Inside Boxing Promotions will present “Knockout Central,” a sensational evening of boxing entertainment in downtown Central City Saturday, August 6. The event will be the inaugural tribute to music industry icon Barry Fey.

“He was that type of person who knew how to get things done. If he took on a task of something that he loved, and it was, to everyone else, a lost cause, he would take it on, put his brains together, do what he could, and make it successful,” said Promoter Aurelio Martinez. “He took the time to talk to me and that started a friendship. It also brought many, many good boxing matches to Colorado.”

He spoke highly of how Barry stepped in the situation of the Denver Symphony Orchestra, saving the organization from bankruptcy at the time. The orchestra continues in the city today. Barry co- promoted several boxing events with Martinez, now as a renowned local promoter. Barry loved the city of Denver and quickly became a popular public figure for his many accomplishments. He is credited for making Red Rocks Amphitheatre a world-wide attraction. Red Rocks became famous from Barry’s music promotions. He put Colorado on the music and touring map by helping launch the career of great bands like Led Zeppelin, and U2. Barry believed in Ozzy Osbourne, giving the band Black Sabbath their first American tour.

While he was a heavy hitter in the music industry, Barry was instrumental in the sport of boxing, as he promoted local championship fighters such as Stevie Johnston, and Lonnie Smith. He brought world championship fights to Denver live through closed circuits such as Leonard versus Duran in 1989.

“Barry talked to everyone, and at a time when I could not get a phone call returned from high profile people to help with my boxing shows, Barry was happy to sit down with me and give advice and jump on board,” Martinez said. “This tribute is to acknowledge and remember a great man.”

Barry was stern and stubborn when it came to issues he cared and believed in. He fought and won his battles to keep the Paramount Theater and the Denver Symphony alive and open.

Knockout Central will take place on the streets in Central City and will be free to the general public with limited reserved table seating at $150 per seat. The event boasts a total of six matches for the evening, right in downtown.

“We’re going to have Main Street closed off from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. There’ll a lot of food trucks up here, some bars serving libations

…it’s going to be a really festive evening,” said Jeremy Fey, one of Barry’s sons and the mayor of Central City.

“It’ll be nice because it’ll give people the opportunity on a Saturday to come up earlier, experience the history [and culture] of Central City, and then come out for the fights.”

According to promoters, Central City is the perfect town to host this special event, as it has always been the home to extraordinary and revolutionary fan favorites, such as the nation’s fifth oldest Opera Festival, Colorado’s oldest Jazz Festival, and the oldest Juried Art show West of the Mississippi. Central City has hosted boxing events since the early 1900s including a kangaroo versus man fight. Louis Ferganchick, known as Gilpin Red, fought on many occasions in the Central City Opera House. Red’s final fight was a 13-round draw with Jack Dempsey.

“Boxing will be the main event that evening, but there’s a lot to do up here on either side of that, from the casinos to the history tours. The opera will be just getting out, so we won’t have that. That would be a nice clash of cultures,” laughed Jeremy. “The opera ends the week before. Maybe some of the lingering opera singers will be there and see the bouts. Maybe we can sometime soon get a bout back into the opera house, if that’s fitting.”

The matches will feature Colorado’s top professional boxers. The event will also include Semi-Pro amateur contests sanctioned and approved by the United States Boxing League.

“These are good boxers. They are boxers on the verge of contention. If you go and see this event, you’ll have a better idea of what one-on-one combat is,” explained Martinez. “Because boxing is not a game. Yes, it is a sport, but it’s not a game. It’s something that you have to take seriously, because if you don’t, and you step in the ring, you’re going to get hurt, because the object is to knock out your opponent. It takes a certain individual to train to step into the ring.”

Looking at the lineup, Javier Aragon of Denver will face Rafael Garcia of Tucson, Arizona, for the USBL Super Middleweight Contest at the title match.

“I’m excited to go out there and fight. It’ll be my first time in Colorado. I’m pretty sure [Aragon] is going to be ready, but I’m ready to go out there 100 percent,” said Garcia, who is preparing for the Central City fight. “I’ve been fighting since the age of eight. Boxing is my life, and that is what I love to do. I love fighting, and I was born for this. I just want to go out there and give a good, exciting fight for the fans. ”

“I started boxing when I was 12 years old, so eleven years now. I’m ready for [Garcia], and ready to show everyone my skills. My mind is sharp and I’m ready for the war,” said Aragon, speaking of the upcoming match. “Thank you to everyone for supporting me, and I want to invite everyone to Central City August 6 for the fight.”

Jesus Vazquez of Englewood is set to fight Rafael Reyez of Clovis, New Mexico. Both are in the lightweight class and are expected to last six rounds. The match is a USBL “United States Super Middleweight” Contest. Another fight with high expectations, according to Martinez, is Shawn McCalman of Aurora versus Ulisses Jiminex of Mexico City. They’re both middleweights, and the match is set for six rounds. Randall Schuckman of Denver will take on Carlos Burruel. The boxers are both in the lightweight class, and are expected to last for the four-round fight. Sergio Lopez of Denver is slated for a match against Yomi Heredia of Alamosa. The boxers are middleweight, with the match to last four to six rounds. Jose Campos of Greeley will face a fighter to-be- announced, for a welterweight fight.

“It’s much different in person than it is watching it on tv,” said Martinez, encouraging the public that can attend to do so. “You don’t get the adrenaline rush when you watch it on tv. It’s exciting, and it’s fun. There’s nothing like seeing the action live, and feeling the excitement in the air.”

For those outside of the immediate Central City area, the event will be streamed and broadcast live on IBtv.us globally.