MMA Fighter Lavar Johnson Makes Miraculous Return to the Cage!
“Abongo” Humphrey to battle George Bush III, Luke Stewart to face Andre
Galvao, Zoila Frausto to meet Miesha Tate; Tickets go on sale Monday, Feb. 1
NEW YORK (Jan. 28, 2010)—Six months ago, Lavar Johnson lay in a hospital bed, clinging
to his life after he was gunned down while attending a family barbeque during
the July 4 holiday.On Friday, March 26,
the 32-year-old will enter a new chapter in his incredible recovery when he restarts
his professional mixed martial arts (MMA) career in the main event of a STRIKEFORCE Challengers fight card at Save
Mart Center in Fresno, California
on Friday, March 26.
The
heavy-handed Johnson (13-3), a 6-foot-4 inch, 250-pound resident of nearby
Madera, will face off with another highly touted prospect, undefeated Lolohea Mahe (4-0-1) of Wailua, Maui in
the STRIKEFORCE cage.
Tickets for
the STRIKEFORCE Challengers event,
priced from $30, go on sale on Monday, Feb. 1, at the Save Mart Center box office and select Save Mart Supermarkets, all Ticketmaster locations (800) 745-3000, Ticketmaster online (www.ticketmaster.com) and STRIKEFORCE’s
official website (www.strikeforce.com).
“My
health is great and I’m almost back to where I was,” said Johnson.In his last start in the cage, Johnson
crushed Carl Seumanutafa in just 18
seconds with a single punch at the first-ever STRIKEFORCE Challengers event at Save Mart Center on May 15, 2009.
After
being struck down by the gunfire that also led to the death of a cousin,
Johnson, a father of two boys, ages eight and five, spent one month in hospital
care and lost approximately 60 pounds.
Months
of physical rehabilitation followed and, one month ago, Johnson was cleared by
a physician to return to training with trainer Jasper Tayaba and Team Buhawe in Fresno
“(The
experience) made me realize how fragile life is and that every day I’m here is
a blessing.It has also made me take MMA
more seriously.”
In
other action on the STRIKEFORCE Challengers
card, “Abongo” Humphrey (5-1) of
Atlanta, Ga., will square off with George
Bush III (5-1) of Columbus, Ohio, at light heavyweight (205 pounds).
Brazilian
Jiu-Jitsu black belt Luke Stewart
(6-2) of San Francisco, California will make his long-awaited return to action
against Andre Galvao (3-1) of Brazil
in a welterweight (170 pounds) contest.
Unbeaten
Zoila Frausto (2-0) of Fresno will
face off at 135 pounds with another one of the top prospects in the women’s
field, Miesha “Takedown” Tate (7-2)
of Olympia, Washington.
American
Kickboxing Academy bred wrestling stud Justin
“The Silverback” Wilcox (8-3) of San Jose, Calif., will do battle with Bryan Travers (13-1) of Bakersfield,
Calif., at lightweight (155 pounds).
Save
Mart Center doors will open for the STRIKEFORCE Challengers event at 6 p.m. PT. The first live, non-televised,
preliminary bout will begin at 6:45 p.m.
The live SHOWTIME® telecast will begin at 11:45
p.m. ET/ PT (delayed on the west coast).
New National Toll Free Number For Ticketmaster Phone Purchases!
Interested in buying your tickets to Save Mart Center event by phone??
Ticketsmaster has introduced a new national toll free number for all phone purchases, 1-800-745-3000. This will be the sole number to purchase tickets by phone starting April 1st.
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Online To purchase tickets online, visit ticketmaster.
(Customers who choose to purchase tickets online now have the option to have their tickets delivered via email through a ticketmaster program called ticketFast. This delivery option eliminates waiting for mail delivery and standing in will-call lines. For more information on ticketFast, visit ticketmaster's FAQ here.)
By Phone
Tickets for events may be purchased by calling 1-800-745-3000.
Save Mart Supermarkets with Ticketmaster Outlets
Tickets may also be purchased at select Save Mart Supermarkets.
2179 E. Shaw Ave., Clovis
850 Herndon Ave., Clovis
80 W. Bullard, Clovis
1157 N. Willow, Clovis
4041 E. Ashlan, Fresno
659 E. Nees, Fresno
4120 N. West St., Fresno
2066 W. Bullard, Fresno
3750 W. Shields, Fresno
7075 N. Marks, Fresno
1107 E. Champlain, Fresno
6670 N. Cedar Ave., Fresno
1625 N. Fruit Ave., Fresno
237 Academy Ave., Sanger
2859 Whitson St., Selma
Box Office at the Save Mart Center
Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Save Mart Center box office
Box Office Hours:
Monday - Friday 9:30 am - 4:30 pm (non-event days)
Monday - Friday 9:30 am - One hour past event start time (event days)
Saturday & Sunday Non Event Days / Non On Sale Days - Box Office Closed
Saturday & Sunday Event Days 1:00 pm or two hours prior to event start time (whichever is earlier)
Box Office opens 2 hours prior to game time for all Fresno State events.
NEW!!
Ticketmaster Retail Location Pickup
To have the tickets you have purchased online or by phone printed for you visit any area Ticketmaster outlet, present a photo ID, order number and the credit card used to place the order. You can then have your hard tickets printed for you right then and there. Tickets will be available for prining anytime between the date the order was placed and the date of the event. This service is available for every transaction including TicketExchange, Auctions and Shopping List. This delivery method will be subject to a $1.00 per order delivery fee.
TICKET PURCHASING ADVISORY!
Save Mart Center at Fresno State has issued the following advisory for people who purchase tickets to Save Mart Center at Fresno State events over the internet.
Save Mart Center at Fresno State Management encourages the use of e-commerce to purchase tickets to events held at Save Mart Center at Fresno State. There is only one official web site licensed to sell tickets via the internet to events held at Save Mart Center at Fresno State, www.ticketmaster.com .
To insure you receive the best possible service, you receive your tickets promptly and to insure you are not purchasing counterfit or stolen tickets, we urge all of our ticket purchasers to make their puchase via www.ticketmaster.com . Save Mart Center at Fresno State Management stands behind www.ticketmaster.com
as the only internet site licensed to sell tickets at Save Mart Center. NO other site has been authorized by Save Mart Center to sell, re-sell or auction tickets, buyer beware!
