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NEWS ON: New Dunkin Signing, Jeff Lacy Fight, WBC Belt. Atlas Benefit

Published

11 years ago

June 7, 2014

LAS VEGAS — June 6, 2014 — Standout Welterweight Zsolt Darayni has inked a deal with Professional Boxing Manager Cameron Dunkin and Top Rank Boxing ahead of his professional debut. The signing comes on the heels of Daranyi’s win at the Istvan Bocskai Memorial Tournament earlier this year. Daranyi beat a former 2012 Italian Olympian and world class fighters from Russia and Romania to win the international title. Widely considered to be the best amateur boxer in both Canada and Hungary, Daranyi’s amateur accolades include winning four National titles in Canada and two in Hungary, as well as becoming the Ringside World Champion in 2011.

Daranyi has been boxing as long as he can remember. He began his study of the sweet science with his father at the age of three in his native Hungary. After moving to Canada as a young child, and watching his idols, Roy Jones, Jr. and Lennox Lewis fight on television, he convinced his parents to take him to Sully’s Boxing Gym in Toronto, where he began training to compete. Daranyi had his first amateur bout at the age of ten, and had six more before meeting 1992 Olympic Bronze Medalist Chris Johnson. Johnson would become Daranyi’s coach and remains his head trainer to this day. He currently trains at Kim Gym in Mississauga.

Despite his success in amateur competition, Daranyi made the decision to become a professional after AIBA rule changes mandated that amateurs fight without headgear. Not wanting to risk injury, or shorten the length of his career, and knowing that trainer Chris Johnson had been preparing him to fight in a professional style over the prior four years, he made the decision to join the professional ranks. “I knew from the age of fifteen that I wanted to be a professional fighter,” said Daranyi. “The sport is in my blood. It is in my nature. I know this is what I’m meant to be doing.”

“It’s an honor to sign with Cameron Dunkin and Top Rank,” said Darayni of the signing. “Cameron is the best manager in the world. I get along very well with him. I know he's a good person. Top Rank is the best promoter in the world. I really believe I have all the right people around me.”

Daranyi’s faith also plays a prominent role in his life and career. “I have always believed in and prayed to God. Eight months ago, my family and I became newborn Christians. In my first fight after becoming a Christian, at the Istvan Bocskai Memorial Tournament, I felt stronger with Jesus Christ by my side. I have always believed in myself, but with Jesus by my side, I feel unstoppable. He has great plans for me, and I believe I’m going to help a lot of people, so I’m very excited.”

For his part, Cameron Dunkin is happy to see the signing come to fruition after three years of watching Daranyi grow as a fighter. “I’m very excited about Zsolt turning pro. His trainer Chris Johnson contacted me three years ago, and I’ve been watching him since that time. I have all the respect in the world for Chris, not only as a trainer, but as a man. I’m really excited because of Zsolt’s love for Jesus Christ. He is so level-headed and has his life in order. I look for really big things from him.”

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Former Champ Jeff Lacy Returns To The Ring To Face Undefeated Prospect Sullivan Barrera on June 21

Wilkes-Barre, PA: The undercard for the June 21 match-up between Anatoliy “The Gladiator” Dudchenko (19-2, 13 KOs) and Nadjib Mohammedi (34-3, 20 KOs) is shaping up to be just as exciting as the main event. The highlight of the undercard is an eight-round light heavyweight fight between undefeated prospect Sullivan Barrera (11-0, 6 KOs) and former IBF Super Middleweight Champion Jeff Lacy (26-4, 18 KOs). This will be the toughest fight of Barrera's career thus far and an opportunity for both men to establish themselves as players on the light heavyweight scene.

Sullivan Barrera

Photo Credits: Rich Graessle/Main Events

According to Main Events' matchmaker, Jolene Mizzone, “This is a very important fight for both fighters in a very hot division. I went through about eight different opponents for Barrera that accepted the fight then backed out. Jeff reached out to me and asked for the fight. Barrera took about five minutes to accept the fight. Here you have two guys who really want to fight each other and have something to prove. Jeff was scheduled to fight about four times in the last year or so but all of the fights fell apart. This is an opportunity for both guys to prove they belong in the light heavyweight mix.”

Barrera vs. Pryor

Photo Credits: Rich Graessle/Main Events

Barrera, 32, is coming off an impressive six-round unanimous decision victory over Larry Pryor at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, PA on April 4. This was Barrera's first victory since signing with Main Events earlier this year. This will be the first big test of Barrera's undefeated career. He said, “I am excited and happy that I was finally able to get an opponent for June 21. I want to continue to move my career forward and I am ready to fight.” When asked about fighting Lacy, Sullivan said, “My game plan hasn't changed. I have seen Lacy fight before and, even though he was inactive for a while, he is still a fighter and when he gets in the ring he is going to try to win. We have a game plan put together and I am ready to fight.”

“I would like to thank Main Events for the opportunity to once again showcase Sullivan. We are confident and ready to show the world that we can compete with the top guys in the light heavyweight division. We look forward to the victory June 21,” said Barrera's co-manager Luis Molina. His other co-manager, Egis Klimas added, “This will be his toughest fight to date but a win over Lacy would propel Sullivan to the next level in the light heavyweight division. We think he is up to that challenge.”

Jeff Lacy

Photo Courtesy of Jeff Lacy

Jeff Lacy, 37, is a seasoned veteran who is coming off a third-round TKO victory over Martin Verdin on November 30, 2013 in Baton Rouge, LA. Lacy began his pro career with Main Events in 2001 after competing as a member of the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team. He fought under the Main Events banner until mid-2002. In the ensuing years, he remained undefeated and held the IBF Super Middleweight Title from 2004-2006, until suffering his first pro defeat to Joe Calzaghe. After taking some time off following a string of losses at super middleweight, Lacy is looking to make in impression as a light heavyweight. Lacy said, “I'm really looking forward to working with Main Events again and this match-up with Barrera really excites me. I am happy to return back to the ring after so many of the fights that I've had that were scheduled only to fall apart.”

Jeff Lacy

Photo Courtesy of Jeff Lacy

Roger Bloodworth, who trained Lacy for much of his career and has worked with heavyweight Tomasz “Goral” Adamek for the last several years, will work Lacy's corner on June 21. He said, “I don't know too much about Barrera. I watched one tape on him. I think he is a little bit taller than Jeff so I think this is a good fight for Jeff to see where he is at after his long lay-off.”

Barrera

Photo Credits: Rich Graessle/Main Events

Main Events' CEO Kathy Duva said, “I always enjoy when one of our past fighters comes back, even if it's just for one fight. Our split with Jeff was acrimonious but it's great that we can work together again now. The boxing business has always been one where you fight like dogs one day and turn around to work together the next. It's one of the things I love about it. Because of that, Sullivan is getting a big opportunity to make a name for himself and I can't wait to see how the fight plays out.”

Saturday will be an historic day for boxing, because the winner of the WBC middleweight megafight between world champion Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez and challenger Miguel Cotto will be awarded the new WBC belt “Generation 6” for the first time.

The latest edition of the famous green and gold WBC belt encapsulates the image of our great and forever-remembered President Jose Sulaiman, The King of Boxing Muhammad Ali, plus the pictures of two of the WBC greatest champions in the respective division, who were, of course, chosen by boxing fans.

The lineup of all-time greats chosen by the fans is: