Worcester, מאַסע. (יאַנואַר 5, 2017) – Auburn (מאַ) יינגער מידדלעוועיגהט “איריש” Chuck Shearns will become the second-oldest professional fighter in Massachusetts boxing history אויף דאנערשטיג נאַכט, יאַנואַר 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.

די ינאָגיעראַל “ניו ענגלאַנד 'ס צוקונפֿט” series event is being presented by Rivera Promotions Entertainment (רפּע), which is owned and operated by one of Worcester’s all-time greatest boxers – 3-צייַט, 2-אָפּטייל וועלט מייַסטער Jose Antonio “די גאַללאָ” ריוועראַ – און זיין זון, Anthonee “AJ” ריוועראַ.

Rising junior lightweight prospect, 2015 ניו ענגלאַנד גאָלדען גלאָוועס מייַסטער Irvin Gonzalez (4-0, 4 קאָס), will be fighting at home in the 6-round main event against Mexican invader Oscar Eduardo Quezada (2-1, 1 קאָ), while Springfield (מאַ) ליכט כעוויווייט Reinaldo “באַזאָאָקאַ” גראַסעסקי (4-0, 2 קאָס) meets Worcester’s Ralph Johnson (2-9, 1 קאָ) in the six-round co-feature.

The 49-year-old Shearns (2-1, 1 קאָ), who is the general manager of Lundgren Honda in Auburn, וועט נעמען אויף Shavonte Dixon (0-1), פון פילאדעלפיע, in a four-round bout. The state record, set in 2011 by then 53-year-old Joe Siciliano, is safe because Jan. 19^טה 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 יאר אַלט! 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 years later he made his professional debut. “I grew up watching boxing with my father (יוחנן), who boxed in the Navy, and my grandfather (יוחנן),” Shearns explained. “My grandfather was a club fighter, אַזוי, 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. (Sean Fitzgerald, 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.”

וואָס, כאָטש, בייַ די עלטער פון 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 יאַנואַר 19^טה because I was given this opportunity and decided to accept it but, האָנעסטלי, I’m sure that this it! Maybe I just wanted a chance to go out with a win because I lost my last one? I don’t know. 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.”

Lately, Shearns’ typical day has been, געזונט, in a word, unordinary, to say the least. He reports to work at 5 אַ.ם., 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. “My wife (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 אַנדינאָ ראַנסע in his pro debut vs. Lowell’s (מאַ) יונתן פּערעז (2-0-1, 2 קאָס), pro-debuting Worcester heavyweight Felix Martinez ווס. Dorchester’s (מאַ) Brian Richardson (0-8), Hartford’s (קאָרט) pro-debuting light heavyweight ריטשארד “פּאָפּייע די סאַילאָר מענטש” ריוועראַ ווס. Brockton’s (מאַ) Huston Crayton (1-8, 0 קאָס), pro-debuting Southbridge (מאַ) באָקסער Wilfredo Pagan ווס. Puerto Rican Alexander Picot (1-1-1, 0 קאָס) at a 145-pound catchweight, pro-debuting Springfield (מאַ) junior featherweight לויס “Pancho” סאַנטיאַגאָ ווס, Mexican Jonathan Ramos (1-2, 0 קאָס), 2016 N.W. גאָלדען גלאָוועס מייַסטער Anthony Laureano (1-0), of East Haven (קאָרט), ווס. Boston junior welterweight Rafael Francis (0-8), Saugus (מאַ) ליכט כעוויווייט Brandon Montella (5-0, 4 קאָס) ווס. Mexican veteran Roberto El Viejo” וואַלענזועלאַ (69-73-2, 56 קאָס) and unbeaten Lawrence (מאַ) כעוויווייט Jean Pierre Augstin (7-0-1, 3 קאָס).

כל פייץ און פייטערז זענען אונטערטעניק צו טוישן.

טיקקעץ, פּרייסט בייַ $65.00 (רינגסידע), $45.00 (preferred seating) און $35.00 (גענעראַל אַרייַנטרעטן), זענען אויף פאַרקויף און בנימצא צו קויפן ביי www.ThePalladium.net אָדער די פּאַללאַדיום קעסטל אָפיס (אַלגעמיין אַרייַנטרעטן בלויז), אָדער דורך קאַנטאַקטינג דזשאָסע ריוועראַ (elgallojar@gmail.com/508.864.6954), אַדזש ריוועראַ (anthoneerivera@gmail.com/774.272.2269) of any of the fighters. A portion of the proceeds will go to Why Me & Sherry’s House.

Major event sponsors include Lundgren Honda, אַטטי. Michael H. Erlich, אַטטי. מאַריאַ ב. Rivera-Cotto and USANA Health Services. Other sponsors are TKO Auto Repair and Atty. Stephen W. Debs.

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טוויטטער: @RiveraPromoEnt @joseriverachamp