Just a couple weeks ago, 340 Boxing champion John Jackson was the only one on the Boxing in Paradise VI fight card without an opponent. That’s not the case anymore, company managers announced over the weekend.
According to the new fight card, John Jackson is slated to take on Tony Hirsch (14-5-2) out of Oakland, Calif. Hirsch has already called the fight in his favor, the 340 Boxing team said Saturday, but should expect the opposite when he steps in to the ring on Aug. 17.
According to the boxing blogs, Hirsch is next expected to take on junior middleweight Yuri Foreman in an eight-round bout at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City on July 24 before touching down in the territory. Hirsch has been chief sparring partner for Andre Ward for most of his career, and has been labeled as "career opponent," often taking on up-and-coming undefeated fighters.
The upcoming Boxing in Paradise VI fights, featuring seven professional bouts and five amateur ones, could be the last time John Jackson, brother Julius Jackson and cousin Samuel Rogers all appear in the ring together, 340 officials have said.
The boxing event is scheduled for Aug. 17 at the Mark C. Marin Center at Antilles School and because the card is so jam-packed, doors will open at 6 p.m., with the official kick off an hour later.
Tickets are already on sale on the boxers’ website (www.340boxing.com) but officially go on sale July 17. General admission tickets are $35 ($45 at the door) while ring side seats are $55 ($65 at the door.) All VIP tables are available for $2,500 and come with parking.
Most of the Boxing in Paradise cards have opened with either exhibition fights or amateur bouts, and this time around, spectators will get the chance to cheer on the V.I. Amateur Boxing Federation’s newest crop of decorated up-and-comers – Clayton Laurent, Tiffany Reddick, Jose Peguero, Trey Mahoney and Wilfred Todman – who officials said are either being groomed for the 2016 Olympics, or for their own professional careers.
As with every Boxing in Paradise card, the main draw is the 340 Boxing champions, who are all currently ranked within the World Boxing Council’s Top cadre of top 100 fighters.
Rogers (13-0 with 7 KOs) is scheduled to face off against Bryan Baue (12-10 with 10 KOs) out of Troy, Mo. in a junior middleweight bout.
Julius Jackson will be facing off against Trinidad and Tobago’s Joel McRae (9-3-1 with 4 KOs) at next month’s Boxing in Paradise event, and he said Monday that he’s ready to get back into the swing of things and show off his skills.
Ticket outlets for the upcoming fight are: Fat Turtle at Yacht Haven Grande, Max Mart at Nisky Center, Fashion Source at Tutu Park Mall and XO Bar and Restaurant in Red Hook, St. Thomas.
