McCreedy, Eklund Fight March 16 in Mass.

LOWELL, Mass. (January 31, 2013) — Chicago Fight Clubs Promotion is bringing professional boxing back to Lowell, Massachusetts – home of “Irish” Micky Ward and Dicky Eklund – on Saturday night, March 16 to kick-off St. Patrick's Day weekend, at Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell.

“CFC Fight Night” will be a reunion, of sorts, for people involved in the award-winning movie, “The Fighter,” which portrayed the lives of the Ward and Eklund brothers. Lowell fan favorites “Irish” Joe McCreedy and Sean Eklund, whose uncles are Micky and Dicky, will be showcased at home in Lowell for the second time as professionals. Dicky trains both fighters.

McCreedy (13-6-2, 6 KOs) will be fighting for the vacant United States Boxing Organization (“USBO”) light heavyweight title against an opponent to be determined in the 10-round main event. Eklund (11-4, 2 KOs) will be fighting in the eight-round -co-feature.

Three other Lowell boxers — light heavyweight Ricky Sylvester, junior welterweight Noun Soriya and bantamweight Mike Martin – will all be making their pro debuts.

World-class bantamweight Tyson “Prince of Haiti” Cave (19-2, 5 KOs), fighting out of Nova Scotia, Canada, will make his United States debut, while former world welterweight champion “Vicious” Vivian Harris (29-9-2, 19 KOs) returns from his brief retirement to fight for the first time in New England.

“”We packed the house on a Wednesday night (May 9, 2012 in first pro card held there in seven years) with Joey and Sean (CFC promotes both fighters) on top of that card,” Chicago Fight Clubs Promotion president Cynthia Tolaymat explained. “That was an incredible turnout, especially for a weekday, and a tribute to the passionate boxing fans in Lowell and surrounding towns. We're really excited about going back to Lowell. We've been contacted by so many fighters in the area and are pleased to put three pro debut fighters on the card. Fighters from there are unlike those from other places. They just want to get in the ring and fight. They don't care who they're fighting, even if it's a friend or stable-mate. They just want to fight and fans appreciate watching guys like that. The fighters there are very competitive and fans love the sport of boxing. We're expecting a big, loud crowd and we're in a larger arena, Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell.”

Also schedule to fight on the undercard are Quincy (MA) light heavyweight Chris Traietti (10-3, 6 KOs), an Iraq War veteran, exciting Lawrence (MA) junior middleweight Eddie “Thunder” Caminero, Chicago heavyweight Boban Simic (1-0, 1 KO), and Dracut (MA) middleweight Bernie Ongewe (0-1).

All fights and fighters are subject to change. Opponents will be named as soon as they are approved and signed.

“This show has a wider variety of fighters with popular local fighters like Traietti and Caminero, along with world-class fighters Cave and Harris,” promoter Tolaymat added. “These fighters really want to look good in front of their family, friends and fans. What a great way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. It will be an Irish-themed night of exciting, competitive fights and fighters.”

Tickets (all reserved) go on sale tomorrow (Friday, Feb. 1), reasonably priced at $42.00, $77.00 (floor) and $102.00 (ringside), and may be purchased online at the www.TsongasCenter.com; by phone at 866.722.8780; or at the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell Box Office. Doors open at 7 PM/ET, first both scheduled for 8:00 PM/ET. Go to www.cfcpromotion.com, www.TsongasCenter.com, or www.irishjoemccreedy.com for additional information.