On Friday, March 8, 2013, promoter Sampson Lewkowicz and Sampson Boxing will proudly present “Friday Night Fights” in the Superstar Theater at the Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey, an evening of world-class professional boxing that will also be televised on the popular professional boxing series ESPN’s Friday Night Fights (10 PM Eastern on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes, online through WatchESPN.com, and on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app.)
In the night’s 10-round light-welterweight main event, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic’s long-time top contender Victor “Mermelada” Cayo (31-3, 22 KOs) will face once-beaten Maryland product Emmanuel “Tranzformer” Taylor (16-1, 11 KOs).
In the 10-round, co-featured televised bout, a couple of very promising heavyweights will lock horns, as undefeated Russian powerhouse Magomed “Mago” Abdusalamov (16-0, 16 KOs) defends his WBC United States (USNBC) heavyweight title against once-beaten former Puerto Rican Olympian Victor Bisbal (21-1, 15 KOs).
Cayo, once rated as high as #3 in the world, will be looking to continue his comeback against the formidable Taylor. The 28-year-old Dominican Cayo has scored three big victories since dropping losing to world champion Lamont Peterson and former champion Nate Campbell.
22-year-old Taylor scored an eye-opening TKO 6 over highly regarded Raymond Serrano in his last fight and would love the career boost that would surely come from a win over Cayo.
Makhachkala, Russia’s 31-year-old Abdusalamov has distinguished himself as a top up-and-coming prospect in the big man’s division by beating such well-known names as long-time top contender Jameel “Big Time” McCline for the vacant WBC United States (USNBC) heavyweight title and well-thought-of contender Maurice Byarm, both by second-round TKO.
Ponce, Puerto Rico’s 31-year-old Bisbal competed as a Super heavyweight for Puerto Rico at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and reigned as Puerto Rican National Super Heavyweight Champion from 1999 to 2004. Although Bisbal scored a TKO 3 over former world champion Robert Daniels last year, Abdusalamov represents, by far, the biggest challenge of his career.
Headlining the undercard will be Virgin Islands-based “The Hawk Flock”, the sons and nephew of former world champion Julian “The Hawk” Jackson, each of whom is an up-and-coming contender in the respective divisions.
WBC Super Welterweight Youth World Champion John “Dah Rock” Jackson (14-1, 13 KOs), super middleweight contender Julius “The Chef” Jackson (14-0, 10 KOs) and junior middleweight contender Samuel “Rock City Cobra” Rogers (12-0, 7 KOs) will each make appearances.
Also scheduled to appear in separate bouts are local favorites such as Millville, New Jersey, light middleweight Thomas “Cornflake” Lamanna (10-0, 6 KOs), Brooklyn lightweight Scott “Bang Bang” Burrell (6-1, 5 KOs) and a special showcase featuring the son of former heavyweight champion Bruce Seldon, undefeated super middleweight Isiah Seldon (6-0, 3 KOs).
Tickets start at $40 and are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster.com, by calling 800-745-3000, or at the Resorts Casino Hotel box office on fight night.
The Resorts Casino Hotel is located at 1133 Boardwalk in Atlantic City. On fight night, doors open at 6:00 pm and the first bout is at 7:00. All bouts are subject to change. For more information, visit sampsonboxing.com or resortsac.com
