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New promoter lands ESPN2 boxing show on
Cape Cod
May 22, 2003
Letterlough-Hall headlines Hank Tuohy’s July 18th card in
Hyannis...SANDWICH, Mass. – Pro boxing’s newest promoter, Hank Tuohy, has
landed an ESPN2 show July 18 on Cape Cod in his inaugural promotion --
“Battle Zone at the Tent" – headlined by a 10-round light heavyweight
match between popular knockout artists Julian “Mr. KO” Letterlough and
Richard “The Destroyer” Hall.
Tuohy’s Cape Cod-based sports marketing company, Old Colony Sports, is
promoting “The Battle Zone at the Tent,” in association with Mohegan Sun,
Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment Sports, Inc. and Gary Shaw
Productions, LLC.
Letterlough-Hall is the main event on the ESPN2 Friday Night Fights card
at The Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis (MA). The co-feature and undercard
will feature many of New England’s most exciting fighters.
Tuohy has boxing experience as marketing director for several ESPN2 pro
boxing cards, promoted by attorney Anthony Cardinale, at the Cape Cod
Melody Tent, Suffolk Downs and The Roxy nightclub in Boston. He also was
executive producer of a weekly, 2-hour boxing show on radio, “In This
Corner.”
Hank represents a new breed of boxing promoter, providing first-class
sports entertainment through event marketing and cross promotions.
“We look at boxing in a different light because we promote events, not
just boxing shows,” Tuohy explained Old Colony Sports’ promotional
philosophy. “We can pick and choose fighters for our shows, working with
the best promoters in the industry such as Jimmy Burchfield and Gary Shaw,
to bring the best fighters to Massachusetts. We look forward to developing
working relations in the near future with Lou DiBella, Duva Boxing, Main
Events and Sugar Ray.
“We got an ESPN2 show right out of the gate because of my reputation for
being fearless and accepting challenges. The fact ESPN enjoyed working
with us on past ‘War at the Shore’ programs on The Cape – featuring
theatre-in-the-round seating – led to our interest in promoting a new show
this summer. My marketing experiences through sports have offered me great
opportunities”
An example of Tuohy’s unique approach is a pre-fight VIP cookout, catered
by Outback Steakhouse, and ringside ticket for $125 per person. Everybody
in attendance will receive a complimentary “goody bag” loaded with client
marketing products and information. Some randomly selected bags will also
include complimentary gift certificates to local restaurants. Raffles
based on seating location will be conducted throughout the night for gift
certificates, T-shirts, hats, etc. Twice during the course of the evening
an entire “lucky row” drawing will be held and all 30-ticket holders in
the winning row will receive a “Blooming Onion” gift certificate from
Outback.
“I’m not your typical boxing promoter,” Hank added. “To be successful as a
boxing promoter, we understand that the person paying for the seat has to
receive equal entertainment value for the price of the ticket. Fights are
the most important part of the night – we will have exciting, competitive
matches -- but it’s not the entire show. I want our shows to transcend
boxing and sports. We want people leaving our show to be talking about
what a great overall experience they had.
“I’ve been a boxing fan for many years. I remember listening to the Clay-Liston
fights on radio at home in Milton (MA) and trying to envision how the
fight was going. I love the mano-a-mano part of boxing with fighters
competing for the prize. My goal is to continue doing ESPN2 shows, as well
as someday promoting shows on HBO and Showtime, perhaps at the FleetCenter
in Boston.“
Letterlough (19-3-2, 18 KOs), of Reading (PA), and Jamaican-born Hall
(25-4, 24 KOs) have knocked out 42 opponents in their combined 44
victories for a knockout ratio higher than 94-percent. Letterlough is a
former WBO NABO and Pennsylvania light heavyweight champion who also
fought Vassiliy Jirov for the IBF cruiserweight title. Hall is a
three-time world championship challenger having lost twice to WBO light
heavyweight title-holder Dariusz Michalczewski and once to then undisputed
light heavyweight champion Roy Jones.
In addition to Outback Steakhouse, event sponsors include Davidoff Cigars,
Hooters of Hyannis, Robertson’s GMC Trucks, Dino’s Sports Bar of Mashpee,
Enterprise Car Rental, Data Link/Nextal, Amari’s Restaurant of Sandwich
and Mari’s Sennott Today’s Real Estate.
A post-fight party will be open to the public at Hooters of Hyannis, as
well as cigar smoking/wine tasting at Puff The Magic.
Ticket prices are $125.00 VIP, $65.00 ringside and $35.00 general
admission. Contact Ticketmaster (508.931.2787), the Cape Cod Melody Tent
(508.775.9100) or Old Colony Sports (508.477.5355/www.oldcolonysports.com).
Doors open at 6 p.m. for the VIP party, 7 p.m. for the general public,
with the first bout scheduled for 7:30 p.m. All bouts and fighters are
subject to change.
