Lee Baxter Promotions is proud to announce our next event, ‘Broadway Boxing’ in association with DiBella Entertainment and Day 1 Records, on April 15 at the Garden Theater, Detroit.  Next Generation will be streamed live and exclusive on UFC Fight Pass®, starting at 8:30pm ET / 5:30pm PT. Headlining the event is heavyweights Mike Balogum (18-0 14 KO’s) and Ahmed Hefny (13-2 5 KO’s). The co-feature for Next Generation is an 8 round bantamweight matchup between Ja’Rico O’Quinn (14-1-1 8 KO’s) and Jobert Alvarez (20-2-2 7 KO’s).   “I love the challenge of going into a new territory, especially one with such deep roots in boxing like Detroit, who better to do it with then Lou DiBella” said President Lee Baxter. On April 15, boxing fans in attendance, and those watching on UFC Fight Pass®, will get to see a pair of undefeated heavyweight prospects Mike Balogun and Michael Pirotton-Bamogo, as well as the talented super featherweight Joshafat Ortiz and popular, local prospects. “I am excited to work with Lee Baxter to help bring Broadway Boxing to Detroit, a great city with a passionate fan base, famous for its deep boxing history and home to the legendary Kronk Gym,” said International Boxing Hall-of-Famer and President of DiBella Entertainment, Lou DiBella.

Detroit’s very own, Ja’Rico O’Quinn, is back in action and looking to get back to winning ways after his first professional defeat back in September 2021. The highly rated and decorated amateur is looking to give an impressive performance as he co-features the event and boxes in Detroit for the first time since February 2019. O’Quinn is the former WBO International Flyweight Champion and is hoping for a win against Jobert Alvarez to boost him up the rankings.   Filipino boxer Jobert Alvarez is unbeaten in his last 6 fights holding a record of 22-2 and wants to continue his unbeaten streak against O’Quinn. Alvarez, who hails from Manile, Phillipines, is ready to give the fans a fight to remember. His  most notable win is the current WBO world light flyweight champion Jonathan Gonzalez   Also on the card will be   Joshafat Ortiz (9-0 5 KO’s) vs Derrick Murray (15-4-1 5 KO’s) Michael Pirotton (5-0 2 KO’s) vs Jonathan Gruber (3-0 2 KO’s) Sean Brewer (2-0 1 KO) vs TBA   Tickets for the ‘Next Generation’ at the Garden Theater start at $65 and are out NOW. Tickets can be purchased at Eventbrite HERE. The doors open at 6:30pm ET, with the first match starting at 7:00pm ET. The address for the Garden Theater is 3929 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201.   For those who are unable to attend the event, join us on the UFC Fight Pass to watch what is promising to be a great night of boxing.

New York, NY (March 30, 2022) DiBella Entertainment’s acclaimed Broadway Boxing series makes its debut in the Motor City on Friday, April 15, at Garden Theater in Detroit. The event, promoted by DiBella Entertainment and Lee Baxter Promotions, presented by Nissan of Queens, will be streamed live and exclusively on UFC FIGHT PASS®, the world’s leading streaming service for combat sports, starting at 8:30pm ET / 5:30pm PT.

“I am excited to work with Lee Baxter to help bring Broadway Boxing to Detroit, a great city with a passionate fan base, famous for its deep boxing history and home to the legendary Kronk Gym,” said International Boxing Hall-of-Famer and President of DiBella Entertainment, Lou DiBella. “On April 15, boxing fans in attendance, and those watching on UFC Fight Pass®, will get to see undefeated heavyweight contender Mike Balogun, Manny Robles-trained Michael Pirotton-Bamogo, as well as rising super featherweight Joshafat Ortiz and popular, local prospects.”

Tickets, which start at $65.00, are on sale now through Eventbrite HERE. The Garden Theater is located at 3929 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201. Doors will open on the night of the event at 6:30pm ET, with the first bell at 7:00pm ET.

Heavyweight knockout artist Mike Balogun (18-0, 14 KOs), of Upper Marlboro, MD, headlines the event facing Ahmed Hefny (13-2, 5 KOs), of Queens, NY, in an eight-round contest. On December 2, 2021, Balogun scored an impressive first-round knockout against previously undefeated Trey Lippe Morrison, the son of former heavyweight champion Tommy Morrison. The athletic Balogun is a former college football standout who started for the legendary Oklahoma Sooners before playing in the NFL for three years. In his last bout, Hefny lost a close, split decision to unbeaten Dacarree Scott in January.

In the co-feature, popular Detroit bantamweight Ja’Rico O’Quinn (14-1-1, 8 KOs) takes on Filipino Jobert Alvarez (20-2-2, 7 KOs), of Renton, WA, in an eight-round encounter. He will be looking to rebound from his first defeat last September that aired on Showtime’s ShoBox series. O’Quinn previously held the WBO International super flyweight title and was a USA National champion as an amateur. Making his second appearance in the United States, Alvarez is a former WBC Continental Americas and WBO NABO titlist.

Unbeaten Joshafat Ortiz (9-0, 5 KOs), of Reading, PA, battles Derrick Murray (15-4, 5 KOs), of Saint Louis, MO, in an eight-round super featherweight clash. Ortiz was born in Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico, but moved to the US at age four. He was first introduced to boxing as a child, as his father, uncle and brother were all amateur fighters. Ortiz compiled an amateur record of 42-7, and was a three-time Pennsylvania Golden Gloves champion. He recently traveled to Dominican Republic to knock out Erickson Vargas in two rounds on March 12. Murray is coming off of a win against previously unbeaten Angel Flores in January.

Heavyweight prospect Michael Pirotton-Bamogo (5-0, 2 KOs), of Liege, Belgium, will make his US debut against fellow undefeated Jonathan Gruber (3-0, 2 KOs), of Fall River, MA, in a six-round bout. Pirotton-Bamogo, whose mother was born in the West African nation of Burkina Faso and father born in Belgium, now trains out of Southern California under the renowned Manny Robles. He took to boxing at the age of 18 and had a short amateur career with 15 fights, which included a 2018 tournament victory in France as part of the Belgian National Team.

Featherweight Sean Brewer (2-0, 1 KO), of Henderson, NV, will participate in a four-round bout on the untelevised undercard.

Further information on this event will be announced shortly.

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NEW YORK–In a rematch of heavyweights, Jerry Forrest and world-ranked Michael Hunter battled to a 10-round split draw at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City.

It was Forrest who landed the more impactful shots, and seemed to Hunter in trouble throughout the fight. Hunter rallied down the stretch to make it closer on the cards as it looked like Forrest deserved the verdict.

Forrest landed 110 of 402 punches; Hunter was 126-of 458.

Each fighter won a card 96-94 and a 3rd card was 95-95.

Hunter of Las Vegas is now 20-1-2. Forrest of Newport News, VA is 26-4-2.

The fight was a rematch of Hunter taking an eight-round unanimous decision on June 21, 2014.

George Arias won eight-round split decision over Cassius Chaney in a heavyweight bout.

Arias landed 79 of 309 punches; Chaney was 45 of 225.

Arias took two cards by 99-91 and 97-93. Chaney won a card 96-94.

Arias is now 17-0. Chaney is 21-1.

Khainell Wheeler took a six-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Frederick Julan in a light heavyweight bout.

Julan landed 105 of 322 punches; Wheeler was 83 of 285.

Wheeler won by scores of 59-55 twice and 58-56 and is now 6-1. Julan is 12-1.

Mike Balogun stopped Trey Lippe Morrison in round one of their scheduled 10-round bout.

Balogun dropped two knockdowns and the bout was stopped at 2:40.

Balogun is now 18-0 with 14 knockouts. Morrison is 18-1.

Joe Jones stopped Junior Wright in round two of a scheduled six-round heavyweight bout.

Jones dropped Wright at the end of round one. Jones finished him off 13 seconds into round two.

Jones is now 13-4 with 10 knockouts. Wright is 18-4-1.

Photos by Nolan Shaffer

NEW YORK, NY (April 10, 2021) – Undefeated heavyweight prospect Mike Balogun (16-0, 12 KOs) returns to the ring tonight at The Rustica, in Vero Beach, FL. The “Rumble at Rustica” event, promoted by Christy Martin Promotions, will be streamed live via LDLTV’s YouTube page, starting at 7:00pm ET.

Balogun, a southpaw from Upper Marlboro, MD, will be facing the crafty and experienced Keith Barr in an eight-round contest. Before the pandemic, the heavy-handed Balogun was coming off of four knockouts in his last five victories. Showing athleticism throughout his youth, Balogun excelled in football before turning to boxing. As a college football standout, Balogun started for the Oklahoma Sooners and then played in the NFL for three years.