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DEL VALLE vs. CRESPO ADDED TO HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN LIVE BOXING CARD AS CO-MAIN EVENT AT ROCKINGHAM P

Josh Crespo

SALEM, NH (March 23, 2016)- Rising star Josh Crespo will take the biggest test of his career when he battles former USA World Boxing Team member and national Golden Gloves champion Luis Orlando del Valle at Rockingham Park Saturday, April 9.

The Crespo (6-2-3) vs. del Valle (20-2-0) 8-round fight will be the exciting co-main event of the “Corona Championship Boxing at The Rock” event, which is headlined by the eagerly-anticipated 10-round showdown between local favorite and New England Heavyweight Champion Alexis Santos (15-1, 13 KOs) and West Virginia invader Daniel Martz (14-3-1, 11 KOs) for the vacant IBO International Heavyweight title.

Del Valle, who hails from Puerto Rico and calls New York City his second home, brings plenty of additional star power to the event. Music mogul Jay Z’s Rock Nation Sports is his promoter and he shares the roster with NFL wide receiver Victor Cruz, MLB pitcher CC Sabathia and the NBA’s Kevin Durant, among other stellar athletes.

Following the live main event, ticket holders will be treated to the closed circuit live simulcast from Las Vegas of the much-awaited 12-round rubber match between Manny Pacquiao, who has won world titles in four divisions, and Tim Bradley, Jr. for the vacant WBO International Welterweight title.

This fight is a “can’t miss” as it will be the final time in the ring for the 59-fight winning “Pac Man” before he hangs up his gloves. The Las Vegas simulcast also includes the 12-round co-main event for the WBO Super Middleweight title between Arthur Abraham (44-4) and Gilberto Ramirez (33-0).

The night of thrilling action at Rockingham Park also includes tributes to Epping, NH’s Jack Sharkey, the world Heavyweight Champion during the golden age of boxing, and former WBA Heavyweight Champion John Ruiz, who also has Granite State ties.

Sharkey, who died in 1994 at the age of 91, is the only man to have fought immortals Jack Dempsey and Joe Louis. He is the only fighter from New Hampshire to be enshrined in the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Ruiz defeated three world champions, including Evander Holyfield.

The live main event between Santos and Martz, who handed Santos the only blemish on his record when Santos was injured in the fight and could not go on, has huge implications.

Should the 26-year-old Santos, who hails from nearby Lawrence, MA and trains locally, prove victorious, he will earn a world ranking and has the real possibility of being signed by a top promoter in the sport. Hall of Famer Steve Smoger returns to The Rock as the referee.

“This is going to be a monumental evening of boxing,” said Al Valenti, the event coordinator for promoter Big Six Entertainment.

Tickets are $35 (general admission), $45 (reserved) and $75 (ringside seating), and are available for cash-only purchase at Rockingham Park (603-898-2311 x admissions) or may be purchased by calling 860-982-2535. More information can be found at facebook.com/groups/bigsixentertainment.

Doors to the Rockingham Park Sports Club open at 6 PM and the first fight will get underway at 7:30 PM.

The weigh-n will be Friday, April 8 at The Stumble Inn in Londonderry, NH from 4-6 PM and the Corona Girls will be on hand for a promotion during the event.

The remainder of the under card, which is being assembled by Hall of Fame matchmaker Russell Peltz, will be announced soon.

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