Special Guest and Hall of Fame boxer, Smokin’ Joe Frazier to meet fans and sign autographs
ESPN Friday Night Fights invades Pechanga Resort Casino on Friday, February 12, 2010 featuring the dangerous Tyrone Harris 25-5-0, 16 KO against the highly touted Korean Puncher Ji-Hoon Kim 19-5-0, 16 KO in a 10 round Jr. Lightweight Bout.
Harris is a very exciting fighter with great boxing skills and one punch knockout power. Harris is a former National Amateur Star who is coming off one of his biggest wins of his career with an eighth round KO of the highly rated Marvin Quintero on ShoBox on July 31, 2009 at Pechanga Resort Casino. Up until his big win over Quintero, Harris had not 
fared well in most of his biggest fights on television. But with his career on the line, he out boxed and out punched the favored Quintero before knocking him out with a barrage of punches in the 8th round. That was not the first time Harris had his career on the line. After losing to Josisito Lopez, Harris needed a big win and he delivered it with a 9th round knockout over Damian Fuller to not only resuscitate his career, but win the USBA Lightweight Title in the process.
Ji-Hoon Kim was only 17 years of age when he turned to the pro ranks in South Korea in October 2004. Unlike Harris, who stormed out 14 wins in his first 14 fights, Kim lost in his pro debut and, after his first 14 fights, had a record of 9-5-0. However, since that time, he has won 10 straight fights and all but one of them by knock out. Still very young at 22 years of age, Kim is just now starting to become a skilled fighter who should only get better with each and every fight. Kim is a very strong, heavy-handed puncher who has posted some impressive wins as of late. In his last fight on September 12, he knocked out the very tough Zolani Marali (20-2-0) in nine rounds. Kim then destroyed the highly touted Goba Gogalodze (20-2-0) in one action-filled round, even though Gogalodze had won an earlier decision over Harris.
As the old adage goes, styles make fights and Harris is counting on his speed, boxing skills and power to nullify the granite chin and heavy hands of Ji-Hoon Kim. On the other hand, Kim is a rising young star, who has not lost a fight in almost 4 years, and looks to knock out Harris and continue his rise to the top.
The undercard will feature some great young talent including Russian prospect Ruslan Provodnick in a 10 round co-feature. Provodnick is a very strong fighter with great all-around skills and is coming off of a spectacular second round KO over Victor Hugo Castro on November 28, in Russia.
Also on the undercard will be a local favorite from Temecula, Welterweight Dashon Johnson 8-2-2, 4 KO in a 6 round bout. One of the United States’ top young amateurs, Garret Simon, will make his California debut in the Heavyweight division in a four round bout. Garret is a National Amateur Champion and at only 18 years old, has blazing hand speed and quick feet as well. Garret is big at 6’3 and still growing. This athletic prospect should have a very bright future in a division that lacks fighters of his athletic prowess.
This will be another special evening of boxing at Pechanga Resort & Casino, with the legendary Smokin’ Joe Frazier on hand to sign autographs and meet the fans. The Hall of Fame fighter who beat “The Greatest” Muhammad Ali in the fight of the century will make his first visit to Pechanga Resort & Casino.
Friday, February 12, Live on ESPN
Pechanga Grand Ballroom
Doors at 5 p.m., bouts at 6 p.m.
Tickets – Ringside $85; VIP $70; General Admission $45
(877) 211-2946 and www.pechanga.com