Boxing greats to attend Johnson-Jeffries Centennial fights

Posted on | June 30, 2010 | No Comments

Olympians, boxing champions, TV personalities will celebrate boxing history at Grand Sierra Resort during Fourth of July weekend

RENO, NEV. (June 29, 2010) — Olympians, boxing champions, TV personalities and fans are set to pack the Grand Theatre of Reno’s Grand Sierra Resort Saturday, July 3 for a night of high-powered, live boxing to commemorate the “Fight of the Century.”

The fights — featuring Super Middleweight Joey Gilbert, undefeated Brandon “Flawless” Gonzales and former Jr. flyweight champion Ulises Solís, among others — are part of a three-day, Fourth of July weekend celebration of the 100-year anniversary of the fight that pitted Jack Johnson, the nation’s first African-American World Champion, against Jim Jeffries, a man known as “The Great White Hope.”

The racially charged 1910 Johnson-Jeffries bout is widely recognized as one of the most important sporting events of all time.

The boxing notables scheduled to attend the fights, which will be broadcast live on Fox Sports Net, or other events during the three-day weekend, including a Johnson-Jeffries Centennial gala and Al Bernstein Boxing Party are:

· Andre Ward – Current WBA super middleweight champion, 2004 Olympic gold medalist.

· Emanuel Steward – Hall of Fame boxing trainer and HBO boxing commentator/analyst.

· Al Bernstein – Current commentator for Showtime boxing, celebrating his 30th year in boxing media.

· Bruce Trampler – Hall of Fame matchmaker. Matchmaker for Top Rank Boxing.

· Raul Marquez – Former Jr. middleweight world champion.

· Jesse Brinkley – No. 2 super middleweight title contender.

Organizers are hopeful that former lightweight world champion Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini will also attend the weekend’s events.

“We’re honored to have some of boxing’s great fighters and experts come to celebrate the legacy of the Johnson-Jeffries bout,” said Terry Lane, CEO of Let’s Get It On Promotions. “It’s appropriate that some of boxing’s great names come to Reno to commemorate the bout that changed the sport they love.”

Doors will open at 4 p.m. for the fights on Saturday, July 3 with the first bout at 5 p.m. in the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino’s Grand Theatre. Tickets are $75, $55 and $35. Tickets for a King’s Row Booth for four are $1,000 which includes an exciting spot to get close to the action with light appetizers and one bottle of alcohol included. To purchase tickets or for more information, please call 1.800.648.3568 or visit www.grandsierraresort.com.

For more information on the Johnson-Jeffries Centennial events at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, and the history of the Johnson-Jeffries fight, visit www.johnsonjeffries2010.com.