Lewes card firms up!

May 13, 2008

By Rick Scharmberg

Cape Henlopen High School in Lewes, Delaware will be the scene this Saturday night of promoter Dave “TNT” Tiberi’s next “First State Boxing Series” show. Jason Gavern (13-4-2, 7 KOs), of Kissimmee, FL will face Harold Sconiers (15-17-2, 10 KOs), of Tampa, FL in the eight-round heavyweight main event. “We are proud to bring professional boxing to Sussex County,” said Tiberi. “Not only are we bringing a solid card to Sussex County, we are able to market and promote a new boxing club in Dagsboro called BOLD, which stands for Boxers of Lower Delaware. It is a dream of mine to help children better themselves through boxing, and that is what this club will be able to do. It is a victory for TNT Boxing, Sussex County, and for the State of Delaware.”

Tiberi has single-handedly resurrected boxing in Delaware, ever since small clubs such as Kahunaville in Wilmington closed their doors. Since mid-2007, TNT Boxing has been promoting shows throughout the state. First, it was the PAL Center in Hockessin, which happens to be the adopted hometown of former world middleweight and light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins. That show helped raise funds for a proposed boxing addition at a PAL gym in Garfield Park.

His next card, several months later, took place a hundred miles south, at the Delaware state Fairgrounds in Harrington. Next stop was Delaware Park racetrack in Stanton, where Tiberi himself once fought in 1986. On February 8, 2008, Tiberi co-promoted his biggest show to date at Dover Downs, which was televised live on ESPN2.

Indeed, Tiberi is putting on a solid card. Topping the undercard will be Derrick “Pooh” Ennis (12-2-1, 9 KOs), of Philadelphia, PA. Ennis will face an opponent to be determined in a six round junior middleweight bout. Clarence “Sonny Bono” Taylor (12-15-2, 6 KOs), of Wilmington, DE will appear in another junior middleweight bout.

Mike Denby (1-1-1, 1 KO), of Felton, DE will face Linwood Hurd (2-0), of Atlantic City, NJ in a four round junior welterweight bout.

Josh Harris (1-0-1, 1 KO), of Youngstown, OH will face Garrett Wilson 1-0, 1 KO), of Philadelphia, PA in a four round cruiserweight bout.

Oscar Vasquez (1-0), of Newark, DE will meet Ikem Orji (2-0, 1 KO), of Arlington, VA in a four round junior welterweight bout.

Kevin Hood (5-8-1), of Lancaster, PA will face Pedro Martinez (1-1, 1 KO), of Philadelphia, PA in a four round heavyweight bout.

In addition, hot middleweight prospect and former amateur star “Mighty” Mike Tiberi (4-0, 2 KOs), of New Castle, DE will fight in a four round bout against an opponent to be announced.

For this show, Dave Tiberi is working with Hall of Fame promoter J. Russell Peltz, of Philadelphia. Peltz, who is known as a “fan’s promoter” because of his historically well-matched cards from top-to bottom, is advising Tiberi.

“I can’t think of a better mentor than Russell Peltz when it comes to strategic promoting,” said Tiberi. “He does what’s right, and he complements what I like to do. He is very structured.”

Cape Henlopen High School is located at 250 Kings Highway in Lewes, Delaware.

Tickets are priced at $50, $30, and $20 (with student ID), and can be purchased by calling 302-994-3040 or 302-934-8915.