Pro Boxing Returns to Hartford on April 14

HARTFORD (March 26, 2012) – Professional boxing returns to Hartford, Saturday night, April 14 at the Connecticut Convention Center as Ring Promotions, in association with Big Six Entertainment, presents “Stepping Up.”

“I'm looking forward to working with Dr. Roland Estrada and Artie DePinho from Big Six Entertainment to bring an exciting, competitive show to Hartford,” Ring Promotions president Bob Duffy said. “Connecticut has a rich boxing tradition dating back to the great Willie Pep, through the Marlon Starling days, and more recently Chad Dawson. We plan to give young fighters like those fighting on the April 14 card a chance to box more often at home. Other promoters have come and gone, not really giving them a fair shake, but we plan to give young fighters from Hartford and throughout Connecticut opportunities to develop right here.”

The main event features the return of Hartford fan favorite Addy Irizarry (8-5, 2 KOs), who has been sidelined since November 20, 2010, when she fractured her ankle in a first-round loss to former International Female Boxing Association (“IFBA”) World welterweight champion Jill Emery. Irizarry is scheduled to face welterweight Sarah Kuhn (4-1-1, 1 KO) in an eight-round bout.

Also fighting on the card in separate four-round bouts are Waterbury junior welterweight Jair Ramos (2-0, 1 KO), Holyoke (MA) light heavyweight Reinaldo Graceski (1-0) and Hartford light heavyweight Tylon Burris (1-0), Hartford lightweight Chazz McDowell (5-1, 1 KO), Providence super middleweight Ramiel Shelton (0-4) vs. Springfield's Jose Angel Ortiz (4-7-1, 1 KO), Bridgeport female welterweight Marva Dash (0-1) and New Haven super middleweight Charles Foster (3-0, 2 KOs).

Tickets, reasonably priced at $40.00, $50.00 and $75.00, are available to purchase by calling 1.401.241.3490 (RI) or 1.617.312.5059 (MA), at BareBones Gym in East Hartford and the Connecticut Convention Center box office.

Doors open at 6 PM/ET with the first bout scheduled for 7 PM/ET.