LOWELL, Mass. (February 3, 2017) – Fourteen exciting matches were held last night in the semifinals round of the 71st annual Lowell Sun Charities Golden Gloves Championship, Central New England (Greater Lowell) division, at historic Lowell Memorial Auditorium.

The open and novice championship finals will be held next Thursday night (Feb. 9) at Lowell Memorial Auditorium with men’s and women’s matches.  See the remaining 2017 schedule of events below as well as last night’s complete results.

Last night’s action included nine novice division semifinals matches, eight men’s and one women’s, as well as four open men’s matches. Two of the open matches featured final competitions (not semifinals like the others) as Boston light heavyweight Taylor Mears, representing The Ring gym, stopped Nahua’s (NH) John Xifaris in the second round, and North Chelmsford lightweight Brandon Higgins edged Dorchester’s Jonathan Depina on points, 3-2.

Gloucester’s Gedney brothers, middleweights Adrien and Henry, both won last night, shutting out their opponents (5-0), respectively, James Marino, of Medford, and Furcy Ferreras, of Peabody.  The Gedneys will not fight each other next in next Thursday’schampionship final of the novice super middleweight division.  They will decide which brother will advance and last night’s opponent of the twin that isn’t advancing, Marino or Ferreras, will advance.

Arguably the most action-packed match last night was between lightweights Jeremiah Perez, of Lowell, and Edwin Rozon, of Haverhill, in the open division.  Perez won on points, 5-0, but the game Rozon kept firing despite being dropped in the second round.

Tickets are reasonably priced at $75.00 for general admission season tickets.  To purchase call the Lowell Memorial Auditorium box office at 1.866.722.8881 or order online at www.LowellMemorialAuditorium.com. Individual event tickets are also available to purchase, starting at $13.00, only $7.00 for students.

Proceeds from the Lowell Sun Charities Golden Gloves Championship go towards sending the New England Golden Gloves champions to the National Golden Gloves Championship (2017 in Lafayette, Louisiana), in addition to supporting local athletes and area gyms, the Boys & Girls Club, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, cancer funds, scholarships and many other great charitable causes.

Open & Novice Class Championship Finals – Thursday, Feb. 9

Novice Class Semifinals – Thursday, Feb. 16

Novice Class Championship Finals – Thursday, Feb. 23

Open Class Semifinals – Wednesday, Mar. 1

Open Class Championship Finals – Thursday, Mar. 2

New England Golden Gloves Executive Director: Bobby Russo

Director of Contestants: Art Ramalho

Chief of Officials:  Laurie Purcell

Ring Announcer:  John Vena

Venue:  Lowell Memorial Auditorium, 50 Merrimack St., Lowell, MA

Website:  www.lowellgoldengloves.com

Twitter:  @LowellGloves

ABOUT LOWELL SUN CHARITIES: Established in 1947, Lowell Sun Charities is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to enrich the quality of life for children, families, and the community, offering programs that promote respect and dignity.  Rooted in a tradition of care and compassion, Lowell Sun Charities was originally founded to respond to the ever-increasing challenges of the community.  2017 marks the 71^st year the Golden Gloves have been held in the great city of Lowell, Massachusetts.

Lowell Sun Charities is a community program that not only makes champions in the ring but also makes champions in life.  Every year these young athletes devote themselves to a sport which teaches discipline, respect, and clean lifestyle for a chance to win a prestigious Golden Gloves Championship.