Quebec welterweight Manolis Plaitis is traveling to Ontario for Saturday night’s showdown, seeking to avenge his stable-mate’s loss last October to welterweight Samuel Vargas, in the continuation of a heated Canadian provincial arch-rivalry series.
Vargas and Plaitis square-off in the 10-round main event for the vacant Canadian Welterweight title, headlining an entertaining card presented by United Promotions in association with Hennessy Sports.
Saturday evening’s show kicks-off the third season of boxing at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga for United Promotions, which is collaboration between Ontario-based boxing promoters Don MacDonald, Adam Harris (Hennessy Sports) and Tyler Buxton (Buxton Promotions).
Colombian-native Vargas (8-0-1, 2 KOs) is coming off of the 2011 Canadian Fight of the Year, in which he out-gunned Quebec opponent Ahmad Cheikho, who was unable to answer the bell for the sixth round. Plaitis (17-1-1, 8 KOs) is a former Canadian light welterweight champion on a mission representing his Quebec province.
“Plaitis is going there to do more than avenge Ahmad’s loss because of the provincial rivalry,” Plaitis’ manager Camille Estephan noted. “Plaitis is coming to get a win for Quebec. He is very confident and has done all his homework. Manolis is as ready as he can be for this exciting fight. He is a complete fighter who will follow his game plan, which is the biggest difference between Plaitis and Cheikho.”
A Colombian refugee who has found a new home in Mississauga, Vargas prefers to let his fists to his talking, rather than spew smack. “I understand them coming here to win,” Samuel said. “I respect that but won’t get caught up in talk. I’m going to beat this guy and win the title. This is a great opportunity for me, my fans and Ontario. Considering where I came from and what I’ve been through – I came to Canada with leather jacket and a suitcase of close unsuitable for winter here – I’m living the Canadian Dream. Everybody’s heard of the American Dream but I’m living a dream in Canada. This great country has given me a new home, a job, education….a life. I couldn’t be prouder than to be the new Canadian Welterweight Champion.”
The six-round co-feature showcases another fan favorite, Ajax middleweight Brandon “Bad Boy” Cook (4-0, 2 KOs), against upset-specialist Chris Aucoin (4-5-1) who 1/1/2 years ago knocked-off former IBO Inter-Continental champion Ian MacKillop (25-11-3). Both of these aggressive fighters come forward and this match-up figures to be an all-out war in the center of the ring.
Undefeated middleweight Michael “The Brazilian Rocky” Oliveira (16-0, 12 KOs), fighting out of Miami by way of Sao Paulo, Brazil, is scheduled to make his Canadian debut in an eight-round bout. Oliveira, rated No. 14 by the World Boxing Council (“WBC”), faces Sergei “Baltic King” Melis (18-7, 7 KOs) in an eight-round bout.
Undefeated Kitchener cruiserweight prospect Denton Daley (4-0, 2 KOs) faces former Mexican National Boxing Team invader Benito “El Asesio” Quiroz (6-1, 6 KOs) in a six-round bout. A Sheridan College graduate with business degree, Daley is a powerful, two-fisted puncher who regularly spars with world cruiserweight contender Troy Ross.
The much-anticipated pro debut of 21-year-old Steve Wilcox, a lightweight from Hamilton, is also on tap in a four-rounder versus TBA. Steve is the oldest of five fighting Wilcox brothers, who are trained by their father at his Steeltown Boxing Club, and the first to turn pro.
Also fighting on the undercard in a pair of six-round bouts are Whitby super middleweight Phil “The Assassin” Rose (3-1-1, 3 KOs) vs. Coteau-du-Lac’s cagey Francis Lafreniere (1-2-1, 1 KOs), along with undefeated Toronto prospect Ibrahim “Firearm” Kamal (6-0, 5 KOs) vs. Danish lightweight Tommi Schmidt (6-4, 3 KOs).
Tickets, priced at $30.00 and $50.00, are available at the Hersey Centre Box Office, through Ticketmaster at 855.985.5000, or at ticketmaster.ca.
