WORCESTER, מסה. (ינואר 20, 2017) – Boxing returned to Worcester last night (יום חמישי) for the first time in more than five years to the delight of a capacity crowd of 2,100 passionate fans at the Palladium.

The inaugural event of the “העתיד של ניו אינגלנד” סדרה, שהוצג על ידי מבצעי ריברה בידור, featured 10 קרבות פעולה וגדוש, highlighted by rising Worcester featherweight prospect אירווין גונזלס (5-0, 5 קוס).

“The support we received from the sold out crowd was exciting for our first show,” האמרגן אמר חוסה אנטוניו ריברה, the former 3-time, 2-אלוף עולם החלוק. “We working on our second show in March, כמובן, right here in Worcester.”

The 20-year-old Gonzalez was absolutely relentless in the main event, fright rom the opening bell, throwing a barrage of unanswered punches from every conceivable angle, repeatedly hurting his Mexican foe, ישראל “טייגר” ראמוס (9-15, 3 קוס), including a late first-round knockdown. Gonzalez didn’t let up in the second, firing crisp punches, until Rojas hit the canvas early in the second frame and referee Steve Clark had seen enough, stopping the one-sided fight.

Gonzalez is continuing the rich Worcester boxing tradition. “I’m always relentless,” Gonzalez said with a smile. “It was great fighting in the main event at home. I heard the crowd and really appreciated their support. I hurt him early and I almost took him out in the first round with a body punch. I finished him off with a right in the second. None of my fights have gone the distance, but I prepared to go the full six tonight, if needed.”

Gonzalez takes off יום ראשון o report to undefeated גיירמו Rigondeaux’ training camp in Miami, where he’ll work with the reigning WBA super bantamweight world champion and 2-time Olympic gold medalist.

בלתי מנוצח ריי “בָּזוּקָה” Gracewski (5-0, 3 קוס), נלחם מחוץ לספרינגפילד (תואר שני), was on a search-and-destroy mission in the co-feature against Worcester super middleweight ראלף ג'ונסון (2-10, 1 KO), who was dropped three times before referee Kevin Hope halted the fight.

פרו-שדורג של הרטפורד ריצ'רד “פופאי המלח” ריברה was good to the finish, albeit only two rounds, in a fight contested at a 185-pound catchweight against Philadelphian Davonte Hopkins (0-3). ריברה, מי שהיה 2016 Rocky Marciano Tournament winner, punished Hopkins, finally dropping him in the second round, after which his corner threw in the towel.

In an evenly matched junior featherweight bout, עיר הולדתו האהובה Andino Ranse‘s pro debut resulted in a hard earned victory, by way of a four-round unanimous decision, over Lowell’s (תואר שני) previously unbeaten ג'ונתן פרז (2-1-1, 2 קוס)

Unbeaten Haitian heavyweight Jean Pierre “Kid Creole” Augstin (7-0-1, 3 קוס) pounded game Mexican foe Jose Humberto “Olympico” גְדֵרָה (19-22, 12 קוס) from the opening bell en route to a shutout six-round unanimous decision.

East Hartford prospect אנתוני לוריאנו (2-0, 1 KO), a 2016 אלוף זהב כפפות ניו אינגלנד, finished off winless welterweight Rafael Francis (0-9) with a debilitating body shot early in the second round.

בהופעת הבכורה שלו פרו, popular Worcester heavyweight Felix Martinez, a local barber, spotted his opponent, 392-ליש"ט Bobby Favors (0-4), כמעט 60 pounds but Favors was unable to continue after the first round.

Southbridge, תואר שני לווילפרדו “Sucaro” עוֹבֵד אֵלִילִים turned in a memorable pro debut, winning a four-round majority decision over אלכסנדר פיקו (1-2-1 (0 קוס), contested at a 145-pound catchweight.

The second-oldest pro fighter in Massachusetts history, 49-בת “אירי” Chuck Shearns (3-1, 2 קוס), of nearby Auburn, MA., ended his boxing career in style with an opening-round technical knockout victory over Philadelphia junior middleweight Shavonte Dixon (0-2).

מתגורר בארה"ב. ימי Brandon Montella, fighting out of Saugus, MA., שיפר את השיא שלו ל 6-0 (5 קוס), as his light heavyweight Mexican veteran רוברטו “הישן” Valenzuela (69-74-2, 56 קוס) suffered an injury early in the second round.

ספונסרים: במשקל כבד – Lundgren Honda, עו"ד. Michael H. Erlich, עו"ד. מריה M. ריברה-קוטו, USANA Health Services; Lightweights – TKO Auto Repair, עו"ד. Stephen W. Debs.

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טוויטר: @RiveraPromoEnt @joseriverachamp, @KingRivera_

ABOUT RIVERA PROMOTIONS ENTERTAINMENT (RPE): נוסד ב 2016, Rivera Promotions Entertainment is owned and operated by one of Worcester’s all-time greatest boxers – 3-זמן, 2-division world champion Jose Antonio “גאלו” ריברה – along with his son, Anthonee “AJ” ריברה, whose collective goal is to bring boxing back to Worcester on a consistent basis, providing boxers a platform and fans a full entertainment experience.

WORCESTER, מסה. (ינואר 11, 2017) – Fast rising featherweight prospect אירווין גונזלס (4-0, 4 קוס) will continue Worcester’s rich boxing tradition יום חמישילילה, ינואר 19, headlining the inaugural “העתיד של ניו אינגלנד” series event against Mexican invader ישראל “טייגר” רוג'אס (9-14, 3 קוס), at the Worcester Palladium.

Rivera Promotions Entertainment (RPE), 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 מדליסט ארד אולימפי Leo Sawicki, and more recently, בין יתר, pro and amateur standouts such as multiple national amateur champion בובי האריס, שון “The Irish Express” Sean Fitzgerald ו אדווין רודריגז.

Arguably the greatest Worcester fighter in the past 50 years is three-time, אלוף עולם דו-חטיבה Jose Antonio “גאלו” ריברה, who is promoting “העתיד של ניו אינגלנד” with his son, Anthonee. “I have seen Irvin train and fight since he was in the Junior Olympics,” ריברה אמר. “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.”

גונזלס, a 2015 אלוף זהב כפפות ניו אינגלנד, 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. אני מתרגש. 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 סנטוס 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, כמקצוען, 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 אירווין גונזלס, where the youngster serves as a personal trainer.

In the six-round co-feature Springfield (תואר שני) כבד משקל קל Reinaldo “בָּזוּקָה” Graceski (4-0, 2 קוס) faces Worcester’s ראלף ג'ונסון (2-9, 1 KO).

Fighting on the undercard in four-round bouts are Worcester junior lightweight Andino Ranse in his pro debut vs. Lowell’s (תואר שני) ג'ונתן פרז (2-0-1, 2 קוס), pro-debuting Worcester heavyweight Felix Martinez לעומת. Bobby Favor (0-3), Hartford’s (CT) pro-debuting light heavyweight ריצ'רד “פופאי המלח” ריברה לעומת. Brockton’s (תואר שני) Davonte Hopkins (0-2), pro-debuting Southbridge (תואר שני) מתאגרף וילפרדו פגאן לעומת. אלכסנדר פיקו (1-1-1, 0 קוס) at a 145-pound catchweight, pro-debuting Springfield (תואר שני) משקל נוצה זוטר לואיס “Pancho” סנטיאגו לעומת, Jonathan Ramos (0-2), 2016 N.E. אלוף כפפות זהב אנתוני לוריאנו (1-0), of East Haven (CT), לעומת. Boston junior welterweight Rafael Francis (0-8), Auburn (תואר שני) בינוני זוטר “אירי” Chuck Shearns (2-1, 1 KO), the 49-year-old hanging up his gloves after his fight with Shavonte Dixon (0-1), של פילדלפיה, Saugus (תואר שני) כבד משקל קל Brandon Montella (5-0, 4 קוס) לעומת. Roberto El Viejo” Valenzuela (69-73-2, 56 קוס) and unbeaten Lawrence (תואר שני) במשקל כבד Jean Pierre Augstin (7-0-1, 3 קוס) לעומת. Jose Hymberto “Olympico” גְדֵרָה (19-22, 12 קוס).

כל הקרבות והלוחמים כפופים לשינוי.

כרטיסים, במחיר של $65.00 (שׁוּרָה רִאשׁוֹנָה), $45.00 (preferred seating) ו $35.00 (הודאה כללית), מוצע למכירה וזמינה לרכוש בבית www.ThePalladium.net או בקופות פלדיום (הודאה כללית בלבד), או על ידי פנייה חוסה ריברה (elgallojar@gmail.com/508.864.6954), AJ ריברה (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, עו"ד. Michael H. Erlich, עו"ד. מריה M. Rivera-Cotto and USANA Health Services. Other sponsors are TKO Auto Repair and Atty. Stephen W. Debs.

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טוויטר: @RiveraPromoEnt @joseriverachamp