Minnesota Boxing News: June 16 Undercard Preview

SATURDAY NIGHT HYATT UNDERCARD PREVIEW
6.16.12
By Jesse Kelley

Tonight's supporting bouts to Jason Litzau's main event versus Ira Terry will feature a mix of familiar boxers and new faces when the action begins at the Hyatt in downtown Minneapolis.

Aaron "Gorilla" Green has unleashed fury on his first 5 opponents, stopping them all by knockout. His opponent TJ Gibson comes to boxing with a kickboxing background and is no stranger to facing bigger men. He shows once again that he is willing to face anyone in the ring.

Amateur star Robert Brant has put in a ton of work in preparation for tonight's pro debut. Despite getting into boxing only a few years ago, Brant's many titles and USA boxing team experience are a testament to his skills. Brant boxed his amateur career at light heavyweight but has trimmed himself to 157 lbs. through hard work for his bout against Cheyenne Ziegler tonight. Brant says he never underestimates anybody and expects a good effort from Ziegler. Brant also says he is excited to be making the first of many appearances in the boxing ring in front of his hometown fans. Ziegler is a tough guy with both a boxing and mixed martial arts background. Ziegler and Brant went head to head at last nights weigh in's and Ziegler later said "Alright then, it's on"!

Bantamweight standout "Bad" Brad Patraw will face upcoming MMA bantamweight Tony Belvedere. Patraw had been putting in hard work to face Dustin Mason on June 16 (Original date until in was post poned until tonight). However, Mason broke his hand while training and Patraw was left without an opponent. Patraw said he was upset after finding out the news the fight was off and says he saw things in Mason's game that he felt confident he was going to have success taking advantage of in the ring. Patraw was still without an opponent a week ago but in stepped Tony Belvedere. Belvedere is originally from Balsam Lake, WI and says he wrestled before transitioning into Mixed Martial Arts. Belvedere says he along with Kenneth Glenn (facing Donny Tierney) trained at Team Howell in Winona. Shortly after he got more work in at Iron Works Training Center (Nick Thompson's Gym) in La Crosse. Now the two train at Spartan Martial Arts in Oakdale. While well rounded in MMA, Belvedere (14-5) says he jumped at the chance to box to work on his stand up game. He says it should be great preparation for his headlining MMA bout on July 14th back at the Hyatt against Josh Rave (21-10) of Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo right courtesy of Fight to Finish Photography)

Donny Tierney and Kenneth Glenn will meet in a four round jr. middleweight bout. Ironically, the two have already met...in the barber shop! Both fighters say they ran into each other a few weeks ago while getting hair cuts at the same barber. Tonight's meeting has the making of an entertaining bout. Tierney got into the game with no amateur experience and is learning and improving on the job despite already having a large local following. Although this will be Glenn's pro boxing debut, he is said to be bringing quick hands from the cage which he says he will use tonight. Here is what the two had to say...

DONNY "DRAMA' TIERNEY: I had a good camp and I respect any mma fighter stepping in the boxing ring. I learned a lot from fighting RJ (Laase) in my last fight. A loss like that isn't so bad if you learn from it like I did. I need to just go for it and be first this time because I have nothing to lose! I don't know much about my opponent but I can see he has big arms. I am in good shape because I took the last 3 weeks off of work to train. I will be ready to go.

KENNETH GLENN: My fighting background starting with Michael Howell out of Winona. It was MMA based training but primarily with a boxing based background because of Mike's boxing experience. I Wrestled in high school so was able to put the two together and translate that into MMA. But I always had an interest in boxing. 6-1 amatuer record and 5-1 pro record in MMA. The reason for making my boxing debut is because I always had an interest in the sport, and it gives me confidence in my standup with MMA. My favoite fighters are Roy Jones Jr. and Floyd Mayweather Jr. I think Tierney is a good opponent who comes to fight and has good experience. I think it will be a good fight for me to make my debut in. I am excited to box and add this element to my overall MMA game as well as see if I have what it takes to keep going this route in both boxing and MMA.

Mike "The Marine" Richman will box for the second time professionally against fellow MMA fighter Jason Benson. Richman is coming off a spectacular knockout victory after signing with Belator a short time ago.

Aaron Green (5-0, 5 KO's) vs. TJ Gibson (1-2, 1 KO) - 6 round heavyweight bout

Rob Brant (debut) vs Cheyenne Ziegler (3-7, 2 KO's) - 4 round middleweight bout

Brad Patraw (7-4, 4 KO's) vs. Tony Belvedere (debut) - 132 lb. lightweight bout

Donny Tierney (4-4, 1 KO) vs. Kenneth Glenn (debut) - 4 round jr. middleweight bout

Silas Ortley (4-13, 3 KO's) vs. Stephen Watt (debut) - 4 round middleweight bout

Mike Richman (1-0, 1 KO) vs. Jason Benson (debut) - 4 round jr. middleweight bout