Apr

19

Mike Oliver Returns On May 4th

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USBA super bantamweight champ Mike “Machine” Oliver (18-0, 7 KO) returns to the ring Friday, May 4, when he headlines Alpha - Omega’s “Battle Zone 3″ at the Mohegan Sun Arena, in Uncasville, Connecticut. The bout will be broadcast on the New England Sports Network (NESN), with Oliver’s opponent to be announced in the very near future..

It will be Oliver’s first time climbing back in the ring, since his February 16 unanimous decision victory over then unbeaten Gary Stark Jr. The bout with Stark, which was a heavily anticipated showdown between two of the super bantamweight division’s most touted prospects, was broadcast live on ShoBox, and ended with an extremely close and controversial decision. Judges at ringside scored the bout 116-112 (twice) and 115-113, all in favor of Oliver.

The decision resulted in Stark’s promoter, Lou Dibella, voicing his disgust, while Rich Cappiello, Oliver’s promoter, boisterously defended the decision. The controversy and attention brought forth by both the fight, and the verbal aftermath, may ultimately result in the two squaring off again in the future.

The “Battle Zone 3″ co-feature will pit light heavyweight Rodney Toney (29-4-4, 17 KO) against Anthony “The Rowdy One” Russell (15-2, 4 KO), in a rematch of last year’s bout, in which Toney walked away with a ten-round unanimous decision victory. While Toney, a relative of heavyweight James “Lights Out” Toney, has not fought since defeating Russell on October 28, Russell has maintained some level of activity, earning a victory over journeyman Mike Bonislawski (RTD 5), on January 26.

In undercard action, undefeated and always exciting cruiserweight, Chris McInerney (7-0-1, 4 KO’s) will battle Boston Police Officer Tyrone Smith (5-4-1, 2 KO’s) in a 6-round affair.

Also slated for action in separate bouts are; undefeated heavyweight prospect Tony “TNT” Grano (8-0-1, 7 KO), undefeated featherweight prospect Dat “Dat Be Dat” Nguyen (8-0, 5 KO), Anthony LaMonica (3-0, 2 KO’s) and Irish Billy Walsh (3-0).

Grano, the 2005 United States Amateur Heavyweight Champion, recently gained his first national television exposure, with a first-round technical knockout victory over journeyman John Turlington, on the March 23rd installment of ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights. The May 4th bout will be see Grano in action at the Mohegan Sun, for the fifth time in his professional career.

Nguyen, a Buddy McGirt protege, that brings a straight-ahead, action-packed style into the ring. has earned already begun to draw quite a following at Mohegan Sun, where he will be making his third appearance.

Tickets for “Battle Zone 3″ go on sale tomorrow night. Tickets, priced at $75, $40, and $25 are available at the Mohegan Sun Box Office, by calling 800-226-7711, or at www.mohegansun.com .

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