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by John DiSanto |
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Feldman, a top-flight hustler and self-promoter from way back, had to hustle his way back into the boxing game after losing his promoter's license after a skirmish with another promoter in 2005. After the incident, the PA commission never renewed his license.
The loop that has allowed
Feldman back in is the fact that his father, Marty Feldman, a
former standout middleweight fighter and respected trainer, is
the promoter of record for Thursday's show, as well as for all
the subsequent installments planned for the future. Also
involved in the new "Champions of Tomorrow" entity is Philly
all-time ring great Meldrick Taylor, who adds a little star
power to the
Feldman has been a pure promoter from the beginning. Even before quitting the sport at 9-0, after an out-of-the-ring injured vertebrae forced him to hang up his gloves, he was already promoting and selling an exercise program. But it was after he retired from the ring that he really started flexing his promotional muscles. Thus began the more than 20-year hustle that has led him in, out, and back into the sport he loves.
"I'm making it a series where I can take it anywhere," Feldman said. "With (Meldrick) Taylor, obviously he's a nationally and worldwide known name. I can bring him to different areas and do fight cards."
On Thursday night, the main event features a pair of out of towners, Cuban Olympian Yordenis Ugas, 13-1, 6 KOs, and El Paso's Adan Hernandez, 15-7, 6 KOs, in a 10-round welterweight match. However, the undercard is filled with local talent. Tim Witherspoon Jr., son of
the
Also on the card is Isiah Seldon, undefeated at 7-0, the son of another former heavyweight champ, Bruce Seldon. Isiah fights New Yorker Lekan Byfield, 3-4-2, in a 6-round super middle-weight bout. Undefeated Tyrone Crawley,
Jr., 3-0, of North Philly, the son of the former lightweight
contender, Tyrone Crawley,
Heavyweight Dante Selby, 1-0-1, fights for the third time as a pro against 24-bout veteran Zeferino Albino, 4-17-3, 2 KOs, in an interesting clash of big men. Philadelphia junior welterweight David Gonzales, 1-0, fights for the second time Thursday. He battles a debuting Evencii Dixon, of Lancaster, in a four rounder. "I love this sport." Feldman said. "I've been around it all my life. Being back in the sport feels great." If Feldman can bring us an ongoing old-school boxing series studded with local talent, then we fans will be feeling great too. The first step comes Thursday night at The Deck in Essington, PA.
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It's
been eight years since Damon Feldman promoted an honest to
goodness boxing match. However, during this hiatus from the
"Sweet Science", the former undefeated boxer and promoter has
been in the news, on sports talk radio, and local TV, plenty. He
has also staged numerous Celebrity Boxing shows during the
stretch. However his boxing dry spell comes to an end Thursday
night when the first of his "Champions of Tomorrow Professional
Boxing Series" debuts at The Deck in Essington, PA. 
Between
then and now, Feldman's headliners have included the likes Octo-Mom,
Rodney King, Michael Lohan, Tonya Harding, and many other
"stars". But Feldman never gave up on his goal of returning to
legitimate boxing. 
effort. Damon
Feldman only holds a matchmaker's license, but make no mistake,
he is driving this bus headed back to the boxing world. 
"With
these fights, we're going to do them old school," Feldman
said. "You're going to see a lot of the same fighters on a lot
of these cards. That way the fans can follow them, like years
ago when they could follow Bennie Briscoe, Willie 'The Worm'
Monroe, and guys like that. Now there's really nobody to follow
because the champions don't even fight in Philly." 
An
old-fashioned fight series would be a welcome addition to the
current fight schedule. Philly has so many good fighters these
days, and more local fights means more opportunities for them to
perform for Philadelphia-area boxing fans. 
Let's
hope the majority of the series' shows stay local. 
former
two-time champion, faces Zach Kelly in a 4-round welterweight
bout. 
takes
on Virginia's Chris Steele, 3-5-1, 1 KO, in a lightweight bout
over four rounds. 
