Hot light welterweight prospect Danny O’Connor (17-1, 5 KOs) will make history Sunday evening, August 12 when he headlines the first professional boxing event at famed Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts.
Gillette Stadium is home to the three-time Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots and Major League Soccer (MLS) power New England Revolution, which is presenting this special boxing event, in association with DiBella Entertainment.
The 27-year-old O’Connor, fighting out of nearby Framingham, is a former two-time national amateur champion, as well as an alternate for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Boxing Team. The crafty southpaw is slated to take on 23-fight veteran James Ventry in the eight-round main event on Aug. 12.
An MLS game between the New England Revolution and Montreal Impact, starting at 7:00 p.m. / ET, will be followed by a three-fight pro boxing card, headlined by O’Connor vs. Ventry, immediately after the conclusion of the soccer game at approximately 9 p.m. / ET. The ring will be set-up in the end zone behind the Revolution’s goal.
“I’m a big New England Revolution fan and since the first second I met everyone involved in The Revs organization,” O’Connor said from his training camp in Houston, “staff & players have been amazing and treated me like family. I’m honored and proud to be fighting alongside these great players and their fans. I’m very happy to be part of The Revs family and to showcase my talents after The Revs game at Gillette Stadium.”
The Revs average between 12,000-15,000 fans per game in a friendly, safe, family environment. The fusion of boxing, music and soccer promises a memorable night for all fans in attendance, introducing many to a different sport, soccer or boxing.
O’Connor is a driving force in the rebirth of boxing in the Bay State, largely due to the influence of his relatively new manager, Kenny Casey, who is the founder and lead singer for the wildly popular Dropkick Murphys band. Casey’s innovative, cross-marketing ideas and invaluable connections led to O’Connor fighting this past May at the House of Blues in Boston, in addition to the first pro boxing show at Gillette Stadium.
“I’m honored to have a role, or play a position, to help bring boxing back in my home state,” O’Connor noted. “I want to give back to the sport that has given me so much. I want fans all over New England to get excited again about boxing.
“Kenny Casey has really helped promote me and my name. He has opened up a lot of doors for me, especially among Dropkick Murphys fans all over the world. He’s more like my mentor than manager. He has steered me in the right direction to win in boxing, but under his wings I’ve also learned so much about doing business and just being a good person. I feel good about him coming onboard and I couldn’t be happier with the way my career is now going.”
Casey is an avid boxing fan who is committed to guiding O’Connor’s career to a world title shot, starting with an innovative campaign to build a strong fan-base in New England for his fighter. “Danny O’Connor is a true gentleman and a great representative for the sport of boxing,” Casey remarked. “He’s all about hard work, dedication and humility. It’s been a lot of fun to do our part in terms of putting boxing back on the map and this event is another step in that direction. The first boxing card at Gillette Stadium is something we are proud to be involved in. The New England Revolution and their amazing fans have been some of Danny’s strongest supporters, so this event is a match made in heaven.”
Also scheduled to fight on this special three-bout show is Boston Police Officer and former New England Golden Gloves champion, super middleweight Billy Traft (1-0), against pro-debuting MMA standout John Downey, of Hull (MA), in a four-round match. Another four-round fight will soon be announced. All fights and fighters are subject to change.
Tickets, reasonably priced at $100.00 (on field ringside), $60.00 (reserved) and $40.00 (end zone), include attendance for this unique doubleheader (NE Revolution vs. Montreal Impact soccer game and boxing), go on sale tomorrow (Friday, July 27) at 10:00 a.m. / ET via Ticketmaster or by calling 1-877.GO-REVS.
