Darwish Brothers Boxing Returns to New Jersey

Big Time boxing returns to New Jersey on Dec 9 from the beautiful Robert Treat Hotel in Downtown Newark.  This event is the second installment of “The North Jersey Boxing Series” presented by The Darwish Brothers Knockout Promotions.  The Double main event headlining this action-filled card will feature two of today’s most exciting young prospects.  The vacant WBC Continental Americas light heavyweight title will be on the line in the 12-round main event when “Prince” Badi Ajamu (21-2-1 12 KOs) of Camden, NJ faces battle-tested Greg Wright (21-11-2 8 KOs) of Detroit, MI.  In the co-main event top prospect Kendall Holt (16-1, 11 KOs) of Patterson, NJ will battle with former world title challenger and former NABF champion Golden Johnson (22-7 16 KOs) from Houston, TX.

Prince Badi Ajamu has made some noise in the light heavyweight division.  Starting his professional career in 1997, Ajamu stringed together 14 straight victories before suffering the first blemish of his career when he drew with Anthony Bonsante.  The Prince got nationwide exposure when he faced Detroit’s Rico Hoye on Shobox, June 5, 2003.  Early in the second round, Ajamu silenced the home crowd when he floored Hoye.  After the knockdown, however, Ajamu fought a little too defensively and although Roye never landed anything significant, he was able to bank rounds to eventually capture a decision.  The only other blemish on the Prince’s record was a razor-thin majority decision loss that came at the hands of former WBO middleweight champion Otis “Magic” Grant on April 24, 2004.  In that bout Ajamu had Grant hurt and in serious trouble in round 7, but the referee stopped the contest temporarily because of an inadvertent “thumb” to Grant’s eye.  The reprieve caused Grant to escape the fight with a thin 2-point victory on two of the judges’ cards (96-94), while the other had it even (95-95).

Since the Grant fight Ajamu is coming off a two-fight winning streak including an impressive 10th round TKO victory over hard-hitting Fred Moore of Rochester, MN in his last fight, this past July 27.  Prince Ajamu is now ready and determined to place himself among the top light heavyweight contenders in the world.  A victory over Wright will place him a step closer to his goal.

Greg Wright, a former NABF light heavyweight titlist, has never been stopped in 34 fights. He is a tough durable veteran who has been in the ring with the likes of Rico Hoye, Derrick Harmon, and Charles Brewer.  Wright’s durability and toughness will surely challenge the younger Ajamu. This is an intriguing fight as it pits a young contender on the rise against an experienced veteran.

Kendall Holt is about as an exciting fighter as you would find today.  Last March, all Holt needed was 20 seconds to gain national exposure as his devastating first round knockout of Gilberto Reyes was seen live on ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights, and later that night it headed Sportcenter’s Top 10 Plays list.  The knockout was so explosive that the footage reached local news channels as well as national outlets like CNN’s Headline News.

Holt’s introduction to the sweet science was based on many sad and tragic circumstances.  His mother, Debra Holt, has been in prison since he was six and his father Barry Porter, was never around during Holts’ youth.  After bouncing around in different foster homes Kendall moved in with his father at the age of seven where Barry Porter used boxing as an outlet to protect his son from the hard realities of the inner city streets.  By the time he was 16, Holt was a two-time Golden gloves champion and gaining valuable experience in several national tournaments.

Since turning pro in March of 2001, Holt started his career stopping 11 of his first 15 opponents.  But on June 18 of this year, Holt faced 32-year-old Tommy Davis in a fight that was televised live on ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights.  From the start of the opening bell Holt was on the attack, rocking the 6’2 Davis with explosive right hand shots.  The assault continued for the majority of the round, but with seconds left, Davis, who appeared to be on his way out, surprised Holt with a perfect counter right that dropped Holt to the canvas.  Kendall beat the count, but the bout was stopped soon after as Davis connected with another big right hand blow.

In his last outing Holt successfully came back with a win over Robert Ortega.  The fight was held at the Robert Treat Hotel as part of the Darwish Brothers’ “The North Jersey Boxing Series” on Oct 14 of this year.  Holt is now looking to continue his winning ways when he faces the tough and experienced Golden Johnson.

Johnson will prove to be a tough test for the fast rising Holt. Johnson has held the NABF championship title at lightweight, and at welterweight.  Not only is he an experienced veteran, but he also has been in tough fights with world-class opponents such as Shane Mosely, Ben Tackie, and Vivan Harris.  Johnson also holds victories over top contenders Juan Lazcano and Teddy Reid.  His fight against Holt promises to be a hotly contested affair.

Others scheduled to participate in this top-notch event are local New Jersey fighters Eric Graham, George Perez, Devon Holder, Alex Perez and Mike Torres.

Tickets are on sale now so don’t hesitate, they are going fast.  Tickets priced at $100 VIP ringside, $50 reserved, and $35 general admission are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.Ticketmaster.com, or by calling Ticketmaster at (201) 507-8900.  Ticketmaster can also be accessed through the Darwish Brothers’ Knockout Promotions website at www.knockout1.com or you may call Knockout Promotions at (973) 237-9898 for more information.  For directions to the Robert Treat Hotel, please call (973)-622-1000.

A pre-fight press conference will be held at the hotel on Monday November the 29 at 12:00pm.