[NEF Press Release]
Bangor, Maine (June 11, 2013) – New England Fights! (NEF) today announced a featherweight championship featured bout between Bucksport's Ray "All Business" Wood (3-0) and Lenny Wheeler (6-2) from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, for the mixed martial arts promotion's upcoming outdoor summer event "Nations Collide: Canadian Invasion" set to take place on Friday, July 12th at Darling's Waterfront Pavilion in Bangor, Maine.
"Ray Wood earned this opportunity to fight for a championship the old fashioned way through hard work and determination," stated NEF promoter and co-owner Nick DiSalvo. "When it came time to crown our featherweight champion, we knew Ray would be one of the guys vying for it. He's at the peak of his game physically and skill-wise right now and promises to put on the type of cage performance in Bangor that he has become famous for--all business all the time."
When Wood steps into the cage on July 12th he will do so with a perfect, unblemished 3-0 record that he's managed to amass in only eight months since turning professional last November at NEF V when he stopped fan favorite John "First Class" Raio in the second round with strikes. Wood most recently submitted his old nemesis, Bombsquad's Ahsan Abdulla--who Wood first defeated when both competitors were still amateurs back at NEF I in February 2012--at NEF VII via second-round armbar.
"Fighting for the NEF featherweight title in front of my home crowd on the Bangor waterfront is a dream come true," stated Wood when reached for comment. "I'm excited to take that next step in my career. Adding a title to my resume will just prove I am a top contender in the New England 145lb division."
Standing between Wood and championship gold on July 12th will be Wolfrun MMA's Canadian Lenny Wheeler. Wheeler has not lost in over two years and has stated that he is not making the long sojourn to Bangor, Maine to lose and return home empty handed.
"Ray Wood is more than ready for this challenge after having closed out his amateur career as the universally recognized number one featherweight in the Northeast and remaining perfect at his weight as a professional," stated NEF matchmaker and co-owner Matt Peterson. "However, Lenny Wheeler is coming to fight and will be Wood's stiffest test to date. I expect fully-loaded Roman candles, bottle rockets and fire flowers of foot-fist activity from this one."
"Nations Collide: Canadian Invasion," will take place on July 12 at Darling's Waterfront Pavilion in Bangor, Maine. Tickets are on sale now at www.waterfrontconcerts.com or by calling 800.745.3000. For more information on the event, visit www.NewEnglandFights.com. You can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”
About “Nations Collide: Canadian Invasion”
“Nations Collide: Canadian Invasion” is a complete evening of outdoor combat sports entertainment featuring the top professional and amateur athletes from the United States and Canada competing in full-contact mixed martial arts (MMA) cagefighting action. Purchase your tickets today and fly your country’s flag on July 12 in Bangor to support your favorite athlete in the fastest-growing, most thrilling sport in the world! Brought to you by Shipyard Brewing Company and the Maine Army National Guard: “Bayonets Forward."