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Rivals are able to come together

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By EDDIE DANIELS

edaniels@tampatrib.com

Published: September 19, 2009

Updated: 09/19/2009 12:13 am

TAMPA - Imagine a world where Burger King and McDonald's collaborate on a new burger.

Ronald McDonald and the King side by side in the kitchen passing the pickles, lettuce and tomatoes. Highly unlikely.

But in the boxing world - here in Tampa, in fact - a synergy has been achieved. With the dissolving of Starfight Productions, a boxing promotions company founded in 2001, something had to be done.

Pete Fernandez, who started Starfight, now has Fight Factory Promotions along with business partner Michael Asmer. Fight Factory and One Punch will put on their first event tonight at the Downtown Tampa Hyatt Regency.

"It's something that sort of makes sense from the standpoint of, we each lacked what the other one brought to the dance," said Terry Trekas, the director of operations for One Punch.

"With Pete and Mike, you have Mike, who's got the financial capital to do a lot of things that I probably couldn't do on my own. On the same token ... (Pete and Mike) don't have the organizational aspect of running the event - all the nuts and bolts, coordination of the event and that stuff. It just sort of fit, where it just made sense."

The partnership comes, as Trekas pointed out, after "Pete and I battled each other for the last eight years."

The same year (2001) that Starfight Production was founded, Trekas began promoting shows in Tampa with One Punch Productions. That didn't just create a battle for fight dates or locations, either. They also had fighters in common, including Nate Campbell.

Fernandez trained Campbell in Tampa before Campbell moved on to One Punch Productions in 2005. Campbell even lived with Fernandez for a while.

Fernandez credits Trekas with being a large part of Campbell's recent success as the former lightweight champion.

Now the two can bring fighters from each company and place them on the same card. Trekas, who also has a relationship with Don King, might be able to get fighters from King.

"I don't get stoked about very much, but I'm stoked about this," Trekas said. "It's nice to be able to promote in your own town and not have to fight anybody. You're not competing for dates, you're not competing for sponsors or ticket buyers. ... You're not forcing the public, especially in this economy, to choose allegiances. It makes the whole thing a lot easier."

Reporter Eddie Daniels

can be reached at

THE CARD

WHAT: Fight Night

WHERE: Downtown Tampa Hyatt Regency, 211 North Tampa St.

WHEN: 7:30 tonight

TICKETS: $20-$100; call (813) 503-8109

FIGHTERS: Nick Iannuzzi, Adam Jaco, Raymond Charles, Manny Woods, Lamar Davis, Kenneth Moody Jr., Anthony Rodriguez and Cordaro Simpkins

(813) 259-7066.

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