(L-R) – Richard “Popeye The Sailor Man” Rivera and Kevin “The New England Bully” Cobbs

WORCESTER, Mass. (January 18, 2018) – Rivera Promotions Entertainment (RPE) hosted a press conference last night in Worcester, Massachusetts at Beatniks to formally announce its February 10^th “New England’s Future 5” at The Palladium in Worcester.

Undefeated Hartford (CT) light heavyweight Richard “Popeye The Sailor Man” Rivera (5-0, 4 KOs) will headline the fifth installment of the “New England’s Future” series, against Kevin “The New England Bully” Cobbs (10-2, 4 KOs), fighting out of South Boston (MA), for the vacant Universal Boxing Federation (UBF) New England title in the eight-round main event.

Worcester’s two-time national amateur champion Bobby “BH3” Harris, III (2-0) meets Brazilian super middleweight Saul Almeida (0-8-1) in the four-round co-featured event, while Hartford super middleweight Jose “Rated R” Rivera (4-1, 3 KOs) meets Troy “Omar KO Artist” Artis (4-7-1 (3 KOs), of Danbury (CT) in a six-round match.

Fighting on the undercard, all in four-round bouts, are Danbury junior welterweight Omar Bordoy, Jr. (2-0) vs. Puerto Rican foe Alexander “El Bravo” Picot (2-4-1), Southbridge (MA) junior welterweight Wilfredo “El Sucaro” Pagan (3-0, 1 KO) vs. pro-debuting Nick Peralta, of Lawrence, undefeated Springfield (MA) light heavyweight Ray “Bazooka” Graceski (5-0, 3 KOs). vs. Hartford’s pro-debuting Pawel Bansiak, Springfield welterweight Derrick “Bad Boy” Whitley (2-0) vs. Roger Blankenship (1-2), undefeated Puerto Rican super middleweight Jelame Garcia (6-0, 6 KOs) vs. Brazilian Rodrigo Almeida 1-7), Bridgeport’s (CT) pro-debuting welterweight Joseph Goss vs. Seth Basler (0-3), and Hartford junior lightweight vs. Bridgeport’s Carlos Marraro, III (0-1).

All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Jose Rivera, RPE CEO: “I’m excited because a press conference means the fights are getting closer. We plan to build our promotional company this year. There is a lot of talent in New England and that’s why we have so many Connecticut fighters on this card. I want the fighters here to understand the importance of a press conference. They will gain valuable experience speaking in public and being interviewed by the media. One of the primary reasons we’re promoting is to give young fighters a platform to box and prepare them for their pro careers.”

A.J. Rivera, RPE President/Matchmaker: “The support we’ve received has been tremendous and we exceeded expectations in our first year. This is just the begining for RPE. We’re going to get better this year. We’re not satisfied just being a small promotional company. Boxing is the loneliest sport in the world and these boxers need fans’ support. There’s a lot of talent in New England and much of it is concentrated in Connecticut. We have more Connecticut fighters on this card than fighters from Massachusetts.”

Richard Rivera: “This is a big opportunity for me. Rivera Promotions accomplished so much in its first year. I fought in the co-main twice of two previous RPE shows I fought on. This is going to be an awesome show, not just the main event. There are competitive boxers up and down the card. Don’t blink, don’t go to the bathroom because any one of these fights could end at any time.”

“This is a big step up for my career. Boxing is my passion. We’re both coming to fight. Win, lose or draw we’ll see who the Alpha dog is at the end. “I’m ‘Popeye The Sailor Man’, and I’m good to the finish because I eat my spinach.”

Kevin Cobbs: “I respect Rivera and believe in what I hear. He seems like a good dude. I’m excited about this fight. A lot of people weren’t sure about what I was doing because I hadn’t fought in two years when I got the call (to fight Rivera). Boxing took me out of the space was in and I never stopped boxing. This is going to be a big year for the Rivera’s. I like to switch it up and I’m ready to go.”

Bobby Harris, III: “My opponent wants to redeem his brother’s loss to me. I want to thank RPE for putting me in the co-feature in only my third pro fight. My first two fights were a learning experience and this fight I’m looking to make a statement to showcase my talents. I have a lot to prove as the only Worcester fighter on this card.”

Omar Bordoy, Jr: “I’m fighting a tough opponent. Fighting is easier for me than talking up here. I’m fighting a guy from Hartford. I have a lot of love for his trainer and Hartford. I want my hand raised at the end of the fight.”

Derrick Whitley: “I want to thank Rivera Promotions for putting me on this card. I fought on two of their shows last year and came out 2-0. I’m looking to be 3-0. It was a learning experience going from the amateurs to pros. Everybody’s goal is to raise your level. I’m in the best shape of my life for this fight and doing things in the gym I’ve never done before. I’m looking for a stoppage.”

Wilfredo Pagan: “I’m 37 years old and I’ve always had a glad to fight at least one pro fight. A couple of fights fell through but the Riveras opened the doors for me. I put it all into my fights. I was looking for one fight and this will be my fourth. I’m going to be 4-0.”

Carlos Marraro, III: “I want to thank Rivera Promotions for the opportunity to showcase my talents February 10^th. This will be my first fight on a Rivera Promotions card, but I’m familiar with most of the fighters on this card.”

Tickets, priced at $75.00 (ringside) and $45.00 (general admission), are on sale and available to purchase at www.ThePalladium.net or the Palladium box office (general admission only), or by contacting Jose Rivera (elgallojar@gmail.com/508.864.6954), AJ Rivera (anthoneerivera@gmail.com/774.272.2269) or any of the fighters.

Doors open at 6 p.m. ET, first bout 7 p.m. ET.

Sponsors include Lundgren Honda, Top Royalty, Allstate, USANA, Atty. Maria M. Rivera-Cotto, Ambicion Musik, Hill Team Associates and Lundren Insurance & Financial Services.

Facebook.com/RiveraPromotionsEntertainment

Twitter: @RiveraPromoEnt @joseriverachamp @KingRivera_

Richard “Popeye The Sailor Man” Rivera

(Photo by @Bonesprostudio)

WORCESTER, Mass. (January 8, 2018) – One of the most popular New England boxing prospects, undefeated Hartford (CT) light heavyweight Richard “Popeye The Sailor Man” Rivera (5-0, 4 KOs), will headline his third show Saturday night, February 10, at The Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts.

In the fifth installment of the “New England’s Future” series, presented by Rivera Promotions Entertainment (RPE), the 27-year-old Rivera meets Kevin “KRAY 2 UNKL” Cobbs (10-2, 4 KOs), fighting out of Burlington (VT), for the vacant Universal Boxing Federation (UBF) New England title in the eight-round main event.

Rivera, who was a 2016 Rocky Marciano Tournament champion, is coming off a sensational second-round knockout of 146-fight veteran Roberto Valenzuela this past December 9 in Hampton, New Hampshire.

“I am excited to have Richie boxing for the UBF New England title so early in his pro career,”” said promoter Jose Antonio Rivera, the retired 3-time, 2-division world champion. “This is the third time we’ve had the privilege of him fighting on one of our cards. He fought in the main event of our last show (Oct.) at the DCU Center. Rivera looks better and sharper every time I watch him fight. I see big things coming for him. He has the tools and discipline a trainer looks for and a boxer needs to become world champion. The sky is the limit for Richard and, for now, we’re grateful to play a small part to help develop his professional career.”

Rivera has successfully marketed his Popeye persona during his young pro boxing career, wearing a sailor’s cap into the ring with a traditional Popeye-like pipe dangling in his mouth. “There are several reasons for my nickname, ‘Popeye’, but when I was very young,” Rivera explained, “I had abnormally large forearms. It just stuck with me through the years, when people referred to me in the gym, so I’ve run with it. I’m bringing life back to Hartford with patience, all over New England, with patience, perseverance and style. I live in the moment.”

Although he didn’t win many major awards or tournaments as an amateur boxer, Rivera gained invaluable experience boxing many of the best amateurs in New England and in national events, as well as sparring with the likes of former world champions Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin, Chad Dawson and Joe Smith, Jr. He also learned from time spent in the ring with former title challengers Israel “Pito” Cardona and John Scully.

“I took my time turning pro because I didn’t have a support system to get me to the next level,” Rivera noted. “I was insecure. The positive feedback I received from fighters I sparred fed into my confidence. Now, in only my sixth pro fight, I will be headlining for the third time, and fighting for my first title. I can’t thank the Riveras (Jose and his son, A.J.) enough for what they’ve done for me. They’ve believed in me.”

At first, Rivera was somewhat reluctant to fight the more experienced Cobb but, after doing some research, he accepted the challenge. “I was a little nervous at first,” he admitted. “Some were questioning if I was ready to step up to fight him. I did some research: he didn’t have a bigger amateur career, or fought more six or eight rounds fights than me. And I was the sparring partner for the first pro to beat him, Tyron Burris(TKO2 in 2012). I’m ready! I’m 27 and need a fight like this.”

Worcester’s two-time national amateur champion Bobby “BH3” Harris, III meets Brazilian middleweight Saul Almeida (0-8-1) in the four-round co-featured event.

Fighting on the undercard, all in four-round bouts, are rising New Haven (CT) super middleweight prospect Elvis Figueroa (3-0, 1 KO), a three-time USA Boxing Nationals Championship gold medalist, vs. TBA, Worcester featherweight Ranse Andino (1-0) vs. Alex Montes (1-2-1), of Lawrence (MA), Danbury (CT) welterweight Omar Bordoy, Jr. (2-0) vs. Puerto Rican invader Alexander “El Bravo” Picot (2-4-1), Southbridge (MA) welterweight Wilfredo “El Sucaro” Pagan (3-0, 1 KO) vs. pro-debuting Nick Peralta, of Lawrence, undefeated Springfield (MA) light heavyweight Ray “Bazooka” Graceski (5-0, 3 KOs). vs. Hartford’s pro-debuting Paul Bansiak, Hartford junior middleweight Jose “Rated R” Rivera (4-1, 3 KOs) vs. Troy “Omar KO Artist” Artis(4-7-1 (3 KOs), Springfield welterweight Derrick “Double Impact” Whitley (2-0) vs. Roger Blankenship (1-2), undefeated Puerto Rican middleweight Jelame Garcia (6-0, 6 KOs) vs. Brazilian Rodrigo Almeida 1-7), Meriden (CT) bantamweight James Aquino (6-0, 6 KOs), 2016 New England Golden Gloves champion, vs. Luis Rivera (3-3) and Hartford’s pro-debuting welterweight Joseph Goss vs. Seth Basler (0-3).

All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Tickets, priced at $75.00 (ringside) and $45.00 (general admission), are on sale and available to purchase at www.ThePalladium.net or the Palladium box office (general admission only), or by contacting Jose Rivera (elgallojar@gmail.com/508.864.6954), AJ Rivera (anthoneerivera@gmail.com/774.272.2269) or any of the fighters.

Doors open at 6 p.m. ET, first bout 7 p.m. ET.

Facebook.com/RiveraPromotionsEntertainment

Twitter: @RiveraPromoEnt @joseriverachamp @KingRivera_