Single-fisted boxer Michael Costantino will fulfill his dream on October 27 when he makes his professional debut on the “Rising Olympian Star In The Big Apple” pay-per-view event, featuring undefeated 2008 U.S. Olympian Sadam “World Kid” Ali (15-0, 9 KOs), live from Aviator Sports Complex in Brooklyn, New York.
The 33-year-old Costantino, fighting out of Queens, was born without a right hand. He participated in two New York City Golden Gloves Tournaments, reaching the quarterfinals one year, and he plans to make a statement in his scheduled four-round pro debut against an opponent to be determined.
“This is a dream come true for me,” the property manager in Brooklyn and Queens explained. “I always loved boxing. I was an athlete growing up, playing all sports, and a friend got me into boxing when I was 16. I thought boxing was a beautiful but hard sport and I respected individuals in boxing. I tried boxing and enjoyed it.
“I have to thank Sadam and David Ali for giving me this opportunity. I know Sadam from the amateurs. I’m taking it as one fight at a time. My goal is to show people that anything is possible. I had no problem getting licensed. Fighting on pay per view is important because, the more people who see what I’m doing, the better. I’m just focusing on this fight but I definitely want to show people that anything you put your mind to is possible.”
The youngest boxing promoter in America, 23-year-old Ali is an undefeated welterweight prospect who is taking on former Indiana State champion Jermaine “Too Sweet” White (17-5, 9 KOs), of Chicago, in the 10-round main event.
Seven-time Colombian National champion Santander “The Demolition Man” Silgado (22-0, 18 KOs), the World Boxing Council FECARBOX cruiserweight champion, faces battled-tested veteran Gary “Pit Bull” Gomez (19-13-2, 7 KOs) in the 10-round co-feature. Silgado, now fighting out of Brooklyn, is world rated at No. 9 by the World Boxing Council (WBC) and No. 11 by the World Boxing Association (WBA).
Brownsville super middleweight Curtis “Showtime” Stevens (22-3, 16 KOs) fights an opponent to be named in a eight-round bout. Stevens won a gold medal at the 2002 US National Championships as an amateur and he has defeated world champion Carl Daniels in the pro ranks.
Newly crowned World Boxing Federation Intercontinental light middleweight champion Mike “El Cangri” Ruiz (17-7, 9 KOs) drops back to his natural welterweight division to face and opponent to soon be determined. He is coming off his 10th round TKO title-winning performance July 21 against hometown favorite Paul Delgado in Atlanta.
Also fighting on the undercard in four-round bouts are Maine light middleweight Steven Gamache (3-0, 1 KO), the son of former world champion Joey Gamache, and Brooklyn light middleweight Shawn Cameron in his pro debut. Brooklyn bantamweight Jennifer Santiago meets Louisiana invader Ivana Coleman (0-1). All fights and fighters are subject to change.
“Rising Olympian Star In The Big Apple,” presented by Sadam Ali’s World Kid Promotions, will be distributed in the United States by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT on both cable and satellite pay per view via iN Demand, DISH Network and Avail-TVN for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.
