DETROIT — Salita Promotions and Emmy Award-winning journalist Marq Massengale have teamed up to produce shoulder content via social media ahead of the premiere of the “Big Time Boxing USA” series, giving fans a behind-the-scenes peek at their rising fighters.
“I love what Salita Promotions is doing for the city of Detroit and the future of boxing. I look forward to sharing these great stories with sports fans through my production company Mass Digital Content,” said Massengale in media reports.
On Tuesday, February 20, “Big Time Boxing USA” will make its premiere. The main event will feature a 10-round bout involving only Michigan fighters, with Flint’s Ardreal Holmes Jr.(14-0, 5KOs) a 29-year old boxer, defending his USBA Super Welterweight Championship against Detroit’s Marlon Harrington(10-1, 9KOs).
“I’m thankful and very excited to be having my first title defense in my home state. The fans are going to be the winner on February 20, because this fight, and the whole card, are going to be action packed. I’m going to show all the fans in Detroit and watching on DAZN who the best guy at 154 pounds is. This performance is gonna put the whole division on notice,” said Holmes Jr. in media reports.
In the co-main event, which begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, Britton Norwood will square off against undefeated USBA Light Heavyweight Champion Ali Izmailov in a 10-round fight.
A clash of undefeated fighters will also take place on DAZN. Joshua Pagan, a prominent fighter for the U.S. National Amateur Championship, will face Detroit’s Dwane Taylor in an eight-round lightweight match, while Da’Velle Smith, a Dearborn local, will engage in a six-round middleweight match.
This will be the first boxing match held at Wayne State Fieldhouse, the home of the Motor City Cruise, the Detroit Pistons’ G-League affiliate. In June 2023, Salita Promotions staged the first-ever boxing match at Little Caesars Arena, home of the Pistons.
“We are starting the “Big Time Boxing USA” series in one of boxing’s historic cities, which for decades was synonymous with the champions of Detroit, and at one of the city’s premier venues, the Wayne State Fieldhouse. I look forward to showcasing and developing boxing’s top talent in exciting matchups,” said Dmitriy Salita, who is the President of Salita Promotions.
(Additional reporting provided by Miriam Onyango)
