Friday, June 18, 2004
Super middleweight Dallas Vargas will defend his state title.
NILES -- Top Rank Inc.'s George Chung is working on a pro card for June 27 at Eastwood Field.
"I am very honored to return to the Niles-Youngstown area to present an outstanding fight card," said Chung.
Chuck and Pat Nelson have filled out the card with three of the top fighters in feature bouts.
Dallas Vargas (16-1, 12 knockouts), a super middleweight from Toledo, will defend the state title he won at Gund Arena in April in an eight-rounder against John Hammond (9-3-1, 6 KOs) from Grove City, Ohio.
Koval on card
A pair of heavyweights, Austintown's Chris Koval and Brian Minto of Butler, Pa., who have a combined record of 32-1 with 24 knockouts, will also be in action.
Koval (17-1, 14 KOs) will be in a six-rounder against Mike Sheppard (8-5-1, 5 KOs) of Palestine, W. Va. Minto (15-0, 12 KOs) will bring a big following for his six-rounder with Travis Fulton (7-5, 6 KOs), of Cedar Falls, Iowa.
"Irish" Davey McBride, who is co-managed by Chuck Nelson and his dad Jim McBride, will be in the first six-rounder of his young pro career.
McBride (3-2, 2 KOs), trained by veteran John Hobart, will battle Tim Travis (2-4, 1 KO) of Columbus.
Women's bouts slated
There will also be two fights featuring women boxers.
In a four-round lightweight bout, Mia St. John, who once won 22 consecutive fights, brings her 33-4-2 record with 15 knockouts in against Talia Smith (3-4-1, 2 KOs).
Another four-rounder has heavyweights making their pro debuts. Missy Field of Warren will battle Christina Christian of Toronto.
Ticket prices range from $12.50 to $75 and are available at Eastwood Field, Center Stage Grill in the Eastwood Mall and at Antonio's VIP Club on Raccoon Road.