Mike Faragon To Headline On Staten Island On Jan. 19

On January 19, 2012 at Nicotra's Ballroom in the Hilton Garden Inn in Staten Island, New York, “Championship Boxing at the Hilton” a night of world-class professional boxing that will be broadcast nationally on a tape-delayed basis on MSG network in the New York area and on FOX Sports Net affiliates nationwide will be held.

Featured in the eight-round main event will be undefeated future lightweight champion Michael “Baby Faced Beast” Faragon (16-0, 7 KOs) of Guilderland, New York, against an opponent that is TBA.

24-year-old Faragon's career has caught fire since signing with promoter Greg Cohen. He was last seen impressively stopping 24-5 veteran Ira Terry in two rounds at the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, California, and live on ESPN Friday Night Fights in August.

As an amateur, Faragon won the state Golden Glove Championships twice, the Western Olympic trials and a junior national championship. He was also the number-one-ranked light welterweight in the United States in 2007.

As a professional, he has steadily upped his game to match his improving opposition to the point he is being hailed as “the most promising young fighter to come out of the Capital Region in a long time.”

In the night's eight-round co-featured event will be New Brunswick New Jersey's once-beaten super bantamweight contender Jorge “King” Diaz (16-1, 10 KOs) against an opponent that is also TBA.

Like Faragon, Diaz was also a highly decorated amateur. He won a gold medal at the 2006 Under 19 Championships, as well as silver medals at the 2004 US National Junior Olympics and 2005 US Under 19 Championships and bronze medals at the 2006 National Police Athletic League Championships and the 2005 and 2006 National Golden Gloves.

Scheduled for battle on the undercard against opponents that are TBA are Staten Island lightweight Nicky “Lil Nicky” DeMarco (3-2, 2 KOs), as well as Staten Island super middleweight Tim O'Neill (9-2-3, 5 KOs).

DeMarco is the owner of the popular DeMarco's Boxing Gym in Staten Island.

Tickets for “Championship Boxing at the Hilton Garden Inn” are available online at www.gcpboxing.com and www.NicotrasBallroom.com or by calling 888.612.4191. They are priced at General Admission $50, Ringside $150 and VIP Ringside $250, which includes pre-fight open bar and hot buffet.