Promoters Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing and Cesar Mercedes of Manguita Promotions made good on their promise to hold one of the most notable press conferences in the history of professional boxing in the Dominican Republic today, as hundreds of fans and a large contingent of media showed up to meet all-time-great Roy Jones Junior and discuss the upcoming boxing extravaganza scheduled for Saturday, March 24, at the Palacio de Los Deportes in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
On that night, Dominican Republic native Victor “Mermelada” Cayo (27-2, 19 KOs) will face former unified lightweight world champion Nate “The Galaxxy Warrior” Campbell (34-9-1, 25 KOs) in the main event, while Dominican IBF Female Featherweight Champion Dahiana Santana (28-6, 12 KOs) will make a 10-round title defense against Miami, Florida’s Stacey Reile (10-4, 4 KOs), and IBF Female Junior Featherweight Champion Ada Velez (20-3-3, 6 KOs) will face Santo Domingo’s own once-beaten challenger Katy Wilson Castillo (14-1, 9 KOs).
“This island has always loved boxing, but there are not many world-class events held here, so it was an honor to bring all these fighters and the great Roy Jones to Santo Domingo,” said Lewkowicz. “You could feel the excitement in the crowd to meet a superstar like Roy Jones and hear him talk about how he supports what we’re doing. Plus, with so many Dominican boxers on the show – boxers are national heroes here. They are stars themselves here in their homeland. It was really something to see today.”
No one “pulled a Chisora” today, as all the fighters were respectful to each other and the audience. Each fighter, some through interpreters, restated their intention to win and their pleasure to be bringing their craft to tropical paradise.
Lewkowicz says he’s encourage by today’s turnout and has hopes for creating a regular series of shows in the Dominican.
