HOMECOMING Featuring the return of 3-time, 2-nkewa n'ụwa onye mmeri “The France” JOSE ANTONIO RIVERA Friday, OG OST 17, 2018 The Palladium, Worcester, Massachusetts

Father-son Jose Antonio & A.J. Rivera “Making History” World champion’s return & son’s pro debut August 17 na The palladium na Worcester, MA (L-R) Edwin Rosado, Josh Orta, Eslih Owusu, Kendrick Ball, Jr., Jimmy Burchfield, Khiary Gray, Jose Antonio Rivera, A.J. Rivera, Chuck Shearns, Jose Angel Ortiz and Wilfredo Pagan

Worcester, Uka. (July 19, 2018) – Granite Chin Promotions (GCP) and Rivera Promotions Entertainment (RPE) hosted a press conference yesterday at The Ballot Box in Worcester, Massachusetts, to make a major announcement, as well as introduce local fighters on the August 17^nkepro boxing card at The Palladium in Worcester.

Atọ oge, abụọ na-nkewa n'ụwa onye mmeri “The France” Jose Antonio Rivera (41-6-1, 24 Kos) is making his return in the “Making History” isi ihe omume, in large part because he wanted to fight on the same card as his son, A.J. Rivera, who was to become the first pro boxer who was born with Spina Bifida. A.J., who is a rising matchmaker in New England, was unable to get medically cleared in time and he will not be fighting Aug. 17.

The event has been renamed, “Homecoming”, because six of the competing fighters, including Jose Antonio Rivera, live in Worcester.

“O di nwute na,” announced promoter Chuck Shearns, who co-promotes Granite Chin Promotions with Chris Traietti, “A.J. isn’t fighting on this show because he couldn’t get medically cleared in time.”

“I trained hard and was within five or six pounds of my contract weight,” a disappointed A.J. Rivera kọwara. “I passed all of the medical tests except for the CATSCAN. I fought the doctor a little and said I wanted a second opinion. Those results won’t be in time, so I can’t fight on this card.”

“The reason I’m coming back was to make history with my son,” Jose Antonio Rivera added. “We had talked about it a long time but, dị mwute ikwu na, it wasn’t meant to be for A.J. for this card. He’s already part of history already as the only fighter born with Spina Bifida who fought as an amateur. I feel bad, but everything happens for a reason and as a father, my son’s safety always comes first. He will continue to be an important part of our team to make our company a success. People are thrown curveballs in life like this and we’ve regrouped to turn this into a positive. We’re still fighting for the cause (Spina Bifida).”

Ugbu a 45 afọ, Rivera has already lost more than 30 pound, and he is within eight of his contracted weight for his eight-round fight against Ruben “Modern Day Warrior” Galvan (27-26-4, 10 Kos).

Na 1997, Rivera captured the International Boxing Organization (Igbo) World welterweight title, nkwụsị Gilberto Flores na abụọ gbaa gburugburu. Six years later, he traveled to Germany to take on undefeated, n'obodo ọkacha mmasị Michel Trabant (38-0) for the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) World Welterweight Championship, in which Rivera won a 12-round decision and the belt.

Abụọ ịlụ ọgụ mgbe e mesịrị, in front of nearly 10,000 hometown fans in Worcester, Rivera won a 12-round unanimous decision in 2006 over defending champion Alejandro Garcia (25-1) for the WBA World super welterweight title.

Middleweight Kendrick Ball, Obere. (9-1-2, 6 Kos) and junior middleweight Khiary Gray (15-4, 11 Kos), both promoted by CES Boxing, will be making their pro debuts at home in Worcester. Ball faces an opponent to be determined in the six-round co-featured event, while Gray (15-4, 11 Kos) osobo Antonio Chaves Fernandez (9-33, 4 Kos), of Brockton, MA, also in a six rounder.

Undefeated light heavyweight prospect Richard “Popeye The Ọkwọ Ụgbọ Mmiri Man” Rivera (8-0, 7 Kos), fighting out of Hartford, CT, is slated to fight in a six-round bout vs. TBA, as well as his stable mate, two-time New England Golden Gloves champion “Onye Ọ Họọrọ” Sharad Collier (1-0, 1 Ko), who takes on his Mexican opponent, Emmanuel “Pollo” Valadez (5-4, 4 Kos), in a four-round match.

Also scheduled to fight on the undercard in four-round bouts are Springfield, MA welterweight Jose Angel “Ko” Ortiz Jose Angel “Ko” Ortiz (4-13-1, 1 Ko) vs. Seth Basler (0-8) and pro-debuting featherweight Joshua Orta vs. Worcester’s Edwin Rosado (1-7-1, 1 Ko), Southbridge, MA welterweight Wilfredo “na Sucaro” na-ekpere arụsị (4-0, 2 Kos) vs. TBA, Worcester lightweight Francisco Irizarry (4-0, 2 Kos) vs. TBA, Worcester’s pro-debuting lightweight Eslih Owusu.vs. Mexico Engelberto “Guarura” Valenzuela (11-14 (3 Kos).

All ọgụ na alụso bụ isiokwu ịgbanwe.

Tiketi, ọnụ na $75.00 (ringside) na $45.00 (n'ozuzu mbanye), ndị na ere na dị ịzụta na www.ThePalladium.net ma ọ bụ na palladium igbe ọrụ (general mbanye naanị), ma ọ bụ site na ịkpọtụrụ Jose Rivera (elgallojar@gmail.com/508.864.6954), AJ Rivera (anthoneerivera@gmail.com/774.272.2269) ma ọ bụ ihe ọ bụla nke alụso.

Ụzọ na-emeghe na 6 p.m. NA, mbụ n'obi 7 p.m. NA.

Event sponsors include Lundgren Honda, Elm Wealth Group, Atty. Maria M. Rivera-Cotto, Championsofhealth@USANA.com, Chieftain Liquors, Centro Las America, Baystate Savings Bank, Pamela Laporte Realty, Worcester Vocero, ChrisFIT Xperience and Grille 57 (hosting the official weigh in and after party).

A portion of the proceeds will go to Spina Bifida Association of Greater New England.

Pịa ogbako ruturu

Joe Antonio Rivera: “I want to thank everybody for coming. Tomorrow is four weeks to the weigh in. It’s an important date because fighting is easy, making weight isn’t. I want to thank Granite Chin Promotions

“Four Worcester fighters (Naa, Gray, Irizarry and Owusu) on this card have never fought here. It’s huge having Kendrick and Khiary on this card and I’d like to thank CES Boxing for allowing them to fight here. I’m proud of Kendrick and Khiary and excited to have them fighting on this show. Chuck and Granite Chin are running this show, I’m only focused on my opponent.

“I’m excited to have an opponent who is coming to fight. He’s my third opponent, but that’s part of boxing. M na-azụ ike, passed my medicals, and it’s like I’m hungry again. I haven’t fought in years, but I’ve taken good care of my body. I didn’t visualize doing this at 45. I’ve also heard that, after August 17^nke, there’s a possibility of a title for me by the end of this year.”

Chuck Shearns (GCP co-promoter): “I’m honored to be involved in this show. Jose and I have been friends for years. Months ago, this all started with a text conversation (Chuck, Jose and A.J.). A week later, it started getting serious, and then we had Jose and A.J. fighting on this card. O di nwute na, A.J. isn’t fighting on this card, but the show will go on.”

Jimmy Burchfield (CES promoter): “What’s important is that Jose Antonio Rivera is fighting on this card and that’s why I’m allowing ‘Pepper’ (Naa) and Khiary to fight on this card. I’ve had a good relationship with Chuck and I’ve known Jose and A.J., who worked for me, for a long time. Nothing was happening in Worcester boxing for years, until Jose and A.J. started promoting here, but Worcester has always been a good fight town. All the fighters here will be proud of your victory. This is beautiful! They’ve been around him and know what he’s accomplished in life. Jose has never abused his body, he’s taken good care of himself.

“We (CES Boxing) had an event scheduled August 17^nke at Twin River (Lincoln, RI), but we moved from that date, and now everything is focused August 17^nke on Worcester. How could I not have my Worcester fighters on Jose Rivera’s comeback card? ‘Pepper’ and Khiary really wanted to fight on this card. These kids (fighters seated at head table) look up to Jose for what he’s done and in life and his comeback is a really big story. I know what ‘Pepper” and Khiary are going to do and I know what Jose is going to do because he’s a veteran. I believe this will be a sell out!”

Kendrick Ball, Jr.: “I want to thank my promoter, Jimmy Burchfield, for giving me the okay to fight on this card. I also want to thank Granite Chin Promotions and Rivera Promotions Entertainment. I’ve waited for this a long time. This fight will give me a chance to redeem myself and show why I’m the next great middleweight to come out of Worcester. I’m ready to get it on.”

Khiary Gray: “I want to thank Rivera Promotions Entertainment, CES Boxing and Granite Chin Promotions for giving me a chance to fight at home for the first time. This is a rematch for me. I stopped him in the first round, but there was some controversy. I know he’s coming to fight.”

Eslih Owusi: “I just graduated from high school and I wasn’t going to turn pro until after that. Fighting as a pro will be much more exciting than in the amateurs.”

Jose Angel Ortiz: “Dị m obi ụtọ. I haven’t fought in two years. I was supposed to return before, but things didn’t work out. I never left boxing because I’m in the gym all the time working out or training other fighters. Jose and I are both in our forties. We’re going to show everybody that we can still fight.”

Edwin Rosado: “I will try and put on the best show I can.”

Joshua Orta: “I’m very happy about my first pro fight. I’ve dreamed of this day. Everybody is going to see an exciting card. I love this sport and always train hard.”

Ozi:

Facebook.com: /RiveraPromotionsEntertainment, /GraniteChin Promotions

Twitter: @RiveraPromoEnt @joseriverachamp @KingRivera_, @Granite_Chin

MAKING HISTORY Featuring the return of 3-time, 2-nkewa n'ụwa onye mmeri “The France” JOSE ANTONIO RIVERA Saturday, OG OST 17, 2018 The Palladium, Worcester, Massachusetts

August 17 na The palladium na Worcester, MA (L-R): A.J. and Jose Antonio Rivera

Worcester, Uka. (June 20, 2018) — This past Father’s Day was considerably different for three-time, abụọ na-nkewa n'ụwa onye mmeri “The France” Jose Antonio Rivera and his pro-debuting son, A.J. Rivera, because they will be “Making History,” presented by Rivera Promotions Entertainment and Granite Chin Promotions, August 17 at The Palladium.

Rivera and his son, karị, are the promoter and matchmaker for Rivera Promotions Entertainment (RPE), which will co-promote “Making History” with Granite Chin Promotions (GCP).

“We are excited to be teaming up with GCP for this historic boxing event,” Jose commented. “We have had the pleasure of working with Chris (Traietti) and Chuck (Shearns) in the past. We are grateful that they are able to work with us again to make sure we put together a great boxing event.”

The Riveras will become the first world-champion father-son combination to fight on a pro show that is promoted by their company. More significantly, A.J. will become the first pro boxer to be born with Spina Bifida.

Ugbu a 45 afọ, Rivera is making his second comeback, but this time it’s solely to fight on the same card as his son. Due to a variety of reasons, “The France” retired from the ring in 2008, but he came back in 2011 for two fights, both victories, before hanging up his gloves again.

Na 1997, Rivera captured the International Boxing Organization (Igbo) World welterweight title, nkwụsị Gilberto Flores na abụọ gbaa gburugburu. Six years later, he traveled to Germany to take on undefeated, n'obodo ọkacha mmasị Michel Trabant (38-0) for the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) World Welterweight Championship, in which Rivera won a 12-round decision and the belt.

Abụọ ịlụ ọgụ mgbe e mesịrị, in front of nearly 10,000 hometown fans in Worcester, Rivera won a 12-round unanimous decision over defending champion Alejandro Garcia (25-1) for the WBA World super welterweight title.

“I am boxing at 45 years old because of this great opportunity that has arisen for my son and I,” Jose explained. “Boxing on the same card with my son is going to be exciting and, even more so, because we will be a part of history! I am fortunate to be healthy, n'ụzọ anụ ahụ, and I am grateful to my Heavenly Father for not having any brain issues from my prior years of boxing. I’ve lost 20 pound, so far, and need to lose 12 more to make the 160-pound weight class.

“I am not sure how the night of the fight is going to go. I play it in my head over and over about how I would like it to go, ma n'ikpeazụ, I’m confident we will both be ready for tough fights because of the hard work we’re both putting in at the gym.

“Fan response has been good, positive and supportive of what we both are doing and attempting to accomplish. To look back at the day I was told my son was going to be born with Spina Bifida, preparing myself mentally for the worse, ma ugbu a, 25 years later here we are close to fulfilling his childhood dream. It’s amazing! I feel blessed to share this moment with my son. I am also happy that we can do this in front of our family, enyi & fans in our City of Worcester, where my son was born, and I was raised since I moved there when I was 16.”

On Aug. 17, Rivera will face battle-tested middleweight Ryan “Dangerous” Davis (24-19, 9 Kos), fighting out of East Saint Louis, Illinois, in the eight-round main event. Davis has been in with the iron, including six-time, abụọ nkewa n'ụwa onye mmeri Zab Juda, former International Boxing Federation (IBF) n'ụwa onye mmeri Ishe Smith, two-time world title challenger and 2004 US Olympian Vances Martirosyan, ụwa aha ịma ya aka Jonathan Reid, reigning International Boxing Association (IBA) world junior middleweight champion Mark DeLuca, plus other notables such as Rob Brant, Mikael Zewski, Carlos Bojorquez na Dominik Britsch.

Twenty-five-year-old A.J. will fight an opponent to be determined in a four-round welterweight match. He is a graduate of Johnson & Wales with a major in sports management, who has quickly become one of the most respected matchmakers in New England.

A.J. grew-up in a gym, watching his father train, and he also fought as an amateur boxer. “I’ve always wanted to fight as a pro and what better way than to make my pro debut on the same card headlined by my pops,” Rivera said. “This is a one and done, I’m not going to box as a career and, hopefully I will leave the ring on August 17^nke and retire undefeated. I plan to make matchmaking a career. I can stay in the sport I’ve always loved and matchmake for our company and for other promoters.

“I was born with Spina Bifida. A layer of skin covered a hole in my back, preventing water from getting in, which would have damaged my system and left me paralyzed, unable to speak and with a shunt in my head to drain fluid. The doctors told my parents that, if I survived, I’d only live to be 19, in a wheelchair and a little autistic. I had surgery the next day and my pops kept hope. As I got older, I played basketball, football, baseball and boxed. I was inactive for seven years when I went away to school and started matchmaking.”

In addition to sacrificing to make weight, instead of having a Father’s Day cookout, he watched what he ate and, n'ezie, workout with his father in the gym to prepare for his pro debut.

“I wasn’t able to celebrate my 25^nke anniversary on June 2 ma,” A.J. kwukwara. “I plan to celebrate my birthday and Father’s Day when I step out of the ring on August 17^nke. Mgbe ahụ, I’ll go back to focusing on my craft and become a full-time matchmaker.”

Red-hot Richard “Popeye The Ọkwọ Ụgbọ Mmiri Man” Rivera (8-0, 7 Kos), fighting out of Hartford, CT, will be showcased in the eight-round co-featured event. Rivera is the reigning UBF All Americans light heavyweight and ABF International cruiserweight champion.

Schedule to fight on the undercard in separate bouts are Worcester junior middleweight Khiary Gray (15-4, 11 Kos), promoted by CES Boxing, Danbury, CT junior welterweight Omar “Anụ ọhịa ahụ” Bordoy, Obere. (6-0, 2 Kos), Springfield, MA welterweight Jose Angel “Ko” Ortiz (4-13-1, 1 Ko) and pro-debuting featherweight Joshua Orta, Southbridge, MA welterweight Wilfredo “na Sucaro” na-ekpere arụsị (4-0, 2 Kos), Worcester lightweight Francisco Irizarry (4-0, 2 Kos) and pro-debuting lightweight Eslih Owusu.

Opponents will soon be announced. All ọgụ na alụso bụ isiokwu ịgbanwe.

Tiketi, ọnụ na $75.00 (ringside) na $45.00 (n'ozuzu mbanye), ndị na ere na dị ịzụta na www.ThePalladium.net ma ọ bụ na palladium igbe ọrụ (general mbanye naanị), ma ọ bụ site na ịkpọtụrụ Jose Rivera (elgallojar@gmail.com/508.864.6954), AJ Rivera (anthoneerivera@gmail.com/774.272.2269) ma ọ bụ ihe ọ bụla nke alụso.

Ụzọ na-emeghe na 6 p.m. NA, mbụ n'obi 7 p.m. NA.

Event sponsors include Lundgren Hondo, Atty. Maria M. Rivera-Cotto, USANA, Chieftain Liquors and ChrisFIT Xperience.

A portion of the proceeds will go to Spina Bifida Association of Greater New England.

Ozi:

Facebook.com: /RiveraPromotionsEntertainment, /GraniteChin Promotions

Twitter: @RiveraPromoEnt @joseriverachamp @KingRivera_, @Granite_Chin