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02/20/2006 Archived Entry: "With Holt Out, Marrone Steps In!"
With Holt Out, Marrone Steps In!
Duva Boxing’s undefeated, 20-year-old heavyweight prodigy Michael Marrone, 12-0 (10 KOs), has been moved into the opening televised slot of the Friday, February 24 broadcast of ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights now that stablemate Kendall Holt has been forced to withdraw due to injury.
Vero Beach, Florida’s Marrone will make his first nationally televised appearance in an eight round battle against Warren, Ohio’s Zack Page, 10-4 (4 KOs), as the chief support of the Fisticuffs Promotions, in conjunction with Duva Boxing’s, Oscar “El Torito” Diaz vs. Russell Jordan welterweight main event at the Turning Stone Casino and Resort in Verona, New York.
“It’s a great opportunity,” said Marrone manager Lou Duva. “Mike is a kid I think will go all the way. He trains hard, does what you tell him to do and he’s as good outside the ring as he is inside. I look for great things from him.”
Taking Marrone’s place in the middle bout will be an exciting six-round lightweight clash between Rochester, New York’s undefeated knockout artist Patrick Lopez, 4-0 (4 KOs), and Fort Wayne, Indiana’s Christian Lozada, 10-2-2 (3 KOs).
Red-hot junior welterweight Holt was forced to withdraw after suffering hamstring and shoulder injuries in training.
“This will be Mike’s first big showcase fight,” said promoter Dino Duva. “And now there’s the added pressure of stepping into one of the main bouts on short notice, but we’re confident in his abilities. We think there are going to be a lot of people talking about Michael Marrone after this fight.”
