FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Lewiston, Maine (October 3, 2014) –New England Fights (NEF), America's number-one regional fight promotion, will present its inaugural boxing event on October 11, 2014 at the historic Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine. It will be the first professional boxing event in Lewiston in more than ten years and the first in the building, famous for the Muhammad Ali-Sonny Liston World Heavyweight Title rematch of May 1965, in close to twenty years. The main event of the evening will feature undefeated Brandon "The Cannon" Berry (7-0) in a six-round bout for the Northeast Junior Welterweight Championship against West Virginia Toughman Champion Eric Palmer (4-3-3). Recently, Berry was the guest of NEF co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson on the NEF Podcast.
"My brother and I, and my father actually, were watching a fight on TV," recalled Berry of his introduction to the sport of boxing. "We were watching it live. I think it was in '94. It was George Foreman and Michael Moorer. It was Foreman's quest to get the title again. I was too young to really have an opinion on who I thought might win or really know what was going on. I was only six or seven years old. That struck an interest with my brother. He started watching all the Rocky films. We had an old military duffle bag that we stuffed full of clothes. We hung it up in a shed out back. I say 'we,' but I was standing there watching mostly, in awe of my brother, looking up to him. He got into it. He had some amateur bouts. From then on, I always wanted to be like him. I looked up to him. I got to start to love the sport and learn more about it and hang out in the gyms with him. Years later, I think I was 18, I had my first amateur bout... All credit goes to my brother and father for getting me interested at an early age."
Berry currently trains at Wyman's Boxing Club in Stockton Springs, Maine. The gym is owned and operated by veteran boxing trainer Ken "Skeet" Wyman who has been instrumental in Berry's development in the sport. So strong is his tie to the gym that Berry makes the arduous journey of 125 miles each way from his home in West Forks, Maine to Stockton Springs three times a week to train. He credits his many fans, and his trainer and teammates with making that trip a worthwhile one.
"I had been around a couple gyms and I found a good home at Wyman's Boxing Club in Stockton Springs," said Berry. "Skeet and I mesh really well together. I think that the team behind us is amazing. Just like any other fighter that's successful, they have a good background and a good support system and a good coaching staff. It's just working out really well for me... What mainly drives me to continue making that trip is the support system that I have created with the fan base out of such a small area, I only have forty year-round residents, give or take, in my town, but we have hundreds and hundreds of people that are following me everywhere. I'm beside myself when I think about the support I have grown this past year or two... If I stop now, I feel like I'd be letting down so many people, so many kids who are looking up to me."
Berry is the archetypical "small-town-boy-made-good." He truly is the pride of West Forks, Maine, a small plantation of 47 residents (as of the 2000 census). Berry's popularity has snowballed over the course of his career, with hundreds of fans, from West Forks and beyond, following him to his fights in all corners of New England, many of them driving hours to watch the hometown hero fight. His family owns and operates Berry's General Store in West Forks, which has proven to be a positive factor in Berry's self-promotional efforts.
"I think a lot of people look at me as a pretty respectable young guy," said Berry, "or at least I hope they do. Having a family business has helped so much, because it's one of my biggest promotional aspects. Hundreds and hundreds of people come through the store year-round and they see the posters of what's coming up next. They see all the trophies in the trophy case and all the articles hanging up. Then they see me behind the counter. So, they look at the stories and they can relate to it because they get to meet me and shake my hand. Or, they might have already known me and watched me grow up. I've been in the store my whole life. I used to stand on two milk crates to reach the cash register to take care of customers. So, I've literally grown up there. These people have watched me grow. They've watched me turn into a fighter. They support it. As far as the small town, getting them to back you, it wasn't hard. It wasn't like I had to go out door to door and ask these people to support me... You don't have to ask them. It's just there."
As someone who knows and respects the history of boxing, Berry realizes the unique opportunity he has in headlining a title fight on the return of professional boxing to Lewiston. On October 11, he will take center stage on the very spot where Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston fought their world title rematch in 1965.
"I feel very honored to be on this show in this building," exclaimed Berry. "It brings back memories for me because I had met Muhammad Ali in Lewiston when he came back for the anniversary there... At that time, if you had told me, 'hey, someday you're gonna have a pro fight here,' I probably would've had a hard time believing that. Now the time is coming where I'm in the same building where one of the most famous sports pictures ever took place, with him (Ali) standing over Liston, so it's pretty cool... The night of the fight, I'm gonna be thinking about that... It's an amazing feeling. I'm very excited for it."
Before Berry stands Eric Palmer of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Many boxing insiders are saying that this will, no doubt, be the biggest challenge Berry has faced to date as a professional. With the Northeast Junior Welterweight Title up for grabs, Berry recognizes the importance of this fight on the future of his career.
"It's definitely the biggest fight of my pro career. There's gonna be a winner and there's gonna be a loser. I plan on going in and winning the fight. I know anything can happen. To win this, and to be called 'the new champion' and the 'northeast titleholder,' I think it's amazing. I think it'll open up new doors for me. I think it's an appropriate time in my career for this to happen... He (Palmer) looks like a pretty good little boxer. From what I've read and heard, he's gonna be a tough opponent. Obviously, he's my toughest opponent to date, on paper at least, as far as his record shows and his experience... I'm ready for whatever he brings to the table. I'm sure it's gonna be a good fight... I don't think this fight's gonna go six rounds. I'm not looking for a knockout, but I know how hard I've been training. I think you're probably gonna see some type of a stoppage... I think you're gonna see a title coming home to West Forks."
For more information on Brandon Berry, please visit his website atwww.TeamBerry.org. You can also follow him on Facebook at his official fan page "Brandon 'The Cannon' Berry," as well as on his Twitter account @TheCannon207.
For more information on Wyman's Boxing Club, please visit their Facebook page at "Wyman's Boxing Club."
"NEF BOXING" takes place on October 11, 2014 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine. Tickets start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisee box office at 207.783.2009 x 525. For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com. In addition, you can watch NEF fight videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow the promotion on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”
About New England Fights
New England Fights (“NEF”) is a fight events promotions company. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for Maine’s fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.
(L-R) Vito Antuofermo, Chris Gilbert, Bobby Stephen, Steven Matthews and Earnie Shavers)
(L-R) Vito Antuofermo, Mark DeLuca, Bobby Stephen, Gundrick King, and Earnie Shavers
(L-R) Vito Antuofermo, Russell Lamour, Bobby Stephen, Dennis Ogboo and Earnie Shavers
(L-R) Vito Antuofermo, Theo Desjardin, Bobby Stephen, Brandon Berry and Theo Desjardin