Worcester, מאַסע. (אָקטאָבער 19, 2017) – The next chapter of former UFC heavyweight title challenger גאַבריעל “Napao” Gonzaga starts October 28^טה when he makes his professional boxing debut fighting on the “New England Future 4” קאָרט, the fourth and final 2017 installment of the popular professional boxing series, “ניו ענגלאַנד 'ס צוקונפֿט”, to be held at the DCU Center (Exhibition Hall) אין Worcester, מאַססאַטשוסעטץ.

“New England’s Future 4” is presented by Rivera Promotions Entertainment (רפּע), which is owned and operated by retired three-time, צוויי אָפּטייל וועלט מייַסטער דזשאָסע אַנטאָניאָ ריוועראַ און זיין זון, Anthonee (אַ.דזש.) ריוועראַ.

The 38-year-old Gonzaga teaches Brazilian Ju-Jitsu (בדזשדזש) in Worcester and lives nearby in Ludlow (מאַ). An imposing physical fighter, the 6′ 2″, 260-pound Gonzaga (17-11-0, 7 קאָס, 9 SUBs, 1 דעצעמבער), האלט 4^טה degree black belt in BJJ. The highlight of his MMA career was at the 2007 ופק 70, held in Manchester, אמעריקאנער קינגדאָם, in which he knocked out K-1, Pride and Rizen champion Mirko Cro Cop with a head kick in the opening round, positioning Gonzaga for his unsuccessful challenge of UFC Heavyweight Champion ראַנדי קאָוטורע in his next fight.

Gonzaga, who retired from MMA 1 ½ years ago, also defeated בן ראָטהוועלל, Shawn Jordan און Chris Tuchscherer, among the more notable UFC fighters he faced in the Octagon.

(ל-ר) – Rocky Gonzalez & גאַבריעל גאָנזאַגאַ

Gonzago has a new opponent for his four-round bout, Tampa’s pro-debuting Alejandro Esquilin Santiago, who also has a pro MMA background.

“I like challenges in my life,” Gonzaga explained why he’s making his pro debut. “I set new goals because I like to be competitive in sports. I have a good boxing coach who told me I should try. I was a BJJ (בראַזיליאַן דזשיו-דזשיצו) world champion and UFC title contender. I have good boxing skills and plan to put on a good show. I do have one-punch power and hit hard.

“I started boxing in 2001 and worked at it every day for two years to learn, but then I was competing in MMA. איצט, I’m focused on boxing. I think boxing is the hardest part of MMA. I know you can’t make mistakes in boxing and there’s no time to relax. אין ממאַ, I could relax a little at times in clinches, but the referee won’t allow that in boxing. I’ll probably fight more than once but not too many because of my age and I’m not really at the high-level of boxing like I was in MMA.”

Gonzaga’s head boxing trainer, Rocky Gonzalez, has been working with several MMA fighters, including Gonzaga, for more than a decade to help them improve their striking skills. Gonzalez freely admits that Gonzaga knew how to box before he started working with him, crediting Gonzaga’s Muay Thai coach, and that boxing came naturally to the big Brazilian who has made an easy adjustment from the Octagon to the ring. Gonzalez also feels that leg positioning differences for MMA fighters switching to boxing, in terms of throwing proper punches, is somewhat overrated.

“In boxing,” גאָנזאַלעז געזאגט, “fighters need their hands like their legs and elbows in MMA. Distance and timing is more important than where their legs and feet are positioned. Gabriel doesn’t like sparring with headgear, אַזוי, his sparring is more like real fighting. He’s been hot with some real shots but he’s responded well. He’s always going to have a puncher’s chance and he’s deceptive because he doesn’t look as fast as he is.

“We didn’t really plan anything but he got this good opportunity. He’s always wanted to turn pro as a boxer and go from there. Gabriel is a good listener who keeps working hard to get better. When he first brought up boxing, he was contracted by the UFC, but we started talking about him boxing after the UFC released him. He knew Jose from him teaching boxing. Gabriel isn’t doing this for the money. He’s a competitive guy who wanted to try boxing.”

Former WBU Americans and IBU North American cruiserweight champion, Vinnie “American Nightmare” Carita (16-1-1, 15 קאָס), fighting out of Pembroke (מאַ), will take on Bolivian heavyweight champion שאול “El Fenjx Asesino” Faraff (64-23-3, 56 קאָס) in the eight-round main event.

Hartford’s (קאָרט) popular ריטשארד “פּאָפּייע די סאַילאָר מענטש” ריוועראַ (3-0, 2 קאָס) מיץ Hansen Castillo (0-2) in the four-round, co-featured event to be contested at a 180-pound catchweight.

Many of New England’s best and most popular N.E. fighters will be in action, אַרייַנגערעכנט 2014 N.E. גאָלדען גלאָוועס מייַסטער Adrian “Tonka” סאָוסאַ (4-0, 3 קאָס), קאַמף פון נירביי לאָראַנס (מאַ), ווס. veteran Norwalk (קאָרט) וועלטערוועיגהט Shakha Moore (12-23-3, 2 קאָס) אין אַ זעקס-קייַלעכיק גלייַכן.

Also fighting on the undercard in four-round fights include 2016 N.E. Golden Gloves champio, Anthony Laureano (5-0, 3 קאָס), of East Hartford (קאָרט) ווס. Bruno Dias (0-3), פון Woburn (מאַ), New Haven (קאָרט) Edwin Soto (10-2-2, 4 קאָס) ווס. Anthony Everett (1-6). פון לאָראַנס, at a 150-pound catchweight, three-time USA Boxing Nationals champion עלוויס פיגועראָאַ (2-0, 1 קאָ), פון ניו האַווען (קאָרט), ווס. pro-debuting Brazilian native Rene Nazare, Southbridge (מאַ) יינגער וועלטערווייט ווילפרעדאָ “די סוקאַראָ” פּייגאַן (2-0) ווס. Patrick Leal (0-3), פון Woburn (מאַ), at a 150-pound catchweight, דאַנבורי (קאָרט) יינגער וועלטערווייט אָמאַר באָרדוי, דזשוניער. (2-0) ווס. Schenectady (ניו יאָרק) וועטעראַןברייאַן “The Brick” אברהם (6-30, 6 קאָס), און טיממי ראַמאָס (4-0-1, 4 קאָס), פון פראַמינגהאַם (מאַ) ווס. סעט באַסלער (0-2), of Illinois.

כל פייץ און פייטערז זענען אונטערטעניק צו טוישן.

טיקקעץ, פּרייסט בייַ $75.00 (רינגסידע) און $45.00 (גענעראַל אַרייַנטרעטן), are on sale and available to purchase at the DCU Center box office, www.dcu.centerworcester.com, by contacting Jose Rivera (elgallojar@gmail.com/508.864.6954), אַדזש ריוועראַ

(anthoneerivera@gmail.com/774.272.2269) אָדער קיין פון די Fighters

דאָאָרס עפענען בייַ 6:30 פּ.ם., ערשטער באַוט 7:00 פּ.ם. און.

ספּאָנסאָרס אַרייַננעמען לונדגרען האָנדאַ, Championsofhealth.usna.com, and American Pyramids.

Part of the proceeds will go to Worcester Latino Dollars For Scholars.

Facebook.com/ריוועראַפּראָמאָטיאָנסענטערטאַינמענט

טוויטטער: @ריוועראַפּראָמאָענט @דזשאָסעריוועראַטשאַמפּ @קינגריוועראַ_

Worcester, מאַסע. (אָקטאָבער 12, 2017) – Once-beaten Vinnie “American Dream” Carita is preparing in an entirely different way than all other fighters on the October 28^טה “New England Future 4” קאָרט, the fourth and final 2017 installment of the popular professional boxing series, “ניו ענגלאַנד 'ס צוקונפֿט”, to be held at the DCU Center (Exhibition Hall) אין Worcester, מאַססאַטשוסעטץ.

“New England’s Future 4” is presented by Rivera Promotions Entertainment (רפּע), which is owned and operated by retired three-time, צוויי אָפּטייל וועלט מייַסטער דזשאָסע אַנטאָניאָ ריוועראַ און זיין זון, Anthonee (אַ.דזש.) ריוועראַ.

“I am happy to have a dedicated, hard-working boxer like Vinnie Carita headlining our boxing event on שבת, October 28th ביי די DCU צענטער,” promoter Jose Antonio Rivera said. “He is a perfect example of why my son, אַ.דזש., and I started RPE. We want to be able to help boxers grow their careers and create a platform for them to get bigger and better opportunities.”

A former WBU Americans and IBU North American cruiserweight champion,Carita (16-1-1, 15 קאָס) will take on Bolivian heavyweight champion שאול “El Fenjx Asesino” Faraff (64-23-3, 56 קאָס) in the eight-round main event.

Carita, fighting out of Pembroke (מאַ), will move up in weight once again to fight another foreign opponent. In the world of boxing, not only does Carita fight, he’s his own promoter, פאַרוואַלטער, trainer and matchmaker. Outside of the ring, Carita is a fulltime court officer in Brockton (מאַ), as well as a part-time security contractor for the Department of Defense (DOD).

Although his incredibly busy schedule leaves little, if any, downtown to relax, Carita thrives because he’s so dedicated, disciplined and driven. He starts each day at 4 אַ.ם., running or doing cardio exercising, works his day job, and hits the gym to train between 9-10 פּ.ם. on a regular basis for a scheduled fight. When he’s had some free time to travel, Vinne has gone to New York, Philadelphia and even Montreal for quality sparring.

He started boxing at seven, when he first walked into a gym, and captured a Southeast Regionals Golden Glove title but, בייַ 14, only boxed sporadically, until he turned pro at 20. “I definitely have a passion for boxing,” the 32-year-old confessed. “I’m a boxing fanatic. If I’m not training, I’m watching fights, live or on television. It’s my love. Boxing will always be part of me and when I finally hang up my gloves, I want to be a referee, so I can still be in the ring, and have the best seat. איך טאָן ניט ווילן צו ריכטער. Bigger guys last longer than smaller fighters. I want to continue doing this until by late thirties, maybe early forties.

“I fell in love with the cruiserweight division when I saw the (וואַסילי) דזשיראָוו-(יעקב) טאָוני קאַמף (at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut). The cruiserweight division is hot right now with the World Boxing Super Series (וובסס). (אָלעקסאַנדר) וסיק could win the tournament, unifying all four major belts, and then move up to heavyweight. That could be good for me if I was one of the eight fighting for one of the four vacant (major) טיטלען. I’ll look for the right fights until then, against guys who’ve been around and maybe competed for world or regional titles, like my next opponent (Faraff), who is the WBC Latino heavyweight champion.”

Carita, who occasionally is forced to fight as a heavyweight as he will against Faraff, will still weigh in around 200-205 פונט. He walks around at 208 and usually weighs in at 194-196 for his cruiserweight fights. “I have no plans to compete as a heavyweight,” ער האט. “I’ve fought some heavyweights and it looks better for me to go the distance, or stop, guys much bigger than me. I try and pick the right guys to advance my career.”

Why has Carita fought so many opponents from countries all over the world? Networking. His job with the DOD, before he started working as a court officer, found him traveling around the world. Wherever he went – דרום אפריקע, Dubai, נאָרדערן ירעלאַנד, אאז"ו. – he worked out at boxing gyms and made invaluable connections, establishing working relationships with many managers and matchmakers who he’s remained in contact with throughout his pro boxing career.

Because he trains himself, Carita only has one regular person working his corner, Pittsfield (מאַ) court officer John Felix, who he first met when they were drill instructors at the academy. Carita adds a cut-man for his fight but he tends to keep things lean and mean, even in his corner.

Nobody knows better or appreciates more what promoter Jose Antonio Rivera accomplished when he was world champion working full-time as a court officer in Worcester.

“To work full-time, raise children, train to be a world-class fighter and become world champion three times speaks volumes about Jose,” Carita commented. “איצט, he’s promoting and putting guys like me on his shows.”

“I understand perfectly how hard and demanding his schedule is working a fulltime job as a court officer and training to try to achieve his goals of fighting for and winning world championship,” Rivera added. “I am glad Vinnie has chosen to give RPE an opportunity to be able to help him get closer to achieving his dream.”

אין די גלויבנס-ארויסגעשטעלטע געשעעניש, Hartford’s (קאָרט) popular ריטשארד “פּאָפּייע די סאַילאָר מענטש” ריוועראַ (3-0, 2 קאָס) מיץ Hansen Castillo (0-2) in the four-round bout to be contested at a 180-pounds catch-weight.

די “New England’s Future 4” undercard features many of the best and most popular N.E. פייטערז, unbeaten East Hartford (קאָרט) welterweight and 2016 N.E. גאָלדען גלאָוועס מייַסטער, Anthony Laureano (5-0, 3 קאָס), who meets welterweight Clifton Rashad Thames (3-2-1), of Oklahoma City, in a six-round fight.

Former UFC heavyweight title challenger גאַבריעל “Napao” Gonzaga makes his pro boxing debut in a four-round bout versus Washington D.C. כעוויווייט אַלאַנדאָ פּיו (1-10-1, 1 קאָ).

Other undercard fights, all four-rounders, include two-time national champion and hometown favorite, באַבי “בה3” Harris III (1-0), ווס. טרוי “אָמאַר קאָ קינסטלער” קינסטלער (3-7-1, 2 קאָס), 2014 N.E. גאָלדען גלאָוועס מייַסטער Adrian “Tonka” סאָוסאַ (4-0, 3 קאָס), קאַמף פון נירביי לאָראַנס (מאַ), ווס. veteran Norwalk (קאָרט) וועלטערוועיגהט Shakha Moore (12-23-3, 2 קאָס), New Haven (קאָרט) Edwin Soto (10-2-2, 4 קאָס) ווס. Anthony Everett (1-6). פון לאָראַנס, at a 150-pounds catch-weight, three-time USA Boxing Nationals champion עלוויס פיגועראָאַ (2-0, 1 קאָ), פון ניו האַווען (קאָרט), ווס. Anthony Bowman (11-63-2, 3 קאָס). Southbridge (מאַ) יינגער וועלטערווייט ווילפרעדאָ “די סוקאַראָ” פּייגאַן (2-0) ווס. Oscar Diaz (0-12), of Hartford, and Danbury (קאָרט) יינגער וועלטערווייט אָמאַר באָרדוי, דזשוניער. (2-0) ווס. Alan Beeman (0-15), of Providence.

כל פייץ און פייטערז זענען אונטערטעניק צו טוישן.

טיקקעץ, פּרייסט בייַ $75.00 (רינגסידע) און $45.00 (גענעראַל אַרייַנטרעטן), are on sale and available to purchase at the DCU Center box office, www.dcu.centerworcester.com, by contacting Jose Rivera (elgallojar@gmail.com/508.864.6954), אַדזש ריוועראַ

(anthoneerivera@gmail.com/774.272.2269) אָדער קיין פון די Fighters

דאָאָרס עפענען בייַ 6:30 פּ.ם., ערשטער באַוט 7:00 פּ.ם. און.

ספּאָנסאָרס אַרייַננעמען לונדגרען האָנדאַ, Championsofhealth.usna.com, and American Pyramids.

Part of the proceeds will go to Worcester Latino Dollars For Scholars.

Facebook.com/ריוועראַפּראָמאָטיאָנסענטערטאַינמענט

טוויטטער: @ריוועראַפּראָמאָענט @דזשאָסעריוועראַטשאַמפּ @קינגריוועראַ_