MINOT, N.D. (KMOT) – Former professional boxer and world champion Virgil Hill is back in North Dakota, his stomping grounds.
He’s here to host the first-ever Magic City Mayhem pro boxing event, where local youth fighters are getting the chance to take on the ring at a professional level.
You may remember our stories with the Lopez twins, Jose and Rafael, from Minot.
They’re making their debut as pro athletes in this weekend’s show.
Hill told us he’s trained with them at their gym north of town and called them “impressive.”
The North Dakota native, known by many as “Quicksilver,” is a five-time world champion boxer.
The Peace Garden State is where he established his career and won world titles, so promoting young fighters is a way for him to give back.
“We want to give them opportunities that I didn’t have when I was coming up, so that our North Dakota kids have opportunities,” said Hill.
His son, Virgil Hill Jr., said they’re hoping to show the youth that pursuing a pro boxing career can be done right here in North Dakota.
“Reaching to that pinnacle of his career in this area, it’s awesome to see him giving fighters that are not only local, but also have dreams and aspirations, to reach that and to give them their first opportunity here,” said Hill Jr.
The main event features a match between the Marines’ Misael De La Cruz and Minot Air Force Base’s Willie Johnican.
Doors open at 5 p.m. at the Minot Auditorium this Saturday.
Click here for info on tickets and for the full event.
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