WORCESTER, מסה. (ינואר 5, 2017) – Auburn (תואר שני) בינוני זוטר “אירי” Chuck Shearns will become the second-oldest professional fighter in Massachusetts boxing history ביום חמישי לילה, ינואר 19, in his farewell performance at the Worcester Palladium, marking the first pro boxing event in Worcester, located in Central Mass., in more than five years.
ההשבעה “העתיד של ניו אינגלנד” series event is being presented by Rivera Promotions Entertainment (RPE), which is owned and operated by one of Worcester’s all-time greatest boxers – 3-זמן, 2-אלוף עולם החלוק Jose Antonio “גאלו” ריברה – ואת בנו, Anthonee “AJ” ריברה.
Rising junior lightweight prospect, 2015 אלוף זהב כפפות ניו אינגלנד אירווין גונזלס (4-0, 4 קוס), will be fighting at home in the 6-round main event against Mexican invader Oscar Eduardo Quezada (2-1, 1 KO), while Springfield (תואר שני) כבד משקל קל Reinaldo “בָּזוּקָה” Graceski (4-0, 2 קוס) meets Worcester’s ראלף ג'ונסון (2-9, 1 KO) in the six-round co-feature.
The 49-year-old Shearns (2-1, 1 KO), who is the general manager of Lundgren Honda in Auburn, ייקח ב Shavonte Dixon (0-1), של פילדלפיה, בהתמודדות עם ארבעה סיבובים. The state record, set in 2011 by then 53-year-old Joe Siciliano, is safe because Jan. 19ה will definitely be Shearns’ last fight.
“I have a tremendous amount of respect for all boxers in terms of what they go through to be able to perform at their best in the ring,” promoter Jose Antonio Rivera said. “Chuck is doing it at 49 שנים! That takes a lot of sacrifice and courage to put your body through that rugged training. I wish him the best and I am glad I can provide him with the opportunity to be able to say goodbye to boxing on his own terms.”
Shearns made his amateur debut at the age of 29, 10 years later he made his professional debut. “I grew up watching boxing with my father (ג'ון), who boxed in the Navy, and my grandfather (ג'ון),” Shearns explained. “My grandfather was a club fighter, כך, boxing was in my blood. I only had four amateur fights and one day I met “Fitzy,” who is now one of my closest friends. (Sean Fitzgerald, one of Worcester’s all-time best boxers, who is Shearns’ head trainer.) I told him I wanted one pro fight and asked him to train me.”
למה, למרות ש, בגיל 49 does he still put himself through such extensive training, while working fulltime during the holiday season, to fight an opponent half his age?
“Boxing was the ultimate hobby for me and I just got carried away with it,” Shearns admitted. “I’m a novelty, not a real pro boxer. I’m fighting ינואר 19ה because I was given this opportunity and decided to accept it but, בכנות, I’m sure that this it! Maybe I just wanted a chance to go out with a win because I lost my last one? אני לא יודע. Sometimes I wake up asking myself, ‘What am I doing?’ And ‘Fitzy’ is working me so hard for this fight – I don’t know if it’s my age or what – but I’ve hated every minute of it. I lost my father in March. He was always in my corner and this fight I’ll have RIP on my trunks in his honor.”
Lately, Shearns’ typical day has been, גם, in a word, unordinary, to say the least. He reports to work at 5 a.m., exercises and runs on the treadmill for an hour in a small gym at work, catches up with “Fitzy” at Anytime Fitness to hit the heavy and speed bags, and after work “Fitzy” trains Shearns at Camp Get Right.
Shearns has the complete support of his family and co-workers, who will all be at the Worcester Palladium supporting him יאן. 19. “אישתי (Karen) and two daughters (Kayla and Olivia) have always been there for me,” Shearns noted. “My wife supports me and has jokingly said, ‘We’re getting divorced if you lose this fight.’ I’ve worked at Lundgren Honda for about 20 years and most of the 100-plus employees there will be at my fight. I did want to fight one more time before I turn 50. When Jose asked me to fight, how could I pass up this final opportunity?”
Also fighting on the undercard in 4-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. Dorchester’s (תואר שני) Brian Richardson (0-8), Hartford’s (CT) pro-debuting light heavyweight ריצ'רד “פופאי המלח” ריברה לעומת. Brockton’s (תואר שני) Huston Crayton (1-8, 0 קוס), pro-debuting Southbridge (תואר שני) מתאגרף וילפרדו פגאן לעומת. Puerto Rican אלכסנדר פיקו (1-1-1, 0 קוס) at a 145-pound catchweight, pro-debuting Springfield (תואר שני) משקל נוצה זוטר לואיס “Pancho” סנטיאגו לעומת, Mexican Jonathan Ramos (1-2, 0 קוס), 2016 N.W. אלוף כפפות זהב אנתוני לוריאנו (1-0), of East Haven (CT), לעומת. Boston junior welterweight Rafael Francis (0-8), Saugus (תואר שני) כבד משקל קל Brandon Montella (5-0, 4 קוס) לעומת. Mexican veteran Roberto El Viejo” Valenzuela (69-73-2, 56 קוס) and unbeaten Lawrence (תואר שני) במשקל כבד Jean Pierre Augstin (7-0-1, 3 קוס).
כל הקרבות והלוחמים כפופים לשינוי.
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.
מידע:
Facebook.com/RiveraPromotionsEntertainment
טוויטר: @RiveraPromoEnt @joseriverachamp
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