In the year it’s been open, the Space at Westbury has been host to musicians, comedians, dancers and on Nov. 13, the venue will open its doors for world class boxers and their loyal fans.
Winner Takes All Productions and Greg Cohen Promotions are bringing a night of boxing to the Space on Thursday, Nov. 13. While boxing events have come to Long Island before, this will be the first of its kind to come to the Space.
“We chose the Space because we believe it is a beautiful venue that is perfect for a great boxing event. Boxing fans will enjoy this refurbished and updated theater and the boxers will love being part of a show held there,” said David Shuster from Winner Take All Productions.
And while the event is drawing boxers from all over the world, many of them train right here in Westbury. Boxers Tommy “The Razor” Rainone (from Hicksville), Richie “Brazil” Neves (from New Hyde Park) and Dave Meloni (from Westbury) all train a few blocks away from the Space at Westbury Boxing, a non-profit gym run on donations that is located in the basement of the Village of Westbury Recreation Department building.
Kevin Collins, co-owner of Westbury Boxing, plans to attend next week’s event to support the fighters who have been training hard at the gym.
“I’m so excited that they finally have an event like this in Westbury. We’re excited to have our own fighters fighting right down the block,” Collins said. “We’re hoping this is the start of many great fights at the Space.”
He says the three local fighters that will duke it out in the ring are all very talented and train every night.
“Tommy’s a very talented fighter and he takes the sport very seriously. He’s very knowledgeable about all aspects of boxing,” says Collins. “Richie has so much heart and is the tough warrior type. And Dave goes in there just to fight and throws a lot of punches and it’s a lot of action. It should be an exciting night.”
The main event will see Hicksville’s Rainone facing off against Chicago’s Carl “The Assassin” McNickles in a 10-round battle for the USBO (United States Boxing Organization) Welterweight title. A popular “all heart” warrior who doubles as an actor outside the ring, Rainone is riding a five-fight unbeaten streak, but McNickles will provide him a good test, as he has been in with several world-ranked contenders.
In the main supporting bout, Ireland’s “Hurricane” Dennis Hogan will face Venezuela’s Jose “Bam Bam” Rodriguez-Berrio in a junior middleweight eight-rounder. Hogan is known in the boxing world as a star in the making and the fight against Rodriguez-Berrio will be his first outside his adopted homeland of Australia.
In a very special six-round, non-title women’s super-fight between reigning champions, Brooklyn’s WBO World Female Lightweight Champion, Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano will take on Cleveland’s WIBA World Featherweight champion Carla Torres.
Tickets for Boxing at The Space at Westbury are priced at $150 golden ringside, $100 ringside and $50 general admission. Find out more information and purchase tickets at www.thespaceatwestbury.com.
