Olympic flavor to “Holiday Havoc” Saturday night at Twin River Event Center, RI

Posted on | November 26, 2008 | No Comments

PROVIDENCE (November 26, 2008) – There’s a touch of red, white and blue this holiday season in Rhode Island as the state’s only U.S. Olympic Boxing Team members, Jason “Big Six” Estrada (2004) and Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade (2008), as well as 1996 Olympic alternate Jason Pires, are all scheduled to be in action Saturday night (November 29) on “Holiday Havoc” at Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, Rhode Island.

“Holiday Havoc” is promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc. (CES), in association with Twin River and CN8, The Comcast Network as well as (for Andrade’s fight) Banner Promotions and Star Boxing.

The show will be taped live and air Saturday, December 13 at 7:00 PM/ET on CN8, The Comcast Network in New England and the Baltimore/Washington D.C. market, as well as Friday, Nov. 12 at 7 PM/ET on Cox Sports Television.

“We’re excited to have two Olympian, Jason and Demetrius, and an Olympic alternate, Jason Pires, all fighting Saturday night on the same card in one of the most beautiful venues for boxing, Twin River,” CES president Jimmy Burchfield said. “We also have some of New England’s most talented and entertaining prospects on the undercard. We’re honored to have teamed with the U.S. Marines ‘Toys For Tots’ program and everyone attending is encouraged to bring a toy to the show for less fortunate children.”

Estrada and Andrade are two of the most decorated U.S. amateur boxers of all-time. Estrada was 261-14 in U.S. competition and the first boxer to win both the U.S. Nationals and U.S. Challenge three years (2001-2003) in a row, in addition to a gold medal in the 2003 Pan-Am Games. Andrade, who was a 2-time U.S. Nationals and National Golden Gloves champion, captured a gold medal in the 2008 AIBA World Championships.

Estrada (14-1, 3 KOs), now rated No. 7 in the NABF, fights Philadelphia southpaw Derek “The One Man Riot” Bryant (20-4-1, 17 KOs) the 8-round main event. Bryant has beaten 2-time world title challenger Frankie Swindell and Jorge Luis Gonzalez, split with Providence’s Robert Wiggins, and fought a draw with 1996 U.S. Olympic Team captain Lawrence Clay-Bey.

Andrade (1-0, 1 KO) made his pro debut this past October, stopping Patrick Cape (4-2) in the second round of their fight in the state of Washington. “Boo Boo” is making his hometown pro in a Special Super Welterweight Attraction versus Eric Marriot (0-1).

Pires, a former USBA champion, has been inactive the past 5 ½ years to concentrate on becoming a police officer in his hometown of New Bedford (MA), as well as complete his education at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth. Pires, who is matched against former IBC Continental champion Frank Houghtaling (19-14-5, 3 KOs) in a 6-rounder, has only lost as a pro to Rocky Juarez, Oscar Leon and Arthur Johnson.

Lowell (MA) super middleweight “Irish” Joey McCreedy (8-2-1, 5 KOs), of Lowell (MA), square-off in a 6-round rematch against NABC champion James Johnson (23-29-3, 13 KOs).

Also on the undercard in 4-round bouts is unbeaten Pawtucket (RI) lightweight Eddie “The Puerto Rican Sensation” Soto (9-0, 4 KOs) against Blake Franklin (1-1, 0 KOs), Warwick (RI) super middleweight Keith Kozlin (1-0) faces Eric Clinton (0-4-1), Providence junior lightweight Omar Pena (0-0-1) takes on Lindberg Freeman (0-1); Worcester heavyweight Rashad Minor (1-0, 1 KO) makes his CES debut versus Ryan Shay (3-7, 3 KOs).

Tickets for “Holiday Havoc” are priced at $19.00 (SOLD OUT), $limited $25.00 SRO, $40.00, $55.00 (Bronze), $75.00 (Silver), $100.00 (Gold) and limited $150.00 (Jimmy’s Platinum Club) and are available to purchase by calling CES (401.724.2253/2254), going on line at www.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, at the Twin River Event Center (100 Twin River Road, Lincoln, RI), at the Players Club booth at Twin River, or any TicketMaster location.

Tickets are also on sale at Big Six Academy in Providence (401.241.3490), 401 Gym in Cranston, RI (401.261.9800), Ultimate Fitness in Bristol, RI (401.253.3539), Rivera Brother’s Gym in Lynn, MA (617.594.1166) and GQ Barbersalon in N. Providence (401.228.3380), Warwick, RI (401.823.0060) and Coventry, RI (401.615.5455).

Contact CES (401.724.2253/2254/www.cesboxing.com) or Twin River Events Center (877.82.RIVER/ www.twinriver.com) for more information. Doors open at 6 PM/ET, first bout at 7 PM/ET.

(Twin River has waived its 18+ rule for “Holiday Havoc.” Anybody under the age of 18 must be accompanied at all times by an adult and they must enter through the West entrance.)

-CES-