Stars Coming Out for ‘Let Freedom Ring’ on ESPN ‘Friday Night Fights’
Full Court Press Release
The stars will be out this week for “Let Freedom Ring,” headlined by the 10-round NABO lightweight title fight between champion, WBO # 7 rated “Hammerin’” Hank Lundy (18-0-1, 10 KOs), and challenger, John Molina, Jr. (20-1, 6 KOs), live on ESPN Friday Night Fights from the Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, RI.
Among the boxing luminaries scheduled to attend “Let Freedom Ring,” presented by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc. (CES), are 5-time world champion Vinny “The Pazmanian Devil” Paz, 3-time Fight of the Year participant “Irish” Micky Ward and 1960 Olympic gold medalist Dr. Wilbert “Skeeter” McClure.
A close friend of promoter Jimmy Burchfield, Paz is a fixture at most CES fights, while Ward and his brother Dicky Eklund, after whom the movie “The Fighter” (December release) is about, train New England super middleweight champion “Irish” Joey McCreedy (11-4-2, 6 KOs, also from Lowell (MA)). McCreedy puts his title on the line against his friend and stable-mate, former University of Rhode Island football player Vladine Biosse (6-0, 4 KOs), in the 8-round co-feature. McClure roomed with Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay back then) at the 1960 Olympics in Rome, where they both captured gold medals, “Skeeter” in the middleweight division.
Other stars expected at Twin River include world-rated light heavyweight Joey “KO Kid” Spina, 3-time world champion Jaime “The Hurricane” Clampitt, former world cruiserweight title challenger “Iceman” John Scully (walking McCreedy into the ring), and former NABF light welterweight titlist “Sucra” Ray Oliveira (training Dustin Reinhold). Rhode Island natives and resident, 2004 U.S. Olympian Jason “Big Six” Estrada, will be in the house supporting his brother, Eric Estrada.
Quincy (MA) welterweight Aleksandra Magdziak Lopes (2-1, 1 KO) will be out for revenge in a 6-round rematch against the only opponent to defeat her, Providence’s Kali Reis (2-0 1 KO), who won a hotly-contested 4-round decision in their first meeting.
Providence firefighter Eric Estrada makes his long-awaited pro debut in a 4-round match against cruiserweight Keon Graham (2-2). Estrada was perfect as an amateur with a 6-0 record, including victories in the New England Golden Gloves Tournament and Rocky Marciano Tournament.
Also slated to be in action in 4-round bouts are Warwick (RI) super middleweight Keith Kozlin (5-1, 3 KOs) vs. New Bedford’s (MA) Eric Pinaretta (2-3, 2 KOs), Woonsocket (RI) super middleweight Joe Gardner (4-1-1, 1 KO) vs. Demarcus “Main Event” Clark (1-2, 1 KO), Lincoln super lightweight Diego Pereira (4-0, 2 KOs) vs. Richard Calazada (2-1, 1 KO), and Fall River (MA) middleweight Reinhold (1-1, 1 KO) vs. Joel Nieves (0-2). All fights and fighters are subject to change.
Tickets for “Let Freedom Ring,” priced at $35.00, $50.00, $75.00 and $100.00, are available to purchase by calling CES (401.724.2253/2254), going online at www.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, at Twin River’s Players Club booth at Twin River, or any TicketMaster location.
Contact CES (401.724.2253/2254/www.cesboxing.com) or the Twin River Event Center (877.82.RIVER/ www.twinriver.com) for more information. Doors open at 5:30 PM/ET, first bout at 6:30 PM/ET.
(Twin River has waived its 18+ rule for “Let Freedom Ring.” Anybody under the age of 18 must be accompanied at all times by an adult and they must enter through the West entrance.)