Professional boxing returns to Lowell, Massachusetts – home of “Irish” Micky Ward and Dicky Eklund – for the first time in seven years, on Wednesday night, May 9 at Lowell Memorial Auditorium.
Local fan favorites “Irish” Joe McCreedy and Sean Eklund, whose uncles are Micky and Dicky, will fight in front of their hometown fans for the first time as pros on the “Homecoming” card, and former world champion “Vicious” Vivian Harris will be making his Bay State debut.
“Homecoming” is presented by Chicago Fight Clubs Promotion (“CFC Promotion”).
“We signed Joey and Sean and they both fought on our last show in Burbank, Illinois (Oct. 7),” CFC Promotion president Cynthia Tolaymat explained why a Chicago promoter is doing a show in Massachusetts.
“The two fighters and Dicky Eklund spoke to me and my husband, Wasfi Tolaymat, who now manages Joey and Sean, about the possibility of doing a show in Lowell. We liked the idea of Joey and Sean featured on a show in their hometown. I have faith in them and their legendary trainers, Micky and Dicky. Lowell may be a small city but it has so many GOOD boxing fans. We have been welcomed with open arms in Lowell. We’re looking forward to the May 9th show and it being the first of many there for CFC Promotion. ”
(L-R) “Irish” Micky Ward, Sean Eklund, “Irish” Joey McCreedy and Dicky Eklund
The popular McCreedy (13-5-2, 6 KOs) takes on Benjamin “El Trapicha” Diaz (11-6-2, 8 KOs) in the 10-round main event for the vacant United States Boxing Organization (“USBO”) super middleweight title. McCreedy is trained by Dicky Eklund at Micky Ward’s gym in nearby Chelmsford. Eklund (10-4, 2 KOs), trained by Ward, faces light welterweight James Ventry in an eight-round bout.
Harris (29-7-2, 19 KOs), a Guyana native fighting out of Brooklyn, squares-off againstJermaine “Too Sweet” White (17-4, 9 KOs) in the 10-round co-feature for the vacant USBO welterweight title. In 2002, Harris captured the World Boxing Association (“WBA) light welterweight championship, stopping Diosbelys Hurtado the second round. Vivian successfully defended his WBA crown three times against Soulemane M’baye and Oktay Urkal twice.
Also fighting on the card is hot Chicago light welterweight prospect Antonio “Aztec God of War” Canas (6-0, 3 KOs), who faces the stiffest test of his young career in a six-round match versus Tyrone Chatman (9-1-1, 6 KOs). Also on the undercard in a pair of four-round bouts is pro-debuting welterweight Jimmy Smith, of Portland (ME), vs. Rafael Vasinmo, of Lawrence (MA); pro-debuting middleweight Bernie Ongewe, of Dracut (MA) vs. Anthony Jones (0-0-1). Smith is a former New England Golden Gloves Tournament winner who served two tours in Iraq as a U.S. Marine. All fights and fighters are subject to change.
Harris and Canas are handled by CFC Promotion, which also promotes IBF International light welterweight champion Albert “Tornado” Mensah, who successfully defended his title against Michael Katsidis, as well as world middleweight title challenger Osumanu Adama.
Tickets, reasonably priced at $25.00, $40.00 and $75.00, may be purchased by calling 978.761.8374 or at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium box office. Doors open at 6 PM/ET, first both scheduled for 7:00 PM/ET. Go to www.cfcpromotion.com orwww.irishjoemccreedy.com for additional information.
