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Worcester, Pawg. (Lub ib hlis ntuj 20, 2017) – Boxing returned to Worcester last night (Thursday) 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 “Tshiab hais tus yav tom ntej” series, los ntawm Rivera Promotions Lom ze, featured 10 nkaus-packed fights, highlighted by rising Worcester featherweight prospect Irvin Gonzalez (5-0, 5 Kos).
“The support we received from the sold out crowd was exciting for our first show,” hais tias neeg pab txhawb Jose Antonio Rivera, the former 3-time, 2-division ntiaj teb no yeej. “We working on our second show in March, ntawm chav kawm, 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, Neeg Ixayees “Tigre” Ramos (9-15, 3 Kos), 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 Sunday o report to undefeated Guillermo Rigondeaux’ training camp in Miami, where he’ll work with the reigning WBA super bantamweight world champion and 2-time Olympic gold medalist.
Undefeated Ray “bazooka” Gracewski (5-0, 3 Kos), fighting out of Springfield (MA), was on a search-and-destroy mission in the co-feature against Worcester super middleweight Ralph Johnson (2-10, 1 KO), who was dropped three times before referee Kevin Hope halted the fight.
Hartford tus pro-debuting Richard “Popeye Lub neeg tsav nkoj txiv neej” Rivera was good to the finish, albeit only two rounds, in a fight contested at a 185-pound catchweight against Philadelphian Davonte Hopkins (0-3). Rivera, uas yog ib tug 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, hometown nyiam Andino Ranse‘s pro debut resulted in a hard earned victory, by way of a four-round unanimous decision, over Lowell’s (MA) previously unbeaten Jonathan Perez (2-1-1, 2 Kos)
Unbeaten Haitian heavyweight Jean Pierre “Kid Creole” Augstin (7-0-1, 3 Kos) pounded game Mexican foe Jose Humberto “Olympico” Corral (19-22, 12 Kos) from the opening bell en route to a shutout six-round unanimous decision.
East Hartford prospect Anthony Laureano (2-0, 1 KO), ib tug 2016 Tshiab hais Golden hnab looj tes yeej, finished off winless welterweight Rafael Francis (0-9) with a debilitating body shot early in the second round.
In his pro debut, popular Worcester heavyweight Felix Martinez, a local barber, spotted his opponent, 392-phaus Bobby Favors (0-4), ze li ntawm 60 pounds but Favors was unable to continue after the first round.
Southbridge, MA Wilfredo “lub Sucaro” pagan turned in a memorable pro debut, winning a four-round majority decision over Alexander Picot (1-2-1 (0 Kos), contested at a 145-pound catchweight.
The second-oldest pro fighter in Massachusetts history, 49-xyoo-laus “Irish” Chuck Shearns (3-1, 2 Kos), 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).
Team Shearns celebrates after his retirement fight
U.S. Tubrog nkoj Brandon Montella, fighting out of Saugus, MA., zoo nws cov ntaub ntawv mus 6-0 (5 Kos), as his light heavyweight Mexican veteran Roberto “Cov laus” Valenzuela (69-74-2, 56 Kos) suffered an injury early in the second round.
Sau kom tiav tau rau hauv qab no:
RAUG RAWS NTAUB NTAWV TAU
Main tshwm sim –Featherweights
Irvin Gonzalez (5-0, 5 Kos), Worcester, MA
WTKO2 (1:28)
Israel Rojas (9-15, 3 Kos), Aqua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico
Co-Feature – Super Middleweights
Ray Graceski (5-0, 3 Kos), Springfield, MA
WTKO1 (1:32)
Ralph Johnson (2-10, 1 KO), Worcester, MA
Heavyweights
Jean Pierre Augstin (8-0-1, 3 Kos), Lawrence, MA
WDEC6 (60-54, 60-54, 60-54)
Jose Humberto “Olympico” Corral (19-23, 12 Kos), Aqua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico
Felix Martinez (1-0, 1 KO), Worcester, MA
WTKO1 (3:00)
Bobby Favors (0-4), Cincinnati, OH
(185-phaus) Catchweight
Richard Rivera (1-0, 1 KO), Hartford, I
WTKO2 (2:48)
Davonte Hopkins (0-3), Philadelphia, PA
LUB TEEB heavyweights
Brandon Montella (6-0, 5 Kos), Saugus, MA
WTKO2 (0:50)
Roberto Valenzuela (69-74-2, 56 Kos), Aqua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico
JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Chuck Shearns (3-1, 2 Kos), Auburn, MA
WTKO1 (2:19)
Shavonte Dixon (0-2), Philadelphia, PA
(145-phaus) CATCHWEIGHT
Wilfredo Pagan (1-0, 0 Kos), Southbridge, MA
WDEC4 (39-37, 39-37, 38-38)
Alexander Picot (1-2-1, 0 Kos), Cidra, Puerto Rico
WELTERWEIGHTS
Anthony Laureano (2-0, 1 KO), East Hartford, I
WKO2 (0:24)
Rafael Francis (0-9), Dorchester, MA
JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHTS
Andino Ranse 1-0, 0 Kos), Worcester, MA
WDEC4 (40-36, 39-37, 39-37)
Jonathan Perez (2-1-1, 2 Kos), Lowell, MA
Sponsors: Heavyweights – Lundgren Honda, Atty. Michael H. Erlich, Atty. Maria M. Rivera-Cotto, USANA Health Services; Lightweights – TKO Auto Repair, Atty. Stephen W. Debs.
NTAUB NTAWV:
Facebook.com/RiveraPromotionsEntertainment
Twitter: @RiveraPromoEnt @joseriverachamp, @KingRivera_
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