Uprising Promotions is back on Friday, February 13th, at the Five Star Banquet Hall in Long Island City, Queens. On the show, Top Rank welterweight John “Action” Jackson (16-3-1, 13 KOs) is slated to headline against Rafael Gonzalez (8-2, 6 KOs), while super featherweight Gary Stark Jr. (23-3, 8 KOs) will be ending a long layoff to face 33-bout veteran Jose Roberto Gonzalez.
Additionally on the card, undefeated super middleweight prospect Ronald Ellis (10-0, 8 KOs) will step in against battle-tested Samuel Clarkson (12-3, 7 KOs), and Uprising Promotions super featherweight Angel Luna (9-0-1, 6 KOs) will return against Jhovany Collado.
“I’m pretty excited about the lineup we have,” Uprising Promotions President Ronson Frank stated. “From top to bottom, we have some really competitive fights. I’m excited about seeing Ronald Ellis. I’ve heard some really good things about him. I’m also looking forward to seeing John Jackson. It’s nice for us to be getting these high caliber fighters on our show. We have a co-promotion with Top Rank for the Jackson fight, and they will have an entourage at the show supporting him.”
After a decorated amateur career, the hammer-fisted John Jackson turned professional in 2005. Of his 16 victories, the Miami resident has stopped 13 of his opponents inside the distance. Born in Detroit, Jackson groomed his skills at the famed Kronk Gym. On the other side of the ring will be hard-hitting Puerto Rican native Rafael Gonzalez, who now fights out of Easton, Pennsylvania, and will be competing for the first time in the United States.
Rising super middleweight Ronald Ellis has been on a tear since turning professional, winning 10 consecutive fights and knocking out eight of his opponents. Trained by former IBF Super Featherweight Champion Roberto Garcia Cortez, Ellis had a stellar amateur career that included an upset of 2012 US Olympian Terrell Gausha in the 2010 National Golden Gloves Championships. He will have a worthy test in front of him on February 13th when he meets Samuel Clarkson, who is just one of three fighters who has taken super middleweight prospect Jesse Hart the distance.
Fan favorite Gary “Kid” Stark Jr. will be ending a four-plus year layoff when he returns to action to meet 33-fight veteran Jose Roberto Gonzalez. The native New Yorker is known for a large following, and his crowd-pleasing tactical style is the reason behind that. Prior to turning professional, Stark created a huge buzz for himself after becoming a three-time New York City Golden Gloves Champion and reaching the Olympic Trials.
Returning to action on the card is Uprising Promotions super featherweight Angel Luna, who puts his aggressive style on the line against 18-bout veteran Jhovany Collado. A pair of Gleason’s Gym stablemates are also slated for action, with junior welterweight Mikkel Lespierre (5-0, 3 KOs) and lightweight Dean Burrell (9-1, 7 KOs) fighting in separate bouts against opponents to be named.
The women will again take the stage on February 13th as well when Susan Reno and Paolo Ortiz meet in a flyweight match. World Series of Boxing veteran Marcos Forestal will also appear on the card when he makes his professional debut against an opponent to be announced. An additional professional debut is slated in the welterweight division, with Maxito Sainvil stepping through the ropes for the first time to square off against Kashif Mohamed. The final bout of the card is a junior middleweight scrap that will feature Queens native Villo Bello in his third professional fight against an opponent to be named.
“It’s just a blessing to be such a young promotion and go from where we started, doing small club shows, to expanding into having big names, top prospects and really good up-and-coming guys,” Frank concluded. “I’m feeling blessed and appreciative about this upcoming show, and I’m expecting a great event. I hope everyone comes out, supports our show and has a really good time.”
Five Star Banquet Hall is located at 13-05 43rd Avenue in Long Island City, Queens. Tickets for the February 13th card are priced at $60 for general admission and $100 for ringside seating. Additionally, all law enforcement and military members with ID will receive 10% off their ticket prices when purchased at the door. There is also a table option with dinner, beer/wine and seating with a celebrity fighter. For pricing on those tables, call (516) 451-6773.
