TD GARDEN NIGHT AT THE FIGHTS

Professional Boxing Returns to the Garden

Featuring New England’s Top Boxers Danny O’Connor & Ryan Kielczewski
BOSTON, MA (November 8, 2012) – TD Garden announced today professional boxing will return to Boston for ‘TD Garden Night at the Fights’ on Friday, December 14, 2012 at 7:00PM. Headlining the night is Framingham native and light welterweight, rising star Danny O'Connor. Also competing in professional matches are undefeated junior lightweight Ryan Kielczewski of Quincy and Portland-trained middleweight Russell Lamour. Four amateur matchups showcasing USA Boxing New England All-Stars will round out the evening.

A memorabilia show presented by Saugus-based SportsWorld will accompany the event and ticket holders will have the opportunity to pre-purchase access to a limited pre-event autograph signing featuring local boxing legends and World Champions Micky Ward, Tony DeMarco, Vinny Pazienza, Marlon Starling, and John Ruiz. Tickets for TD Garden Night at the Fights ($37.50 and $47.50) and VIP autograph event ($50, available to all ticket holders) will go on-sale Friday, November 9, 2012 at 10AM at the TD Garden Box Office and Ticketmaster outlets.

“We’re excited to have boxing return to the TD Garden and continue to solidify Boston’s legacy as one of the premier boxing towns,” said Amy Latimer, President of TD Garden. “The local boxing talent is unprecedented and we are proud to provide the stage to showcase the best of New England.”

Among the top rising stars on the New England boxing scene is Framingham’s light welterweight, Danny ‘Bhoy’ O’Connor, looking for his 20th victory in the 10-round main event. He is a two-time national amateur champ and has a 19-1 professional record with seven KOs. O’Connor is ranked 15th in the world by the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and 22nd in the World Boxing Council (WBC) rankings.

In the past year, O’Connor commenced training under the tutelage of hall of fame trainer Ronnie Shields and sought guidance and management in the form of friend and mentor Ken Casey, lead singer of the popular band Dropkick Murphys. “Danny is one of the most dedicated and explosive fighters you will ever see,” said Casey. “He has an army of rabid fans, and will make for a great night at the fights at the TD Garden.”

Quincy’s ‘Polish Prince’, junior lightweight Ryan Kielczewski will compete in front of his hometown crowd in an 8-round bout. Kielczewski won a silver medal in the 2008 national Golden Gloves tournament and will look to continue his undefeated streak, currently at 14-0.

Russell Lamour, ‘The Haitian Sensation’ of Portland, Maine, will round out the professional matches in a 4-round middleweight bout. USA Boxing New England All-Stars and world-class prospects will make up the additional four amateur matched bouts. Professional match opponents and amateur talent will be announced at a later date.

Boston’s boxing heritage runs deep. The first event held at the Boston Garden on November 17, 1928 was a ‘Boxing Carnival’ featuring a non-championship bout between featherweights Dick ‘Honeyboy’ Finnegan of Dorchester and Andre Routis of France. New England has a long and proud tradition of producing world champion boxers as well. Local boxing legends and World Champions Micky Ward, Tony DeMarco, Vinny Pazienza, Marlon Starling, and John Ruiz will be on hand to meet with fans and sign autographs at a VIP autograph event from 4-6PM. These limited tickets are available for pre-purchase by ‘TD Garden Night at the Fights’ ticketholders.

Tickets for ‘TD Garden Night at the Fights’ go on sale Friday, November 9, 2012 at 10AM at the TD Garden Box Office and Ticketmaster outlets. Event tickets are $37.50 and $47.50 and there is a separate, limited admission ticket to the VIP autograph event for $50, available to all ticket holders. To reserve tables of ten on the arena floor, please call The Premium Club at 617-624-1VIP (1847).

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Media Contact:

Tricia McCorkle
617-624-1854
tmccorkle@dncboston.com

Courtney Mercier
617-624-1853
cmercier@dncboston.com