Before Karl “Dynamite” Dargan and Tony “The Lightning” Luis square off for the WBC Continental Americas Lightweight Championship, fans at Foxwoods Resort Casino will be treated to an action-packed card filled with local rivalries and local prospects. Currently this stacked undercard is packed with six young fighters from the New England area.
In the ESPN2 Friday Night Fights co-feature, Pawtucket, Rhode Island native Thomas “The Souljah” Falowo (12-3, 8 KOs) will take on undefeated middleweight sensation and Portland, Maine resident Russell “The Haitian Sensation” Lamour (11-0, 5 KOs) for eight rounds.
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Thomas Falowo
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Thomas Falowo made his professional debut in 2010 with a second round stoppage over Odias Dumezil. He recorded knockout victories in his first four professional bouts all within four rounds. His career began with a perfect 6-0 before being handed his first defeat in a close split decision against a then-undefeated Samuel Clarkson. In his most recent bout, on Showtime, Falowo suffered defeat at the hands of former amateur standout Ronald Gavril and two of Falowo’s three career losses came at the hands of undefeated fighters.
Falowo’s opponent, the 32-year old Russell Lamour, recorded over 100 wins as an amateur boxer, and was also a member of the Los Angeles Matadors semi-professional World Series of Boxing franchise in Los Angeles, California. Russell was the #1 ranked Middleweight in the North American conference. He made his professional debut in 2012 with a first round TKO John Downey. In his most recent bout, Lamour defeated Ahsandi Gibbs by unanimous decision inhis home state of Maine.
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Russell Lamour
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Also making an appearance at Foxwoods on Jan. 30 is undefeated New Haven resident Charles Foster (6-0, 3 KOs) who takes on Larry “Hitman” Pryor (9-9, 5 KOs) of Washington, DC. Since his professional debut in 2011, every one of Foster’s fights have been in his home state of Connecticut. In his last fight he made his Foxwoods’ debut with a stunning first round TKO over Robert Jackson on the undercard of the Mchunu-Wilson card on Sept. 20. Pryor’s 9-9 record can be deceiving. In fact, all nine of his career losses were to undefeated contenders, including Ismayl Sillakh and Sullivan Barrera.
In an all New England showdown heavyweights Antonio Assermelly (0-2) of Westerly, Rhode Island will face Cassius Chaney of New London, CT in his professional debut. Since his professional debut in 2013 Assermelly has yet to find that elusive first victory however both of his losses have come at the hands of undefeated opponents. Chaney is originally from Baltimore but moved to Connecticut where he earned a Sport Management degree and played basketball as a student at the University of New Haven.
Finally, unbeaten New Haven resident David Wilson (4-0) and Michael Rodriguez (0-2) will square off for four rounds of middleweight action. Wilson also appeared on the Mchunu-Wilson undercard on Sept. 20 with a four-round unanimous decision victory over Anthony Everett.
Local promoter Al Valenti, who assisted in putting together the undercard, said, “Falowo-Lamour will be a great match of two highly talented boxers, both of whom have reached national recognition as amateurs, and now seek that same recognition at the professional level.”
Main Events promoter Kathy Duva said, “Our matchmaker, Jolene Mizzone, and Al Valenti put together a great undercard for January 30th. It’s all local guys in tough, exciting fights. I’d say that I expect to see a few upsets, but these all look like 50/50 fights to me!”
