ROC NATION SPORTS ANNOUNCES UNDERCARD FOR

JANUARY 9 throne boxing FROM THE THEATER AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN

EVENT TO BE TELEVISED LIVE ON FOX SPORTS 1 AND TO FEATURE SPECIAL PERFORMANCES BY FABOLOUS AND DJ MUSTARD WITH ANGIE MARTINEZ AS HOST

New York, NY (December 18, 2014) – Already a marquee event featuring Dusty “The Beltway Boricua” Hernandez-Harrison (24-0, 13 KO’s) vs. Tommy “The Razor” Rainone (22-5-1, 4 KO’s) in a 10-round main event for the vacant WBC Continental Americas Welterweight Championship along with an all-star lineup of musical talent performing, the January 9 edition of throne boxing just got event bigger with the announcement of an exciting undercard that will have fans in The Theater at Madison Square Garden on their feet and those watching at home cheering as they watch the action live on FOX Sports 1.

In an intriguing televised co-featured bout, 2008 Bahamian Olympian Tureano Johnson (16-1, 11 KO’s) and Alex “El Principe” Theran (17-1, 10 KO’s) of Barranquilla, Colombia will battle it out over 10 rounds for Johnson’s WBC Continental Americas Middleweight Championship and the vacant WBA International Middleweight Championship. Johnson is a dynamic puncher who has achieved a top ten rating and has his sights set on the division’s elite. In his last fight on December 5, he scored a sixth round knockout win over veteran Humberto Toledo. Theran comes into the fight fresh off of a sixth round stoppage of Jhonatan Ricar on October 11 and will be looking to make a statement of his own that he has arrived as a threat at 160 lbs.

In another title tilt, Cecil McCalla (20-1, 7 KO’s) of Randallstown, Maryland takes onGauteng, South Africa’s Chris “The Heat”Van Heerden (21-1-1, 11 KO’s) in a 10-round bout for the vacant IBF International Welterweight Championship. McCalla’s most recent victory, a first round knockout of Mexico’s Francisco Javier Reza on November 21, was his fourth win of 2014. Prior to the Reza fight, McCalla turned in his career-best performance, upsetting up and coming prospect Oscar Godoy in a seemingly effortless unanimous decision victory. Van Heerden claimed the South African Welterweight title and African Boxing Union Welterweight title before relocating to the United States in winter 2013 to train with Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach. Van Heerden’s resume contains victories over Kaiser Mabuza, Sebastian Lujan, Matthew Hatton, the always-difficult Cosme Rivera and most recently, over the big punching Ray Narh on April 16.

In other undercard action, one of boxing’s hottest young prospects, Bowie, Maryland’s Jerry “The King’s Son” Odom (12-0, 11 KO’s) will face fellow undefeated prospect Andrew “Hurricane” Hernandez (7-0-1, 1 KO) of Phoenix, Arizona in a six-round super middleweight bout. Odom was a decorated amateur who won a National Golden Gloves Championship in 2012 and was named the 2012 Amateur Boxer of the Year. One of the most fearsome punchers in boxing today, Odom is coming off of a seventh round knockout victory over then fellow undefeated prospect Vilier Quinonez in July. Hernandez will also look to hang on to his “0” under the bright Madison Square Garden lights in his first action since September 26 when he scored a unanimous decision victory over Rollin Williams.

With a spectacular amateur career spanning over 200 fights which saw him achieve a number one national ranking at 132 lbs., Chicago’s Kenneth “Boss Man” Sims Jr. (4-0, 2 KO’s) turned professional in March of this year and has impressed thus far. He has been tabbed as a future star in the ring, but before he can reach that level he must get past Justin Johnson (6-7-4) of Braddock, Pennsylvania in their six-round junior welterweight fight.

Eduardo Martinez (4-0, 1 KO)of Chicago is another highly touted amateur forwhom boxing insiders have high expectations. After compiling an amateur record of 85-10, winning the 2013 U.S.A. Boxing National Championship and achieving a number one national ranking at 123 lbs., Martinez turned professional on March 7 of this year. On January 9, he faces Rigoberto Miranda (0-2-2) of Troy, New York in a four-round featherweight bout.

Wellington “W.A.R.” Romero (4-0-1, 2 KO’s) represented his native Dominican Republic at the 2012 Olympics in London. Now fighting out of Newburgh, New York, the undefeated junior welterweight will look to continue his professional rise when he takes on Cleveland’s Leo Kreischer (3-6-1, 2 KO’s) in a four-round junior welterweight bout on January 9.

A Silver Medalist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Zhang “Big Bang” Zhilei (1-0, 1 KO) of Zhoukou, China is an imposing figure at 6’6” and 250 lbs. who will look to infuse excitement into the heavyweight division. On January 9, he faces Kaleb Slaughter (Pro Debut) of Cincinnati, Ohio in a four-round bout.

Dustin “The White Tiger” Fleischer (Pro Debut)of Monmouth Beach, New Jersey is on a quest to become the first grandson of a Holocaust survivor to be crowned a world champion. A Two-Time New Jersey Golden Gloves Champion and the youngest graduate of the U.S. Olympic Education Center, Fleischer compiled an amateur record of 112-18. He turns professional at The Garden on the 9^th against Frank Jordan (0-2) from Elizabeth, New Jersey in a four-round junior welterweight bout.

Roc Nations Sports’ foray into the world of boxing will officially begin with the debut of throne boxing on Friday, January 9, 2015 from The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. In addition to the great action inside the ring, the January 9 edition of throne boxing will feature several notable Roc Nation touches that will further serve spectators with an enhanced fan experience, including hit master DJ Mustard who will serve alongside notable event emcee and “Voice of New York” Angie Martinez throughout the night with Brooklyn’s own two-time platinum recording artist Fabolous taking the stage between fights for a special performance. On fight night, doors open at 6:30 PM, with the first bout to take place at 6:35 PM and the FOX Sports 1 telecast beginning at 10:00 PM ET/7:00 PM PT.

Tickets priced at $205, $105, $55 and $30 plus any Ticketmaster charges are available for purchase at the Madison Square Garden box office, online at www.thegarden.com and at all Ticketmaster outlets. One dollar from each ticket sold will be donated to the Muhammad Ali Center.

WATCH RELATED VIDEOS ON BOXINGCHANNEL.TV