Ko te 6′ 2″, 280-pound Brazilian, now fighting out of Worcester (MA), fought another pro-debut boxer with limited MMA experience, Alejandro Esquilin Santiago, o Tampa (FL). Gonzaga stalked the southpaw Santiago, landing some hard shots in the opening round. The heavy-handed Gonzaga picked up the pace in the third and his upset-minded opponent responded in a positive fashion. Both fighters exchanged freely in the fourth and final round, neither was hurt during the contest, and Gonzaga was awarded a win by four-round majority decision.
“I thought I’d be more relaxed in the ring like I had been in the gym,” Gonzaga said. “I did my best and came away with a victory. I was too safe in the third round. My punches were much strong and a lot of his punches I blocked with my gloves. This was really great! te po nei”
Gonzaga (L) defeated Santiago
“I felt good and gave it my all,” Santiago remarked. “He hit me with some shots and gave ’em back. Not only does he have a big nose (“Napao”), he has a strong, big head, rawa.”
I roto i te hui matua, popular Hartford (CT) taumahamaha te marama Richard “Popeye te Sailor te tangata” Rivera noho tūturu, improving his record to 4-0 (3 Koó), with a first-round knockout of an over-matched Hansen Castillo (0-3)
Rivera, not relations to the promoter, first dropped Castillo with a beautifully placed left uppercut and finished the show moments later with a left hook that sent Castillo flying to canvas. Kaitautoko Kevin Hope didn’t bother to count.
“My coaches were telling me to be calm because it was a six-round bout,” faataa Rivera. “I saw that he had his left down and caught him with an uppercut. I’m strong to the finish because I eat my spinach.”
New Haven junior middleweight Edwin Sosa (11-2-2, 4 Koó) overcame at 15-pound disadvantage, at the very least, en route to a dominant six-round unanimous decision over Anthony “The Animal” Everett (1-7), of Rowley (MA).
Danbury (CT) Welterweight teina Omar Bordoy, JR. (3-0, 1 KO) stopped New York veteran Bryan “The Brick” Aperahama (6-31, 6 Koó) in the fourth and final round. Abraham was decked twice and after counting to 10 after Abraham’s second time on the canvas, referee Paul Casey waved off the action.
Three-time national amateur champion Elvis “Chi Chi” Figueroa (3-0, 1 KO), fighting out of New Haven, pitched a complete shutout over a game, pro-debuting Rene Nazare(0-1), o Brazil, for a convincing win by way of a four-round unanimous decision.
Southbridge (MA) Welterweight Wilfredo “te Sucaro” Pagan (3-0, 1 KO) pinnedPatrick Leal (0-4), o Woburn, on the ropes early, dropping him three times until referee Casey halted the fight midway through the opening round.
Hua oti i raro:
Otinga whaimana
MAHI MAIN – HEAVYWEIGHTS LIGHT
Richard Rivera (4-0, 3 Koó), Hartford, CT
WKO1 (2:18)
Hansen Castillo (0-3), Orlando, FL
CO-FEATURE– HEAVYWEIGHTS
Gabriel Gonzaga (1-0), Worcester, MA
40-36, 40-36, 38-38)
Alejandro Esquilin Santiago (no te tuatahi), Tampa, FL.
Super MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Elvis Figueroa (3-0, 1 KO), New Haven, CT
WDEC4 (40-36, 40-36, 40-36)
Rene Nazare (0-1), Brazil
JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Edwin Soto (10-2-2, 4 Koó), New Haven, CT
WDEC6 (60-54, 60-54, 58-56)
Anthony Everett (1-6), Rawley, MA
WELTERWEIGHTS
Wilfredo Pagan (3-0, 1 KO), Southbridge, MA
TKO1 (1:36).
Patrick Leal (0-4), Woburn, MA
Junior Welterweights
Omar Bordoy, JR. (3-0, 1 KO), Danbury, CT
WTKO4 :148)
Bryan “The Brick” Aperahama (6-31, 6 Koó), Schenectady, NY
(All fights & fighters subject to change)
KŌRERO:
Facebook.com/RiveraPromotionsEntertainment
Twitter: @RiveraPromoEnt @joseriverachamp, KingRivera_
