Commissioner of Tourism Pamela C. Richards is pleased to announce that the first major boxing event to be held in the U.S. Virgin Islands will take place on Friday, December 5, at the University of the Virgin Islands Sports & Fitness Center on St. Thomas. The government of United States Virgin Islands, in association with Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing and Sterling Promotions, will bring “Rumble in Paradise,” a six-fight card event to St. Thomas, which will be nationally televised to more than 90 million viewers on the ESPN2 cable network beginning at 9 p.m. EST.
“The U.S. Virgin Islands is proud to host this simulcast television sports event,” Richards said. “We are committed to bringing high-caliber events to the territory that showcase our islands and provide quality entertainment and sporting events for our residents and visitors to enjoy.“As a part of ESPN2’s Friday Night Fight Series, the “Rumble in Paradise” event will feature two main boxing matches, as well as four other fights. Headlining the event will be a Title Fight for the WBO’s NABO Lightweight Title featuring Courtney Burton (19-1) of Benton Harbor, MI versus Francisco Lorenzo (19-2) of San Cristobal, DR. The co-main event features a match up of top Welterweight’s featuring Carlos “El Indio” Quintana (14-0) of Puerto Rico versus David Estrada (15-1) of Chicago, IL. Six-time world-championship boxer and former Olympic Gold Medallist, Sugar Ray Leonard will be available for autographs and photos with fans in attendance at this spectacular event.Tickets are currently available online at www.sterlingboxing.com. Tickets may be purchased locally at the following locations in the U.S. Virgin Islands: Modern Music (Havensight), Sports-O-Rama (Lower Main Street), Champs (Tutu Mall), Petite Pump Room (next to Seaborne Airlines), Sunrise Pharmacy (Red Hook), Nisky Pharmacy (Nisky Center), Forever Flowers (Frenchtown), Family Billiards Center (Sub Base), St. John Drug Center and St. John Car Rental. Tickets are available for US$75, $50 and $25.
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