SANDWICH, Mass. (June 8, 2006) – Professional boxing returns to Plymouth on Friday night, June 30 as “Irish” Mike Culbert’s retirement fight headlines “Battle Zone at The Rock III,” promoted by Alpha Omega Entertainment Group in association with Mark Vaz.

Belfast, Ireland-born Culbert (29-4-1, 6 KOs), living in Stoughton (MA), has announced his intentions to retire after he fights June 30 against veteran super middleweight Khalif “Panther” Shabazz (11-8, 7 KOs), fighting out of Vermont. The slick boxing Culbert is the former Massachusetts State super middleweight and middleweight champion, as well as the ex-USBF regional super middleweight title-holder. His last loss was to legendary Roberto Duran in 1996. Shabazz has been in the ring with the likes of the great Bernard Hopkins and Julian Jackson.

“Battle Zone at The Rock III,“ technically speaking, is Alpha Omega’s first boxing promotion. Sports marketing specialist Hank Tuohy and Cape Cod businessman Dino Mitrokostas own and operate Alpha Omega. Tuohy, however, has promoted several shows in the past under Tuohy Sports & Entertainment.

“Mark Vaz had this date reserved at Plymouth Memorial Hall and gave us an opportunity to promote the show,” Tuohy explained. “Dino and I liked the venue very much and we decided to take over the show featuring some up-and-coming, exciting fighters. We’re also putting together an Alpha Omega team to promote future shows at Mohegan Sun and other venues.”

In the six-round co-feature, five-time Irish National amateur champion James Clancy (7-0, 1 KO) puts his unbeaten record on the line against heavyweight Tyrone Smith (5-1-1, 2 KOs), a Boston police officer and former New England Golden Gloves champion. The Clancy brothers are from Clare, Ireland and now fight out of South Boston.

Clancy’s younger brother, cruiserweight Mark Clancy (4-0-1), fights an opponent to be determined in a six-round bout. Popular Stoughton welterweight Eddie “Fighting Irish” Bishop (9-1-1, 4 KOs) is scheduled in a six-round bout against TBA.

Also on the undercard in four-round matches are Quincy light heavyweight Chris Traietti (3-0, 2 KOs), a student at Westfield State College who has seen military duty in Iraq as a member of the Air Force Reserve, versus Don Labbe (3-6, 2 KOs), of Maine; local favorite Benny Lescarbeau (2-0, 2 KOs) takes on super middleweight LaGene Richardson (0-2).

“Battle Zone at The Rock III” is sponsored in part by Mohegan Sun, Sam Diego’s, Davidoff of Madison Avenue (NYC), East Bay Grille, Miller Lite, Data Link Communications and the New Garden Hilton Inn.

The official weigh in will be open to the public and held Thursday, June 29 (5 PM start) at Sam Diego’s, 151 Main Street, Plymouth.