Some people say it’s a man’s world, but of course this is 2013 and in the boxing world, gold is up for grab by anyone who wants it. Diane Lee Fischer has used her promotional outfit Dee Lee Promotions to showcase fighters up and down the east coast since 1997 but for the first time in her career she is venturing in to New York with a card this Friday May 24th at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, NY. People who know the business know that boxing is not just the pain game for those in the squared circle but also for other involved such as the promoters, but with over 15 years of experience, Fischer has been trading punches with the “big boys” of boxing and has found lots of success in her native New Jersey; even being inducted in to their hall of fame, but one more challenge lies ahead with a seven bout card topped with a female title bout.
Holding a presser in White Plain’s Don Coqui restaurant, a small group of fighters, trainers, match makers, and boxing people gathered to find out more about the card, and to meet the fighters that will do battle that night. The setting was very intimate giving it a modern Gallagher’s Steak House feel with mostly everyone giving off positive vibes as they were all happy to have the chance to fight and make a living doing what they love most. First, Mrs. Fischer stood in front of the audience to welcome everyone and to thank her sponsors, she went in to a brief outline of her career and how she planned on making a difference in the boxing scene of New York with more events to follow later this year. It was the introduction of the fighters that we all looked forward to and with only some of them able to make it to the press conference we had a chance to get to know better the fighters who showed up.
Fighters Ronica Jeffrey (12-0 1 KO) and Olivia Gerula (13-13-2 3 KO’s) who are fighting in the main event participated in a stare down after promising to give their best and exchanging kind words before what should be a hellacious battle for the IWBF Super Featherweight Title. The other fighters available to participate in a stare down were Dorsett Barnwell (8-0 4 KO’s) and David Williams (6-6-2 2 KO’s) who would be competing in a six round heavyweight fight. North Carolina junior middleweight James Winchester (15-7 5KO’s) who is facing off against Tommy “The Razor” Rainone (19-5 4 KO’s); was agitated that his hometown opponent couldn’t make it to face him and later promised to make him pay.
Another fighter who attended the event was Bad Landz Boxing’s Luis Esquilin (1-4-1 0 KO’s) who made the trip from Philadelphia, PA to take on David Huffman in a super featherweight bout. The youngest fighter on the card at 19, Edwin Cotto (1-0 1 KO) was excited to be there and speak to the press about his preparedness in Friday’s junior lightweight bout against Bronx native Joshua Nieves (1-2 1 KO).
With the Dee Lee Promotional outfit being in business successfully for so long fans should look forward to an entertaining night of fights. With a female title bout as the headline, Fischer is trying to help the ladies out by giving them the opportunity to get back in the spotlight in a sport that has been dominated mostly by male fighters and promoters, with her help it seems like women’s boxing can gain another foothold like it did in the earlier part of the century and help boxing move forward. Anyone interested in attending Friday’s fight at the Westchester County Center should contact Dee Lee Promotions at 856 692 1206 or send her an email at [email protected] to purchase tickets priced at $30, $50, and $100 for a bout card that’s sure to give your money’s worth.
