Tickets Go on Sale This Friday for Feb. 23 Boxing Card at the Historic Minneapolis Armory

Minneapolis, Minnesota (December 5, 2018) - Tickets will go on sale 10am this Friday, Dec. 7, for the Feb. 23 boxing event at the historic Minneapolis Armory, a highly anticipated card that showcases welterweight contender Jamal James of Minneapolis and a world super middleweight championship title bout.

The nationally televised card, announced earlier this month by Premier Boxing Champions and Fox Sports, features James against an opponent to be named. The main event pits Anthony Dirrell (32-1-1) against once-beaten Avni Yildirim (21-1) for the WBC World Super Middleweight title.

The Dirrell-Yildirim fight is compelling to Osseo’s Caleb Truax (30-4-2) and his local fans, who packed the Armory last August to watch Truax’s third-round destruction of Fabiano “the Pit Bull” Pena.

Truax, a former IBF Super Middleweight champion, may be in line to face the winner of the main event – and to settle an old score. If Dirrell prevails, Truax could have a chance to avenge his April 2016 loss to the Michigan fighter and regain a world title belt.

Truax said he would love a rematch with Dirrell. If Yildirim pulls off the upset, he would welcome that fight, too, to get a crack at the WBC title.

“That’s the most prestigious title of the four majors in all of boxing. Any time a fight for a title arises, I would love that opportunity,” said Truax, who returns to the Armory in April to face former world champion Peter Quillin.

Though Truax won’t fight on the Feb. 23 card, the former world champ said he plans to be there to cheer on his fellow Minnesotan, James.

“Jamal will pack the house like he does and I’ll do everything I can to get my fans to come out and stand behind Jamal and hopefully get him a big victory and catapult him into a title fight,” Truax said.

For James (24-1), the Feb. 23 card presents another opportunity to put on a show before the home fans – and to move another step closer to his dream of bringing a world championship home to Minneapolis.

James, ranked No. 3 in the world by the World Boxing Association, has won four fights in a row. His most recent victories, a decision over Abel Ramos and a knockout of Mahonry Montes, have come at the Amory, where the Minneapolis fighter has proven to be a major attraction.

“I feel like I am accomplishing a major goal, which was being able to put Minnesota on the map when it comes to the world of boxing. And thankfully, I was blessed to be successful, have my team and my family in my corner, and then be able to connect with the Armory, which is one of the best venues to hold events like that,” James said

At-A-Glance

When: Tickets for PBC Boxing at the Armory on sale 10am Friday, December 7th @ http://ArmoryMN.com/ or at the Armory will call window; box office hours are 11:00am to 6:00pm Monday - Friday.

What: Ticket prices range from $25 dollars general admission to $200.00 dollars ringside – special group and premium experience suite seating packages also available.

Who: For more Information on premium experience tickets – email reservations@ArmoryMN.com

Fighters from all over the country want to fight at the Armory, James said.

“We have elite fighters here -- myself, Caleb Truax and a plethora of other fighters. In my mind, I have always been surrounded by elite fighters. Now we have a chance to bring elite fighters from all over the nation here,” he said.

Rich in boxing tradition, the Armory has hosted fights featuring all-time greats that include Sugar Ray Robinson, Henry Armstrong and Fritzie Zivic, and local legends such as Glen Flanagan and Jack Gibbons. In 2019 this February’s nationally televised card will be the first of four in a PBC series scheduled for the Armory.

Truax said it’s an exciting time for Minnesota boxing as a new generation of fighters carries on that proud tradition.

“It’s kind of like a golden age in Minnesota boxing and I’m happy to be part of it and want to contribute to it as long as I can,” Truax said.

A fan favorite, Truax shocked the boxing world last December when he defeated James DeGale of England for the IBF Super Middleweight championship. DeGale won the title back in April with a close decision victory.

Quillin, 34-1-1, a former WBA middleweight champion, has won two fights in a row since his loss to Daniel Jacobs in 2015.

About the Armory

Tickets for the PBC series, which is promoted by Warriors Boxing and TGB Promotions, will go on sale 10am Friday, December 7th and be available at http://ArmoryMN.com/ . The Minneapolis Armory is at 500 South 6th St. in Minneapolis. Its box office hours are Mon-Fri 11:00am to 6:00pm and not open Sat /Sun. More information is at http://armorymn.com/.

The media contact for Armory Boxing is publicist Robb Leer you can call or email @ 612.701.0608 or Robbl@leercommunication.com .

About Premier Boxing Champions

Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) and Fox Sports recently released its early lineup of dates and major venues to host the PBC’s top-tier championship fights featuring its biggest and brightest stars. The Armory joins Barclays Center in Brooklyn, Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, as world-class venues selected to host world-class boxing. The fights will be televised nationally by Premier Boxing Champions, on multiple platforms with broadcast partners FS1 and FOX Deportes.

About the Premier Boxing Champions Series

Premier Boxing Champions is a live boxing television series that features the greatest array of boxing talent in all weight divisions, with fighters representing over 10 countries including the United States and Mexico. From former Olympians to Champions of all nationalities, the series can be seen on various networks in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and many other countries.