* * OPEN MEDIA WORKOUT ALERT * *
MADERA’S LAVAR JOHNSON & FRESNO’S BILLY EVANGELISTA OPEN MEDIA WORKOUT
Tomorrow/Wednesday, Oct. 20 at 2 p.m. PT at Fort Washington Fitness in Fresno, Calif.
WHO: Madera Native & Heavyweight Star Lavar “Big” Johnson
Undefeated Lightweight Prospect & Fresno Resident Billy Evangelista
WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 20 at 2 p.m. PT
WHERE: Fort Washington Fitness
9471 N. Ft. Washington Rd.
Fresno, CA 93730
559-434-0700
WHAT: Johnson and Evangelista will hold an open media workout just two days before the STRIKEFORCE Challengers event presented by Rockstar Energy Drink at Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif., on Friday, Oct. 22.
Johnson (14-3), of Madera, Calif., will continue his courageous cage comeback against aggressive-minded Virgil “RezDog” Zwicker (8-1) in a featured bout. The hard-hitting Johnson, who will be making his second start since being gunned down at a family barbeque on July 4, 2009, is coming off a second-round TKO (punches) win over then-undefeated Lolohea Mahe last March 26 on STRIKEFORCE Challengers at Save Mart Center. To date, all of Johnson’s wins have come via knockout, TKO or submission.
Undefeated prospect and Fresno resident Billy Evangelista (10-0, 1 NC) will make his long-awaited return to the cage when he faces Waachiim “Native Warrior’’ Spiritwolf (8-6-1) of San Diego in a 165-pound catch weight fight.
The start for Evangelista (10-0, 1 No Contest), a Muay Thai specialist, will be his first since Nov. 6, 2009, when he earned a unanimous decision over hard-hitting brawler Jorge Gurgel at STRIKEFORCE Challengers at Save Mart Center. An injury sustained in the bout with Gurgel has kept Evangelista sidelined.
Tickets for the STRIKEFORCE Challengers event are on sale at the Save Mart Center box office, select Save Mart Supermarkets, all Ticketmaster locations (800) 745-3000, Ticketmaster online (www.ticketmaster.com) and STRIKEFORCE’s official website (www.strikeforce.com).
Doors will open at 4:45 p.m. The first preliminary bout will begin at 5:30 p.m. PT. The first main card bout will start at 8 p.m. The main card will be broadcast live on SHOWTIME® at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).
CONTACT: Mike Afromowitz, Strikeforce, (917) 566-8754, mafromowitz@strikeforce.com
John Beyrooty, Brener Zwikel & Assoc. (562) 233-7477 JohnnyBey@aol.com