[NEF PRESS RELEASE]
Lewiston, Maine (May 22, 2019) – New England Fights (NEF) returns to the Androscoggin Bank Colisee on Saturday, June 22 with its next mixed-martial-arts event, "NEF 39: ALL-AMERICAN." Earlier today, the fight promotion announced the addition of an amateur title fight to the card. Carlton Charles (3-2) will face Jordan Norman (2-1) for the vacant amateur middleweight belt.
Prior to entering the MMA ranks, Carlton Charles made his mark on the football field. He played for Windham High School in Windham, Maine and later led the team to a Class A title as an assistant coach. Charles went on to play fullback for the University of Maine Black Bears. He made his NEF debut in the summer of 2017 with a 23-second knockout win. He would top that performance with a 12-second knockout victory in February 2018. After an unsuccessful attempt at capturing the amateur welterweight title against Duncan Smith (5-3) last June, Charles returned to the cage one month ago in New Hampshire and picked up yet another first-round knockout win.
"As always, I feel blessed and very grateful for the opportunity to fight for the belt," said Charles. "I know Jordan has come a long way in this sport and is always training hard and improving. I will be looking to not be caught by one of those big meat hooks that he has for hands. He's a big powerful guy, and I'm going to be training hard as always to be able to go out and perform to my best ability. I know my coaches will have me ready for this one! have no doubt in my mind the fans will be in for a real treat with this one."
Jordan Norman has indeed come a long way since his NEF debut last June. He lost that evening via first-round knockout, but Norman would come firing back in his next two bouts. He won a split decision over John Assam (0-1) last fall, and just last month finished Greg Ishihara (0-1) in the second round. Norman represents the Bad Little Falls Dojo.
“I’m honored for the opportunity to get into the NEF cage and compete for the amateur title against someone like Carlton," exclaimed Norman. "He and I will put on one hell of a show for the Lewiston crowd. Both of us come to fight and it won’t be any different on June 22nd. I have nothing but respect for him and his team. I’m excited for the task at hand and scrapping it out for the middleweight title.”
The middleweight title fight between Charles and Norman is the fourth already announced for the "NEF 39" card. Josh "Hook On" Harvey (6-0-1) is scheduled to defend the professional featherweight title against Jordan Downey (5-4), while Nate Boucher (4-3) will square off with Robert Presley (5-4) for the vacant amateur men's flyweight belt, and undefeated Glory Watson (4-0) takes on Caree Hill (4-1) to crown NEF's first amateur women's flyweight champion. Also announced for the card, Jesse "The Viking" Erickson (9-7) faces Lewis Corapi (8-5) in a professional lightweight bout.
"NEF 39: ALL-AMERICAN," will take place on Saturday, June 22, 2019 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine with a bell time of 7 pm. Tickets are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com.