The event, ‘Night of the Black Stars’ will also celebrate the first anniversary of Kevin Rudd’s parliamentary apology. Hosting partner for the event is Vibe Australia and the fights will take place under a big top tent at the Block in Redfern on land owned by the Aboriginal Housing Company.

The Night of the Black Stars card will feature the cream of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait professional and amateur boxers together for the first time on the same card.

The lineup includes professionals Cool Willie Kickett, Glebe’s Edgar ‘Brown Sugar’ Wymarra and former NRL star Joey Williams, plus amateurs Campbell Cobbo Riley and Paulie West among many others.

The boxing will be interspersed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island cultural acts featuring indigenous stars including Casey Donovan. The event will also feature Vibe 3-on-3 Basketball games showcasing Sydney’s young talent, Market stalls, food stalls, jumping castles and children’s entertainment.

Alex Wymarra, the head of the Indigenous Sporting and Boxing Academy said: “The Academy is being launched to address the crippling lack of culturally relevant opportunities available to Inner City Sydney indigenous youth. Boxing changes lives and a formal program has already delivered great results in reaching at-risk youth, providing them with focus, self esteem and respect for their bodies.

“The Aboriginal boxing community at the Block has a rich history and boxing and culture have always brought our people together and given us a platform to show our skills and bravery. This event will showcase our best boxers all together on one card for the first time and in particular we also want to show Cool Willie Kickett that the community supports him and we want to give him a loud and proud return to the ring. If there are any boxing fans out there who want to see the Black Magic handspeed and our next Lionel Rose, Night of the Black Stars on Black Friday at the Block is the place to be.”

Photo: Don Arnold

Source: www.alternativemediagroup.com/ThreadView.aspx?tid=14688#post_14688