Philippines, 01 Nov 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Crossroads fight for Mike Oliver vs. Mauricio Pastrana on ?Pride & Power? card

PhilBoxing.com


Grano-Firtha headlines Saturday night?s show at Mohegan Sun Arena

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (June 22, 2010) ? Hartford super bantamweight Mike ?Machine Gun? Oliver, the reigning New England and EBA champion, will be in a crossroads fight Saturday night as he continues his journey back to the top of the 122-pound division, taking on 4-time world title-holder Mauricio ?Indio Boy? Pastrana in the 8-round co-feature on the ?Pride & Power? boxing show, presented by Jimmy Burchfield?s Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc. (CES), at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

Hartford heavyweight prospect Tony ?TNT? Grano (17-1-1, 13 KOs), the reigning WBF All-Americas heavyweight champion, faces former U.S. amateur standout Nicolai ?Stone Man? Firtha (17-7-1, 7 KOs) for the vacant NABA-US heavyweight title in the 12-round main event.

The Ring magazine recently named Grano?s sensational victory by fourth-round knockout last September on Showtime against previously undefeated Travis Kaufman (18-0) as its 2009 Heavyweight Fight of the Year.

Oliver (23-2, 8 KOs), an outstanding amateur who started boxing when he was only two, won his first 21 pro fights, including the IBO super bantamweight title in 2007 with a 12-round decision against Al Seeger (27-2). During the aforementioned win streak, Mike defeated Adam Carrera (18-1) for the USBA strap and handed Gary Stark Jr. (18-0) his first loss by way of a 12-round decision.

Back-to-back losses in 2008 to Reynaldo Lopez and Antonio Escalante, however, knocked Oliver out of the rankings and into a semi-boxing abyss. Oliver has won his last two fights, along with a no decision, since suffering his last loss.

?Any fight at this stage ? I don?t care who it?s against ? is the most important fight of my career,? Oliver said. ?I need to take every fight serious to get me back to where I was before. I want to fight for another title and a win Saturday night will get me closer. Pastrana stays right in front of you and I like that. If he wants to go toe-to-toe, it?s going to be wrong for him. I?ll be fully prepared for him. I?m only 30 and I was born to fight.?

Pastrana (35-13-2, 23 KOs) has been a world title holder in five different weight classes (light flyweight, flyweight, super flyweight, bantamweight and super bantamweight) and he also holds a win against one of only two fighters to defeat Oliver ? Escalante. Among others, Pastrana?s victims include Michael Carbajal, Jose Bonilla and Mike Trejo.

?This fight was supposed to happen about three times,? Pastrana commented from his camp in Florida. ?Now that I?ve lost three in a row, I guess they must figure I?m done, but lately I?ve taken a lot of last-minute fights and [had] some bad luck. I?m excited because Oliver is perfect for me. Usually, I?m the smaller guy (they?re both listed at 5? 5?). I know he needs this fight but I have to win, too.?

Long Island light heavyweight Joe ?The Irish Bomber? Smith Jr. (4-0, 4 KOs) doesn?t get paid by the minute or else he?d be broke. The 2008 New York Golden Gloves Champion goes for his fifth straight first-round knockout in his fifth pro fight, against Walter Foster (4-2-1, 4 KOs) of Panama City, Panama.

CES Ring of Honor Induction ? Jamie Silva

One of New England?s best football players, Jamie Silva, will be inducted into the CES Ring of Honor as a honorary member. Silva was the 2002 Rhode Island Player of the Year and he earned first team, All-America honors in 2007 as a safety at Boston College. He is a member of the defending American Football Conference champion Indianapolis Colts.

Also on the undercard in 4-round bouts are New Haven middleweight Rick Dawson (1-0, 1 KO), brother of light heavyweight star ?Bad? Chad Dawson, vs. Jeremiah Jones (1-3-1) of Toledo, Ohio; Bridgeport (CT) super lightweight Carlos Hernandez (0-1) vs. Fall River?s (MA) pro-debuting Jonathan Vasquez; New Haven junior welterweight Edwin Soto (4-0, 2 KOs) vs. Bryan Abraham (2-3-1, 2 KOs); New Haven prospect Luis Rosa, Jr. (2-0) vs. pro-debuting John Passantino of Seldon, NY and unbeaten Philadelphia welterweight Frankie Trader (6-0, 2 KOs), who will face Springfield?s (MA) Noel Garcia (2-3-1, 1 KO). All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Tickets for ?Pride & Power,? priced at $40.00, $65.00 and $105.00, are available to purchase by calling CES (401.724.2253/2254), going online at www.cesboxing.com or at the Mohegan Sun Box Office. Ticketmaster customers may log on to www.ticketmaster.com, call Ticketmaster?s national toll-free charge by phone (1.800.745.3000) or visit any Ticketmaster outlet.

For more information contact CES (401.724.2253/2254/www.cesboxing.com) or Mohegan Sun (www.mohegansun.com). Doors open at 6:00 PM/ET, first bout at 7:30 PM/ET.




Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • WEIGHTS FROM NIGHT OF KNOCKOUTS XXXVII AT MOTORCITY CASINO HOTEL
    , Sat, 01 Nov 2025
  • 3 Filipinos Reach Qatar World Cup 10-Ball Last 16, Biado Out
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 01 Nov 2025
  • Joshua Buatsi vs Zack Parker Headlines Manchester Show on DAZN
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 01 Nov 2025
  • NBA Referees will wear headsets during NBA games
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 01 Nov 2025
  • PERO, THOMPSON READY FOR ORLANDO SHOWDOWN SATURDAY NIGHT
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 01 Nov 2025
  • South Cotabato overall champ in Batang Pinoy boxing meet
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 01 Nov 2025
  • Bernardino to play in Malaysia and France chess championship
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 01 Nov 2025
  • Make way for the Philippines' oldest active chess player
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 01 Nov 2025
  • Canada High: Mikaela Mayer Wins Unified Super Welterweight Crown
    , Fri, 31 Oct 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: The Great Virtues of Champions
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Fri, 31 Oct 2025
  • ‘HAPPY’ HEAVYWEIGHT THOMPSON READY FOR PERO WAR
    , Fri, 31 Oct 2025
  • Lakers Sale Approved: Mark Walter Takes Majority Stake, Ending Buss Family Era
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 31 Oct 2025
  • SBA Season 2 Kicks Off November 10
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 31 Oct 2025
  • History made twice over
    By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 31 Oct 2025
  • ORLANDO PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES AND VIDEO: EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID BETWEEN LENIER PERO, JORDAN THOMPSON AND UNDERCARD
    , Fri, 31 Oct 2025
  • Biado, Magpantay enter last 32 round of Qatar World Cup 10-Ball
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 31 Oct 2025
  • Shaw vs Woodward Return for the 2025 Mosconi Cup!
    , Fri, 31 Oct 2025
  • Mavericks-Pistons ready for 34th NBA game in Mexico
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 31 Oct 2025
  • Stars of the show
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 30 Oct 2025
  • CHAMPIONING MENTAL HEALTH 2: REMATCH SEASON SET FOR DECEMBER 13 IN LOS ANGELES
    , Thu, 30 Oct 2025
  • Carcosia to fight Ogawa in Japan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 30 Oct 2025
  • ERISLANDY LARA VS. JANIBEK ALIMKHANULY MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP UNIFICATION HIGHLIGHTS STAR-STUDDED PITBULL VS. ROACH PPV UNDERCARD ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6
    , Thu, 30 Oct 2025
  • Santiago City in Veraguas, Panama, hosts a historic WBA world championship night
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 30 Oct 2025
  • Weights From Liverpool, New York
    , Thu, 30 Oct 2025
  • PERO AND THOMPSON GO HEAD-TO-HEAD AHEAD OF ORLANDO HEAVYWEIGHT CLASH – LIVE ON DAZN
    , Thu, 30 Oct 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.