A few items found while cleaning out the notebook:
Championship boxing is returning to Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino in June.
“Championship Boxing on CBS Sports Network” will be presented in the Seneca Niagara Event Center on June 26.
The night’s card is being called the Sully Huff Invitational, in memory of Stanley “Sully” Huff, a successful boxer from the Seneca Nation of Indians, who passed away in 2014 at the age of 84. Huff was a Courier-Express Golden Gloves champion in 1950 and later founded the Iroquois Boxing Club. In addition, he served in the United States Army during the Korean War, earning the rank of Sergeant, and later was elected to serve on the Seneca Nation of Indians Tribal Council.
In the night’s televised 10-round main event, Canada’s popular, world-rated and fast-rising lightweight star Tony “Lightning” Luis (19-3, 7 KOs) will fight for a regional championship against an opponent to be announced. This past weekend, Luis dropped a controversial decision to Derry Mathews in Liverpool, England (38-9-2, 20KOs), where the two battled for the interim WBA Lightweight title.
In the televised co-feature, NABA-US Super Welterweight Champion and WBA #12- and IBF #11-rated “Hurricane” Dennis Hogan (21-0-1, 7 KOs) of Australia will take on Kenny Abril (14-7-1, 7 KOs) of Rochester, New York.
The televised opener will feature American heavyweight KO artist Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller (12-0-1, 10 KOs) of Brooklyn taking on an opponent that will be announced.
Tickets will start at $35 and go on sale at noon April 22. Tickets are available at select Seneca Resorts & Casinos retail outlets, Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations or by phone at 800-745-3000.
“Speed, energy, action, excitement and entertainment are the hallmarks of any visit to Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino and exactly what our guests will enjoy with this world-class professional boxing card,” said Audrey Oswell, chief operating officer, Seneca Gaming Corporation. “We are happy to once again bring an incredible display of athletic competition to Western New York.”
The 27-year-old Luis, from Cornwall, Ontario, pulled off a dominant 10-round unanimous-decision upset victory over then IBF #15 rated Karl “Dynamite” Dargan in January. Luis is rated #11 in the world by the WBA and #14 by the IBF.
Thirty-year-old Hogan was a four-time national amateur champion with over 150 fights in his native Kildare, Ireland. He now lives and trains in Queensland, Australia. Hogan is the current NABA-US Super Welterweight Champion. In his four-year pro career, Hogan has also won the WBA Oceania Light Middleweight, Queensland State Super Middleweight, Queensland State Middleweight and Australian Middleweight Championships.
Abril, a 30-year-old southpaw, started boxing at age seven and had 120 amateur bouts before turning professional in 2003. He has faced several undefeated and top contenders, scoring a late-2012 victory over heavily decorated veteran Dennis Laurente, which is still Laurente’s only loss in the last nine years.
Prior to boxing professionally, 26-year-old Miller had a three-year, undefeated (18-0) kickboxing and MMA career. As a boxer, he was a New York Golden Gloves finalist and has worked as chief sparring partner for both Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko.
“I’m excited to be helping bring nationally televised championship boxing to a world-class venue such as the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino,” said promoter Greg Cohen. “Tony Luis has a huge fan following in his nearby native Canada. His supporters will be out in force to watch. Kenny Abril is from nearby Rochester, New York and he’ll have a giant following in attendance as well. On the undercard will be several local favorites in exciting match-ups. I’m proud to be part of this great event and the resurgence of televised professional boxing.”
Several other match-ups will be announced soon.
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St. Bonaventure University freshman Joshuah Beshaw will play in the National Premier Soccer League for FC Buffalo this summer leading up to his sophomore campaign.
The Lockport, N.Y., native joins FC Buffalo after appearing in 14 games and started nine as a true freshman with the Bonnies. He primarily saw time at forward for the Brown and White, while recording 10 shots.
FC Buffalo formed in 2009 as members of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL). The team plays their home games at Demske Sports Complex at Canisius College.
The season is set to kickoff April 25 and will run through mid-July.
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Mansfield University will be the site of several baseball camps this summer.
Coach Harry Hillson will offer individual camps, a day camp, specialty camps, a father/son weekend camp and a future Mountie camp.
For more information contact Hillson at 570-662-4457.
