Providence boxing goes national

For Immediate Release

Estrada-Whitaker Headlines ESPN2 Friday Night Fights, April 4 at Twin River Event Center, RI

PROVIDENCE (March 20, 2008) – ESPN2 Friday Night Fights comes to Twin River Events Center on April 4th as 2004 U.S. Olympian Jason “Big Six” Estrada takes on former NABO/NABA/WBC Continental Americas champion Lance “Mount” Whitaker in the 10-round main event on “Heavy Hitters,” promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment, Inc.

Estrada (11-1, 2 KOs), 27, completed his amateur career in the U.S. with an amazing 261-14 record. The Providence-native became the first boxer to win both the U.S. Nationals and U.S. Challenge three years (2001-2003) in a row. “Big Six” won a unanimous 10-round decision versus former world title challenger Charles Shufford in his last fight on January 25.

The massive 6’ 8” Whitaker (32-4-1, 27) has beaten former world champions Oleg Maskaev (KOs) and Al “Ice” Cole, as well as previously undefeated Robert Davis (22-0), and 2-time world title challenger Monte Barrett.

“Providence fans turned out in force last week (March 14), selling out Twin River, and I’m sure will fill the event center again and show people watching on ESPN2 that Providence is the true boxing center of New England,” promoter Jimmy Burchfield said. “Jason is Rhode Island’s first Olympic boxer and he’s stepping up in class to fight Whitaker, who has fought some of the top heavyweights of the past decade, and beaten two world champions. We’re also putting hot cruiserweight prospect Aaron Williams, 9-time national amateur champion, on the card in the co-feature and some of the most popular, exciting fighters in New England – Joey Spina, Jarrod Tillinghast, Joey McCreedy and Iraqi War veteran Chris Traietti – on the undercard with a pair of very promising prospects, Diego Pereira and Isander Beauchamp.”

Like Estrada, unbeaten cruiserweight “Awesome” Aaron Williams (16-0-1, 11 KOs), fighting out of Las Vegas but making Providence his second home, is taking a quantum step-up in class in terms of his opponent, former NABO/NBA title-holder Andre “Tombstone” Purlette (40-2, 35 KOs), in the 10-round co-feature.

Power punching Providence super middleweight Joey “KO Kid” Spina (21-1-1, 15 KOs), popular unbeaten Providence light heavyweight Jarrod Tillinghast (9-0, 3 KOs), exciting Lowell (MA) light heavyweight “Irish” Joey McCreedy (7-1, 5 KOs), Quincy (MA) super middleweight Chris Traietti 701, 4 KOs) and Providence junior welterweight Diego Pereira (1-0, 1 KO) and Lynn (MA) flyweight Isander Beachamp (4-0, 1 KO) are scheduled to fight on the undercard. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Tickets for “Heavy Hitters” are priced at $35.00 (ADA stage seating only), $40.00, $50.00, (Bronze), $75.00 (Silver), $100.00 (Gold) and $150.00 (Jimmy’s Platinum Club) and will soon be 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), or any TicketMaster location. CES is accepting ticket orders now at 401.724.2253/2254. 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 “Heavy Hitters.” Anybody under the age of 18 must be accompanied at all times by an adult and they must enter through the West entrance.)