July 5th ESPN Friday Night Fights

Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford

HARTFORD (July 1, 2013) --  Famed rapper Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson's SMS Promotions will present its first solo professional boxing event, "50 Cent's Birthday Bash," this Friday (July 5) live on ESPN Friday Night Fights from the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford. Headlining the stacked ESPN Friday Night Fights show is an exciting 10-round clash between undefeated North American Boxing Organization (NABO) and North American Boxing Association (NABA) light heavyweight champion Eleider "Storm" Alvarez (12-0, 8 KOs) and former world super middleweight title challenger Allan "Ghost Dog" Green (32-4, 22 KOs). The main event is presented in association with Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM).    Eleider "Storm" Alvarez Unleashed (courtesy of GYM)  The fast-rising, explosive Alvarez (12-0-0, 8 KOs), a 2008 Colombian Olympian who lives in Montreal, is on his way to positioning himself for a world title shot. Already ranked No. 4 by the World Boxing Association (WBA) and No. 7 by the World Boxing Organization (WBO), he is stepping up in class to face Green (32-4-0, 22 KOs), fighting out of Tulsa (OK), who fought in the Super Sixtournament.  The 10-round ESPN co-feature showcases former International Boxing Federation (IBF) featherweight champion Billy "The Kid" Dib (35-2, 21 KOs) in a 10-round bout against Hartford favorite "Machine Gun" Mike Oliver (25-3, 8 KOs).  A native of Australia, Dib is coming off a highly-competitive, fan-friendly fight on March 1, also shown on ESPN Friday Night Fights, in which he lost a 12-round split decision and his IBF belt to undefeated Russian Evgeny Gradovich (18-0).    Billy "The Kid" Dib (photo by Shareif Ziyadat)    Dib is the No. 4-rated featherweight in the world by the IBF, as well as ranked No. 7 by The Ring Magazine, and No. 15 by the WBO.  Oliver is a former International Boxing Organization (IBO) and United States Boxing Association (USBA) super bantamweight champion. Undefeated Louisiana lightweight prospect Mark "Too Sharp" Davis (16-0, 5 KOs),  who captured gold medals at the 2005 and 2006 U.S. National Championships, meets TBA in an eight-round bound.   Also fighting on the undercard in four rounds bouts are hot Arizona light welterweight prospect "Magic Man" Luis Olivares (4-0, 3 KOs) vs. undefeated Puerto Rican Jonathan Perez (4-0, 2 KOs), Cincinnati native Donte Strayhorn vs. Hartford's Oscar Diaz (0-1), New Haven (CT) featherweight Nate Green (3-0, 1 KO) vs. Micah Branch (1-6-1), of Cincinnati, New Haven super bantamweight Jimmy Williams vs. Saul Almeida (0-1, of Framingham (MA), plus pro-debuting light middleweights David Wilson, of New Haven, and Woburn's (MA) Rodrigo Almeida.    "Magic Man" Luis Olivares, Jr.  (photo by Shareif Ziyadat)

All fights and fighters are subject to change. Dib, Olivares, Strayhorn and De Jesus are promoted by 50 Cent.  Tickets are priced at $150.00, $100.00, $60.00 and $35.00 (SOLD OUT) and available to purchase at Connecticut Convention Center (860-728-2624) or by calling Mike Criscio (203-627-7472).  There is a 10-percent surcharge on all sold tickets.  The $150.00 and $100.00 ticket entitles the bearer to free admission to 50 Cent's post-fight party at the Connecticut Convention Center.  Otherwise, admission to the post fight party is $40.00 and up per person at the door. Doors open at 6 p.m. ET with the first fight scheduled to start at 7 p.m. ET.