Salita Promotions today announced the signing of Flint, Mich., standout boxer Garett “Baby Gee” Rice, a decorated amateur talent fighting out of the legendary Berston Field House, the same Flint boxing institution that helped launch the rise of two-time Olympic gold medalist and undisputed world champion Claressa Shields. Rice will make his professional debut on Saturday, December 20 at the historic Fox Theatre in Detroit, on a card headlined by the WBC and WBA Unified Middleweight World Championship rematch between Olivia Curry (7-2-2, 2 KOs) and Kaye Scott (4-1-1) and featuring Detroit’s own Tony “Super Bad” Harrison (30-4-1, 21 KOs) in the co-main event.
The BIG TIME BOXING USA event, sponsored by M Select Luxury Water, Generations, and BETOnline, takes place Saturday, December 20 at Detroit’s historic Fox Theatre, and will stream live on the global leader of boxing, DAZN. Doors open at 5 p.m. with the first fight scheduled for 6 p.m., leading into the DAZN telecast beginning at 9 p.m. The card is presented by Salita Promotions, with tickets available now at 313Presents.com and Ticketmaster.com.
Rice, 22, enters the professional ranks following an exceptional amateur career that included more than 170 bouts and championship wins across the country. A slick featherweight known for his speed and technical skill, Rice compiled multiple Silver Gloves titles (2015, 2016), a Junior Olympic championship, Michigan Golden Gloves state championships (2017, 2018), and the 2024 Ohio State Golden Gloves title. His résumé also features victories at the USA Eastern and Western Qualifier Championships (2017), and numerous Most Outstanding Fighter awards, and a run as the No. 1 amateur in the nation for multiple years. Rice most recently qualified for and competed in the 2023 U.S. Olympic Trials.
Trained under veteran coach Ed Kendall, Rice has long been a fixture at Berston Field House, where he trained alongside Shields throughout his amateur career. The Flint native carries his hometown’s–and home gym’s–fighting spirit into his professional debut.
“Turning pro feels like the start of a new chapter,” Rice said. “I learned a lot from the amateurs how to stay patient, how to place my shots, how to think in the ring. Now it’s about sharpening that and building real momentum. I want to be 7-0 by the end of 2026.”
Rice’s placement on the December 20 card marks a meaningful introduction to fans. Scheduled as the third bout of the night, Rice will hit the ring early, giving fans a reason to be in their seats when the action starts.
“It feels good to be fighting under Tony,” Rice added, referencing Detroit’s beloved former world champion Tony Harrison. “I’m excited. It’s motivational. And at the end of the day, I’m a dad 24/7. Everything I’m doing is for my kid.”
Salita Promotions identified Rice during the 2024 Olympic Trials and finalized his signing this fall in partnership with Wynn Records, marking a joint commitment to developing elite talent and expanding the sports next generation of boxing stars.
“Garrett is one of the best young amateur standouts in the country, ” said President of Salita Promotions Dmitiry Salita. “Coming out of Flint’s legendary Berston Field House, the same Michigan boxing lineage that produced world champions and icons, has the talent, the charisma, and the Detroit-Flint spirit that fans connect with. We believe he can become one of the breakout faces of the new era. We’re excited to guide his professional journey and even more excited to partner with Wynn Records to take Baby Gee’s story and popularity beyond the ring.”
Garett ‘Baby Gee’ Rice represents everything Wynn Records stands for, authenticity, discipline, and greatness in motion,” said Papoose, Executive at Wynn Records. “From the moment we saw him fight, we knew he had that rare mix of skill, hunger, and star quality that can’t be taught. Partnering with Salita Promotions to help launch his professional career is more than a business move, it’s a cultural investment in the next generation of champions coming out of Flint. Baby Gee’s story, his work ethic, and his energy align perfectly with our vision to bridge music, sports, and culture on a world stage.”
World-class boxing returns to Detroit as the historic Fox Theatre hosts one of the year’s most anticipated rematches. Olivia Curry (7-2-2, 2 KOs) and Kaye Scott (4-1-1) will settle unfinished business in a ten-round showdown for the WBC and WBA Unified Middleweight World Championship on Saturday, December 20. The stacked card, promoted by Salita Promotions, also features Detroit’s own Tony “Super Bad” Harrison (30-4-1, 21 KOs) continuing his climb back to title contention in a ten-round middleweight clash against Argentina’s Brian Damian Chaves (15-7, 6 KOs), along with undefeated heavyweight Pryce Taylor (9-0, 6 KOs) taking on Michael Coffie (13-5, 10 KOs) in an eight-round matchup.
