FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: Tuesday, May 22, 2001 |
Release # 166-01 |
Contact: | Sunny Mindel/ Lynn Rasic |
(212) 788-2958 |
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today announced the return of world-class boxing to Coney Island for the first time in over fifty years. On Saturday night, July 7, super lightweight Hector "Macho" Camacho Jr. and Jesse James Leija, will take the ring along with 7 other professional boxing matches at the new KeySpan Park, home of the Mets minor league affiliate team the Brooklyn Cyclones. Joining the Mayor for the announcement were the event sponsors: Jeffrey Wilpon, Executive Vice President and COO of the Brooklyn Cyclones; Dan Goossen, President of America Presents; Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment; Kery Davis, Senior Vice President of Sports Programming, HBO; as well as contender Hector Camacho, Jr.
"This summer New Yorkers will have a ringside seat for the return of world-class boxing to Coney Island," Mayor Giuliani said. "KeySpan Park is serving as a catalyst for revitalization in a once-thriving section of Brooklyn. Some people have said that Coney Island was down for the count, but this is another indication that this historic neighborhood is waging a comeback."
"The Brooklyn Brawlers" event, to be televised live on HBO's "Boxing After Dark", will feature the WBA's top super lightweight contender Hector Camacho Jr. (32-0, 18 knockouts) squaring off against former world champion Leija (42-5-2, 17 knockouts). Also on the card will be Kirk Johnson vs. Larry Donald, competing to be the mandatory challenger for the heavyweight title. Tickets for the event will be available starting June 4th.
"Everyone is aware of Brooklyn's relationship with baseball, but Brooklyn has also had a long history with boxing," Jeffrey Wilpon said. "The Cyclones are excited to host a nationally televised title fight at KeySpan Park, which will bring more awareness to Coney Island and return yet another professional sport to the borough of Brooklyn."
"As a Brooklyn kid, I'm proud to be a part of the first big-time boxing show since Sugar Ray Robinson fought in Coney Island 50 years," Lou DiBella said. "The birth of the Brooklyn Cyclones and the return of big-time boxing to Coney Island illustrates Mayor Giuliani's successful effort to revitalize Coney Island and sports in Brooklyn."
"We're honored to have Hector Camacho, Jr., a native New Yorker, fight in this great Brooklyn event," Dan Goossen said. "Thanks to the efforts of Mayor Giuliani, New Yorkers can enjoy the excitement of big-time boxing in a spectacular new venue."
"In the past five years, HBO's "Boxing After Dark" has been to many unique sites, but the opportunity to broadcast from an American institution such as Coney Island will make it a special night for HBO viewers around the country," said Ross Greenburg, President of HBO Sports.
The last big-time boxing event to take place in Coney Island was on September 4, 1950 when Sugar Ray Robinson earned a 10-round decision over Billy Brown. The last championship fight on Coney Island was between flyweight champ Midget Wolgast and Ruby Bradley on July 13, 1931. Wolgast (147-36-16, 15 knockouts) won a 15-round decision. The last title fight held at a Brooklyn ballpark came one month later when Slapsie Maxie Rosenbloom successfully defended his light-heavyweight title against Jimmy Slattery at Ebbets Field in a 15-round decision August 5, 1931.
The construction of the new 6,500-seat KeySpan Park is the first step toward
revitalizing Coney Island. The City further plans to build a New York Sports
Museum in Coney Island and to assist in a major redevelopment of the Coney
Island Aquarium. KeySpan Park will open on June 25th, 2001 when then Brooklyn
Cyclones play their home-opener against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.
www.nyc.gov