Soaring
Eagle will happen without Paris Boxing fans will not see Vernon “Iceman” Paris on Saturday’s card at Mt. Pleasant’s Soaring Eagle Casino, but matchmaker Bruce Kilty is confident that a good show has been put together for boxing fans. Dairo Esalas (30-11-0, 24 KO) a 34 year old Colombian, residing in Miami, has been picked to face fellow Floridian Stevie Johnston (41-5-1, 18 KO). Esalas holds distinction for having represented Columbia in the ‘96 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. Johnston, a 35-year old southpaw, lost a defense in October, 07 for the IBA Lightweight title he won earlier in the year. Monroe’s Bronco McKart (51-8-0, 31 KO) is scheduled against Raul Marquez (40-3-0, 29 KO) of Houston in the main event. McKart fought four times last year, winning three times. His loss came in December in a Las Vegas title defense for the NABF Middleweight title that he won four months earlier. Marquez is a former IBF titleholder who is coming off a five-win streak – all by way of knockout. Both boxers are southpaws. Philadelphia’s Tyrone Brunson will be looking to make history for the number of first round knockout victories. Brunson is currently undefeated, having ended all 18 of his fights in the first-round. Attempting to cheat history will be Francis McKechnai (3-14-0, 3 KO), a native of Sault Ste. Marie, who on paper is an underdog with an unimpressive record having lost his last seven fights. His record is distinctive for each and every fight having ended by knockout - None of his 17 fights have gone to the judges. Luigi Gjokaj of Warren will meet Eric Rue of Battle Creek. Rue is making his pro debut, after having two caged matches under his belt, while Gjokaj had a shaky debut in February, losing by TKO to Jose Mandujano, who is also on this card. Federico Flores, Jr. (3-2-0) will battle Jonathan Jackson (0-0-2) of Detroit. Jackson, 24, fought to a draw in February of both ’06 and ’07. Flores has lost two decisions alternated with three wins – two by knockout. His last fight, a TKO win, came against Josh Rodriguez in Chicago on Feb. 1. Karo Ro (15-0-0, 7 KO) of Windsor, Ontario, Canada and Lakeysha Williams (9-11-3, 1 KO) will be fighting in a rematch in the co-main event. Ro won a unanimous decision after six rounds against the Philadelphia fighter five weeks ago in Dearborn. Both women are 32 years old. Toledo’s Brandon Little (1-0-0) and Middleton’s Jose Mandujano (1-0-0, 1 KO) round out the seven-bout card. Little won a unanimous decision over Federico Flores in his debut and Mandujano won by TKO over Luigi Gjokaj at The Palace February 1st in both boxers’ debuts. For
those persons that can’t attend the show in person –
such as writers or photographers, including Sports Summary, that
have been banned from attending by promoter Carlos Llinas –
the show will be shown live on the internet. Check out the action
live at www.gofightlive.com |