Worcester, מאַסע. (יאַנואַר 11, 2017) – Fast rising featherweight prospect Irvin Gonzalez (4-0, 4 קאָס) will continue Worcester’s rich boxing tradition דאָנערשטיקנאַכט, יאַנואַר 19, headlining the inaugural “ניו ענגלאַנד 'ס צוקונפֿט” series event against Mexican invader ישראל “Tigre” Rojas (9-14, 3 קאָס), at the Worcester Palladium.

Rivera Promotions Entertainment (רפּע), is promoting the first professional boxing show in the Central Massachusetts city in more than five years.

(photo by Cristian Nunez)

Worcester’s boxing tradition started close to a century ago with Canadian import Lou Brouillard, a two-division world champion and Hall of Famer, 1928 Olympic bronze medalist Leo Sawicki, and more recently, צווישן אנדערע, pro and amateur standouts such as multiple national amateur champion Bobby Harris, שאָן “The Irish Express” Sean Fitzgerald און עדווין ראַדריגעז.

Arguably the greatest Worcester fighter in the past 50 years is three-time, צוויי-אָפּטייל וועלט מייַסטער Jose Antonio “די גאַללאָ” ריוועראַ, who is promoting “ניו ענגלאַנד 'ס צוקונפֿט” with his son, Anthonee. “I have seen Irvin train and fight since he was in the Junior Olympics,” Rivera said. “I am very proud of him because he was able to discover on his own that he was getting in his own way. He was always a talented fighter but, at times in the ring, he was inconsistent and it cost him a few fights. As he got older, he boxed more talented boxers and looked good against them. He started believing in himself more and it showed in his training. His abilities and confidence grew and that got him all the way to the Olympic Trials. I feel he has the skills to become world champion in the future. The sky is the limit for this young man and I am proud to have him fighting on our show.”

גאָנזאַלעז, אַ 2015 ניו ענגלאַנד גאָלדען גלאָוועס מייַסטער, will be headlining his first show in his first scheduled six-round bout. “Fighting in my hometown in the main event means a lot to me because,” Gonzalez admitted. “I’ve grown up in this city, fighting my whole life, and of people who’ve supported me will be watching me fight for the first time as a pro. איך בין יקסייטאַד. I’m comfortable fighting here in Worcester and I want to showcase the boxing talent we have in Worcester.”

Gonzalez qualified for the 2016 Olympic Trials but he was eliminated, not due to a loss in the ring, for missing weight. He decided not to wait four years for another Olympic shot, turning pro this past March with a first-round stoppage of Gilvan Santos at Foxwoods Resort Casino. In four pro fights to date, Gonzalez has four knockouts and only one was extended into the second round.

“I was always told that I had a pro boxing style,” the well-spoken, handsome Gonzalez continued, “but we didn’t immediately decide to turn pro until the time was right. I had some stoppages as an amateur but, as a pro, I’ve been going more to the body. I do have heavy hands. I don’t go into a fight looking for a knockout. I just let ’em come but I’ve prepared to go six rounds if needed for this fight. I’ve been sparring eight rounds with different guys coming in fresh.”

In addition to being a prize fighter, the 20-year-old Gonzalez works at a bank and he also owns and operates New England Boxing gym with his father, former boxer Irvin Gonzalez, where the youngster serves as a personal trainer.

In the six-round co-feature Springfield (מאַ) ליכט כעוויווייט Reinaldo “באַזאָאָקאַ” גראַסעסקי (4-0, 2 קאָס) faces Worcester’s Ralph Johnson (2-9, 1 קאָ).

Fighting on the undercard in four-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. Bobby Favor (0-3), Hartford’s (קאָרט) pro-debuting light heavyweight ריטשארד “פּאָפּייע די סאַילאָר מענטש” ריוועראַ ווס. Brockton’s (מאַ) Davonte Hopkins (0-2), pro-debuting Southbridge (מאַ) באָקסער Wilfredo Pagan ווס. Alexander Picot (1-1-1, 0 קאָס) at a 145-pound catchweight, pro-debuting Springfield (מאַ) junior featherweight לויס “Pancho” סאַנטיאַגאָ ווס, Jonathan Ramos (0-2), 2016 N.E. גאָלדען גלאָוועס מייַסטער Anthony Laureano (1-0), of East Haven (קאָרט), ווס. Boston junior welterweight Rafael Francis (0-8), Auburn (מאַ) יינגער מידדלעוועיגהט “איריש” Chuck Shearns (2-1, 1 קאָ), the 49-year-old hanging up his gloves after his fight with Shavonte Dixon (0-1), פון פילאדעלפיע, Saugus (מאַ) ליכט כעוויווייט Brandon Montella (5-0, 4 קאָס) ווס. Roberto El Viejo” וואַלענזועלאַ (69-73-2, 56 קאָס) and unbeaten Lawrence (מאַ) כעוויווייט Jean Pierre Augstin (7-0-1, 3 קאָס) ווס. Jose Hymberto “Olympico” Corral (19-22, 12 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