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Julius Ballo & Jonny Mansour Make Detroit
Debuts Aug. 29 From The Fox Theatre
Former amateur standouts and rising prospects Julius “JuJu”
Ballo and Jonny Mansour will make their Detroit debut on
Saturday, Aug. 29 live on Wynn Records Network from the Fox
Theatre as the cousins celebrate the city’s large Chaldean
and Middle Eastern communities. Comerica Bank is the
exclusive presenting partner of the Fox Theatre.
Ballo and Mansour were top U.S. amateurs out of San Diego,
with Ballo a 2021 Junior Pan Am Game Gold Medalist and
three-time USA Boxing National Champion, and Mansour the
U.S.'s No. 1 ranked lightweight and a two-time Golden Glove
Champion.
The cousins now bring their bona fide credentials and their
proud Iraqi roots to Detroit, home to the largest Chaldean
community in the country, as Salita Promotions continues its
commitment to revitalizing the city as a destination for
national and international boxing talent. With a massive
following behind them, an impressive social media presence,
and the skills to back it up in the ring, JuJu and Jonny are
expecting a huge crowd for their Detroit debut. Opponents
for Ballo and Mansour will be announced in the coming days.
In a featured bout, heavyweight contender Brandon Moore
(19-1, 10 KOs) will return to the ring to face former world
title challenger Bryant Jennings (27-4, 15 KOs) in the Wynn
Record Network main event. The full undercard will be
announced in the coming weeks.
Ballo (3-0), who is promoted by Top Rank, was one of the
most decorated amateurs before turning professional in 2025
at Madison Square Garden Theatre. The 5-foot-7 super
featherweight competed internationally against top talent,
winning the Junior Pan Am Games in 2021 and becoming a
three-time USA Boxing National Champion. The 23-year-old is
already a star outside the ring, as he has amassed nearly
1.3 million followers across TikTok and Instagram.
“Fighting in Detroit is more than just another bout for me -
this is an opportunity to represent my family, my Iraqi and
Chaldean roots, and to give back to a community that’s
supported us from day one of this journey,” Ballo said. “I’m
looking forward to putting on a performance everyone will
remember on August 29 at Fox Theatre.
In their last appearances, a homecoming fight in April at
Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, Calif., Ballo and Mansour
thrilled the 5,000 fans in attendance as they cruised to
victories. Now the cousins take step-up fights in a new
market, looking to capitalize on their growing fame within
the Chaldean community and boxing at large.
As an amateur, Mansour (7-0, 2 KOs) became the first
Californian since heavyweight Richard Torrez to become a
two-time Golden Gloves Champion. Since turning professional,
the 5-foot-10 lightweight has headlined three shows in
California as his in ring performances shined, while his
social presence has grown to more than 600,000 followers.
The 25-year-old dedicates his career to his late mother, who
passed away shortly after his May 2025 fight in Hollywood.
He has trained with Ryan Garcia, Manny Pacquiao and David
Benavidez and is committed to fulfilling his promise to his
mother to one day become a world champion.
“G2G Promotions is proud to bring its second professional
boxing event to Detroit, Michigan—a city with a rich boxing
tradition and a place our Middle Eastern family proudly
calls home,” said Monsour. “This event is more than just a
night of fights. It's an opportunity to celebrate our roots,
unite the community, and showcase world-class boxing in the
city that means so much to us. At G2G Promotions, our
mission is simple: deliver exciting, competitive boxing,
create an unforgettable entertainment experience, and make
every fan feel like they're part of something special.
“Detroit has always been known for its fighting spirit, and
we're honored to contribute to that legacy. We invite boxing
fans, families, and supporters from every background to join
us for an incredible night of action, community, and
celebration.”
The 6-foot-6 Moore has won five straight since his only
defeat to top contender Richard Torrez Jr. in 2024. The
Lakeland, Fla., native has rallied off three consecutive
wins over undefeated prospects, including a 10-round
unanimous decision over DeAndre Savage in his last bout in
September 2025. Moore, who is ranked No. 15 in the WBO, was
recently in talks to fight Tyson Fury and has served as a
main sparring partner for former unified champion Anthony
Joshua for his fight this Saturday in Saudi Arabia.
Jennings has fought some of the heavyweight divisions’ best
since turning professional in 2010, including hard-fought
battles against then-undefeated contenders Luis Ortiz, Oscar
Rivas and Joe Joyce. The 6-foot-3 Philadelphia native
challenged Wladimir Klitschko for the IBF and WBO titles in
2015, losing a unanimous decision at Madison Square Garden.
After a five year break after the loss to Joyce, Jennings
returned to boxing in 2024 and has won three straight. In
his last bout, he won an eight-round decision over Robert
Simms in Grand Rapids, Mich. Jennings is trained by Bozy
Ennis, father of two-division champion Jaron Ennis, and
Aaron Ford.
“August 29 is going to be a special night for boxing for
fans,” said Dmitriy Salita, President, Salita Promotions.
“Fans will see a meaningful all-American heavyweight matchup
between Brandon Moore and Bryant Jennings, while two of
boxing’s brightest young stars, Johnny Mansour and Juju
Ballo, continue their rise on one of the sport’s biggest
stages.
“Detroit has a rich boxing history, and every event we
promote is another step toward restoring the city as a true
hub for world-class professional boxing. There’s no better
setting than the iconic Fox Theatre, one of the most
beautiful venues in the country, and we’re excited to bring
this event to fans live on Wynn Records Network.”
Added Ruben Branson, CEO Wynn Records: “Detroit is a city
with championship DNA, so bringing Wynn Networks here for
our second live boxing event feels like the perfect next
step. We’re excited to continue showcasing world-class
talent while building a platform that elevates the sport and
creates new opportunities for fighters and fans alike. We’re
just getting started, but every event is another brick in
the foundation of what we’re building. The vision is
long-term, and we’re proud to help shape boxing’s next
chapter.”
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