Immanuel Thompson makes home boxing debut Saturday

Immanuel Thompson’s second professional boxing match Saturday night, at Doc Howard’s Lounge, will be against another Wichita fighter, first-time pro D.J. Devo.

Thompson is a 22-year-old Wichitan who's made a name for himself as a criminal justice scholar and a fashion model as well as a professional fighter. He's had only one fight, which lasted only 58 seconds, long enough for Thompson to knock his opponent down twice.

The Thompson-Devo fight will be the main event in a series of bouts between professional and amateurs, and boxers and mixed martial arts fighters. The fighters come from inside and outside Wichita, promoter Jeff Page said.

The fight card Saturday is a bit of a family affair, in that Page's two sons are both fighting opponents. Page's older son, Jeffrey, is a 225-pound fighter who also plays linebacker for the Butler Community College football team. His son Jeremiah is a 155-pound fighter, 18 years old, who is a senior at Andover Central and plays linebacker for that school's football team.

Page said all ages are welcome. The event is sanctioned with the Kansas Athletic Commission, he said. The general admission charge is $20.

The doors at Doc Howard's, 252 N. Mosley, will open at 5:30 p.m., he said. The fights are scheduled to start at 6:30. Thompson said his bout against Brown will likely start about 8.

This story was originally published July 15, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Immanuel Thompson makes home boxing debut Saturday."