ATLANTIC CITY (March 30, 2011) - When Bayonne, NJ's favorite son Bobby Rooney Jr. returns to the ring for the first time in nearly two years against Walter Foster in a light-heavyweight bout this Saturday, April 2 at Bally's Atlantic City, the loudest voice among his sizable cheering section will come from the smallest person.
Lester Green, better known to audiences as Beetlejuice, has been Rooney's biggest supporter since he turned professional in 2003.
"Beetle is an adviser to some degree, as well as a motivator," said the 11-3-1 (6 KO) Rooney, who also works as Beetle's manager. "When someones calling you a dirtbag while you're doing your running, it has to get you pumped."
"He's my brother and I help him whenever I can," said Beetlejuice, who has risen to cult stardom through his appearances on the Howard Stern Show. "I want to be there with all the success. I'm 100% right behind him."
Rooney's bout with the 32-year-old Foster, 4-3-1 (4 KO), of Berkeley, Missouri is scheduled for six rounds and will be part of the Pound for Pound Promotions event headlined by undefeated NABF super middleweight champ Farah Ennis (17-0, 11 KO) of Philadelphia facing Alexander Johnson (10-0, 4 KO) of Oxon Hill, MD.
Rooney and Beetlejuice have been close friends ever since Rooney's late brother Sean discovered Beetlejuice in a Jersey City bar and brought him to the attention of Howard Stern.
Together, Rooney and Beetle travel the country making appearances, which recently included Miami to film a movie called Girls Gone Dead, which starred Ron Jeremy and Jerry "The King" Lawler.
Rooney feels that his closest ally gives him an edge on fight night.
"I think it intimidates my opponents when they see him walking me to the ring," said Rooney. "I know I'd be intimidated if I had someone fighting me with Beetlejuice walking him to the ring.
"He steals the spotlight from me, but it takes some of the pressure off of me, too."
Aside from his own career, Rooney continues the tradition set by his father as he now runs the Bayonne Police Athletic League Gym where he originally started boxing. After Rooney Sr. retired from the gym in 2006, Rooney Jr. took over and the gym won back-to-back New Jersey Golden Gloves team championships in 2009 and 2010.
Rooney hopes to win a third consecutive team championship this year, having entered five boxers in this year's tournament with all five making it to the finals, which are set for the middle of April.
"People always ask me if this is my final fight, but if I come out and say that then I might as well retire today," said Rooney. "I still feel great because I'm not a drinker, never been into cigarettes or drugs. I don't feel my age at all."
The heavyweights will also be in the spotlight, as Damian Wills (29-2-1, 22 KO) of Los Angeles, CA faces Arron Lyons (12-9-1, 9 KO) of Las Cruces, NM and Amir Mansour (12-0, 9 KO) of Wilmington, DE faces “Hurricane” Hector Ferreyro (21-9-2, 12 KO) of Laredo, TX. Both matches are scheduled for eight rounds.
Former three time Daily News Golden Gloves champ and National Golden Gloves champ Steven Martinez (8-0, 7 KO) will also be in action in a four-round junior middleweight matchup against an opponent to be named later.
The rest of the card will be comprised of top young talent including bantamweight Victor “The Viper” Valenzuela (8-1,1 KO) of Passaic, NJ; lightweight Chris Green (4-2, 1 KO) of Asbury Park, NJ; junior-middleweight Thomas Lamanna (1-0, 1 KO); and light-heavyweight “The Bull” Anthony Caputo-Smith (9-0, 7 KO) of Kennett Square, PA.
Tickets, priced at $75 and $50, can be purchased at the Bally's Atlantic City Box office, by calling Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000, calling Pound for Pound Promotions at 201-223-0155 or online at ticketmaster.com.
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