DEERFIELD, Fla. (August 14, 2013) – Sporting an incredible 93.75-percent knockout percentage, sensational featherweight Alexei “The Mexican-Cuban” (16-0, 15 KOs) is building a new professional boxing identity for Cuban fighters who generally are known for their pure boxing and defensive skills.
The 25-year-old Collado has one of the highest KO rates in the world, even higher than his new promoter, “Iron” Mike Tyson, who recently partnered with Acquinity Sports, under CEO Garry Jonas, to form Iron Mike Productions. The Florida-based, full-service promotional company presents its first event – “Tyson Is Back!” – August 23 in association with Greg Cohen Promotions at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York.
“Tyson Is Back” features a World Championship doubleheader on ESPN FridayNight Fights, headlined by International Boxing Federation (IBF) super featherweight champion Argenis “La Tormenta” Mendez (21-2, 11 KOs) making his initial world title defense, in the 12-round main event against IBF No. 13-rated Arash Usmanee (20-1, 10 KOs). Unbeaten Claudio “The Matrix” Marrero (14-0, 11 KOs), rated No. 2 by the WBA, meets WBA No. 4 Jesus Cueller (22-1, 18 KOs) in the 12-round co-feature for the Interim World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight championship.
Collado, who defected to Ireland and now lives in Miami with his family, will provide chief support against Mexican junior lightweight Hugo “Guerrero” Partida (19-4-2, 15 KOs) in a 10-round bout.
A highly-decorated amateur boxer who won a gold medal at the 2006 World Junior Championships, Collado had the misfortune of competing in the same flyweight division as Cuban boxing legend Andry Laffita, who defeated a much younger and far less experienced Collado in the 2007 and 2008 Cuban National Senior Championships.
Collado switched his nickname from “Hurricane” to “Mexican-Cuban” because he’s changing the identity of Cuban pro boxers. Established Cuban pros such as Guillermo Rigondeaux, Yuriorkis Gamboa or Erislandy Lara are not popular fighters in the U.S. because of their defensive styles. Collado fights more like a Mexican than a typical Cuban fighter.
“Alexei has a killer instinct,” Iron Mike Productions COO Henry Rivalta remarked. “Alexei fights like a Mexican; he keeps coming forward, moving laterally, but never backwards.”
Now rated No. 14 in the world by the WBA, as well as No. 15 by the IBF, Collado is making noise in the United States. Collado added, “I’m benefitting from training every day in Miami with stable-mates like Claudio Marrero, Felix Diaz and Hylon Williams”
World-rated welterweight Ed “The Lion” Paredes (33-3-1, 22 KOs) meets tough Mexican fighter Noe “Platanito” Bolanos (24-8-1, 16 KOs) in a 10-round match-up.
Also fighting on the undercard is unbeaten Virginian middleweight Antoine Douglas (8-0, 6 KOs) squares-off against Russell “Spiderman” Jordan (15-10, 10 KOs), of Rochester (NY), in a six-round bout.
Former Toledo-Ohio-based amateur star, Albert “Prince” Bell (1-0, 1 KO), is back in action against past World Boxing Organization (WBO bantamweight champion Mauricio “Cry Baby” Martinez (36-14-1, 24 KOs) in a four-round match. The 20-year-old Bell captured gold medals as an amateur at the 2011 National PAL Championships and 2012 National Golden Gloves Tournament.
All fights and fighters are subject to change.
Mendez, Marrero, Collado, Paredes and Bell were promoted by Acquinity Sports and are now fighting under the Iron Mike Productions banner.
Tickets priced at $150, $95, $55 and $45 are on sale and available to purchase at the Turning Stone box office, by calling (315) 361-7469, or visitwww.Ticketmaster.com.
Doors open at the Turning Stone Resort Casino Event Center at 6:00 p.m. ET, Friday, August 23. The first undercard bout starts at 7:00 p.m. ET. The live ESPN2 telecast begins at 9:00 p.m. ET.
Iron Mike Productions, previously Acquinity Sports, is a boxing promotion company co-founded and led by Acquinity Interactive CEO Garry Jonas. It is a partnership with Hall of Famer Mike Tyson committed to changing traditional boxing promotion by advocating for its fighters’ successes inside the ring and out, throughout their professional careers and into retirement.