Kristian Prenga Headlines ‘Crossroads in Brick City’ on June 6 in Newark
Rodney Rice’s RDR Promotions will stage its first show at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. as Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga headlines their “Crossroads in Brick City” event on Saturday, June 6.
The heavy-handed Prenga (20-1, 20 KOs), a native of Orosh, Albania who now lives in New Jersey, will face an opponent to be named in an eight-round fight. Prenga has become one of the most popular fighters in the state since making his United States debut in 2022. He has won his last three fights by first round knockout thanks in large part to possessing one of the hardest right hands in the sport. Now, Prenga takes his next step towards heavyweight contention, with a big win expected to move him into the next tier of the division.
In the co-featured bout, Newark’s own Michael “Slick” Anderson (25-4-1, 19 KOs) will meet Nimal Farmer (6-1-2, 4 KOs) of Lindenwold, N.J. in an eight-round welterweight fight. Anderson is coming off a third-round stoppage win over Tackie Annan in November and always brings large crowds, especially when he’s fighting at home. He will face the tough as nails Farmer, who is looking to rebound from his first ever defeat.
Tickets are available for purchase now at www.ticketmaster.com and www.prucenter.com. Doors open at 6 p.m. with the first fight set for 6:30 p.m.
“RDR Promotions is extremely proud to have been welcomed into the Newark, N.J. boxing community,” said Rice, President of RDR Promotions. “We plan to not only provide a consistent platform for local fighters, but vow to be an invaluable resource to the community.”
“We are thrilled to welcome RDR Promotions’ marquee professional boxing event entitled ‘Crossroads in Brick City’ to Prudential Center for the first time,” said Dylan Wanagiel, Vice President, Sports Properties and Special Events, Prudential Center. “With a world-class fighter like Kristian Prenga headlining plus a stacked lineup of rising talent from throughout the Northeast, fans are in for an unforgettable night. This event marks an exciting step in showcasing top-level boxing in New Jersey and solidifying Prudential Center as a premier destination for combat sports.”
The card will also feature a number of competitively matched fights between prospects from across the area.
In a six-round lightweight bout, Philadelphia’s Rashan Adams (11-1, 6 KOs) will meet Camden’s Naheem Parker (6-4, 2 KOs). Adams has won his last six bouts and will be facing a crafty boxer-puncher who has shown he can upset the odds, having handed previously unbeaten boxers Raekwon Butler and Justin Palmieri their first defeats.
Junior welterweight prospects will put it all on the line when Juan Rivera V (9-0, 5 KOs) of Philadelphia meets Demarius Driver (12-1, 7 KOs) of Nashville, Tennessee. It will be the first ten-round fight for Rivera, who has kept a busy schedule since turning professional two years ago. Driver, a pro since 2017, is seeking to redeem himself after suffering his first loss in his most recent bout.
In another “crossroads” bout, Vladimir Dalton (2-0) of nearby Elizabeth, N.J. will meet fellow unbeaten fighter Ibrahima Fofana (2-0, 2 KOs) of The Bronx, N.Y. in a four-round cruiserweight fight. Dalton, a 2017 National Golden Gloves silver medalist, last fought in March, defeating the previously unbeaten Shakeem Williams by decision, while Fofana, a native of Senegal, scored knockouts in his two pro fights last year.
New York and Jersey City will collide in a four-round middleweight fight as Famous Wilson (4-0, 2 KOs) of Brentwood, Long Island faces Bernard Gardner (1-1, 1 KO) in a matchup of former amateur standouts. This won’t be the first time the two have met, with Wilson having won a decision over the man now known as Rex Presidential in the 2019 National Golden Gloves. The fight will be Wilson’s first in two years while Gardner, a southpaw, will look to bounce back from his first defeat last December.
Also in action, brothers Muadh Abdus-Salaam (3-0, 1 KO) and Zahir Abdus-Salaam (2-0, 1 KO), both of Newark, will fight in separate bouts. The Abdus-Salaam brothers were recently commended by the city of Newark for their accomplishments as student athletes, with Muadh having played defensive back for the Delaware State University Hornets football team and Zahir having been a running back for the Western Michigan University Broncos. Also commended at that ceremony were fellow Newark natives Anthony Johns (11-1, 6 KOs) and Yoell “Boy Boy” Cooper, who will also be in action on the card in separate bouts.
In addition, John Gjini (16-0, 15 KOs) of Greenwich, Connecticut will compete in an eight-round featherweight fight, while junior lightweight Alexander Collado of North Bergen, N.J. will look to secure his first win as a professional in a four-round bout.