(MARCH 28, 2005) Tacoma, WA – Troy Beets (11-5-1, 7kos) will face Joseph Awinongya (12-8-5, 3kos) in the ten-round main event of the thirty-sixth installment of the Battle at the Boat boxing series, Saturday April 2, 2005 at the Emerald Queen Casino.
Beets, the Mississippi southpaw, is eager to take on Ghana native, Awinongya. “Troy has a big jaw, lots of talent and is very difficult to hit” says his cousin Rusty who is not only his cousin, but his roommate and keeps Troy on track with his training. “He took his last fight against Russian Vadim Tokarev (for the IBF Intercontinental Cruiserweight title) without much training and paid the price” Rusty continued, “he’s ready for this fight and is coming to win!” In the 1994 Goodwill Games, Beets brought home the bronze medal and, is a force to be reckoned with.
But, not to be outdone, Joseph Awinongya has his own tale to tell. Born in Ghana, Africa, Joseph left at the age of eleven and moved to Italy where he lived for the next thirteen or so years. He is fluent in Italian and says that he speaks Italian better than English! He left Europe when he was twenty-four and went home to Ghana. Promoter Don King brought Joseph back to the United States and, despite not becoming a world champion, Joseph says he is “happy to be in America”. He and his wife of five months are very active raising money and awareness for his HIV/AIDS stricken homeland. “If we don’t do it here, in America, where will help come from?” Joseph said. He works hard at bringing other fighters from Ghana to America – he feels it is his duty to let them know that fighting in America is different than fighting at home. “I tell them, you don’t get taken advantage of in America and I am happy to fight in America!” continued Awinongya.
Other fights scheduled for Saturday night include a four round match up between 2002 National Ringside and Golden Gloves Champion Molly McConnell (3-0) from Portland, Oregon and Terri Blair (5-7-1) a southpaw from Louisville, KY. Local heavyweight, Eric Boose (1-0) will take on Vancouver, BC’s own Teddy Adeoba (0-1). Also from Vancouver, TJ Jooya (3-1-1) will meet James Ferrell (1-0) hailing from Louisville, KY in a four round clash of super lightweights. Rounding out the card are super middleweights Ben Aragon (3-1-1) from Billings, MT and Tony Redman (1-1) from Denver, CO and, in a super lightweight match-up, John Lewis (1-0) from Las Vegas will battle Beto Garcia (2-0-2) from Othello, WA.