Phoenix promoter treats Iraq-bound Marines

[thedrifter]

Phoenix promoter treats Iraq-bound Marines

The Arizona Republic
Jun. 5, 2007 10:33 PM

Phoenix promoter Steve Ayala has invited 70 Marines with orders to Iraq to be his guests for a boxing card Wednesday night at Celebrity Theatre that will feature unbeaten Eddie Brooks of Phoenix.

Ayala also will donate a percentage of ticket sales from the card for care packages for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Ayala also has invited 70 Marines with orders to Iraq to be his guests for a card (7p.m.) that will feature unbeaten Eddie Brooks of Phoenix. Ayala also plans to acknowledge 35 Marine recruits, who will begin boot camp this summer.

Brooks, who is 6-0 as a lightweight and junior welterweight, is scheduled to fight Marcus Brashears (4-6-1) of Amarillo, Texas. Brooks has moved into the main event because an opponent could not be found for Phoenix heavyweight George Garcia.

Six bouts are scheduled, beginning at 7 p.m., including Phoenix cruiserweight Erik Vega (3-1-1) vs. Rayford Johnson (2-1) of Austin, Texas.

Ellie

[thedrifter]

Ayala Promotions and U.S. Marines ready for 10th “Duel in the Desert”

By Bart Barry

PHOENIX, AZ – Among the many great acronyms by which a U.S Marine lives, perhaps none is more important than AIAO: “Adapt, Improvise and Overcome.” At the beginning of this week, promoter Steve Ayala had to live by that acronym in order to give 70 U.S. marines a chance to see an Ayala Promotions fight card in the middle of the week – before the marines depart for Iraq on Saturday.

This Wednesday night at Celebrity Theatre, Ayala Promotions will make its 10th fight card, continuing to prove Steve Ayala’s staying power in the shifting sands of Sonora Desert event promotion. Two days ago, Steve learned that he’d be unable to find an opponent for his scheduled main-event fighter, Phoenix heavyweight George Garcia. Ayala adapted and improvised and moved local lightweight prospect Eddie “Magic Man” Brooks (6-0, 3 KOs) to the top of his marquee.

“It’s every fighter’s dream to be the main event in his hometown,” Steve Ayala explained at Tuesday’s weigh-in. “Eddie’s just been such a professional with us that it’s an honor to have the card on his shoulders.”

Last month, Ayala Promotions put together a novel, windy and rowdy show in Barrios Unidos Park . Six days later, Steve Ayala promoted a successful card in the otherwise sober confines of Scottsdale’s Phoenician Resort. Eddie Brooks won, and looked impressive doing so, at both shows. Wednesday night will be Brooks’ third fight in 33 days.

Asked if he’s ready to handle his debut as a main-event fighter, swapping blows with slick Texan Marcus Brashears (4-6-1, 2 KOs) for six rounds, Brooks smiled and nodded quickly and said, “Don’t worry. I’m ready!”

Also featured on Wednesday’s card will be local cruiserweight Erik Vega (3-1-1, 2 KOs), a former member of the Mexican Olympic team, who will match his wares against Texas’ Rayford Johnson (2-1, 1 KO) in a four-round co-main event.

Along with Brooks and Vega, Wednesday night’s “Duel in the Desert” will feature four other fights, mostly with local talent. Local is the keyword for this event, as those marines who’ll ship out Saturday morning will be local too.

Every marine from the Phoenix Bulk Field and Company C will be an honored guest of Steve Ayala’s, Wednesday night. And a $1 of every paid ticket will go to provide care packages to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Asked for a snappy Marines quote to wrap up this fight preview, Steve Ayala said, “Actually, I was in the Army. But we had a lot of them. How about this? ‘It never rains in the Army; it only rains on the Army.’”

Wednesday’s ticket prices are reasonable and doors open at 5:00 PM. 15Rounds.com will have full ringside coverage.

Ellie