UNCASVILLE, Conn. (July 20, 2012) – He’s shown glimpses from time to time, but reigning World Boxing Council U.S. National Boxing Council (WBC USNBC) middleweight champion Elvin Ayala has yet to unleash the inner beast that earned him the nickname, “The Lycan.”
“I’m looking forward to being an animal,” Ayala (25-5-1, 11 KOs) said. “I know I have it in me.”
Ayala hopes to let it all out Saturday, July 21st, 2012 when he faces dangerous veteran John Mackey (13-7-3, 6 KOs) in the 10-round main event of “The Fire Within,” a fitting title for Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports’ latest live professional boxing event at the Mohegan Sun Arena.
Mackey is no pushover; he recently fought to a draw against Providence, R.I., super middleweight Vladine Biosse and fought six hard rounds against undefeated prospect John Thompson. Ayala, now ranked No. 20 in the WBC, expects to have his hands full Saturday despite the fact Mackey took the fight on short notice.
“I’ve always said if you want to be a world champion you have to beat whoever they put in front of you, and this is no different,” Ayala said. “I’m in shape and ready for whatever.”
“He’s a heck of a competitor,” added Mackey. “He’s been in there with some big names. He’s used to the bright lights. I think his style will match well with mine. I’m still giving up some things, but I’m just blessed to be in a fight of this magnitude.”
The Ayala showdown against Mackey highlights another stacked card by Classic Entertainment & Sports. Fan-favorite Shelito Vincent (3-0) of New London, Conn., who now fights out of Providence, will return to the ring in a four-round female bantamweight bout against newcomer Ivana Coleman, and East Hartford, Conn., native Joseph “Chip” Perez (8-1, 2 KOs) will battle Akron, Ohio veteran Johnny Frazier (3-9-2, 2 KOs) in a six-round super featherweight bout.
Tickets for “The Fire Within” are on sale now at $40, $65 and $125 and can be purchased by calling CES at 401.724.2253/2254 or Ticketmaster at 1.800.745.3000. Fans can also purchase tickets online at www.cesboxing.com, www.ticketmaster.com, or at the Mohegan Sun Box Office.
Super middleweight Tylon Burris (2-0, 2 KOs) of Hartford, Conn., will face Luis Felix (0-2) of Providence in a four-round bout, and Jair Ramos (2-0, 1 KO) of Waterbury, Conn., will take on veteran Antonio Chaves Fernandez (0-7) of Brockton, Mass.
Welterweights Antonio Marrero of Hartford and Saul Almeida of Framingham, Mass., will make their professional debuts against one another in a four-round bout, and lightweight Christian Lao (4-1, 2 KOs) of New Haven will also return to the ring in a four-round bout against Boston’s Gabriel Duluc (5-0, 1 KO). Heavyweight Donnie Palmer of Boston will make his professional debut against fellow newcomer Moses Marshall of Springfield, Mass., and Bridgeport, Conn., lightweight Carlos Hernandez (2-2, 1 KO) will face Alan Beeman (0-2) of Newport, R.I., in a four-round bout.
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