TORONTO, February 23rd, 2012 – The Score Fighting Series has announced three additional bouts for its Friday, March 16th event at Hamilton Place Theatre in Hamilton, Ontario. Hard-hitting featherweight (145 pounds) Will “Leon” Romero of Brampton will take on Muay Thai striker Jeff Harrison of Ottawa and undefeated lightweight (155 pounds) prospect Alex Ricci of Woodbridge will square off with rugged ground and pound specialist Iraj “Cold Blooded” Hadin of London.
In preliminary card action, former “Fight of the Night” winner Adam Assenza of Burlington will battle John Roche of Toronto at lightweight.
Both the 29-year-old Romero (7-3), a member of the Iron Tiger Muay Thai stable, and the 30-year-old Harrison (5-4) will put winning streaks on the line when they meet in the cage. Harrison, who fights out of Ottawa Academy of Martial Arts (OAMA) and was a multi-time amateur Muay Thai champion before turning professional as a mixed martial artist, has won his last three contests and will be looking for vengeance in the matchup with Romero, a winner of his last two fights, after Romero battered and defeated Harrison’s teammate, Stephane Bernadel, in The Score Fighting Series’ last event in Hamilton on Oct. 14, 2011.
With four victories, all by way of KO or TKO, in his first four professional starts, the 29-year-old Ricci (4-0) will face his toughest test to date in Hadin (6-3), a 30-year-old product of Adrenaline Training Center, which also serves as home to UFC stars Mark Hominick, Sam Stout and Chris Clements.
Ricci, a seasoned Muay Thai stylist, scored a memorable KO in his last start on October 14th, 2011, sending Tim Smith to the canvas with a head kick followed by a series of elbow strikes. To date, Ricci has not been pushed past the second round of a fight.
For his part, Hadin has emerged a credible force in the lightweight division, taking out two of Quebec’s top prospects in Samuel Guillet and Derek Gauthier, in his last two starts. Hadin scored a second round TKO (elbow strikes) on Guillet on November 13th, 2010 and earned a unanimous decision over Gauthier on April 9, 2011.
Assenza (0-1) will seek his first professional victory after losing a close split decision to Jason Meisel in a bout that was awarded “Fight of the Night” honors at The Score Fighting Series event on October 14th, 2011. (CLICK HERE to watch the bout between Assenza and Meisel) Roche (0-0) will make his pro debut after going unbeaten (2-0) as an amateur.
Tickets for The Score Fighting Series start at $30 and are on sale now at the Copps Coliseum box office and online at www.ticketmaster.ca.
In the lightweight main event, superstar John Alessio (33-14) will face off with Strikeforce and WEC veteran and Team Quest member “Diamond” Ryan Healy (19-9-1). For more on Alessio, check-out this video feature from theScore.com.
In a featured welterweight (170 pounds) contest, UFC veteran Forrest “The Meat Cleaver” Petz (24-9) of Cleveland, Oh. will take on kickboxing champion Sergej Juskevic (11-6-2) of Toronto via Lithuania.
Undefeated Stoney Creek sensation Josh Hill (7-0) will lock horns with rising star Eric Wilson (5-1) from Saskatoon at bantamweight (135 pounds).
Unbeaten Jason Meisel (2-0) of Caledonia will battle Mike Sledzion (3-2) of Barrie at lightweight. Lyndon Whitlock (5-2) of Hamilton will face Corey Houston (4-1) of Winnipeg at featherweight. John McPherson (1-1) of Hamilton will throw down with Craig “War Dog” Hudson (1-1) of Brantford in a heavyweight (max 265 pounds) collision.
World Muay Thai champion Shane Campbell (5-1) of Stoney Creek will go to battle with fellow power striker Derek Boyle (7-5) of Lethbridge, Alberta at lightweight and unbeaten prospect Ryan Dickson (2-0) of Hamilton will face an opponent to be announced soon. Dickson’s original opponent, Chris St. Jean, has been forced out of the matchup due to injury.
