Fight to Educate

The Fight to Educate is a unique charity event that combines a love of sports with the vision of assisting children in need. This concept of networking and marketing sports and charity together is a win-win situation for the athletes, the sponsors and most of all the children benefited through our charities. As a Sponsor for the 7th Annual Fight to Educate you will join with like-minded corporate sponsors, dignitaries, local celebrities and athletes in making a significant contribution to the educational welfare of children in New Hampshire. Opportunities abound for immeasurable positive public exposure through print, radio and television media exposure during our promotion of the event; with our exclusive black tie audience during the private dinner pre-event and with our general admission audience.

PRESS RELEASES

The stars were out September 17 at “The Maul In Manchester” pro boxing show in the 7th annual Fight To Educate charity event at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire. Boxing Hall of Famers Roberto “Hands of Stone” Duran and Angele Dundee, as well as future HOF inductee Tommy “Hitman” Hearns, were on hand to meet and greet fans.

The 7th annual Fight To Educate, presented by Members First Credit Union, in association with Cedric Kushner’s Gotham Boxing, raised over $60,000 and will directly benefit children in our community via the New Hampshire Union Leader Santa Fund for the Salvation Army, the Bobby Stephen Fund for Education and SEE Science Center and the Greater Manchester YMCA.

Unbeaten prospects Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin and Ronald “The Chosen One” Hearns were showcased in separate bouts in “The Maul In Manchester.” Five-time world champion Duran (103-16, 70 KOs), inducted into the HOF in 2007, is arguably the greatest lightweight of all-time. The ferocious, relentless Panamanian defeated Sugar Ray Leonard, Pipino Cuervas, Iran Barkley and Ken Buchanan, among the more notables. Probably best known as the great Muhammad Ali’s head trainer, Dundee also trained Leonard, Carmen Basilio, Jimmy Ellis and George Foreman for his fight against Michael Moorer. Supporting his son, Ronald, six-time world champion Tommy Hearns (61-5-1, 48 KOs) won titles in six different weight classes and defeated the likes of Virgil Hill, Duran, Cuevas and Wilfredo Benetiz. The 25-year-old middleweight Quillin (19-0, 14 KOs), fighting out of Brooklyn (NY), took on and won over St, Louis policeman Sam “The Punching Policeman” Hill in the 10-round main event. Rated No. 4 by the NABO, Quillin hopes his impressive win will position him for a regional title shot in the not too distant future. Junior middleweight sensation Hearns (19-0, 15 KOs), rated No. 11 by the WBC and No. 13 by the WBA, faced and won against Columbian veteran Alexander Pacheco Quiroz in the eight-round co-feature. 2008 U.S. Olympic Team alternate Danny O’Connor, who hails from Framingham, Massachusetts, provided chief support on the undercard against Joe Guerrido in a four-round light welterweight bout. O’Connor captured his first win in his professional boxing debut. O’Conner won gold medals at this year’s U.S. Future Stars, in which, he was selected Outstanding Boxer of the tournament, and National Golden Gloves Championships.

RESULTS:

September 17, 2008 – “The Maul In Manchester”

7^th annual Fight To Educate

Verizon Arena

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Hajro Sujak (2-0, 1 KO), Bronx, NY WTKO1 (0:37) Daren Graham (1-3, 1 KO), Conklin, KY

MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Peter Quillin (20-0, 15 KOs), Brooklyn, NY WTKO10 (1:50) Sam Hill (17-9-1, 10 KOs), St. Louis, MO

JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Ronald Hearns (20-0, 16 KOs), Southfield, MI WTKO1 (2:10) Alexander Pacheco Quiroz (14-7-1, 12 KOs), Miami, FL

WELTERWEIGHTS

Osvaldo Rivera (2-0-1, 1 KO), Bronx, NH WTKO3 (1:39) Jose Velazquez (1-5 (1 KO), Worcester, Ma

JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHTS

Danny O’Connor (1-0, 1 KO), Framingham, MA WTKO2 (1:55) Jose Guerrido (0-3), Bronx, NY

Promoter: Cedric Kushner’s Gotham Boxing

Matchmaker: Jim Borzell

POST FIGHT QUOTES

Peter Quillin:

“I felt like the guy wasn’t answering back and the ref stopped. I should get credit for beating a guy like that. He’s very durable. I almost hurt my hands I hit him so hard.”

“I came here to win, going the distance and winning round, or stopping him. I knew he came to fight and I’m proud with the win.”

“I’m dedicated myself to boxing 24 hours a day. This is my job, not a hobby. I wanted to show people tonight that I’m an all-around fighter. I was ready to go 10 rounds. He was durable but I had to chase him a bit.”

Ronald Hearns:

“I’m very happy. I established my jab and showed my speed. I thought it was a great performance tonight.”

“This will make me sharper for my next fight.”

“Early next year I think I’ll be ready for a world title shot. When I’m out in with an A fighter, I’ll fight to their level. I fight a lot of those guys in the gym.”

“I’ve only been doing this since I was 24. I wasn’t allowed to put on gloves until then and it’s amazing what I’m doing now.”

Danny O’Connor:

“I’ve started my pro career and put my amateur career behind me. I felt great. It was a great debut in front of all my fans, friends and family. I wanted everything to be perfect, but with the crowed, my family, no headgear….I came out eager. I’m happy with the way I fought”

“Signing with Warriors Boxing was the best fit for me and my family.”

“Me and my coaches work a lot on body punching, even in the amateurs, but sometimes body punches don’t score points. I slowed him down (with body punches) and the rounds are longer. I felt one connect and I knew that punch really hurt him. His corner threw in the towel.”

PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT: SEE Science Center, The Union Leader Santa Fund for the Salvation Army, The Bobby Stephen Fund for Education and the Greater Manchester YMCA, all non-profit organizations qualifying under the section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.