NBC Fight Night @ the Sands
World-class boxing comes to Bethlehem, PA, on Friday evening, June 1, when a pair of fights with international implications headline the inaugural card in the new events center at the Sands Resort Casino Bethlehem.
The Rosado-Powell and Cruz-Brewer fights top a seven-bout card at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem. First fight is 7.30 pm. Tickets priced at $50 and $75 can be purchased through the offices of Peltz Boxing (215-765-0922) and at all Ticketmaster outlets. Tickets also are on sale at www.peltzboxing.com. In Bethlehem, tickets are available at Deja Brew, Inc., 101 West 4th Street (610-865-2739) and at Pronto Insurance Notary, 232 East 3rd Street (610-419-6790).
NBC Sports Network will televise the Rosado-Powell and Cruz-Brewer fights, beginning at 9 pm. The card is being promoted by Main Events and Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc., in association with the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem and www.goDaddy.com.
FEATURES:
12 Round WBO Inter-Continental Junior Middleweight Title
King Gabriel Rosado vs. Sechew Powell
Philadelphia New York
12 Round WBC Continental Americas Welterweight Crown
Ronald Cruz vs. Prenice Brewer
Bethlehem Cleveland
Rosado, 26, comes into this fight off the biggest win of his career, a fifth-round knockout over Jesus Soto-Karass, ofSinaloa,Mexico, on Jan. 21 at the Asylum Arena inPhiladelphia,PA. The fight was part of the first NBC Sports Network Fight Series and Rosado’s shocking win elevated his status world-wide. He is currently ranked No. 7 in the world by the International Boxing Federation (IBF), No. 10 by the WBC.
A pro since 2006, Rosado has a 19-5 record, 11 K0s, and he also has beaten ex-IBF world champion Kassim Ouma, of Uganda, Saul Roman, of Mexico, and fellow-Philadelphian Jamaal Davis.
Gabriel Rosado’s battle for the vacant WBO Inter-Continental Junior Middleweight Title just got tougher when Joel Julio begged out and world-ranked lefty Sechew Powell stepped into the 12-round contest on Saturday evening, June 1, at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem.
The Rosado-Powell fight tops a seven-bout card in the new 1,800-seat Events Center at the Sands.
It also will headline the third installment this year of the NBC Sports Network Fight Night series.
Julio informed Main Events and Peltz Boxing last week that he was not ready to face Rosado on June 1. No injuries were discussed.
Powell, 32, of Brooklyn, NY, had been training for a possible fight May 11 in Las Vegas. He jumped at the chance to fight Rosado.
A pro since 2002, Powell is 26-4, 15 K0s, and comes into this fight from a 12-round points defeat Jan. 28 to former world champion Cory Spinks in a elimination bout in Springfield, MO, for the No. 1 slot in the IBF world rankings.
Prior that that, Powell had challenged one-time knockout victim Cornelius Bundrage, of Detroit, MI, for the IBF world title, losing that one also by 12-round decision June 25, 2010, in St. Charles, MO.
Powell has beaten Ishe Smith, of Las Vegas, NV, and Terrance Cauthen, of Trenton, NJ, and he split in two fights with Deandre Latimore, of St. Louis, MO. Latimore is the only man to have stopped Powell, but Powell avenged himself in the rematch, winning on points.
Powell is ranked No. 9 in the world by the IBF.
The winner of Rosado-Powell should be within breathing distance of a world-title fight.
It’s the co-feature which intrigues the local fans, who have rallied behind hometown hero Cruz since he turned pro just over three years ago.
Ranked No. 14 in the world at 147 pounds by the IBF, Cruz is 16-0, 12 K0s. In his last fight Feb. 25 in Atlantic City, NJ, he earned a hard-fought, but unanimous 10-round decision over dangerous Allen Conyers, of theBronx, NY. It was Cruz’ first main-even appearance inAtlantic City,NJ.
Cruz also has defeated Jeremy Bryan, of Paterson, NJ; Doel Carrasquillo, of Lancaster, PA; Chris Fernandez, of Salt Lake City, UT; Anges Adjaho, of Buffalo,NY.
He was able to accomplish this after a 28-fight amateur career which he jammed into less than 18 months.
The June 1 match will mark Cruz’ second fight in his backyard. Last summer he headlined a card in a temporary tent at the Sands Casino Resort and he K0d cross-state rival Doel Carrasquillo in five rounds.
Brewer (above left), 24, earned this opportunity when he scored an upset victory over highly touted and previously unbeaten southpaw Emmanuel Taylor last Nov. 10 inTaylor’s backyard ofWashington,DC.
The eight-round split decision overTaylorimproved Brewer’s five-year pro record to 16-1-1, 7 K0s.
Brewer defeated Chris Fernandez via six-round decision while Cruz stopped Fernandez in six rounds.
Visit the official NBC Fight Night @ the Sands website
*MySands customers may utilize their comp dollars towards the purchase of tickets at the Sands Bethlehem Event Center. These customers must visit the Box Office (Box Office walk up window located outside the event center main doors).