WORCESTER, Masse. (Janvier 5, 2017) – Auburn (MA) moyen junior “Irlandais” Chuck Shearns will become the second-oldest professional fighter in Massachusetts boxing history jeudi nuit, Janvier 19, in his farewell performance at the Worcester Palladium, marking the first pro boxing event in Worcester, located in Central Mass., in more than five years.
Le inaugurale “L'avenir de la Nouvelle-Angleterre” series event is being presented by Rivera Promotions Entertainment (À propos de nous), which is owned and operated by one of Worcester’s all-time greatest boxers – 3-temps, 2-champion du monde de division Jose Antonio “Le Gallo” Rivera – et son fils, Antoine “AJ” Rivera.
Rising junior lightweight prospect, 2015 Nouvelle-Angleterre d'or Gloves champion Irvin Gonzalez (4-0, 4 KOs), will be fighting at home in the 6-round main event against Mexican invader Oscar Eduardo Quezada (2-1, 1 KO), tandis que Springfield (MA) mi-lourds Reinaldo “Bazooka” Graceski (4-0, 2 KOs) meets Worcester’s Ralph Johnson (2-9, 1 KO) in the six-round co-feature.
The 49-year-old Shearns (2-1, 1 KO), who is the general manager of Lundgren Honda in Auburn, va prendre Shavonte Dixon (0-1), de Philadelphie, dans un combat de quatre rondes. The state record, set in 2011 by then 53-year-old Joe Siciliano, is safe because Jan. 19e will definitely be Shearns’ last fight.
“I have a tremendous amount of respect for all boxers in terms of what they go through to be able to perform at their best in the ring,” promoter Jose Antonio Rivera said. “Chuck is doing it at 49 ans! That takes a lot of sacrifice and courage to put your body through that rugged training. I wish him the best and I am glad I can provide him with the opportunity to be able to say goodbye to boxing on his own terms.”
Shearns made his amateur debut at the age of 29, 10 Des années plus tard he made his professional debut. “I grew up watching boxing with my father (Jean), who boxed in the Navy, and my grandfather (Jean),” Shearns explained. “My grandfather was a club fighter, si, boxing was in my blood. I only had four amateur fights and one day I met “Fitzy,” who is now one of my closest friends. (Fitzgerald Sean, one of Worcester’s all-time best boxers, who is Shearns’ head trainer.) I told him I wanted one pro fight and asked him to train me.”
Pourquoi, bien que, à l'âge de 49 does he still put himself through such extensive training, while working fulltime during the holiday season, to fight an opponent half his age?
“Boxing was the ultimate hobby for me and I just got carried away with it,” Shearns admitted. “I’m a novelty, not a real pro boxer. I’m fighting Janvier 19e because I was given this opportunity and decided to accept it but, honnêtement, I’m sure that this it! Maybe I just wanted a chance to go out with a win because I lost my last one? Je ne sais pas. Sometimes I wake up asking myself, ‘What am I doing?’ And ‘Fitzy’ is working me so hard for this fight – I don’t know if it’s my age or what – but I’ve hated every minute of it. I lost my father in March. He was always in my corner and this fight I’ll have RIP on my trunks in his honor.”
Dernièrement, Shearns’ typical day has been, bien, in a word, unordinary, Pour dire le moins. He reports to work at 5 a.m., exercises and runs on the treadmill for an hour in a small gym at work, catches up with “Fitzy” at Anytime Fitness to hit the heavy and speed bags, and after work “Fitzy” trains Shearns at Camp Get Right.
Shearns has the complete support of his family and co-workers, who will all be at the Worcester Palladium supporting him Jan. 19. “Ma femme (Karen) and two daughters (Kayla and Olivia) have always been there for me,” Shearns noted. “My wife supports me and has jokingly said, ‘We’re getting divorced if you lose this fight.’ I’ve worked at Lundgren Honda for about 20 years and most of the 100-plus employees there will be at my fight. I did want to fight one more time before I turn 50. When Jose asked me to fight, how could I pass up this final opportunity?”
Also fighting on the undercard in 4-round bouts are Worcester junior lightweight Andino Ranse à ses débuts pro vs. Lowell’s (MA) Jonathan Perez (2-0-1, 2 KOs), pro-debuting Worcester heavyweight Felix Martinez vs. Dorchester’s (MA) Brian Richardson (0-8), Hartford’s (CT) pro-debuting light heavyweight Richard “Popeye le marin” Rivera vs. de Brockton (MA) Huston Crayton (1-8, 0 KOs), pro-debuting Southbridge (MA) boxeur Wilfredo Pagan vs. Puerto Rican Alexandre Picot (1-1-1, 0 KOs) at a 145-pound catchweight, pro-debuting Springfield (MA) poids plume junior Luis “Pancho” Santiago vs, Mexican Jonathan Ramos (1-2, 0 KOs), 2016 N.W. Golden Gloves champion Anthony Laureano (1-0), of East Haven (CT), vs. Boston junior welterweight Rafael Francis (0-8), Saugus (MA) mi-lourds Brandon Montella (5-0, 4 KOs) vs. Mexican veteran Roberto El Viejo” Valenzuela (69-73-2, 56 KOs) and unbeaten Lawrence (MA) poids lourd Jean Pierre Augstin (7-0-1, 3 KOs).
Tous les combats et les combattants sont sujets à changement.
Major event sponsors include Lundgren Honda, Atty. Michael H. Erlich, Atty. Maria M. Rivera-Cotto and USANA Health Services. Other sponsors are TKO Auto Repair and Atty. Stephen W. Debs.
INFORMATIONS:
Facebook.com/RiveraPromotionsEntertainment
Gazouillement: @RiveraPromoEnt @joseriverachamp
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