HEAVYWEIGHTS JOCKEY FOR POSITION LIVE 
ON ESPN DURING SARATOGA RACING SEASON

Saratoga Springs, NY – Professional boxing returns to the Mecca of world-class thoroughbred racing when local rising star Shannon Miller (11-0, 6 KOs) takes on popular heavyweight contender Vinny Maddalone (24-2, 17 KOs) at the Saratoga Springs City Center on Friday, August 19, 2005.

Televised live by ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights,” the card will be held during the heart of the famed city’s horseracing season, one week prior to the 136^th running of the Travers Stakes. 

Miller, who trains at the Uncle Sam Boxing Club in Troy, NY, is no stranger to the boxing ring.  Training since he was a child, he is undefeated as a professional after a successful amateur career.  Miller is trained by his father, Bob Miller, who founded the boxing club famous for such contenders as Verno Phillips and Kevin Pompey and is a fixture in Upstate NY boxing. 

“If Maddalone thinks he can come onto my home turf and beat me, he is gravely mistaken,” said Miller.

“Shannon has been training really hard for this and I am confident that this is going to be an exciting fight,” said Lisa Elovich of Pugnacious Promotions, who promoted the region’s last show on May 13^th at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway.   Pugnacious Promotions is co-promoting the event with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, which has promoted professional fights for over 15 years, most recently the two Tarver-Johnson Light Heavyweight Championship cards.     

Maddalone, of Flushing, NY, is an exciting fighter in high demand as one of the hottest ticket sellers in New York and surrounding areas.  He is known for thrilling fights and his last appearance on ESPN (a war versus Brian Minto) was considered by many in the boxing industry to be one of the best heavyweight bouts of 2004. 

“I am thrilled to be fighting in Saratoga,” said Maddalone.  “I love it there and I go up there every year during racing season. It is the place to be.”

“Vinny Maddalone is in the best shape of his career and is just a few fights from a heavyweight title shot,” said Joe DeGuardia, Maddalone’s promoter, who hopes the racing season will bring out the “Italian Stallion” in Maddalone. 

Local favorites from the Albany-Saratoga region will fight competitive bouts on the undercard.

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