[NEF PRESS RELEASE]
Portland, Maine (August 10, 2023) – New England Fights and Boston Boxing Promotions present “NEF 54: A Fight at the Opera” on Saturday, September 2, 2023, at Merrill Auditorium in Portland. A full pro boxing card will take place beginning at 5 pm immediately followed by a full MMA card. Earlier today, NEF announced the addition of a professional MMA flyweight bout to the card. Tyler Smythe (3-1) will meet Casey Norton (2-1) at a fight weight of 125 pounds.
Tyler “Butter Knife” Smythe is a perfect 4-0 in the NEF cage dating back to his amateur career with all four wins coming by way of stoppage. Smythe won the NEF Amateur Flyweight Title at “NEF 45” with a technical knockout over Caleb Austin (5-2) and then returned to successfully defend it at “NEF 46” with a submission of Ryan Burgess (3-3). He returned to the NEF cage last month at “NEF 53” for the first time as a professional fighter. Smythe needed just 73 seconds to finish Paul Walters (0-2) that evening. He currently represents Evolution Athletix based in Saco, Maine.
“I’m excited to be back again and I’m excited to put on a show and run through this kid,” said Smythe. “I don’t know much about my opponent but I don’t care. I’m showing up to kill. I’m ready.”
Casey “The Wonderbread Warrior” Norton had a perfect amateur career of 4-0, capturing a regional flyweight championship in the process. He turned pro in 2022 and would go on to win his first two professional bouts by unanimous decision. Norton suffered the first and only loss of his MMA career last spring and will look to get back in the win column on September 2. He represents Ascension Athletics based in Connecticut.
“I’ll bring the bread if he brings the butter,” exclaimed Norton.
“NEF 54: A Fight at the Opera” takes place on Saturday, September 2, 2023, at Merrill Auditorium in Portland, Maine. A professional boxing card will be presented first by Boston Boxing Promotions immediately followed by an MMA card by New England Fights. Doors are scheduled to open at 4 pm with first fight taking place at 5 pm. Tickets to “NEF 54” are available now at www.porttix.com.