Palace
Card Features Two Title Fights Joe Donofrio turns his attention once again to boxing this Friday for a night of professional boxing at The Palace of Auburn Hills that promises not one but two title fights. After recently directing his promotional talents to the ultra-popular Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) craze with two USA vs Canada shows, Donofrio turns his attention to boxing promoting his second show of the year at the Auburn Hills venue. Two of the seven scheduled fights feature big names, at least in Michigan, fighting for two championship titles – one a world title and one a regional, developmental title. The night’s co-main events: Mary Jo Sanders (25-1-0, 8 KO) vs Holly Holm (22-1-2, 6 KO) Sanders, 34, is a Detroit favorite who will be looking to avenge her one and only loss, which was to the 26-year old Holm in June in her home state of New Mexico. With hometown advantage in their first fight, it is Mary Jo’s turn this time around. Holm has lost only once in a 25-bout career spanning more than 6-1/2 years. That loss was a fourth round TKO loss in 2004 at the hands of a less-experienced Rita Turrisi after a cut below Holm’s eye brought the fight to an early end. Interestingly, Turrisi and Holm have not done a rematch but Sanders defeated Turrisi by UD four months later. All but one of Holm’s 21 wins came by technical knockout or unanimous decision. Both women have only lost once (Holm also has two draws on her record), have roughly identical records and both have a walk-in closet full of championship belts. Friday’s ten rounder is a rematch for the IFBA Light Middleweight title. Damian Fuller (30-5-1, 14 KO) vs Tyrone Harris (22-4-0, 14 KO) Detroiter Damian Fuller is coming off a loss to Fernando Angulo last November in Los Angeles – his first loss since a third round knockout at the hands of Diego Corrales, also in California, in mid-2003. In between those two losses, Fuller managed to rack up nine wins; four by TKO. Fuller’s opponent is Lansing lightweight Tyrone “Fist of Fury” Harris who has won four of his last five contests. At 5’7” he is one inch shorter and four years younger than the 31-year old Fuller. Their 12-round fight is for the USBA Lightweight regional title. Also on the card: Joe
Linenfelser VS Fernando Hernandez, Pete Cantu VS Bernard Harris,
Jose Angel Mandujano VS Mark Salser, Theron Johnson VS Sam Comming
and a seventh bout, which was not known at press time. |