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boxing

“Fight Night at the Capital” Press Conference Quotes

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June 16 at Xfinity Centre in Hartford, CT
Press Conference group picture courtesy of Jason Rodriguez / Superelite Boxing
HARTFORD, Conn. (May 31, 2018) – Hartford Boxing Promotions (HBP) hosted a press conference yesterday at the Hartford Boxing Center to promote its first event, “Fight Night at the Capital”, June 16 at Xfinity Centre in Hartford, Connecticut.
Below are quotes from yesterday’s press conference.
HBP’s goal is to bring quality boxing back to Hartford, which has a rich tradition dating back nearly a full century, headlined by International Hall of Famers Willie “Will o’ the Wisp” Pep and Christopher “Battling” Battalino. Other top-area boxers include world champion Marlon “Magic Man” Starling, world title challengers Gaspar “El Indio” Ortega, and Israel “Pito” Cardona, and 1996 USA Olympic Boxing Team captain Lawrence Clay-Bey.
Tickets, priced at $80.00, $60.00 and $40.00, are on sale and available to purchase, as well as $125.00 VIP tickets that include food and soft drinks), at Ticket Master outlets or at the Hartford Boxing Center gym.
Doors open at 6 p.m. ET, first bout starts at 7 p.m. ET.
 
“FIGHT NIGHT AT THE CAPITAL” * June 16, 2018 * XFINITY CENTRE, HARTFORD, CT  
 
MAIN EVENT – UBF ALL AMERICA &
VACANT ABF CONTINENTAL AMERICAS LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP – 8 ROUNDS
RICHARD RIVERA                                    JAIME “Zarco” SOLORIO        
Champion                                                       Challenger
Hartford, CT                                                   San Quinton, Mexico
7-0 (6 KOs)                                                    12-3-2 (9 KOs)
CO-FEATURE — LIGHTWEIGHTS – 6 ROUNDS
OMAR BORDOY, JR.                                ALEXANDER PICOT         
Danbury, CT                                           Hartford, CT by way of Puerto Rico
5-0 (1 KO)                                                     2-5-1
SPECIAL JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT ATTRACTION – 4 ROUNDS
SHARAD COLLIER             TBA
2-time New England Golden Gloves Champion                      
Hartford, CT                                                          
Pro Debut                                                       
FEATHERWEIGHTS – 4 ROUNDS
LUIS “Lobito” RIVERA                                  PHILLIP DAVIS
Hartford, CT                                                   Worcester, MA
4-3                                                               1-1-1
LIGHTWEIGHTS – 4 ROUNDS
ANUEL ROSA                                                ROGER BLANKENSHIP
New Haven, CT                                              Cleveland, OH
Pro Debut                                                      1-3
FEATHERWEIGHTS – 4 ROUNDS
NATHAN MARTINEZ                                      HENRY GARCIA
New Britain, CT                                              New Bedford, MA                            
Pro Debut                                                     0-1
LIGHTWEIGHTS – 4 ROUNDS
JOSE MAYSONET                                          JUSTIN MORALES                   
Hartford, CT                                                  New Bedford, MA
Pro Debut                                                     Pro Debut
FEATHERWEIGHTS – 4 ROUNDS
JACOB “Lefty” MARRERO                            JIMMY SANTIAGO
Bridgeport, CT                                               New York, NY
Pro Debut                                                     Pro Debut
JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHTS — 4 ROUNDS
JEFFREY TORRES                                          TBA
New Haven, CT
4-0 (2 KOs)
 
(all fights & fighters subject to change)
PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Tony Blanco, Promoter: “I’m really excited to do this in Hartford. There wouldn’t be a show without these guys. We work for them.”
Michael Tran, Promoter: “We’re really excited to feature some of top Connecticut boxers including many pro debuts of some of Connecticut’s best young fighters. Fans will be able to see them all in action on June 16th. We’re bringing boxing back and it’s only right that we have this event in the capital of Connecticut.”
 
Richard Rivera: “People ask me why I box? I love it, no other reason. As an amateur, I fought for the love of the sport. I’m blessed now because I’m getting paid, but I still love it. We do need to eat and because we have a lot of pro debuts on this card, it means we have a lot of hungry fighters. On June 16th, I’m going to do my thing and, trust me, there are going to be a lot of fireworks. I’ve watched a lot of these guys train. We’re finally fighting in our hometown and we’re going to better all the time.
“Boxing helps save lives. Boxing is a performing art. Kids get off the street in in the gym. This is a movement! We are a forced to be reckoned with and boxing gives everybody a chance.”.
 
Sharad Collier: “I’d like to thank Tony Blanco and Hartford Boxing Promotions for putting me on this card and my team. It’s going to be a good night. I’m ready to go. I’m going to keep working hard and keep being smart.”
 
Luis Rivera: “I want to thank Hartford Boxing Promotions and my coach, Papo Colon. Come June 16th, it’s going to be an interesting night.”
 
Nathan Martinez: “I’m thankful for this opportunity on June 16th. Come June 16th, expect a big fight.”
 
Jose Maysonet: “Thanks to my team and on June 16th, I will be ready.”
 
Anuel Rosa: “Thanks to Hartford Boxing Promotions for putting me on this show and to my trainer, Luis Rosa, for my eight weeks of training. I knew this day was coming and I’ll be ready. When people see me fight, you’ll want me on the next card.”
 
Jacob Marrero: I want to thank Tony Blanco for this opportunity to make my pro debut and my team for getting me ready for my fight.”
 
Jeffrey Torres: “I want to thank my coach, Luis Rosa. I’ll be 100-percent ready on June 16th.”
*                                          *                                                       *
Sponsors include Hot 93.7 FM, Hartford Boxing Center, Foster Buddies Network and HBC ProShop.
 
INFORMATION;
Facebook: /hartfordboxingcenter
Twitter: @hartfordboxing
Instagram: @hartford.boxing.center/
You Tube: /c/HartfordBoxingCenter
boxing

Undefeated light heavyweight Richard “Popeye The Sailor Man” Rivera to Headline “Fight Night at the Capital”

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June 16 at Xfinity Centre in Hartford, CT

HARTFORD, Conn. (May 15, 2018) – New England’s hottest, most popular and hardest hitter, Richard “Popeye The Sailor Man” Rivera, will defend his Universal Boxing Federation (UBF) All America light heavyweight title at home on Hartford Boxing Promotions’ inaugural event, “Fight Night at the Capital”, June 16th at Xfinity Centre in Hartford, Connecticut.

 

 

Rivera (7-0, 6 KOs) has partnered with his trainer, Tony Blanco, and Hartford Boxing Center gym co-owner, Michael Tran, to form Hartford Boxing Promotions and bring world-class boxing back to Hartford.

 

 

Boxing’s rich roots in the Hartford market dates back nearly a full century, headlined by International Hall of Famers Willie “Will o’ the Wisp” Pep and Christopher “Battling” Battalino.

 

Other top-area boxers include world champion Marlon “Magic Man” Starling, world title challengers Gaspar “El Indio” Ortega, and Israel “Pito” Cardona, and 1996 USA Olympic Boxing Team captain Lawrence Clay-Bey.

 

 

Rivera will take on Jaime “Zarco” Solorio (12-3-2, 9 KOs) in the eight-round main event versus an opponent to be determined.

 

 

“There’s a lot of pressure fighting at home because, of course, I want a victory, but I also need to be impressive for me to be recognized,” Rivera said. “I’m all about boxing. My partners, Tony and Michael, take care of the business end of Hartford Boxing Promotions. I’m excited about fighting June 16th and I expect a great turnout. A lot of people know who I am from fighting all over New England. Now, I want to expand my horizons. I have a huge following from our gym and church, but I want to bring non-boxing fans to our show to make them boxing fans.

 

 

“There’s no such thing as an easy fight. It all starts with training, which makes fighting easier. I may get an early knockout, but I always train to go the distance. My opponent has fought on television a few times against some fighters with good records.  I know that I am going to be in a fight. I’ll be ready for war!”

 

 

This past April in New Hampshire, Rivera hit his opponent, Randy Campbell, so hard with a powerful right, that the force broke Campbell’s ankle only seconds into the contest.

 

 

“Fighting is a way of life,” Rivera explained. “All the training and fighting, it’s for the love of boxing, not money. Fighting never leaves a boxer.”

 

 

Rivera originally got his nickname because, when he was younger, his forearms were considerably larger than his biceps. Fighters in the gym jokingly teased Rivera about his enlarged forearms, calling him “Popeye,” and the nickname has stuck. Now, Rivera showcases his Popeye persona in full, which has added many females and children to his growing fanbase of hardcore boxing fans. June 16thwill open a new chapter in the life of for the man who’s always good to the finish because he eats his spinach.

 

 

In the co-featured event, undefeated Danbury, CT lightweight Omar “The Beast” Bordoy, Jr. (5-0, 1 KO) will be in his first scheduled six-rounder against. Alexander “El Bravo” Picot (2-5-1), fighting out of Hartford by way of Puerto Rico.

 

 

“The Special One,” Sharad Collier, fighting out of Hartford, is competing this week Omaha (NE) at the National Golden Gloves Championships, before returning home to turn pro in a four-round Special Junior Welterweight Attraction versus an opponent to be determined.

 

 

Also fighting on the undercard, all in four-round bouts, are Hartford featherweight Luis “Lobito” Rivera (4-3) vs. Phillip Davis (1-1-1), of Worcester, MA; pro-debuting New Haven, CT lightweight Anuel Rosa vs. Cleveland’s Roger Blankenship (1-3), New Britain, CT featherweight Nathan Martinez in his professional debut vs. New Bedford’s (MA) Henry Garcia (0-1), Hartford lightweight Jose Maysonet vs. Justin Morales, of New Bedford, MA, in a battle of pro-debut fighters, and another pair of pro debut fighters, Bridgeport, CT featherweight Jacob Marrero vs. Jimmy Santiago, of New York City, and New Haven junior welterweight prospect Jeffrey Torres (4-0, 2 KOs) vs. TBA..

 

 

All fights and fighters are subject to change.

 

 

Tickets, priced at $80.00, $60.00 and $40.00, are on sale and available to purchase, as well as $125.00 VIP tickets that include food and soft drinks), at Ticket Master outlets or at the Hartford Boxing Center gym.

 

 

Doors open at 6 p.m. ET, first bout starts at 7 p.m. ET.

 

 

Sponsors include Hot 93.7 FM, Hartford Boxing Center, Foster Buddies Network and HBC ProShop.

 

 

 

INFORMATION;

Facebook: /hartfordboxingcenter

Twitter: @hartfordboxing

Instagram: @hartford.boxing.center/

You Tube: /c/HartfordBoxingCenter

boxing

Hartford Boxing Promotions To launch this summer

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(L-R) – Michael Tran, Richard Rivera & Tony Blanco

HARTFORD, Conn. (April 4, 2018) – Professional boxing’s newest promotional company, Hartford Boxing Promotions, has announced its official formation, as well as tentative plans calling for its inaugural event this summer in Hartford.

 

 

 

Boxing trainer Tony Blanco and his Hartford-based House of Boxing gym partner, Michael Tran, have teamed with their undefeated light heavyweight prospect, Richard “Popeye The Sailor Man” Rivera (6-0, 5 KOs), to form Hartford Boxing Promotions. Rivera is one of the best and most popular pro fighters in New England.

 

 

 

“We want to bring boxing back to Hartford,” Blanco addressed why they founded this new promotional company. “Hartford is a hotbed of boxing. There’s a lot of talent here and Hartford has a rich boxing history.

 

 

 

“We hope to promote our first show on June 16th, subject to Connecticut Boxing Commission approval, at Xfinity Theatre in Hartford. It’s owned by Live Nation and has been used only as a concert hall, but it has an old-school feel and will be an awesome venue for boxing. We’re excited about promoting events in this new venue for boxing.”

 

 

 

Boxing’s roots in the Hartford market dates back nearly a full century, headlined by International Hall of Famers Willie “Will o’ the Wisp” Pep and Christopher “Battling” Battalino. Other top-area boxers include world champion Marlon “Magic Man” Starling, world title challengers Gaspar “El Indio” Ortega, “Iceman” John Scully and Israel “Pito” Cardona, and 1996 USA Olympic Boxing Team captain Lawrence Clay-Bey.

 

 

INFORMATION;

Facebook: /hartfordboxingcenter

Twitter: @hartfordboxing

Instagram: @hartford.boxing.center/

You Tube: /c/HartfordBoxingCenter