Garrett Holeve will fight David Steffan in an amateur mixed martial arts (MMA) fight at a catchweight of 140 pounds, in a contest that will take place at the Seminole Immokalee Casino in Immokalee, Florida, on August 3, 2013.
Holeve has Down syndrome while Steffan suffers from cerebral palsy.
If you're wondering how a bout like this could get sanctioned -- even in "The Sunshine State" -- wonder no more. "King of the Casino" promoter Mark Shopp employs an independent sanctioning body not affiliated with the Association of Boxing Commissions.
USA Today talks to Garrett's dad, Mitch Holeve:
"Garrett understands and I understand that he's never going to become a professional fighter, so he's an amateur, and he's followed the progression. I can't change being supportive of my son just because he's going into a contest where he's not being protected by the referee or his opponent. I don't know if there's going to be another opportunity for these guys to fight someone else again. The message that we try to send is that Garrett has taken this to the extreme, but martial arts has given him a lot"
Their upcoming fight will be contested over three, three-minute rounds under modified rules to include shin protectors, while striking to the head of a grounded opponent is prohibited. Holeve, a former Special Olympian, is known as "G-Money" inside the cage and recently promised to hurt someone "real bad"


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