Lewiston, Maine (July 15, 2015) – New England Fights (NEF), America's number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its nineteenth mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event, "NEF XIX," on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine. Earlier today, the promotion announced the addition of a professional bout to the fight card. Tollison Lewis (0-4) has signed to face "Shatterproof 2.0" Derek Shorey (2-2) at a fight weight of 150-pounds. NEF further announced that Lewis had signed a long term, multi-fight contract with the company.
Following a lengthy amateur career that saw him compete in the cage thirteen times, Tollison Lewis got off to a slow start in his professional career. He has been known throughout his career to take the toughest fights he can find, and Lewis's four losses have all come at the hands of fighters who currently have winning records, with a combined win-loss tally of 16-6. Last fall, at NEF's first boxing event, Lewis defeated veteran boxer John Webster (8-7-1) after taking the bout on just a day's notice. With a brand new NEF contract in tow, a child on the way, and a respite from the sport behind him, Lewis will now look to carry his success from the NEF boxing ring over to the MMA cage. The 150-pound catchweight will be the first step in Lewis's transition from the lightweight to featherweight division.
"First off I'd like to thank NEF for the opportunity again," said Lewis. "I've been on a long break with my baby girl on the way getting prepared for fatherhood, but I'm back now. I'm super excited for this fight and also making my way down in weight. Shorey is a tough guy and also very genuine person. He's as dangerous as any man who steps in that cage. I'll be ready and I know he will be coming hard and dangerous with bad intentions behind everything and when that cage door closes, he's no friend - it's all business. Be ready Derek, because I will be. Let's give these fans a show and test ourselves to the limit."
The founder and head of the Shatterproof Combat Club, Derek Shorey is looking to bounce back from what he considers the worst loss of his career. Indeed, Jeremy DiChiara (2-0) unleashed an offensive barrage on Shorey at "NEF XVIII" last month that resulted in a first-round stoppage. Like Lewis, Shorey is also an NEF-signed athlete. Also like Lewis, Shorey is looking to give NEF fans a show to remember at "NEF XIX."
"This is a fight I've seen coming and I've wanted for a long time," said Shorey. "Tollison will not back down, and he's not afraid to get hit. I'm coming off the worst performance of my career, and my family, friends and fans deserve better than that. I'm excited to get in there and mix it up with Lewis and give the NEF fans the best performance of my career."
New England Fights' next event, "NEF XIX," takes place on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine. Tickets for "NEF XIX" start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée box office at 207.783.2009 x 525. For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com. In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”