Main Events Strengthens Stable with Signing of Two New England Locals: Middleweight Thomas Falowo and Heavyweight Prospect Cassius Chaney

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Falowo, 26, is coming off an impressive win over his long-time amateur rival, Russell Lamour, on ESPN Friday Night Fights on January 30 at Foxwoods in Connecticut. The two met several times as amateurs with Lamour winning all but one match-up but, in their first fight as pros, Falowo took the victory in an exciting unanimous decision.

Thomas Falowo Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

The Souljah made his professional debut in 2010 with a second round stoppage of Odias Dumezil after which he stopped his next three opponents and won his first six professional bouts. Prior to his win over Lamour, Falowo suffered defeat at the hands of former amateur standout Ronald Gavril on Showtime. Notably, two of Falowo's three career losses have come at the hands of undefeated fighters.

Cassius Chaney Photo Courtesy of: Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment

Chaney, 27, made an impressive professional debut in his adopted home state of Connecticut on Friday, April 17 at Mohegan Sun with a second round stoppage of Perry Filkins of New Hampshire. Cassius is originally from Baltimore, Maryland but he moved to Connecticut where he earned a Sport Management degree and played basketball as a student at the University of New Haven. He has made Connecticut his home ever since.

Falowo Photo Credits: David Spagnolo/Main Events

Both fighters and their camps are very excited to work with Main Events. Falowo said, "I am very grateful for the opportunity to work with such a great promotional company. I am ready to do great things. This is the beginning to a long and successful career and I am looking forward to working with Main Events."

Michael Criscio, his manager, added, "I think that Thomas is a great fit for a great promoter like Main Events, Thomas has never been in this kind of a situation before. He will now have the opportunity to fight all over the world whereas, before he was stuck on the East Coast, with no chance of getting on TV."

Chaney Photo Courtesy of: Ed Diller/DiBella Entertainment

The sentiment from the Chaney camp was similar. He said, "I am very excited to work with Main Events. This is a great opportunity for me and I cannot wait for the things to come."  

Chaney is co-managed by Allen Hadelman and Jake Piekarski. Hadelman said, "Cassius is special. He has all the tools to become a world champ. He is dedicated, smart, athletic and is only going to get better." Piekarski added, "We think Cassius is a very promising young fighter with a great work ethic and unlimited potential. We are very excited to have signed a promotional deal with a top tier organization like Main Events and look forward to working together for years to come!"

Both fighters are trained by Peter Manfredo. When asked about Falowo, Manfredo said, "Thomas has been totally dedicated to his craft from the first day he walked into the gym at age 14. He continues to strive for that championship status and signing with Main Events is the vehicle to take him there." When asked about Chaney, he added, "Cassius Chaney is a skilled, athletic, determined heavyweight who in just two and a half years with me won the amateur national championship twice. He is a diamond in the rough. With Kathy Duva and the expertise of Main Events this boxer can make it to world championship status."

Main Events CEO Kathy Duva said, "Thomas Falowo and Cassius Chaney are exciting additions to our roster. I look forward to seeing them in great fights in packed New England venues, while we work together to build them into the champions I know they can be."

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Bernard Hopkins (left) and Sergey Kovalev (right) pose together at HBO's Boardwalk Empire premiere on Wednesday, Sept. 3 to promote their Saturday, Nov. 8 light heavyweight unification fight taking place at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City live on HBO World Championship Boxing.

Photo credit: 

Dave Allocca/Starpix

Hopkins vs. Kovalev, a 12-round unification bout for the IBF, WBA and WBO Light Heavyweight World titles taking place at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City on Saturday, November 8 is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Main Events in association with Caesars Atlantic City, Corona Extra, AT&T and Hortitsia Vodka. The event will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing^®_. 

oldest world champion Bernard "The Alien"Hopkins power puncher Sergey "Krusher" Kovalev taking place at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ

Angino Perez Photo Courtesy of: Sweatbox Boxing & Fitness

 

 

Davie, FL:    As Angino "The Nightmare" Perez (17-5, 15 KOs) prepares, with his trainer, Javier Centeno, to face Karl "Dynamite" Dargan (16-0, 8 KOs) on Sept. 20 at Foxwoods Resort Casino and live on broadcast NBC Fight Night, he feels no pressure because, as Centeno puts it, "He has nothing to lose." Angino, or Gino as he is known to those closest to him, is a 31 year old junior welterweight who accepted a fight with the undefeated Dargan at lightweight for the Junior NABF Lightweight Title because the pressure would all be on Dargan. According to Centeno, "Gino is the type of guy that always feels the pressure is on the other guy. He has nothing to lose. He is going in against a guy that is undefeated. Gino has some losses on his record. He's the type of fighter that is just going to go out there, do his work and whatever the outcome is, it is."

 

For the first time in a long time, Perez and his team have adequate time to prepare at Sweatbox Boxing and Fitness in Davie, FL. For his last several fights, Perez had only one to two weeks' notice but, this time, the Miami native has ample time to prepare. He said, "I am managing myself and promoting myself and there have been no good fights offered to me. The fights I have been offered in the past were always on short notice where I didn't have time to train." But this time is different according to Centeno, "At this point in his career, we want to make a run for something so we need to make sure that we strategize. We need to make sure we get at least five to six weeks minimum training camp before each fight. Training camp has been different because we have been able to work our way into a routine. In the past he had no strategy to do anything; his training camp consisted of getting into the gym, skipping rope, hitting the bags, getting in some sparring and that's it. We've been working on his strength, his endurance and his power and we have been sparring in between as well."

 

With regards to sparring, Perez and Centeno wanted to find sparring partners to emulate Dargan's style. Centeno said, "I watched Dargan's last fight with Flores as well as his previous fight with Chazz McDowell. We know that Dargan is a counter puncher but he can also be very aggressive. We have been trying to get him in the ring with guys that can do both. Gino likes to bang. He likes to get in there but he's getting older and, if he wants to survive in the fight game, he's going to have to adapt a little bit. We are preparing for everything: preparing for if Dargan comes in aggressive and preparing for Dargan being a counter-puncher."

 

"The Nightmare" Photo Courtesy of: Sweatbox Boxing & Fitness

 

 

This fight requires Perez to step down in weight from junior welterweight to lightweight. According to Perez, he has had to make several adjustments to his diet to come in at the lower weight, "This time I am eating healthy and my body feels a lot different and stronger. We have sparred with a lot of heavier guys. I am taking things more serious. I finally decided to take my career into my own hands." Therefore, Centeno is not concerned about Perez making the weight for Sept. 20, "We know he can make the weight and make it comfortably. He's been eating right; his diet has been completely changed. He is just very lean and strong."

 

Dropping down to a lower weight class sometimes means losing power, but Centeno does not think that will be a problem for Perez because they have been sparring with heavier opponents, "Because Gino has some pop behind his punches, and we tend to go through a lot of the lighter guys pretty quickly. We wanted to make sure we were getting some heavier guys in who can really bang so they can take some of his power. Our sparring sessions have really impressed me. He is really strong even against some of these heavier guys. We have had guys in there sparring with him at 165 or 170, they are getting hit and they are feeling it."

 

 

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Kathy Duva, Main Events' CEO

This is our 21^st show in the series which will end with its 22^nd show on NBCSN onNovember 8. It has been the greatest privilege of my life putting on a series like this. We got to build stars. We started building stars from the very beginning. It is fitting that it is going to end on the same day that Sergey Kovalev is fighting in the biggest fight of the year.  

Steve was already a world champion but we got the opportunity to introduce him to the United States because he fought mainly overseas. Now, he is on the front page of Grantland this morning.     

Cunningham & Visinia Photo Credits: Larry Levanti/Main Events

This is the last show I am going to be at for this series. I am not going to be able to attend the last fight of the series because I will be at the Kovalev fight. It feels like high school graduation. It is bitter sweet and sad, but I am also excited about what is going to come ahead. I am also very proud of everyone who has worked on this series.    

This fight is no doubt going to live up to expectations. In his last fight, Steve put on the best fight of the series. It was about as perfect as you can get.    

J Russell Peltz, Hall of Fame Matchmaker

We began the NBCSN series here in this building. We developed Bryant Jennings, who took the fight on short notice, and (Gabriel) Rosado, who is now ranked among the best in his weight class. This will be our last fight of the series in Philly.   

Cherry & Akaba Photo Credits: Larry Levanti/Main Events

If it weren't for bad luck, Edner Cherry wouldn't have any luck at all. He hasn't lost a fight in years, he has been undefeated in eight fights and yet he can't get on television. He is ranked number 15. Just as he was set to fight Belmontes, last week Jerry gets hurt with a wrist injury. He was training for a ranked opponent and now he is fighting an unknown opponent.  

Natu is undefeated in ten fights with eight knockouts. He has everything to gain and nothing lose. He is probably going to outweigh Steve by about 60 pounds.

Nobody was out of it more than Steve Cunningham was in April against Mansour. Then he got up and dropped the other guy and came back to win. It doesn't get any better than that. If you weren't there, you wouldn't have believed that he got up and managed to win that fight.

Steve "USS" Cunningham Photo Credits: Larry Levanti/Main Events

Steve Cunningham

Thank you to Main Events, Russell Peltz, MHP, Everlast and Philly Boxing History. I want to thank everyone for their support for Kennedy's fund. I want to thank Natu's camp for donating to her fund. This sport is not as savage as people think. We are fathers and husbands. I want to thank Concrete Jungle and Brother Naazim. I think I have the best team in the sport. Naazim takes me to levels and pushes me where I didn't know I could go. Getting through training camp with him is a victory in itself.  

I am the smallest heavyweight in boxing right now. I wish my weight matched my heart! I am Philly to my core. I am born and raised here. This is not new to me. I am here to do a job and Natu and I can go get a beer after the fight. My career has been about relationships. After I am done, I will be back in boxing somehow. I was in the Navy -- you get orders and you have to carry them out. I got orders and I have to carry out this mission and defeat Natu on Saturday. My faith is what carries me.  

He's a big power puncher. He's big. I am a fighter. This is the third undefeated fighter I am fighting as a heavyweight. I am ready to fight. I am a fighter. I have been going through this with Kennedy for nine years. I want to stay active. I want to get back in there. I wanted another shot before the year was out and thank you to Main Events for making it happen.   

Brother Naazim Richardson Photo Credits: Larry Levanti/Main Events

Brother Naazim Richardson, Cunningham's Trainer

I would like to thank Russell and Kathy for making this fight and Natu for his kind words. We appreciate it. Kennedy is what Steve wants to be when he grows up. Steve Cunningham is always in the danger zone. Steve is the lightest heavyweight in the division. That shows his courage. In the Mansour fight, I looked at my team and I was very confident. His corner has worked with championship fighters all over the world. Everything I have seen is a big strong hungry guy and that is a problem. This man can fight. He is a danger. Steve is always willing to face those kind of things. This is all he knows. This is what he's teaching. His son just won an amateur fight the other day. He's on his crusade. We thank you for the support and for giving us this opportunity. NBC has been a great series. I have seen [Edner] Cherry fight. He is a monster. We got a good card. Come out and see the essence of Philadelphia fighting.   

Natu Visinia Photo Credits: Larry Levanti/Main Events

Natu Visinia

I am honored and privileged to be here today. Thanks to Russell Peltz and Main Events. Steve is a world champion. I have nothing negative to say about him. I admire him. He is where I want to be. He's been eating from a good menu for a long time and I am hungry. Some guys need 30 fights before they would face a Steve Cunningham. A fight like this comes along and I jump at it. I have had a pretty rough career. It is a big risk for him to take this fight and I respect him for that. I am going to give Philly what they are coming to see. His fight with Mansour was my favorite fight of the year. I am looking to go to war.   

Sal Musumeci Photo Credits: Larry Levanti/Main Events

Sal Musumeci, Final Forum Promotions

I would like to thank Kathy Duva and Main Events. I would like to thank Russell Peltz. We are all children of God. The Cunningham family is in the toughest fight right now. I read about their fund. It shows the humanity and the spirit of this sport. I want to present Mr. Cunningham with this check. This is the most important thing - to help his family. They are going through a battle that is much bigger than two men in the ring. My father is sick in the hospital now; I understand what they are going through.

Freedom is not free. This is for the men and women who put their life on the line for our country. Thank a veteran, Veterans' Day is coming up. Show your support for his family. I say that from my heart.

Putting all that aside, Steve USS Cunningham is a great world champion and family man. I have a lot of respect for him. He is an honorable man. USS Cunningham has a lot of strength behind it. He is taking on a young rising heavyweight. He isn't coming in just to be on television. He is coming to win and coming to fight. It is going to be a tremendous fight for the fans. Cunningham is a true Philadelphian. He doesn't hide. They are going to mix it up. This is what fighting is about. This is a war and I am proud to be a part of it. Let's give Philadelphia a great show.   

Edner Cherry Photo Credits: Larry Levanti/Main Events

Edner Cherry

I want to thank you all for being here. I want to thank Main Events and Peltz for giving me this opportunity. Saturday night will be a great show. My hands will do all the talking. I am just prepared for this fight. I'm ready. We are just ready to rock and roll. Don't miss it. There will be action. It might be a quick night. We will be ready.  

Osumanu Akaba Photo Credits: Larry Levanti/Main Events

Osumanu Akaba

I am happy they called me for this fight. I am ready. I am from Africa and I am ready to show America that I am the best. Everything I need to do I will do in the ring. I am a good boxer. I am going to prove I am the best. Thank you everybody.

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