Koval Fighting One Week After His Dad Died in Car Accident

Koval (right) takes a heavy heart into the ring with him Saturday against Jennings.

Kathy Duva, Promoter and Main Events CEO: “This the first time a US broadcast of any fight from Main Events is going to be on WealthTV. WealthTV has recently dipped its toe into the boxing world, we are very happy about that. They are particularly interested in the heavyweight division so that makes make us very happy too because as you can see we know a lot of heavyweights!”

Kathy Duva Photo Credits to Kamil Krzaczynski

“In Poland the fight will only be available on PPV. Due to scheduling problems Polsat and Canal Plus will not carry the fights. The pay-per-view will be available for purchase on N Platform, UPC, Multimedia, Vectra, INEA, Netia IPTV, SGT SA, TOYA, Asta-Net, Antserwis-Walcz and Antserwis-Pila. The four-bout card will also be shown in Multikino cinemas throughout Poland.”

“As always Jolene Mizzone, our matchmaker, and Russell Peltz, our matchmaking consultant, have outdone themselves with this card. It really jumps out at me because every single fight on the card is very interesting.”

“In the first fight at 2PM which will only be seen in the arena, we have two young fighters who have both agreed to step up. A classic matchup between not just these two young fighters, but also their trainers. In the red corner you are going to see the great Nassim Richardson and in the blue corner you are going to see the great Don Turner. Karl “Dynamite” Dargan from Philadelphia, 10-0 with 5 KO's, is in the red corner with Nassim Richardson, and has been training in Steve Cunningham's camp. “Dynamite” has all the earmarks of being the kind of fighter that people will talk about a long time from now. He will be facing in a 6 round lightweight bout, Jesse Carradine from Cincinnati, 8-1-1 with 4 knockouts in the blue corner with Don Turner.”

“In the second fight, which again can only be seen in the arena, we have Jose Peralta of Jersey City, NJ, against Christian Steel of Philadelphia, PA. A fantastic 6 round matchup with two entertaining junior welterweights.”

“The first television fight of the night is going to take place at 3pm. Is a fight that could be the main event on any cable show, that's how good this fight is. We have got a young man named Jerry Belmontes, who has been fighting with Main Events for a short time now. Jerry is from Corpus Christi, TX, he is 16-0 with 5 knockouts. This is really his first step-up fight and he is going to be taking on Joselito Collado of Queens (NY) who is 13-1, with 3 knockouts. Again this is another fight where we really can't predict what the outcome will be and it's a sign of just how strong this undercard is going to be.”

Belmontes and Collado Photo Credits to Kamil Krzaczynski

“We have three big heavyweight fights on the card and I think everyone in them is going to be in the heavyweight mix for years to come. The first heavyweight bout in an 8-rounder, features Bryant Jennings from Philadelphia. Trained by Fred Jenkins, he made a tremendous impression on everyone when he stepped up into the main event on a couple days' notice on our first NBC (Sports Network) broadcast in January and won the fight. And then came back a few months later, defied the odds and all the predictions and knocked out Sergei Liakhovich. He will take on a fellow from Youngstown, OH, Chris Koval.”

Chris Koval: “I've never had a training camp that went as well as this one has – up until last Sunday when there was a tragic car accident and my father passed away. He would be extremely mad and disheartened if I did not come and do this fight because this is both of our dreams and that's why I am here. Thank you.”

Jennings and Koval Photo Credits to Kamil Krzaczynski

Bryant Jennings: “First of all I extend my condolences to Chris and his family. I am not going to say a lot today. You already know what I am about; you already know what I came here to do. My past fights speak for themselves. I'm here and I know what to do. See you on Saturday.”

Kathy Duva: “Another one of the great stories that we are going to be telling on Saturday night involves another gentleman up here. Everybody knows Steve Cunningham; he is a two time Cruiserweight world champion. Tremendous fighter, one of the best cruiserweight fighters, along with the gentleman on my right (Tomasz Adamek), that ever fought in the division. They once put on a tremendous, exciting Fight of the Year candidate fight here at Prudential Center. This story is that he is moving up to the heavyweight division for the very first time. We expect that he is going to be just as much a force in the heavyweight division as he was in the cruiserweight division. He is facing a guy named Jason Gavern. Jason is not as well known to the casual fan, but to people in boxing he is very well known. He takes on anybody and he always puts out a great effort.”

Jason Gavern: “Steve Cunningham is world-class fighter, he's got world-class people like Nassim Richardson with him and it's going to be an honor and a privilege for me to punch him in the face Saturday afternoon. I'm looking forward to the fight. I'm always here to put on a good show; I always put my heart and soul in the ring in the fight.”

Cunningham and Gavern Photo Credits to Kamil Krzaczynski

Steve Cunningham: “I am here to fight. I am here to win. I am here to put on a good show. I trained very hard. Expect to see the same Steve Cunningham, just with a little more weight. Just come and enjoy yourselves.”

Kathy Duva: “In the main event we have a 12 round IBF North American Heavyweight title fight. Both fighters, Tomasz Adamek and Travis Walker, are rated by the IBF; this is an important heavyweight fight. Both fighters have engaging, come-forward styles and I expect this is going to be a tremendous battle to watch.”

“Travis Walker is from Tallahassee, FL. He is another one of the road warriors on this card. He has fought everywhere and has worked his way up again to the top 15 in the IBF division. He is very interested in working his way all the way up to a title shot.”

Travis Walker: “I am here for one thing. Man, I'm here to win this fight, to get my name back to the top of this business. I've been here before and this time I'm here to take care of business. I'm trying to get as many Polish fans as I can and I know this is the best way to do this.”

Travis Walker Photo Credits to Kamil Krzaczynski

Kathy Duva: “Tomasz Adamek is former Light Heavyweight Champion of the World; he is the former Cruiserweight Champion of the World. His goal is still to become the Heavyweight Champion of the world and he is going to entertain us on Saturday, as he always does, with another great performance.”

Tomasz Adamek: “I am very excited to be a Prudential Center again, I feel like Prudential Center is my home. We had a good camp. I believe we will make a good fight with Travis Walker. He is a tough fighter. The fight should be very interesting for all my fans here and in Poland too.”

Tomasz Adamek Photo Credits to Kamil Krzaczynski

“I know and hear that Travis wants to knock me out, and this would be the only way he could beat me. Wishing and actually doing are two separate things. There are some new elements in my offensive and defensive arsenal. Travis will be surprised both of them.”

FIGHT INFO:

Prudential Center doors will open at 1:30PM, first fight is 2:00PM.

“Ironbound Throwdown” September 8th at Newark's Prudential Center features Tomasz Adamek vs. Travis Walker. Tickets priced at $180 ringside, $105, and $55 are available through Ticketmaster: online at www.ticketmaster.com; Charge-by-phone: 1-800-745-3000; Ticketmaster Express 866-448-7849; and Ticketmaster ticket centers. Tickets are also available at Prudential Center's Box Office and www.prucenter.com.

The fight will be available in Poland on PPV. WealthTV will begin airing undercard bouts live at 3PM ET nationally on Verizon FiOS TV channel 169 and 669 in HD, AT&T U-Verse TV channels 470 and 1470 in HD, along with over 100 cable systems across the country.

The card is presented by Main Events in association with Peltz Boxing, and Ziggy Promotions.

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