Red-hot New Haven super middleweight Elvin Ayala (23-5-1, 11 KOs), a perfect 3-0 in 2011, and undefeated Polish heavyweight Mariusz Wach (24-0, 12 KOs), now fighting out of Bergen, N.J., return to the ring Friday, July 29, 2011 for “Heat Wave” at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville.
Ayala will star in the main event of “Heat Wave” as he searches for his fourth consecutive victory since his loss to David Lemieux in June of 2010. Since signing with CES, Ayala is 3-0 this year with back-to-back knockout victories over Joe Gardner (April 1) and George Armenta (May 6). Ayala’s bout on July 29 will be his first at Mohegan Sun since he defeated Mustafah Johnson by unanimous decision on Feb. 4, the first of Ayala’s three consecutive wins.
The new year has provided a welcomed change for Ayala both in and outside the ring. Upon signing with CES, the former world-title challenger also joined forces with a new management team and has since hired Peter Manfredo Sr. – the father of former International Boxing Organization (IBO) middleweight champion and “The Contender” reality television star Peter Manfredo Jr. – as his head trainer. Manfredo’s tutelage paid dividends on May 6 as a sharper, stronger Ayala stopped Armenta in four rounds.
For Wach, a native of Krakow, Poland, July 29 will be his Mohegan Sun debut and just his seventh fight in the United States. The 6-foot-7 “Polish Giant” recently signed a multi-year promotional agreement with CES in conjunction with New Jersey-based Global Boxing Promotions and will star in the 10-round co-feature of “Heat Wave.”
An alternate on Poland’s 2004 Olympic boxing team, Wach possesses the overwhelming size and knockout power to become a serious contender amongst the Klitschko brothers; current International Boxing Federation (IBF), World Boxing Organization (WBO) and IBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko enters his July 2 showdown against David Haye with a 55-3 record and 49 knockouts, while his brother, defending World Boxing Council (WBC) champion Vitali Klitschko is 42-2 with 39 knockouts.
Wach hasn’t fought since Feb. 19 in Newark, N.J., when he knocked out Jonathan Haggler in the third round to capture the WBC Baltic heavyweight title. Among Wach’s other notable wins are a fourth-round knockout win over Galen Brown on Nov. 12, 2010 in Lincoln, R.I., and a seventh-round TKO win over Eric Boose in July of 2008 on ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights” at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago.
“Ayala and Wach provide the star power befitting of a summertime show of this caliber,” Burchfield said. “Elvin is as steady as they come. Now that he finally has the right people in his corner, there’s no doubt we will bring him back to the top of his division, and this next fight will be a step in the right direction. This is a fighter who gave Arthur Abraham everything he could handle and has been more than willing to compete with any fighter at any given time. He has a superior management team, a veteran trainer and a world-class promoter on his side. The sky’s the limit.
“We’re equally excited about Mariusz. The heavyweight division has been thirsting for new blood for quite some time, and in order to compete with the big dogs in this elite weight class, you need power. The Klitschko brothers have combined for 88 knockouts. That’s the same kind of power Mariusz has in his arsenal, and I can’t wait to watch him put it to use on July 29.
“With Elvin and Mariusz at the top of what will be another star-studded lineup next month, this is a rare opportunity to catch two future champions on the same night.”
“Heat Wave” will also feature the return of CES’ next generation of rising stars, including recently-signed Pawtucket, R.I., middleweight Thomas Falowo (3-0, 3 KOs), who will put his perfect record on the line. New Haven’s best and brightest are also returning to action, most notably middleweight Ricky Dawson (4-0, 1 KO), super middleweight Greg McCoy (2-3, 1 KO) and welterweight Edwin Soto (6-0-1, 2 KOs) each fighting in separate four-round bouts. More details are soon to follow. All fights and fighters are subject to change. Tickets for “Heat Wave,” priced at $40, $65 and $105, can be purchased by calling CES at 401.724.2253/2254 or calling Ticketmaster at 1.800.745.3000. Fans can also purchase tickets online at www.cesboxing.com, www.ticketmaster.com, or at the Mohegan Sun Box Office.
