IT’S USA VS. CHINA IN NEW YORK CITY

U.S.A. BOXING, DINO DUVA AND GLOBAL SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCE TEAM U.S.A. FOR HISTORIC AMATEUR BOXING “EMPIRES COLLIDE” ON FRIDAY NIGHT, OCTOBER 1, AT “CAPITALE”

***Chinese team including Olympians to be announced next week, and arrive in New York September 10 to train at Fernwood in Poconos***

New York — Promoter Dino Duva, Global Sports & Entertainment and U.S.A. Boxing have announced the Team U.S.A. roster, including a bevy of National Championship silver medalists hoping to strike gold, for the 13-bout amateur boxing card “Empires Collide” on Friday night, October 1, at Capitale (130 Bowery) in New York City. The best Olympic hopefuls from China will take on USA’s finest in what could be a preview of the 2012 London Olympics with fights in 10 men’s and three women’s weight classes.

The United States squad is as follows:

Diego Hurtado (17 wins, 8 losses, 0 draws), 108 lbs, Reno, Nev., 2010 USA Boxing National Championships Silver Medalist; Miguel Cartagena (14-4-0), 114 lbs, Philadelphia, 2010 USA Boxing National Championships Silver Medalist; Ricky Rodriguez (11-6-0), 123 lbs, Denver, 2009 Jr. Olympic National Champion; Eric Flores (8-11-0), 132 lbs, Los Angeles, 2010 USA Boxing National Championships Silver Medalist; Michael Reed (8-2-0), 138 lbs, Washington, D.C., 2009 Jr. Olympic National Champion; Alex Martin (13-3-0), 152 lbs, Chicago, 2010 USA Boxing National Championships Silver Medalist; Jesse Hart (14-7-0), 165 lbs, Philadelphia, 2010 USA Boxing National Championships Silver Medalist; Marquice Weston (3-2-0), 178 lbs, Seattle, 2010 Under 19 National Champion; Joshua Temple (13-7-0), 201 lbs, St. Louis; and Danny Kelly (3-2-0), 201 lbs, Washington, D.C., 2010 USA Boxing National Championships Silver Medalist.

“I am really excited about this event,” said Hall of Famer trainer Lou Duva. “The Chinese team has excellent credentials, and reports are that America has an outstanding group of fighters who hope to restore Team U.S.A. to past glory. The October 1 event will give us a first glimpse of these two tremendous amateur teams.”

It is appropriate that Manhattan’s Chinatown will provide the setting when such 2008 Team China Olympians as super heavyweight silver medalist Zhang Zhilei and gold medalist light flyweight Zou Shiming display their talents. Fighters on the Team China squad all fight under the auspices of the Chinese Boxing Federation, and the full squad will be announced next week. Zhilei, a 26-year-old Super Heavyweight, stands 6-7 and weighs in at 260 pounds, and Shiming is generally considered to be No. 1 in the world in his weight class.

A team of trainers, under the direction of legend Lou Duva, special boxing consultant to the Chinese National Team, will coordinate a special training camp for several of the Chinese boxers in New York on Friday, September 10. The fighters will then immediately begin training camp at Fernwood in the Poconos.

Tickets for “Empires Collide” are priced at $120 for Ringside, $70 for Reserved and $25 for standing room/general admission. The Reserved and Ringside seats include two complimentary beverages. They may be ordered by calling 973-291-4529 or by email at tickets@empirescollide.com. For more information, fans can log onto www.EmpiresCollide.com. Special VIP and sponsor packages are also available. More information on ticket sales outlets to follow shortly.

Empires Collide is produced in conjunction with Chinatown Athletic Council and AA Entertainment.

Doors open 6 p.m. with a special entertainment schedule, and first bout is slated for 7 p.m.

“This is the first U.S. promotion for our venture with the Chinese Boxing Federation and it’s an extremely exciting one,” said Dino Duva. “I am very excited about working with Global Sports and Entertainment, USA Boxing and the China Boxing Federation and I look forward to working together in presenting a tremendous night of amateur boxing featuring the best that China and the U.S.A. have to offer. It will be an historic night.”