Duddy, Quillin, Wolak & Teron in action Nov. 21 at Roseland Ballroom in NYC
NEW YORK (October 15, 2008) – Nearly a full decade ago, Cedric Kushner promoted his first show at New York City’s famed Roseland Ballroom and on November 21, Kushner’s Gotham Boxing returns to the iconic Manhattan venue with “The Grande Event,” featuring a quartet of young, explosive talent sporting a combined pro record of 89-1-1 (65 KOs) — “Ireland’s” John Duddy, Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin, Pawel “Raging Bull” Wolak and Jorge Luis “The Truth” Teron.
Kushner promoted a “Heavyweight Explosion” card on pay-per-view on December 8, 1998, headlined by Jessie Ferguson versus Obed Sullivan and showcasing future world champions Shannon Briggs, Al “Ice” Cole and Oleg Maskaev.
Promoting the Big Apple’s “Fab Four” on Nov. 21, however, is even more special to the Kushner, the former rock ‘n roll promoter who turned to boxing nearly a quarter century ago and has promoted more than 30 world champions and 300 title fights worldwide.
“I have lived in New York for more than half of my life,” Kushner explained. “I consider myself a New Yorker and enjoy the energy and all he amenities of this great city. I like to think, if you can’t get it here, it doesn’t exist. In my mind this is the media capital of the world and for that reason I believe it’s in everyone’s best interest to promote in New York, particularly when you’re promoting new or relatively new fighters.
“I can’t think of a better show at this level that’s ever been promoted in New York City with four fighters on the same show, each deserved of being in a main event themselves, is rather special.”
“The Grande Event” is headlined by unbeaten middleweight Duddy (25-0, 17 KOs), fighting out Queens (NY) by way of Derry, Northern Ireland. Rated No. 2 by the World Boxing Organization, as well as No. 4 by the World Boxing Council and No. 7 by the International Boxing Federation, Duddy takes on veteran Sam “The Punching Policeman” Hill (17-9-1, 10 KOs) in the 10-round main event. Hill has beaten former world champion and Olympic gold medalist David Reid (TKO9) and been in with world champions Jermain Taylor and Maselino Masoe,
Brooklyn’s undefeated middleweight “Kid Chocolate” Quillin (20-0, 15 KOs) could very well be the next Kushner-promoted fighter to capture a world title. Quillin faces an opponent to be determined in the 10-round co-feature.
New York State middleweight and Polish National junior middleweight champion Wolak (22-1, 15 KOs), now living in Brooklyn, is a powerful puncher who has stopped 15 of his 22 victims to date. He faces Christian Lloyd Joseph (12-7-3, 5 KOs) in a 10-round bout.
Bronx lightweight Teron (22-0-1, 15 KOs), trained by former world and Olympic champion Mark Breland, is the reigning NABO champion. Jorge is knocking on the door for a world title shot next year, rated No. 4 by the WBO, in addition to No. 12 by the World Boxing Association and No. 19 by the WBC. He meets TBA in another 10-rounder.
Also scheduled to fight in separate four-round bouts are Queens light middleweight Lambrose “Lionheart” Karaolides (1-0), Bronx super middleweight Hajro Sujak (2-0, 2 KOs), Brooklyn welterweight Luis “El Mero Mero” Ruiz (3-0, 1 KO), Brooklyn light middleweight Romain Oliveri (1-0, 0 KOs), and light welterweight Jonathan Gonzalez, a 2008 Puerto Rican Olympian making his pro debut.
Tickets, priced at $50.00, $80.00, $100.00, $150.00 and $200.00, are on sale and available to purchase by calling Gotham Boxing (212.755.1944), any TicketMaster outlet, or at the Roseland Ballroom box office. Doors will open at 6:30 PM/ET, first bout at 7:00 PM/ET.
For more information call Gotham Boxing or go on line to www.gothamboxing.com.