By Bob Ryder

Troy Rowland, with plans on working his way towards a title shot, returns to the ring after a 3 1/2 year layoff on Friday, April 24. Rowland will be featured in the six round main event vs Jose Florentino as part of an eight bout presentation by promoters Blue Cap Promotions, Carlos Llinas International Productions (CLIP) and TMS Fight Night. The Orbit Room in Grand Rapids, MI will be the site for “Unfinished Business…The Return of Troy Rowland.”

Fightnews spoke to Rowland about his career and this upcoming fight. “I have stayed in shape. When I watched the guys out there today, I started to get the desire to give it another try before my time passed me by. I’m a young 33 but I felt like it was now or never if I was serious on giving it another shot,” Rowland related. He continued, “I want to see how far I can go within the next two years as I don’t want to fight much past 35 so I need to be active. I want a chance to fight for the title. This is not a one time fight just to pay some bills. Money is certainly a factor but not the only one. Boxing needs exposure here in Western Michigan. We have some real good young local talent who need an opportunity to showcase themselves. I hope my comeback will provide them and my promoters a chance to get boxing on this side of the state going again.”

In 2004 Middleweight Rowland fought main events on Showtime and ESPN, taking on and beating Epifanio Mendoza and Kenny Ellis in compiling a 23-2 (6 KO’s) record. Suddenly though Rowland quit boxing after a decision win over Ted Muller in October, 2005. “I was just burned out at the time and with a new family I just could not give my boxing career the necessary attention,” Rowland claims.

Now with the competitive juices flowing again and with clear fistic aspirations in sight, Rowland is ready to entertain the fight starved fans of his hometown on April 24.

The Orbit Room is located at 2525 Lake Eastbrook Blvd SE, Grand Rapids, MI. Tickets are $51, $41, $31 and $21 and are available at the Orbit Room box office (open Fridays 12:30-5:30 PM), at www.ticketmaster.com and at the 5th 3rd Ballpark in Comstock Park.