Apr 3, 2016 4 min read

MEADOW LANDS – The first two times The Meadows Racetrack & Casino tried hosting boxing events last year, rain dampened the day.

The bouts went on but were less than ideal for fans, some of whom had paid hundreds of dollars to get soaked while taking in a night of boxing.

Weather won’t be a factor, however, when the The Meadows holds its first of three boxing cards this year Saturday night. The show will be held at the new covered Event Center, which seats 1,450. The Event Center is at the same location as the previous boxing events at The Meadows.

“Professional boxing has been a popular entertainment opportunity for our guests,” said Sean Sullivan, vice president and general manager of The Meadows. “Beyond the casino, racetrack and many other forms of entertainment, boxing has created another level of excitement within our facility.”

As they were in the previous boxing events, local fighters are scheduled to be at the top of the card for this one, including light heavyweight Tommy Karpency of Adah and heavyweight Jason Bergman, a washington resident.

Karpency (25-5-1), the No. 3 ranked light heavyweight in the United States and 20th in the world, will face Paul Gonsalves (9-7-1) for the vacant WBA-NABA USA light heavyweight title. Karpency is coming off a loss to Adonis Stevenson last September for the WBC world light heavyweight championship while Gonslaves has won his last two fights and is ranked 52nd in the U.S.

Bergman, meanwhile, is also coming off a tough loss to a top contender, unbeaten Joseph Parker, the 12-ranked heavyweight in the world.

Parker stopped Bergman via body shots in the eighth round of that fight in January at the Faleata Sports Complex in Samoa. It was, however, the longest anyone has lasted with Parker, who is 18-0 with 16 knockouts.

“I did well for myself in that fight,” said Bergman (25-12-2), who is scheduled to fight Jesse Barboza (11-1-1) Saturday.

“He was knocking guys out in two or three rounds. I finished the fight on my feet. The heat and humidity there were things I just wasn’t ready for. It was 85 in New Zealand when I was there before the fight. When we got to Samoa, it was 95 with nearly 100 percent humidity. But I think I opened some eyes in the boxing world.”

The fight against Barboza, who has won his last seven fights, could be the next step for Bergman, a 31-year-old lefty who is ranked 25th among U.S. heavyweights and 76th in the world.

His fight with Parker was with the WBO Oriental heavyweight title on the line. He’d like another shot at the WBA-NABA USA heavyweight title he held for nearly a year before losing it in a fight at The Meadows in July of 2014 to Akhor Muralimov.

Ironically, that belt will be on the line again at The Meadows in a fight between Jeremiah Karpency (12-0), the younger brother of Tommy Karpency, and Mike Sheppard (24-19). Muralimov vacated the title after beating Bergman.

“I’m really excited to see that fight,” said Bergman, who grew up next door to the Karpency family in Adah in Fayette County. “I’ve known Jeremiah all of my life and Sheppard is a good veteran fighter. I think it will be a great fight.”

Tommy and Jeremiah Karpency won’t be the only Karpencys on the card. A third brother, super welterweight Dan Karpency, with a 5-0 record, will make his second appearance at The Meadows. He knocked out Rick Morias there last July. This time, Dan Karpency will fight Eric Bledsoe (1-1).

Also on the card are Pittsburgh-based super lightweight Justin Johnson (6-11), who will face Eric Bossler (3-1).

Tickets are available and can be purchased at www.ticketfly.com or at The Meadows Casino gift shop.

The Meadows also has scheduled boxing events for June 18 and Aug. 27.