Boxers announced for Fight Night at the Fair
2009-08-06
Christy Martin, Jason Estrada and James McGirt Jr. will top the card
Women's boxing legend Christy Martin, Olympic heavyweight Jason Estrada and James McGirt Jr. - the son of a former world champion - will headline "Fight Night at the Fair," the first professional boxing event ever held at the New York State Fair grandstand.
Martin, Estrada and McGirt will take on opponents in the three main events of the evening. The event begins at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 2, at the Mohegan Sun Grandstand. Four additional bouts featuring some of New York State's most exciting, up-and-coming professional fighters are also scheduled, and boxing celebrities will be on hand to meet fans.
Tickets to "Fight Night at the Fair" cost $20 and $15, and are available now at the New York State Fair Box Office or through Ticketmaster.
"It's going to be a great show for everyone who comes out to the Fair that night," said Christy Martin, who appeared at a Fair news conference today announcing the event.
Martin was joined by officials from the Fair, The International Boxing Hall of Fame and boxing promoter Classic Entertainment and Sports Inc. at today's news conference at the Empire Room at the New York State Fairgrounds. The organizations are working together to offer Fair visitors an exciting and affordable new experience to add to their favorite Fair memories.
Admission to the Fair on the day of the event is included in the price of any ticket bought before Aug. 27. The ticket also includes one free admission to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota.
"As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Hall of Fame, we are delighted to partner with the New York State Fair in hosting a night of professional boxing," said Ed Brophy, executive director of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, the Fair's partner in hosting the event. "With the combination of live boxing featuring many of the sport's most popular fighters and celebrity boxing greats at ringside, it will surely be an exciting evening."
The International Boxing Hall of Fame and the New York State Fair are working with Classic Entertainment and Sports Inc. to offer Fair visitors an exciting and affordable new experience to add to their favorite Fair memories.
At $20 and $15, the tickets are priced well below most professional boxing events of similar caliber, and are the same price as tickets to the two other non-music events slated for the Mohegan Sun Grandstand: The New York State Tractor Pulling Championships on Sept. 6 and the New York State Championship Demolition Derby and Championship Double Figure Eight Races on Sept. 7.
"This event is an exciting and affordable way to bring this classic sport to a fresh audience while giving fairgoers an opportunity for yet another thrilling experience," said State Fair Director Dan O'Hara. "Boxing has deep roots in New York State, and we are proud to play a role in continuing this tradition. We are especially pleased to welcome Christy Martin, a trailblazer and a true icon in women's boxing, to further her career at the Fair on Women's Day, the day the Fair recognizes the accomplishments of women."
Christy Martin, a two-time world champion striving to reach 50 career victories, earned her 48th win on Aug. 1, bringing her professional win-loss-draw record to 48-5-3 with 31 knockouts.
Nicknamed "The Coal Miner's Daughter," Martin has helped bring women's boxing into the mainstream over the course of her 20-year career. She appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated and fought on the same card as boxing greats Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson. Boxing legend Don King was her promoter for 10 years.
Jason "Big Six" Estrada, a heavyweight who represented the United States in the 2004 Olympic Games, has a professional record of 15-2 with three knockouts. He was a gold medal winner in the 2003 Pan American Games, and had an astounding amateur record of 261-14.
James McGirt Jr., is the son of two-time world champion James "Buddy" McGirt, who is also his trainer. With a professional record of 20-2-1, the middleweight has created a name for himself while building on his father's legacy.
Fight Night's promoter, Jimmy Burchfield's Classic Entertainment and Sports, has been a leader in boxing promotions for 15 years and worked with some of the sport's top talent. Burchfield has been involved in professional boxing for more than 30 years, first as a professional judge, and then as a promoter.
The International Boxing Hall of Fame began as an effort to honor two of Canastota, N.Y.'s hometown heroes, world champion boxers Carmen Basilio and Billy Backus. It is now an internationally respected organization that draws boxing heroes from both the past and present to its annual Hall of Fame weekend. Its museum at 1 Hall of Fame Drive in Canastota attracts thousands of fans each year.
Fight Night at the Fair complements the 2009 Mohegan Sun Concert series scheduled for the Fair, which this year runs from Aug. 27 to Sept. 7.
The concert lineup is: Kelly Clarkson with Gavin DeGraw on Aug. 27; Kenny Chesney with Jake Owen on Aug. 28; The Fray with Our Lady Peace on Aug. 29; Jeff Dunham on Aug. 30; Motley Crue with Crue Fest 2 on Sept. 3; Big & Rich with Candy Coburn on Sept. 4, and Kid Rock with Uncle Kracker on Sept. 5.
Tickets for all grandstand events, including Fight Night, are on sale now at the Fair Box Office, which is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Fans can also buy tickets online through Ticketmaster.com or order and pay by phone by calling 1-800-745-3000 or 1-866-448-7849.
In addition to the ticketed concerts, the Fair will host a free music event at the Mohegan Sun Grandstand at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 1, as the New York State finalists for the Colgate Country Showdown - country music's "American Idol" - take the grandstand stage.
For the latest concert announcements and Fair news, sign up for e-mail and text message updates at www.nysfair.org.
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