The Emerald Queen Casino and Brian Halquist Productions enter their 15th year of combative sports when Battle at the Boat 80 kicks off January 8, 2011.
Brian Halquist started Brian Halquist Productions, Inc. in 1989, when he promoted up-and-coming heavyweight boxing contender, Joe “The Boss” Hipp. Halquist then teamed up with the Emerald Queen Casino on July 9, 1997 when the Emerald Queen was still a riverboat down on the tide flats and the ring was in a big circus tent. That was the beginning of the consistently sold-out popular Northwest boxing series entitled “Battle at the Boat.” Boxing at the Emerald Queen became so popular that it hosted the Vernon Forrest-Carlos Baldomir WBC super welterweight title fight on July 28, 2007, which became sold out before it was even advertised.
Following the success of Forrest vs. Baldomir fight, ShoBox celebrated its 100th telecast on November 2, 2007 at the Emerald Queen with Chambers vs. Brock. The very next year, Showtime returned to the Emerald Queen Casino, where a sold out crowd witnessed Vic Darchinyan score an impressive 5th round KO over IBF Champion Dmitri Kirillov.
Also in 2008, Brian Halquist Productions promoted Strike Force at the Tacoma Dome, during which 7,500 screaming fans cheered on Bob Sapp. With the success of the Tacoma Dome show, Brian Halquist and the Emerald Queen Casino teamed up again, this time creating CageSport MMA. Their first MMA show was held on June 7th, 2008 where a standing room only crowd watched some of the best local MMA fighters battle it out.
In addition to professional boxing and CageSport MMA, the Emerald Queen Casino hosts the annual Guns & Hoses, charity boxing event. The Puyallup Tribe’s casino also sponsors the Tacoma Golden Gloves, which is the second longest running Golden Gloves in the United States.
“We are very excited about 2011. We have a great venue at the Emerald Queen Casino and pride ourselves on giving fight fans the best professional boxing and mixed-martial arts action in the Northwest,” said Promoter Brian Halquist.
2011 Sports Dates
- January 8, 2011 Battle at the Boat 80
- February 19, 2011 CageSport XIII
- March 19, 2011 Battle at the Boat 81
- April 23, 2011 CageSport XIV
- June 4, 2011 Battle at the Boat 82
- July 16, 2011 CageSport XV
- August 27, 2011 Battle at the Boat 83
- September 17, 2011 Guns N’ Hoses Charity Boxing
- October 1, 2011 CageSport XVI
- November 5, 2011 Battle at the Boat 84
- December 3, 2011 CageSport XVII
Tickets to our events
Tickets are available at the Emerald Queen Casino Box office, online at www.ticketmaster.com and at all ticketmaster outlets.
Ticket Prices: *$100 – $40 – $25
Get up to date information at: www.Halquistproductions.com
Check out both Battle at the Boat and CageSport MMA on Facebook!
For more information or fighter interviews contact event coordinator Kelly Thompson at (509) 607-0497
* Includes VIP Party 5:00-7:00 pm at the Bridge Night Club. For food and drink specials.