“Irish” Micky Ward, the beloved retired junior welterweight boxer from Lowell, Massachusetts will greet fans along with his half-brother and former trainer Dicky Eklund at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif. prior to the September 29 edition of TeleFutura’s “Solo Boxeo Tecate.” The event co-features former World Champion Julio “The Kidd” Diaz of Coachella facing Puerto Rico’s Hector Sanchez and Andrew “Chango” Cancio squaring off against veteran contender Roger “Speedy” Gonzalez.
Ward, a blue collar athlete who overcame many obstacles in life and prevailed through determination and hard work, is regarded as a working class hero. He was a fan favorite known for his devastating left hook to the body and his ability to withstand punishment while waiting to land his trademark shot.
Ward and Eklund will be on hand to meet fans, sign autographs and take pictures from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. inside the Fantasy Springs Special Events Center. The meet and greet is open to the public with the purchase of a ticket to the September 29 event.
The brothers were the subject of the 2010 movie “The Fighter” which recounted Ward’s climb to fame. Ward was played by actor Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale, who captured an Oscar for his portrayal, played Eklund.
Eklund is a former three-time golden gloves champion with over 190 victories as an amateur. He faced Sugar Ray Leonard in a professional bout televised by HBO in 1978.
Diaz vs. Sanchez and Cancio vs. Gonzalez are presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. PT on fight night and the first bell rings at 7:00 p.m. PT. The TeleFutura broadcast begins at midnight ET/11:00 p.m. PT. Tickets, priced at $25, $35 and $45, are on sale now and available for purchase at the Fantasy Springs Box Office, by calling (800) 827-2946 or online at www.fantasyspringsresort.com.
