BAY ST. LOUIS, MS – Hollywood Casino Bay St. Louis announced that Kendrick Releford will replace injured fighter Leo Nolan in the main event to battle with rising crowd pleaser “Big Fred” Kassi on Saturday, April 24th, at 8 p.m.  “Releford will be the best fighter that Kassi has ever fought in his professional career,” said Boxing Promoter Les Bonano.

Releford, from Fort Worth, Texas, is coming off of winning six of his last seven fights. Releford has 21 wins and 13 losses. The losses came while fighting in Germany three times, Canada , the United Kingdom and throughout the United States . Releford has never been knocked out and holds wins over highly rated Elieser Castillo for the WBO Latino heavyweight title 12 round decision and highly regarded “Cuban” Raymond Garbey. 

Heavyweight Kassi won his last fight at Hollywood against the heavy hitter Moises Droz (13W-9L) by knock out in the third round. He’s won three fights in a row since his lone set back.

The co-feature to the main event will include two of the top prospects in this region. In a six-round light heavy weight fight Anthony Doughty (6W-1L) of Tuscaloosa , AL , will battle it out with undefeated Justin Verdin (9W-0L) of Houma , Louisiana .

In the first middle weight bout Jamond Bourgeois of New Orleans , Louisiana , makes his professional debut facing off with Josh Thorpe (1W-0L). Thorpe is from Mobile, Alabama, and both fighters are expected to draw a large fan base. Light weight David Hill (0W-1L) returns from Pensacola , Florida , to go toe-to-toe with Aubrey Norris from Mobile , AL. Norris is making his professional debut. Hill lost his first professional fight at Hollywood Casino earlier in the year.

Middleweights Marcus McDaniel (2W-0L) and Billy Cunningham (3W-4L) of Jackson , MS , will step into ring.  McDaniel, a very fast fighter from New Orleans, LA, won a tough four-round battle here in January where he handed Cleoney Fouqua, a fighter out of Columbus , MS , his first and only loss.

Leo Nolan (27 wins - 2 losses) pulled out of the Kassi fight late last week with back injury.  He forwarded copies of his medicals from Henry Ford Medical Center . Nolan's representative stated that the fight with Kassi will be rescheduled when Nolan obtains the approval medically to fight.                              

Don’t miss live boxing at Hollywood Casino Bay St. Louis. Hurry, these fighting events will sell out soon. Tickets are $20, $50 and $100 and on sale now at the Gift Shop or call 1-800-229-2683. MATCHES, FIGHTS AND FIGHTERS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.  Must be at least 21 to attend. Visit .