BOXING: Stewart, Mcgregor and Local Boxers Take Hinckley Stage

Boxers featured on tomorrow night’s Showtime card hosted by the Grand Casino Hinckley are set to weigh-in later this afternoon. Salita Promotions teamed up with Rapacz Boxing to bring four televised bouts along with seven local fights featured on the undercard. While the world will be watching the televised portion of the show, local boxers are ready to take the Hinckley stage in hopes of setting up future fights by making a statement on Friday night.

The match up which has gained the most attention locally heading into fight week is the main featured undercard bout between undefeated Iowa transplant Cruse “The Hitman” Stewart (6-0, 6 KO’s) who resides in Minneapolis and Martez McGregor (8-3, 6 KO’s) of Maywood, Illinois. The two middleweights match up perfectly and mirror one another in a lot of ways style wise. Both are also extremely confident fighters looking to impress under the Showtime lights.

Stewart was an exceptional amateur, compiling a record of 325-80 while qualifying for the National Golden Gloves tournament seven times. He has blown through competition as a professional but has not yet faced a fighter with the experience and skill that McGregor possesses as a pro. Stewart says he is ready for the challenge.

“Me and my team are very well prepared for everything he can bring to the table” Stewart told MN Fight News. “We are in the best shape and I’ve taken this fight very seriously as if it was a title shot. There were no corners cut going into this fight. This is my toughest opponent to date and we will deliver fireworks.”

Martez McGregor is a former All American football safety and baseball player who came out of legendary Proviso East High School in Maywood, Illinois. McGregor told MN Fight News that he had 21 scholarships but did not qualify due to issues which eventually led him to boxing.

“I had 21 scholarships but wasn’t eligible for them because of poor grades due to society and the lack of good leaders to show me the difference from the streets of Chicago” said McGregor. “I Had a chance to go to Junior colleges to get credits for scholarships but couldn’t stay out of trouble. So it only made sense to start fighting for a living. From there I became 2X Chicago Golden Gloves champion and had some national and Olympic qualifying bouts where I did well and got some respect and experience.”

The 29 year-old middleweight McGregor has fought twice in high-profile fights recently and brings with him the experience advantage that comes with those bouts. He battled prospect Cem Kilic (now 14-1) punch for punch last June and followed that fight up with a decision loss to Brandon Robinson (now 15-2) four months ago.

“Me and Kilic was a simi-war that was stopped prematurely. I learned to prepare differently for the next level and with Robinson, that was a terrible in-house referee fight. He did so many dirty tactics and held me by the neck over twenty times with no penalty. I honestly would love to fight him on fair shake grounds but moving forward, I’ve learned how to fight on unfair grounds.”

“I am the future of Showtime. I have to get to Jermall Charlo (WBC Middleweight champion) period. I know nothing about my opponent other than that he’s in my way. When asked what Minnesota fans can expect, McGregor says “They can expect a solid, well rounded, rare puncher as Sugar Ray Robinson in the second coming. I want to wish my baby Khloe a happy birthday and to Ed Brown, Maywood and Chicago a shout out that I will represent and put us back on the map correctly and properly. I am a true warrior and gladiator and only fully come alive in combat.”

The opening bout of the night will almost certainly set a high action tone for the rest of the card. Heavyweight mixed martial artists Jimmy “The Bull” Barnes (debut) and Danyelle “Southern Boy” Williams (3-1) meet in a four round bout.

Barnes was a standout wrestler out of Mora, MN that wrestled a little in College but says he never lived up to his true potential on that platform. Barnes went 2-1 with 2 TKO wins as an amateur mixed martial artist before turning pro last December where he lost a controversial split decision.

“I have worked constantly on my striking and have risen to a high level

quickly” said Barnes. “I have boxed a little if you want to call it that! I won a few Tough Enough tournaments that were strictly boxing. I would definitely say on paper I am the underdog. I have nothing but respect for my opponent and what he has done in his career. I am a new breed of animal that he hasn’t faced yet. I’m coming for that highlight reel finish and wont stop until I get it. I have had amazing training partners and coaches that have been with me throughout my career and have prepared me for this amazing moment. By the grace of God, I am able to compete and show my skills and promote change in the world. I’m coming for that win Friday night and you wont want to miss it! Thanks to the boxing community for welcoming me in, Love it!”

After moving to Duluth from Austin, MN Williams told FOX 21 DULUTH he is primed for his ring return after two years away. Williams has fought some of the state’s best heavyweight mixed martial artists and holds two wins over well known local boxer Van Goodman. You can watch the video interview with Williams and teammate Ryan Watson who also boxes on the card HERE.

We previewed the rest of the card after announcing the show last month. To get words from local boxers Joe James, Ryan Watson, Marlin Sims, Colton Warner, VISIT THIS LINK TO THE STORY.

In the main event of the televised portion, talented undefeated super lightweight prospect Brandun Lee will headline his first ShoBox: The New Generation main event when he takes on Camilo Prieto in a 10-round super lightweight bout that finalizes a quadruple-header.
The four televised fights include five boxers who have yet to taste defeat with a total record of 107 wins to just three defeats and two draws. In the co-featured bout, undefeated Brian Norman Jr. (16-0, 14 KOs) puts his perfect record on the line as he takes on Flavio Rodriguez (9-1-1, 7 KOs) in an eight-round welterweight matchup. Undefeated Alejandro Guerrero (11-0, 9 KOs) meets Jose Angulo (12-1, 5 KOs) in an eight-round lightweight scrap while yet another unbeaten fighter Aram Avagyan (9-0-1, 4 KOs) takes on fellow undefeated Dagoberto Aguero (17-0, 11 KOs) in an eight-round featherweight fight.

Official weigh-in’s begin at 4 PM CST on Thursday (3/12/20) afternoon on the Showtime stage setup at the Grand Casino Hinckley. The action is set to kick off at 6 PM