BOXING: STARKS USING HINCKLEY RETURN TO REFUEL CAREER

Starks pictured training at the Circle of Discipline in his earlier boxing days.

30 year-old welterweight Javontae Starks (13-2-1, 7 KO’s) began his pro boxing days at the Grand Casino in Hinckley, MN back in 2009 where he picked up his first two wins. Now 10 years later, Starks returns to Hinckley and the home state that saw him become an amateur boxing champion with new plans to refuel his pro career. Headlining the August 9th Hinckley boxing card is a 10-round super lightweight state title showdown between Rondale Hubbert and DeLorean Caraway.

“I’m excited to be getting back to Minnesota where it all started” said Starks. “I want to reintroduce myself to the Minnesota boxing fans and put on a show for them, and this is the perfect opportunity to do it.”

“I’ve been training in Detroit, and will be in Florida to get some work in before I come up to Minneapolis. I’m as sharp as I’ve ever been and can’t wait to get out there and show the fans”.

Starks picked up career best wins to kick off his 2015 campaign four years ago with victories over Jeremiah Wiggins (then 10-3-1) and Carlos Galvan (then 10-2-1). The wins brought his record to 13 wins and 0 defeats. Later that year, he was the more skilled boxer against Sammy Figueroa (9-0) but his opponent was busier and Starks tasted defeat for the first time. Starks then dropped seven pounds lighter than he’d ever fought previously and was stopped by prospect Darwin Price (14-0) in the seventh round of a gutsy televised effort. Inactivity followed but Starks says he hopes to make this return to boxing a busy one.

Now residing in Detroit, Michigan, Starks believes he has surrounded himself with a team that could help him fulfill the high expectations many have for his talents. Victory Sports & Entertainment signed Starks earlier this year and Minnesota born Brett Mauren has taken on managerial duties. Javan “Sugar” Hill, nephew of Kronk Gym founder Emanuel Steward will be training Starks.

Javontae Starks following his last fight at The Grand Casino in Hinckley, Mn, 2009.

“I’ll be managing Javontae under the umbrella of Victory Sports and entertainment” said Mauren. “The VSE team has a pretty strong track record of putting our fighters into the best situations possible. Badou Jack has obviously headlined on both Showtime and HBO, and the team was able to help Jose Pedraza bounce back in a big way in 2018, by winning a lightweight title and securing a high profile fight with Lomachenko on ESPN”

“Mike Leanardi, Rick Torres who are the co-founders of VSE and myself all view Javontae as a world class talent, and just far too good of a fighter to sit on the shelf the way that he has recently. A big part of the game plan for Javontae is getting him back into the ring in Minnesota as soon as possible. The boxing climate in Minnesota is stronger than ever. We’d love to make Javontae a fixture on that scene again and give Twin Cities boxing the fans another world class talent to enjoy. We see a lot of exciting possibilities for Javontae in Minnesota.”

Javontae Starks will face Javier Rodriguez (3-8-1, 2 KO’s) of Mexico on August 9th. Marlin Sims, Joe James, Ryan Watson, Antwan Robertson, Al Sands as well as Ramiro Hernandez, Mladen Miljas, Mike Faragon will also see action.

THE FULL LINE-UP AS IT STANDS CAN BE VIEWED HERE