FAIRFAX, VA – The countdown to “The Battle for Virginia,� the first boxing event ever at the Patriot Center set for Saturday, Sept. 17, has begun. Keystone Boxing invites fans to attend several exciting events, including a public workout being held this Thursday (today - 12:45PM) on-campus at George Mason University and featuring “The Contender’s’� Jimmy Lange and other boxers on the card.

The Main Event features Great Falls, VA boxer and star of NBC’s television series, “The Contender,� Jimmy Lange (25-2-1, 17 KOs), battling undefeated rival Perry Ballard (17-0, 13 KOs) of Martinsburg, WV for the154-lb. World Boxing Empire (WBE) title in a 12-round contest. Capitol Heights, MD native Lamont “Bay� Pearson (21-3-1, 11 KOs) continues his comeback from a right hand injury against Shamir Isa Reyes (18-3-2, 7 KOs) for the United States Boxing Association (USBA) 130-lb. Championship in the Co-Main Event. A locally-flavored undercard features Woodbridge, VA’s Orazio “The Razor� Robinson (5-1-2, 4 KOs) in action, as well as the professional debuts of local products “Money� Mike Sawyer, a GMU graduate from Fairfax and Alexandria’s Kay Koroma.

Tickets, priced at $30, $50, $75, $150 (reserved ringside), $225 (premium ringside) and $350 (VIP ringside) are on sale and will be available through all Ticketmaster outlets including the Patriot Center box office, online at www.ticketmaster.com or via Phonecharge at 703-573-SEAT, 202-397-SEAT or 410-547-SEAT. GMU students receive $10 off the $30 general admission ticket by presenting a valid student ID (up to four tickets) at the Patriot Center box office. For more information please visit www.patriotcenter.com.