Contender Star Jimmy Lange to Face Jimmy “The Fighting School Teacher” Holmes in Main Event Showdown March 12 at the Patriot Center

Posted on | January 24, 2011 | No Comments

Wilson and Jeter Lead All-Star Undercard

FAIRFAX, VA — Boxing’s biggest show in the Washington, DC area returns to the Patriot Center on Saturday, March 12 with hometown fighter Jimmy Lange (34-4-2, 24 KOs) squaring off against Jimmy Holmes (19-1, 10 KOs) of DeMotte, IN, in the Main Event. The 10-round bout will be contested at 160 pounds. Tickets for Jimmy Lange Boxing, an Ice Promotions event presented by Valcourt Building Services, start at $35 and can be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets.

Lange, who is headlining his 12th Patriot Center show, returns to the ring after scoring a dramatic 10th round knockout against Joe Wyatt last November. In typical fashion, the former Contender season one star slugged it out with his opponent, going toe-to-toe before landing a powerful right hook in the closing minute of the fight to secure his 34th win. He earned the North American Boxing Association’s (NABA) 154-pound U.S. title with the victory, sending him to a world-ranking of 15 by the World Boxing Association.

Known as “The Fighting School Teacher” for his job as a physical education teacher at Roselawn (IN) Elementary School (an hour southeast of Chicago, IL), Holmes captured his 19th win with a first-round TKO over Joseph Harden last December. An Indiana fan favorite who captured the state’s middleweight title, Holmes will venture outside of the state for the first time when he heads east to Fairfax.

Local fan favorites — undefeated Fairfax welterweight Todd “White Lightning” Wilson (9-0, 3 KOs) and middleweight Tony “Mo Better” Jeter (10-2-1, 9 KOs) of Stevensville, MD – lead a strong undercard lineup for the show.

Wilson, a former collegiate boxing champion at Virginia Military Institute (VMI) who works full-time in business development for Booz Allen Hamilton, is gunning for his tenth win after scoring a third-round TKO against Corey Goodwin last November at the Patriot Center. Since he turned pro in 2007, Wilson has developed a loyal following, complete with an ‘army’ of supporters clad in Kelly green t-shirts and a memorable ring entrance featuring a bag pipe player.

Meanwhile, Jeter has gone unbeaten in his last seven fights since returning to the sport in 2008 following a two-year hiatus. Two months ago, Jeter registered a second-round KO over Adrian Redmond. He’s probably best known to Patriot Center boxing fans for his devastating, one-punch knockout of Keith Gross on September 26, 2009. Both fighters are scheduled for six-round bouts against opponents TBD.

Heavyweights Ron “Heavy Duty” Gamble (1-0, 1 KO) of Arnold, MD and Abodurin “Bo” Akinyanju (3-1, 3 KOs) of Landover, MD will clash in a four-round contest of big hitters.

Gamble, a police officer, is a former All-Metropolitan football player at Hammond (Columbia, MD) High School and four-year starter at the University of Connecticut. The 6’2”, 254-pound heavyweight started boxing at age 28, compiling an amateur record of 11-3, including a win over Akinyanju in the semifinals of the 2009 Washington Golden Gloves competition. Gamble scored a second–round TKO over Vashawn Tomlin in his pro debut last November.

An aggressive southpaw who also stands 6’2”, Akinyanju boasts more ring experience than his opponent having fought 50 times as an amateur. Promising to be in better physical condition for their rematch, Akinyanju will look to exact his revenge after falling to Gamble during his amateur days. He suffered his first pro loss last November to Kevin Howard after winning his first three bouts via knockouts.

Charlottesville, VA middleweight George “Wartime” Rivera (11-6, 4 KOs) will face Shakir Ashante (16-9, 4 KOs) of Greensboro, NC in a six-round contest, looking for his 12th win after losing his last two fights to John Mackey and James Stevenson, respectively, in 2010. Rivera notched his best win to date at the Patriot Center on November, 1 2008 when he beat then undefeated Jessie Nicklow in a grudge rematch.
Ashante, who has fought former WBA world titlist Yuri Foreman, beat Alex Quiroga in his last bout more than a year ago.

All bouts are subject to change. Doors will open at 6:00 pm with the first fight scheduled to begin at 7:00 pm.

Tickets, priced at $35, $50, $75, $125, $200, $300 and $500 (plus applicable service charges), can be bought through all Ticketmaster outlets including the Patriot Center box office, online at www.ticketmaster.com/ and via phonecharge at 703-573-SEAT, 202-397-SEAT and 410-547-SEAT. Accessible seating is available for patrons with disabilities by calling 703-993-3035.

Jimmy Lange Boxing events live up to their top billing and high acclaim as the best of its kind in town. Each show delivers action-packed fights, showcasing rising prospects, established veterans, and former world titlists in front of 5,000 enthusiastic fans. From his rock star ring entrances and aggressive and entertaining fighting style, headliner Jimmy Lange always delivers an exciting performance.