Main Events has been in the boxing promotions business since 1978 and put on many of the biggest fights of the last 40 years with fighters such as Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, Pernell Whitaker, Arturo Gatti, Fernando Vargas, Sergey Kovalev and many more.
But times are tough for many boxing promoters these days with a more limited amount of television networks willing to pay for product than ever before, so real promoters do something about it. Main Events is a real promoter and CEO Kathy Duva, whose late husband Dan Duva founded the company and built up a slew of young fighters on small cards, is going back to those roots.
She and the folks at the Mohegan Sun resort in Uncasville, Connecticut, announced a new boxing series on Wednesday that will give Main Events’ fighters the opportunity to stay active and hone their craft as they make their way up the ladder.
The “Mohegan Sun's Rising Stars” series, for which there will not be television coverage, kicks off Nov. 26 in the Uncas Ballroom with an emphasis on New England prospects, although the international fighters in Main Events’ stable will also find work.
"For the past couple years it has been difficult for promoters to find a platform to showcase their young prospects,” Duva said. “Mohegan Sun has a strong tradition of hosting great boxing. It seemed like a perfect marriage to bring this exciting club-style series to the fans at Mohegan Sun. We look forward to showcasing many talented young fighters looking to be the next big thing in boxing.
“This first event will be a bit of a test run, so we hope to announce more details and a real schedule for the series in the near future."
The first card will include New London, Connecticut heavyweight prospect Cassius Chaney, Union City, New Jersey featherweight Kevin Asmat, Springfield, Massachusetts light heavyweight Reinaldo Graceski, Ukrainian junior middleweight Enriko Gogokhia and Madiyar Ashkeyev, a junior middleweight from Kazakhstan.
"I am thrilled to have Main Events back at Mohegan Sun," said Michael Mazzulli, the director of athletic regulations for the Mohegan Tribe. "Throughout the years they have promoted great fight cards and as a regulator I look forward to seeing some great local talent. The four- and six-round fights interest me the greatest, to be one of the first regulators to see a future world champ is a great honor."
Mohegan Sun has hosted boxing on a regular basis throughout its existence, including the first legendary Gatti-Micky Ward fight in 2002, easily the best fight in the casino’s history and one of the best in boxing history.