Another Toledo boxer has the dream of becoming a world champion.
Tyler McCreary will fight on the undercard Feb. 10 at the Huntington Center in the Premier Boxing Champions event which features Toledoan Robert Easter, Jr., in the headline bout.
Easter (18-0, 14 knockouts), the IBF lightweight world champion, will battle Luis Cruz (22-4-1, 16 KOs). Easter won the crown in September after defeating Richard Commey for the vacant belt.
McCreary (12-0, 6 KOs), who will face Jonathan Perez, hopes to match his longtime friend Easter’s success someday.
“I’m very excited and blessed to be able to fight in front of my family and friends,” McCreary said. “I’m looking to put on a show.”
McCreary, 23, currently coached by Lamar Wright, has a close relationship with Easter.
“He’s like a big brother,” McCreary said. “He’s always there for me even before boxing. He taught me the ropes.”
McCreary looks to follow in Easter’s footsteps.
“I’m working to climb up the ladder,” he said. “I want to be one of the greatest fighters to come out of Toledo.”
According to About Billions Promotions CEO Ravone Littlejohn there were some underlying issues between McCreary’s management, Roc Nation, and About Billions that made McCreary’s involvement in the blockbuster event questionable.
"Robert was pretty persistent when it came to Tyler. He really wanted him to fight on the card, just like a big brother is supposed to do,” Littlejohn said. “He’s in a position to pull strings, he has my ear and after negotiating with Tyler’s management we were able to work things out.
“Nearly every time I see Robert, Tyler is with him. I was unsure if his side would be willing to comply. After some time we found a way to get it done and now I'm ready to see him go out there and do what he does on Feb. 10th.”
The card is also filled with other Toledo natives. Robert Easter Sr., who trains his son, was vocal about adding crowd favorite and Olympian Devon Vargas, as well as Albert Bell.
When asked about Easter Jr.’s involvement about adding other fighters to the card Littlejohn said “I went to him asking for one Toledo name and he gave me way more. It just shows how much he loves his city and how unselfish he is. Initially my intent was to fill the card with fighters in surrounding areas as well as fighters I wanted to sign but Robert Jr. really wanted to make this event a hometown thing and I respect that 100 percent.”
The card also includes another world title bout as bantamweight champion Rau’shee Warren, a Cincinnati native, faces interim titleholder Zhanat Zhakiyanov in a mandatory fight.
Easter’s bout will be nationally televised on Bounce TV.
Don’t miss the Premier Boxing Champions event featuring IBF lightweight world champion Robert Easter, Jr., on Feb. 10 at the Huntington Center. The event begins at 7 p.m. For tickets, go to huntingtoncenter.com.
First Published January 25, 2017, 2:30 p.m.
