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Super lightweight prospect Danny O’Connor (14-1, 3 KOs) is putting the finishing touches on training for his return to the ring on Wednesday, September 21, on the Fight To Educate card at Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Fighting for the fourth consecutive year in this high-profile charity boxing event, southpaw O’Connor will be debuting the new-and-improved skills he has picked up from working with new trainer, the legendary Ronnie Shields in Houston, Texas.
He will face Mexico’s Jaime Del Cid (7-5, 3 KOs) in a six-round in the co-featured bout. It will be O’Connor’s first ring appearance since a disappointing setback on ShoBox The New Generation against Gabriel Bracero on April 8.
“I feel good. I’m in great shape and ready to go,” said the personable 26-year-old native of Framingham, Massachusetts. “I’ve learned so much off Ronnie already that I’ll be a totally different fighter in there. I made the right decision to move to Houston and train here because I am up a level from before I made the move.”
O’Connor’s co-promoter, Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing (the other is DiBella Entertainment), says he’s happy to see his young fighter back in action.
“Danny had some pretty serious health issues surrounding his previous fight, so I’m happy the most that he was able to get treatment and everything seems to be back to normal. Plus I’m very proud of him for how hard he has worked. Ronnie Shields doesn’t train just anybody, you have to prove you want it and Danny has done exactly that by moving out there and working his butt off every day in the gym. I’m very excited for his future.”
The 10-round main event showcases World Boxing Council (“WBC”) No. 14-rated and 2008 U.S. Olympian, Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade (14-0, 9 KOs), who facestwo-time world title challenger Saul “Baby” Duran (38-18-2, 31 KOs).
Upset specialist Jose “Stinger” Medina (14-9-1, 6 KOs), from Tilton (NH), will also be in action against Olympic Bronze Medalist Anibel Acevedo (13-7-1, 11 KOs), of Puerto Rico. Medina, a native of Mexico, is coming off a controversial eight-round draw against former world champion Joachim Alcine, in which most observers felt Medina deserved a victory.In January, Medina scored a shocking fourth-round knockout of 17-1 Isaac Rodrigues. As an amateur, Acevedo defeated future pro world champions Shane Moseley, Guillermo Jones and Harry Simon.
Fighting on the undercard in four-round matches are Claremont (NH) lightweight Dan Powers (3-0, 2 KOs) vs. Luis Rosario, and Windsor (VT) welterweight Chris Gilbert (1-0, 1 KO) vs. Joey “Mundo” Ortega.
Fight To Educate is a unique charity event that combines a love of sports with the vision of assisting children and seniors in need, who with fundraisers like this could be ‘down for the count.’During the past nine years, Fight To Educate has raised more than $500,000 in donations benefitting local New Hampshire non-profit organizations.
Proceeds from the 10th annual Fight To Educate will benefit SEE Science Center (www.see-sciencecenter.org), The Bobby Stephens Fund for Education (www.stepheneducationfund.com), and St. Joseph Community Services/Meals on Wheels (www.mealsonwheelsnh.org).
Tickets, priced at $50.00 and $25.00 (general admission), are available to purchase by going online at www.ticketmaster.com, calling Ticketmaster at800.745.3000, or at the Verizon Wireless Arena Box Office or any Ticketmaster location.
Table tickets for a night of professional boxing and Black Tie dinner, as well as an auction and meet-and-greet with special boxing legends such as former world heavyweight title challenger “Gentleman” Gerry Cooney, as well as world champions and three of New England’s all-time greatest boxers – Vinny “The Pazmanian Devil” Paz,”Irish” Micky Ward and John “The Quietman” Ruiz – are available by calling Stephen Singer at 603.669.4100.
The dinner starts at 5:30 PM/ET, doors for boxing open at 7:30 PM/RT with the first bout scheduled for 8 PM/ET.
Go online to www.fight2educate.com or www.verizonwirelessarena.com for additional information. |
