Vazquez (22-14-2, 8 KO’s) of Santurce, Puerto Rico in an eight round non-title bout.
In an eight round co-feature, former world title challenger Israel “Pito” Cardona (36-10, 28 KO’s) of Hartford, CT takes on the upset specialist Martinus Clay (13-24-4, 5 KO’s) of Philadelphia.
In a four round Heavyweight bout of Philadelphian’s, Tim Johnson (4-1, 2 KO’s) takes on Charles Hayward (2-2, 1 KO)
In a four round Ladies Welterweight bout, Jackie Davis (3-0, 1 KO) of Philadelphia takes on Cassandra Lindsay (3-4, 2 KO’s) of Columbus, MS
Andres Gustafson (3-0, 1 KO) of Norrkoping, Sweden will travel across the Atlantic to do battle with Levay King (0-1) in a four round Heavyweight attraction.
In a battle of Phildelphia based Jr. Welterweight, Clement Bethea will make his pro debut against comebacking Henry Northan (0-1).
Northan, will be making his first ring appearance in nearly seven years.
Also seeing action is exciting undefeated Ronald Cruz (7-0, 4 KO’s) of Bethlehem, PA against an opponent to be named in a four round bout.
THE SHOW WILL BE STREAMED ALL OVER THE WORLD ON WWW.GOFIGHTLIVE.TV FOR $5.99 BY CLICKING:
http://www.gofightlive.tv/showEvent.do?event=575
Tickets are going fast for this exciting boxing event. The perfect pre-Valentine gift for your boxing enthusiast.
Ticket prices for this great night of boxing are $200 for Queen Seating, $125 for Presidential Seats, $65 for VIP Seating, $55 for Ringside Seating and $45 for General Admission Seating. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-763-0500 or through PayPal by clicking here. Doors open at 6:30 PM / First Bout begins at 7:30 P.M.
The Legendary Blue Horizon™
1314 North Broad Street in Philadelphia, PA