JA’RICO O’QUINN TO FIGHT IN UNDERCARD ACTION OF CLARESSA SHIELDS VS. HANNA GABRIELS
Popular, undefeated Detroit bantamweight Ja’Rico “Great Lakes King” O’Quinn will continue his climb up the professional boxing ladder in his first eight-round fight, on Friday, June 22, at Detroitߣs Masonic Temple.
O’Quinn (8-0-1, 5 KOs) will make his next ring appearance (against an opponent TBA as of now) on the non-televised undercard of the blockbuster “It’s Our Time to Shine” event featuring two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and current Unified Womenߣs Super Middleweight Champion Claressa Shields attempting to become a two-division world champion against unified 154-pound champion Hanna Gabriels for the vacant IBF and WBA Womenߣs Middleweight World Championships.
The main event will be televised live on SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION (10 p.m. ET/PT) and will also feature highlights of Unified Womenߣs Middleweight Champion Christina Hammer as she defends her WBC & WBO Titles in her U.S. debut against former world champion Tori Nelson.
Tickets for the event, which is promoted by Salita Promotions, are available at Ticketmaster.com or at the Masonic Temple Box Office at (313) 832-7100. VIP tickets are priced at $300, ringside tickets at $125, and remaining tickets at $75, $50 and $35.
The 23-year-old OߣQuinn says heߣs eager to get in the ring at this historic event.
“I’m excited because this will be my first eight-rounder. I feel good that Iߣm getting closer to 10- and 12-round fights and a world title shot. I know it will happen, but I have to work my way up to the big fights and get noticed more first. Training is going well. I was already working out before I found out I was fighting. I was already in good shape, so now weߣre stepping it up and getting in serious shape.”
O’Quinn, from the West Side of Detroit in the Plymouth And Greenfield area, enjoys intense popularity among Motown boxing fans, which gives him extra motivation to impress.
“It’s a great feeling hearing my name being chanted by hundreds of people when I come out. Itߣs what I love and I appreciate that my fans stand behind what Iߣm doing. I have a great team behind me and great fans.”
A decorated former amateur boxer, O’Quinn won the USA National Championship at bantamweigh and the 2013 USA Boxing Youth National Championships. He says itߣs that amateur pedigree that gives him his high Éc;boxing IQÉd; in the ring and makes him so adaptable to any style.
I have such great management and promoters, I know whoever I fight will be the best for my career, so it doesnߣt really matter. Everybody knows Iߣm always in shape an Iߣll be in even greater shape this time. Itߣs a big show, so Iߣm doing more of everything to get ready.
Ja’Rico O’Quinn is one of the best Bantamweight prospects in the country,” said his promoter, Dmitriy Salita. “His speed, skills and exciting style make his fights very entertaining. His fan base grows with each fight and I believe that JaߣRico has the skills to join the list of fighters that brought glory to the great boxing city of Detroit.”
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Roberto Villa is the CEO, Founder, Executive Writer, Senior Editor of FightBook MMA. Has a passion for Combat Sports and also a podcast host for Sitting Ringside. He’s also a former MMA fighter and Kickboxer.
