SANTA ANA, California (June 10, 2007) – Boxing promoter Sterling McPherson (Sterling Promotions) is in the corner of New Era Fighting, the hot mixed martial arts group that combines the brutality of UFC and the WWE’s entertaining storylines.
The Las Vegas-based McPherson, who won 28 of 32 pro fights as a lightweight-junior welterweight from 1979-1987, has been a boxing promoter for the past five years. He has had a hand in promoting world champions and title contenders such as Mike Tyson, including his exhibition match last year in Ohio, Frans Botha, Henry Akinwande, Michael Dokes, Robert Garcia, and Lonnie Smith. Sterling also was the International Boxing Federation’s Manager of the Year two times.
McPherson has agreed to be a television broadcaster for NEF with Kimo, the undisputed star of NEF. Sterling also will assist NEF president Ron Kort in terms of promoting shows at various venues as well as distributing NEF shows in television.
“It’s a great opportunity for me to break into MMA,” McPherson said. “My role in NEF will grow as I get more involved. I’m doing this because Ron Kort is a friend – I wouldn’t be doing this with anyone else – and it sounds intriguing. Kimo is an absolute legend in MMA and I’m going to learn a lot from him. I’ll be doing a nationally televised talk show, featuring boxing, with Maximum Impact and I’m going to feature MMA fighters like Kimo. I’ll possibly be able to get NEF shows nationally broadcasted on major syndicated television networks through my many years developing broadcast relationships.”
“World Toughest Man” Contest Update
New Era Fighting’s “World’s Toughest Man” contest already has turned into a global affair with registrants coming from all over the world.
“NEF tryouts are for athletes from all over the world,” NEF president Ron Kort said. “We are searching for the best heavyweight fighters from all across the country and around the world.”
Tickets are now on sale for New Era Fighting’s “World’s Toughest Man” contest initial tryout session on July 18-20 at Quiet Cannon (AKA QC’s in Montebello) in Montebello, California. Tickets are for spectators, fighters are not required to purchase a ticket or pay a tryout fee.
Registration for fighters (minimum of 205 pounds), as well as female models, are currently being held online at www.NewEraFighting.com and sign-ins for those selected from registration will be from 5 PM/PT to 8:30 PM/PT on Wednesday, July 18, followed by warm-ups and a rules meeting on Thursday afternoon. Fight tryouts are scheduled Thursday and Friday evenings, July 19-20.
Fighters can make hotel accommodations through NEF or by going on line to http://www.sidestep.com/hotels-roos-12775419-montebello_hotels_ca.
Tickets are priced at $20.00 each for July 19 and July 20. Two different Kimo T-shirts and tank tops for women are also on sale for $24.99 each. A T-shirt and one-night ticket, either Thursday or Friday, are available for $39.99. Go to www.NewEraFighting.com and click on “shop” to purchase tickets and/or merchandise.
Food, beverages and T-shirts will be sold throughout the tryouts. NEF fighters already under contract will be available to the public for meet-and-greets throughout the tryouts. All fighters (experienced or not) are eligible to compete in the WTC tryouts.
Combat fighters selected after the July 19-20 tryout session will advance to the next round, where they will fight each other in a tournament format to eventually determine 10 survivors. The 10 tryout survivors, as well as fighters already signed to New Era Fighting (NEF) promotional contracts, will compete on a show in several months for the right to be crowned “World’s Toughest Man.” Tryout sessions will also serve as scouting opportunities for NEF to sign fighters.
The “World’s Toughest Man” (WTC) contest winner will then be offered an anticipated $1,000,000 winner-take-all purse to fight living legend Kimo, headlining a full card for a pay-per-view broadcast live from Las Vegas at a date to be determined.
Television Coverage of Tryouts
The NEF “World’s Toughest Man” contest initial tryouts will be taped and aired at dates and times to be determined on the Armed Forces Network and other International television networks for worldwide exposure in more than 25 countries. “We are still in negotiations with other networks for an anticipated viewing in 117 different countries which translates into 90 millions homes or approximately 190 million possible viewers,” Kort noted.
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For more information about NEF or its “World’s Toughest Man” contest call 714.973.3053/714.448.9999 or go on line to www.NewEraFighting.com.