DC’s Dusty Hernandez-Harrison Headlines Hometown
May 18th Champions Class Card vs. Eddie Soto
All-Star Undercard to Showcase Region’s Top Talent including Mike Reed, Jerry Odom, Kevin Rivers Jr., Yurii Polishchuk and Greg Newby
Washington, DC (May 7, 2013) — Washington, D.C. teen welterweight boxing sensation Dusty Hernandez-Harrison (14-0, 8 KO’s) will put his undefeated record on the line against his toughest competition to date when he faces Eddie Soto (12-6, 4 KO’s) of Pawtucket, RI on Saturday, May 18. The eight-round bout is the Main Event of the All-In Entertainment promotion, Champions Class, which will take place at the University of the District of Columbia’s Sports Complex (4200 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20006). Sponsored by the Jordan Brand and EPIX, the event will be streamed live online by Go Fight Live (www.gfl.tv) and broadcast on Comcast at a future date. Doors will open at 6:00 pm with the first of 10 scheduled bouts set to begin at 7:00pm.
Currently the youngest boxer to compete in the professional ranks, Harrison made his pro debut at age 17 on June 11, 2011. An incoming student at the University of District of Columbia, set to begin classes in June, Harrison has quickly developed a strong reputation and an active following in the boxing-rich Nation’s Capital, thanks to his attractive fighting style, natural skills and ability to connect with his fans. Trained and managed by his father, Buddy Harrison, out of Old School Boxing Gym, Dusty Harrison is poised to take the next step with this hometown showing. In his last bout, Harrison earned a six-round unanimous decision over Jonathan Garcia on April 12 in Dover, DE.
A native of Puerto Rico fighting out of New England, Soto has faced tough competition during his eight-year career. The combined record of his last five opponents is 81-9-1, including Edgar Santana (26-4) who defeated Soto in his most recent bout on January 25, 2013, also in Dover.
While Harrison – Soto is the Main Event, the card will feature an evening guaranteed to entertain with a full lineup of boxers “on the rise.” One of the most anticipated undercard bouts will be a six-round heavyweight slugfest between six-foot-two, 240-lb. Natu Visinia (8-0, 7 KO’s) of Lakewood, CA and six-foot-seven, 280-lb. Phil Brown (6-1, 3 KO’s) of Upper Marlboro, MD.
Some of the Washington region’s top prospects will be appearing on the all-star card, including welterweight Mike Reed (2-0, 2 KO) of Waldorf, MD, super middleweight Jerry Odom (3-0, 3 KO’s) of Bowie, MD, featherweight Kevin Rivers, Jr. (6-0, 5 KO’s) of Landover, MD, welterweight Yurii Polishchuk (1-0, 1 KO) of Alexandria, VA. and light heavyweight Greg Newby (7-0, 4 KO’s) of Washington, D.C.
Reed, a former 2011 National Golden Gloves Champion, is off to a fast start as a professional, recording a pair of first-round knockouts in his inaugural fights, including last month’s win against Cassius Clay at the nearby Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, MD. Reed will face pro debuting Christian Daniel of Wilson, NC in a four-round contest. During his amateur career, Reed was a medalist at the National Silver Gloves, USA Boxing Championships and National PAL Tournament as well as Jr. Olympic National Champion.
Odom will seek his fourth win in a row when he battles Drew Morias (1-1) of Monroe, MI in a four-round tilt. None of his previous fights have lasted beyond the first round, his most recent win coming on a first-round TKO of Craig Boykin on March 2 at Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington, MD. Odom, the 2012 National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions at 178 pounds, led Washington, D.C. to the team title and earned The Golden Boy Award for the tournament’s most outstanding boxer.
The hard-hitting Rivers is scheduled to fight his first six-round contest against an opponent to be named. Rivers scored a third-round knockout of a debuting Carlos Alcala in his most recent bout on April 20 at the Showplace Arena. Rivers was a highly decorated amateur who captured six major belts, including the Ringside World Championships, National PAL Tournament and Jr. Golden Gloves title where he was named the event’s outstanding boxer.
Polishchuk will face Charles Natal (1-0-1, 1 KO) of Cleveland, OH, in four-round action, after scoring a first-round TKO over Demetrius Winbush in his pro debut last month at Show Place Arena.
Newby’s opponent for their six-round contest has not yet been announced. The D.C. fighter scored a unanimous decision victory over Mark Anderson in his last fight on April 27 in Bamberg, SC.
Fairfax, VA junior welterweight Joseph Rector (1-1) goes for his second win in a four-round contest against Blair Cobbs (pro debut) of Philadelphia, PA, while Patrick Coye of Alexandria, VA and Charles Parker of Wilson, NC will make their pro debuts in a four-round light heavyweight bout. Guyana’s Elton Dharry (13-5-1, 7 KO’s) will be on the card in a six-round bantamweight bout against an opponent to be named.
Lightshow, Shy Glizzy, and Grammy-nominated hip-hop artist and District native Wale are among the special guests appearing at the event. Other celebrities from the worlds of entertainment and professional sports are also expected to turn out.
Tickets, priced at $20 (general admission), $40 (reserved), $100 (VIP Ringside) and $150 (VIP Ringside with pre-fight VIP reception), can be purchased online at www.all-in-entertainment.com and at www.dustyharrison.com or in person at Old School Boxing Gym (6636 Rosecroft Drive, Fort Washington, MD. 20744, 202-320-5576). Onsite parking is available or fans can ride Metro to the Van Ness-UDC station via the Red Line. All bouts are subject to change.
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