Hammerin’” Hank
Lundy Philadelphia Dreamin’
November 2, 2009
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – One of the
hottest prospects on the East Coast, Philadelphia light welterweight “Hammerin’”
Hank Lundy, is continuing the great “City of Brotherly Love” boxing
tradition, determined to become Philly’s premier 135- to 140-pound
fighter of contemporary times. Lundy (15-0-1, 9 KOs) faces his
toughest opponent, former WBC FECARBOX and WBA Fedecentro champion Aldo
“El Pato” Valtierra (25-11, 13 KOs), Saturday night in the 10-round
co-feature (Halloween) on the “Fright Night At The Sun” pro boxing card,
presented by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc. (CES),
at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
World-rated light heavyweight Joey “K.O. Kid” Spina (25-1-1, 17 KOs)
headlines “Fright Night At The Sun” against former world champion Lou
“Honey Boy” Del Valle (36-6-1, 22 KOs) in the 10-round main event.
Valtierra is a typical Mexican fighter – tough and well-conditioned with
a straight-forward attack. He’s fought on national television numerous
times and has only been stopped once in 36 pro fights. Fighting
undefeated fighters like Lundy isn’t a new experience for Aldo, whose
most recent action resulted in an upset victory against previously
unbeaten and rated prospect Jorge Luis Teron (22-0-1). Valtierra also
has knocked off 15-0 Frankie Zepeda on ESPN2 and went the distance with
former world champions Steven Luevano, Hector Acero Sanchez and Julio
Pablo Chacon, along with world-title challengers Daniel Attach and
Rogers Mtagwa.
“Hank is a throwback type of fighter,” promoter Jimmy Burchfield said.
“He’s a gym rat who is always working out. He’s comfortable now with a
great team -- manager Ivan Cohen, and head trainer Sloan Harrison – so,
all he has to be concerned with now is training and fighting. There’s a
2 ½-mile run in Lincoln Woods (R.I.), where I’ve brought Muhammad Ali
and Sugar Ray Leonard to train. It’s all hills, but Hank flies around it
and is barely breathing hard at the end. He is really coming into his
own and ready to fight a ranked guy. Hank wants to fight for a title and
beating Valtierra should get him there. This is without question Hank’s
toughest fight as a pro.”
In his last action in September, Lundy stopped Justo Sanchez in the
sixth round to capture the vacant UBC light welterweight crown. Hank’s
most notable wins to date were a fifth-round TKO against previously
unbeaten Jason Cintron (10-0) and 4-round decision over previously
undefeated Esteban Almarez (7-0). The only blemish on Lundy’s pro record
is a controversial draw with 8-0 Darnell Jiles Jr. on ESPN (Mar. 28,
2008), in which most observers felt Hank won.
“I want to be the first big lightweight/junior welterweight from
Philly,” the 25-year-old Lundy explained. “It’s a lot on my shoulders,
but I welcome it because I want to give fans what they want to see. Most
know that ‘Hammerin’’ Hank is coming to fight. I don’t do nothing else
but train hard. It’s search-and-destroy for me. I love my family, but I
get away from everybody when I go into training for a fight. That’s why
I want to destroy my opponent; he kept me away from my family. I keep it
easy. Most Philly fighters today are in the gym to train for a fight. I
keep it up after a fight. When a call comes for a fight, I’m ready to go
because I’ve been training hard, staying focused and there’s no
pressure. I will be world champion someday.”
“Being a Philly fighter is a big key for me. I know my opponent knows
he’s fighting a tough Philly fighter, probably the toughest he’s ever
fought, so he trains harder than usual for me. He knows it’s going to be
a war. In any gym in this city, you walk in and can see a main-event
type fight in a sparring session. I’m smart enough to know what guys to
spar and what gyms to go to for it.”
On the undercard in separate 4-round bouts are a pair of promising
Hartford (CT) prospects from Puerto Rico, Hartford junior middleweight
David Bauza (2-0, 2 KOs) against Rafael Jastrzebski, and light
welterweight Edwin Soto (1-0, 1 KO) of New Havem versus pro-debuting
Rasheed Francis.
In other 4-round fights on the undercard, 2008 Olympian Sadam Ali (3-0,
2 KOs) meets a welterweight opponent to be determined; lightweight Ryan
“The Polish Prince” Kielczewski (5-0, 2 KOs), the 2008 National Golden
Gloves Tournament runner-up from Quincy (MA), faces Israel Suarez (2-2);
another undefeated Philadelphia lightweight, Frank Trader (6-0, 2 KOs),
takes on Gustavo Daily; and 2008 New York Golden Glove champion light
heavyweight Joe Smith, Jr., of Long Island, makes his long-awaited pro
debut vs. TBA. All fights and fighters are subject to change.
Tickets for “Fright Night At The Sun,” priced at $27.00, $50.00 and
$80.00, are available to purchase by calling CES (401.724.2253/2254),
going online at cesboxing.com or at the Mohegan Sun Box Office.
Ticketmaster customers may log on to ticketmaster.com, call
Ticketmaster’s national toll-free charge by phone (1.800.745.3000) or
visit any Ticketmaster outlet. Published on WBAN. Source/PR
