ONEIDA NATION HOMELANDS (August 5, 2013) Mike Tyson, former world heavyweight champion and member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, will make his debut as a professional promoter when the newly formed Iron Mike Productions, in association with Greg Cohen Promotions, presents “Tyson Is Back!” at the Turning Stone Resort Casino Event Center, Friday, August 23. The event will feature a world championship doubleheader, airing live on the 2013 season finale of ESPN Friday Night Fights. Tyson will participate in all fight week activities at Turning Stone.
Mike Tyson said, “I am thrilled, bringing my first fight, as Iron Mike Productions, to the Turning Stone Resort Casino for ESPN. Upstate New York is very special to me and brings back nostalgic memories when I was a determined amateur on the rise. I want to be there and guide my fighters as they take these same stepping stones in their quest for greatness. We plan to put on an exciting and entertaining fight on August 23rd.”
Iron Mike Productions CEO Garry Jonas said, “We want to thank ESPN for going out of its way to get Iron Mike’s debut event on the air. ESPN is available in 115 million homes, giving Mike and our fighters maximum exposure. Mike started his pro boxing career on ESPN, and fought many times in Upstate New York, so I think it’s fitting he starts his promotional career on ESPN, at Turning Stone.”
The “Tyson Is Back!” event will be the sixth nationally televised boxing show at Turning Stone since September 2012, and the third by ESPN. HBO televised two Boxing After Dark events at Turning Stone in 2012, and Showtime Network televised its SHOBOX program from the resort in June 2013.
The “Tyson Is Back!” event will feature a doubleheader of world title bouts. In the main event, IBF Super Featherweight champion Argenis “La Tormenta” Mendez, (21-2, 11 KOs) of the Dominican Republic, headlines in his first world title defense against Arash Usmanee, (20-1, 10 KOs) a native of Afghanistan now living in Montreal, Quebec. The championship bout is scheduled for 12-rounds.
In the 12-round co-feature, undefeated Claudio “The Matrix” Marrero, (14-0, 11 KOs) of the Dominican Republic, takes on Jesus Cueller, (22-1, 18 KOs) of Argentina, for the vacant WBA interim Featherweight title.
Undercard bouts will be announced soon, and all bouts are subject to change.
Tickets priced at $150, $95, $55 and $45 are now on sale, at the Turning Stone box office, by calling (315) 361-7469, or visit www.Ticketmaster.com
Doors open at the Turning Stone Resort Casino Event Center at 6:00 p.m. Friday, August 23. The first undercard bout starts at 7:00 p.m. The live ESPN2 telecast begins at 9:00 p.m.
