The final press conference was held today for tomorrow night’s “Championship Boxing on CBS Sports Network” at the Seneca Niagara Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino in Niagara Falls, New York.
Presented by Greg Cohen Promotions in association with Adam Wilcock’s Fight Card Promotions, Vito Mielnicki’s GH3 Promotions, Dmitriy Salita’s Star Of David Promotions and produced by David Schuster’s Winner Take All Productions, the night’s 10-round main event will feature WBA #11- and IBF #6-rated Dennis “Hurricane” Hogan (21-0-1, 7 KOs) of Queensland, Australia (via Kildare, Ireland) making the first defense of his WBA-NABA US Super Welterweight Championship against local favorite Kenny Abril (14-7-1, 7 KOs) of Rochester, New York.
Action begins on CBS Sports Network at 9 p.m. ET/PT with American heavyweight knockout artist Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller (13-0-1, 10 KOs) taking on local slugger Excell Holmes of Buffalo in a six-rounder. The televised co-main event will feature Canada’s WBA #14-rated Tony “Lightning” Luis (19-3, 7 KOs) facing New York (via Dominican Republic) veteran Edward Valdez (13-10-2, 3 KOs) in a 10-rounder.
Tickets for “Championship Boxing on CBS Sports Network” are priced at $35 and $45, and ringside seating is $75 and can be purchased with a major credit card by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000, online at Ticketmaster.com or through the Seneca Niagara Casino Box Office: 716-501-2444.
Here is what the main event participants had to say:
DENNIS HOGAN
I know he’s (Abril) a slippery southpaw. I know he’s had some good wins and he’s durable. Being tricky, he can cause problems, so I’ve worked hard to be able to predict the unpredictable in my training.
I’m ok with being the out-of-town guy for this fight. 100%. I did this a lot as an amateur. If you fight a guy from Dublin at the stadium in Dublin the whole crowd is against you.
We teamed up with Greg Cohen Promotions, which was good because I wanted to get to America where it’s all happening. This is my third fight since November and we’re working our way up the ladder. We’re making big movements with every fight. I’m getting more popular here and I’m starting to get known and it’s all working very well.
KENNY ABRIL
Dennis Hogan, we’ve seen him fight. He’s tough and he comes forward. He stays busy. It looks like he comes in shape, but he’s one-dimensional. I think he stands too straight-up at times. Besides that, I really give him credit. He’s a strong fighter.
A win over him would rejuvenate my career. I’ve been off for a year, but I’ve been in the gym sparring and staying active. It’s not like I’ve been at home eating potato chips. It’ll boost me back up and give the confidence I need.
It’s beautiful to be fighting on national television in my hometown. I think it’s God’s way of telling me ‘you’re not done with this sport yet.’ A lot of people tell me I’m talented. I’m a real good boxer. I’ve been boxing since the age of seven. I’ve had some bumps in the road through my career, thinking after I won my first three fights I was a world champion. But I grew and matured in the sport of boxing and now I know what it takes.
