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Lewiston, Maine (June 18, 2016) – New England Fights (NEF) held the fight promotion’s latest event, “NEF 24: PROMISED LAND” on Saturday night at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine. The event featured a full slate of professional boxing, amateur mixed-martial-arts (MMA) and professional MMA bouts. Nearly 2,000 packed the hallowed halls where Muhammad Ali once defended the heavyweight championship of the world against Sonny Liston. A special video tribute was presented honoring Ali prior to the beginning of the event.
For the second time since April, Brandon Berry (11-2-1) and James Lester(11-9-1) went the distance. This time, unlike the last bout which was scored a draw, there was a winner. Lester is travelling back to his hometown of Detroit, Michigan the new Northeast Junior Welterweight Boxing Champion after winning a unanimous decision.
Alex Walker (1-1) and Nicole Burgess (0-1) kept alive the tradition of women’s fights stealing the show at NEF events. The two athletes battled back and forth in what can only be described as a “thriller” before a deafening crowd. Walker picked up the first win of her MMA career via an armbar submission in the third round.
Fans who missed the event, or who were at the Colisée and want to relive it, can watch the archived copy of the show by signing up for a FloPRO account at www.FloCombat.com.
The results from Lewiston, Maine:
PROFESSIONAL BOXING
James Lester def. Brandon Berry via unanimous decision
Russell Lamour def. Roberto Valenzuela via KO, round 1
Vinnie Carita def. Francisco Mireles via KO, round 2
Casey Kramlich def. Zenon Herrera via TKO, round 3
Steve Collins, Jr. def. Jose Humberto Corral via unanimous decision
PROFESSIONAL MMA
Jesse Erickson def. Amos Collins via KO, round 1
Brandon Bushaw def. Matt Denning via Kimura, round 3
AMATEUR MMA
Dustin Veinott def. Ryan Burgess via triangle choke, round 2
Mike Bezanson def. Shawn Bang via KO, round 1
Derek Daley def. Johel Stephenson via TKO, round 1
Justin Witham def. Conner Murphy via rear-naked choke, round 3
Skyler Bang def. Eddie DeRoche via rear-naked choke, round 1
Steve Bang, Jr. def. Dom Cofone via guillotine, round 1
Alex Walker def. Nicole Burgess via armbar, round 3
Dr. Steve Bang def. Stacy Lupo via TKO, round 3
New England Fights’ next event, “NEF 25: HEROES & VILLAINS,” takes place on Saturday, September 10, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine. Tickets start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée box office at 207.783.2009 x 525. Tickets will also be available at the door the night of the event.
For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com. In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”
About New England Fights
New England Fights (“NEF”) is a fight events promotions company. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for Maine’s fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.
Lewiston, Maine (June 3, 2016) – It will be a celebration of all things Americana when New England Fights (NEF) returns to the Androscoggin Bank Colisée on Saturday, June 18, 2016. The wildly popular fight promotion will once again give fans a full night of mixed-martial-arts (MMA) and professional boxing action.
In the main event of the boxing portion of the fight card, Brandon “The Cannon” Berry (11-1-1) will defend the Northeast Junior Welterweight Title against challenger James “The Motor City Bad Boy” Lester (10-9-1). The two fought to a draw on the judges’ scorecards this past April in Lewiston. They agreed to rematch with Berry’s title on the line. This time, however, there will be an odd number of rounds (seven to be exact) to make the chances of another draw very slim.
Also on the boxing portion of the card, former USA New England Middleweight Champion Russell “The Haitian Sensation” Lamour (13-2) and Casey “The Buzzsaw” Kramlich (4-0-1) from the Portland Boxing Club in Portland, Maine will both make their respective NEF Boxing debuts.
The professional MMA portion of the card will see Jesse “The Viking” Erickson (6-5) return to the cage after his third unsuccessful attempt at capturing the lightweight title this past April. Erickson will have his work cut out for him in the form of the always tough Amos Collins (4-5) at a catchweight of 161-pounds.
Erickson’s teammate, Matt “Ken Doll” Denning (3-2), will also see action on the professional MMA card when he meets Brandon Bushaw (1-2) in a featherweight bout.
The amateur MMA card will be headlined by a flyweight title rematch as Ryan Burgess (2-0) defends against the former champion, and the athlete he took the title from, Dustin Veinott (4-4). Veinott’s loss to Burgess last fall via split decision put a stop to his four-fight win streak.
Also on the amateur card will be 46 year-old Dr. Steve Bang, Sr. (1-1), a bariatric surgeon from Auburn, Maine. In an unplanned homage to Father’s Day, he will be joined on the fight card by his sons Steve Bang, Jr. (3-5),Shawn Bang (1-1), Skyler Bang (0-0) and foster son Conner Murphy (1-0).
The “NEF 24” fight card (subject to change):
PROFESSIONAL BOXING
140*TITLE Brandon Berry (11-1-1)(c) vs James Lester (10-9-1)
HWT Vinnie Carita (11-1-1) vs Francisco Mireles (17-10)
190 Steve Collins, Jr. (7-0-1) vs Jose Humberto Corral (19-21)
160 Russell Lamour (13-2) vs Roberto Valenzuela (69-71-2)
154 Casey Kramlich (4-0-1) vs Zenon Herrera (0-1)
PROFESSIONAL MMA
250 Michael Hansen (4-4) vs Robert Laroski (1-1)
170 CJ Ewer (1-0) vs Phil Rowe (1-2)
161 Jesse Erickson (6-5) vs Amos Collins (4-5)
145 Matt Denning (3-2) vs Brandon Bushaw (1-2)
AMATEUR MMA
125*TITLE Ryan Burgess (2-0)(c) vs Dustin Veinott (4-4)
170 Shawn Bang (1-1) vs Mike Bezanson (1-0)
155 Steve Bang Sr. (1-1) vs Stacy Lupo (0-0)
155 Derek Daley (0-0) vs Johel Stephenson (0-0)
155 Steve Bang, Jr. (3-5) vs Dominic Cofone (6-5)
145 Skyler Bang (0-0) Eddie DeRoche (0-0)
125 Conner Murphy (1-0) vs Justin Witham (1-4)
115 Alex Walker (0-1) vs Nicole Burgess (0-0)
NEF returns to the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine on June 18, 2016 with “NEF 24: PROMISED LAND.” Tickets for “NEF 24” start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée box office at207.783.2009 x 525.
For more information on the events and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com. In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”
Lewiston, Maine (May 31, 2016) – The Androscoggin Bank Colisée has a storied history of professional boxing inside the arena’s four walls. On June 18, Russell “The Haitian Sensation” Lamour, Jr. (13-2, 6 KOs) will add the next chapter to that story when he enters the New England Fights (NEF) ring for the first time. At “NEF 24: PROMISED LAND,” Lamour will make his NEF debut in a middleweight bout against Mexican veteran Roberto “El Viejo” Valenzuela (69-71-2, 56 KOs).
“Definitely excited to be making my NEF debut,” said Lamour. “NEF does a lot of shows here in Maine, and from what I hear it’s always a packed show. So I’m looking forward being on this card. I am excited about fighting at the Colisée ’cause I can then say that I fought in the same building that Muhammad Ali fought in and also that it’s right here at home in Maine. Fighting here at home again is always a great feeling, especially when you’re fighting in front of the people that support you the most. Can’t ask for anything better than that when fighting here in your backyard.”
A native of Brooklyn, New York, Lamour entered the Portland Boxing Club shortly after graduating from Deering High School in Portland, Maine. He had a stellar amateur boxing career, finishing with a record of 79-16. Among his numerous amateur accomplishments, Lamour was a five-time New England regional Golden Gloves champion. He competed in the semi-pro World Series of Boxing (WSB) where he was the number-one ranked middleweight in the Americas.
Lamour’s success carried over to the professional ranks where he won his first 11 bouts. Over the course of that impressive run, Lamour would capture the vacant USA New England Middleweight Title with a TKO victory over Laatekwei Hammond (21-6) in Lamour’s hometown of Portland, Maine. Lamour has competed on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights before a national audience. Last month, he scored a TKO win over Borngod Washington (3-17) in Salem, New Hampshire. Lamour hopes to make it two in a row with a win over Valenzuela on June 18.
“He is a journeymen,” Lamour said of his upcoming opponent. “He’s been fighting for a while and has seen many different styles, but to me he’s just someone else that’s in my pathway that I have to beat to get to where I want to be, so I have to get him out of my way.”
Roberto Valenzuela is no stranger to Maine fight fans. He travelled from his home in Sonora, Mexico to Lewiston, Maine last fall to battle Brandon “The Cannon” Berry (11-1-1). Valenzuela would lose the bout via unanimous decision, but he impressed all in attendance with his gritty performance, roughing up Berry and cutting him above the eye in the process. Valenzuela has faced the likes of former world champions Andre Berto (31-4, 24 KOs) and Steve Forbes (35-14, 11 KOs) and current world champion Zahir Raheem (35-3, 21 KOs). He held the Mexican Pacific Coast Super Featherweight Title from 2003 to 2007.
“I am very excited to come back to Maine and fight again,” said Valenzuela through a translator. “I love New England, and I’ve fought in Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont and Rhode Island during the course of my career. I’ve also worked corners in Connecticut and been pulled over for speeding in New Hampshire, so that must count for something. The last time I was in Maine, I busted open Brandon Berry’s eye and waged a bloody war. I’m ready to do the same with Russell Lamour. I hope he’s ready too.”
NEF returns to the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine on June 18, 2016 with “NEF 24: PROMISED LAND.” Tickets for “NEF 24” start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée box office at207.783.2009 x 525.
For more information on the events and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com. In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”
Lewiston, Maine (November 22, 2015) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, held its latest event, “NEF XX: A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE” on Saturday night at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine. Some 2,500 packed the Colisée for the historic first-ever hybrid mixed-martial-arts (MMA) and professional boxing card in Maine.
In the boxing main event of the evening, Brandon “The Cannon” Berry (10-1) went eight-rounds for the first time in his career, defeating gritty Mexican veteran Roberto Valenzuela (72-70-1) via unanimous decision.
On the professional MMA portion of the card, Bruce “Pretty Boy” Boyington(12-8) was victorious in defending the NEF MMA Professional Lightweight Championship against Jimmy “Jimbo Slice” Davidson (7-2).
In addition, NEF announced its next event, “NEF 21: THE IMMORTALS” will take place on February 6, 2016 in Lewiston. Another hybrid MMA-pro boxing event, “NEF 21” will feature Jesse “The Viking” Erickson (6-4) taking on Devin Powell (4-1) in a lightweight contest. Already announced to be competing the boxing card are Brandon Berry and Joel “The Baby Bull” Bishop (0-0-1). Erin “Fun Size” Lamonte, who improved to 5-0 tonight, will return on the amateur MMA portion of the February 6 card.
The results from Lewiston, Maine:
PROFESSIONAL BOXING
150 Brandon Berry def. Roberto Valenzuela via unanimous decision
155 Tollison Lewis def. Zenon Herrera via TKO, round 3
135 Josh Parker drew Elias Leland
CATCH Ernesto Ornelas def. Brandon Ali Garvin via TKO, round 2
PROFESSIONAL MMA
155*TITLE Bruce Boyington (c) def. Jimmy Davidson via TKO, round 3
CATCH Jon Lemke def. Matt Denning via TKO, round 1
170 Matt Bordonaro def. Crowsneck Boutin via knee bar, round 1
CATCH Matt Andrikut def. Jesse Baughman via TKO, round 1
145 Damon Owens def. Derek Shorey via Gogoplata, round 1
AMATEUR MMA
125*TITLE Ryan Burgess def. Dustin Veinott (c) via unanimious decision
145*TITLE Aaron Lacey def. Caleb Horner via unanimous decision
125 Justin Witham def. Brent Ouellette via TKO, round 2
155 Rafael Velado def. Ken Dunn via Kimura, round 1
155 CJ Ewer def. Jason Lachance via unanimous decision
S.HWT Nick Gulliver def. Jason Field via TKO, round 1
145 Caleb Hall def. Matt Tamayo via armbar, round 1
265 Mike Williams def. Joe Krech via armbar, round 1
200 Victor Irwin def. Anthony Spires via TKO, round 1
CATCH Ricky Dexter def. Steve Bang via KO, round 1
140 David Thompson def. Richmond Pierce Wiegman via TKO, round 1
121 Erin Lamonte def. Randi Beth Boyington via armbar, round 1
185 Caleb Farrington def. Ruben Redman via guillotine, round 2
265 Bryce Bamford def. Bryce Locke via TKO, round 1
170 Caleb Swoveland def. Taylor Carey via arm triangle, round 2
155 Levi Sewall def. Matt Hanning via TKO, round 2
New England Fights’ next event, “NEF 21: THE IMMORTALS,” takes placeSaturday, February 6, 2016 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine. Tickets for “NEF 21” start at just $25 and are on sale now atwww.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée box office at 207.783.2009 x 525. For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com. In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”
About New England Fights
New England Fights (“NEF”) is a fight events promotions company. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for Maine’s fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.
Lewiston, Maine (October 23, 2015) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its next event, “NEF XX: A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE” on Saturday, November 21, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine. The event will feature a first for Maine – mixed-martial-arts (MMA) bouts and professional boxing bouts on the same event with an MMA cage and a boxing ring set up side-by-side. Earlier today, the promotion announced the full fight card for the event.
The professional boxing portion of the card will be headlined by Northeast Junior Welterweight Champion Brandon “The Cannon” Berry (9-1) in an eight-round bout against former Mexican Pacific Coast Super Featherweight Champion Roberto “El Viejo” Valenzuela (73-69-2, 56 KOs). Berry triumphantly returned to action last summer after suffering a severe shoulder injury in a November 2014 bout.
A very hungry Josh Parker (0-1) returns to the ring to face Elias “Danger Mouse” Leland (0-0) in a four-rounder. Parker and Leland are well known to NEF fans as regulars on the promotion’s MMA events. Parker is the founder and head coach of Ruthless MMA & Boxing in Benton, Maine. Leland is a member of Jay Jack and Amanda Buckner’s Academy of MMA in Portland, Maine.
In addition, Ernesto Ornelas (0-0), a professional MMA fighter from the Choi Institute in Portland, returns to his boxing roots in his pro ring debut against Brandon Ali Garvin (0-4). Ornelas was a multiple time Golden Gloves champion as an amateur boxer in his native state of California.
Middleweights Tollison Lewis (1-0) and Zenon “Ka’Bar” Herrera (0-0) will round out the boxing card. Lewis won his pro boxing debut in the first NEF boxing event in October 2014 over veteran John Webster (8-7-1), while Herrera, an experienced MMA fighter and kickboxer, is a nine-year veteran of the US military, having completed numerous tours of the Middle East where he saw combat in the Battle of Fallujah in Iraq.
On the professional MMA portion of the fight card, Bruce “Pretty Boy” Boyington (11-8) will defend the NEF MMA Professional Lightweight Title in a five-round bout against the challenge of Jimmy “Jimbo Slice” Davidson (7-1). Boyington is coming off a huge win last weekend against Rodrigo Almeida (12-3) on the undercard of a World Series of Fighting (WSOF) nationally-televised event. The challenger Davidson is no stranger to gold, having captured other MMA titles in the New England region. He represents world-renown Muay Thai team Sityodtong.
In one of the most highly anticipated MMA fights in New England history, former NEF MMA Professional Featherweight Champion Ray “All Business” Wood (6-1) takes on Vovka “KGB” Clay (3-0). Recognized as two of the most promising prospects in the area, Wood and Clay are both predicted by pundits to be future candidates for the major leagues of the sport.
Crowsneck Boutin (1-1) will look to rebound from his first professional loss last month when he meets Matt Bordonaro (2-0). The bout will be a rematch from their amateur days when Bordonaro defeated Boutin by submission at “NEF IX” in Biddeford, Maine. It will also be Boutin’s debut in the 170-pound welterweight division.
Two title bouts will headline the amateur MMA portion of the “NEF XX” fight card. Dustin Veinott (4-3) defends the NEF MMA Amateur Flyweight Title against Ryan Burgess (1-0), while Aaron “Relentless” Lacey (5-1) does battle with Caleb Horner (6-2) to crown an inaugural NEF MMA Amateur Featherweight Champion. A women’s strawweight fight will feature Randi Beth Boyington (1-1) facing Erin “Fun Size” Lamonte (3-0).
“This card has something for everyone,” said NEF co-owner and promoter Nick DiSalvo. “You like MMA? We got it. You like boxing? We got it. You like the heavyweights? We got ’em. You like women’s fights? We got ’em. This is like the Super Bowl of NEF events. This is the one event you simply cannot afford to miss.”
Promotion executives further announced that the “NEF XX” event will be dedicated to the memory of NEF staff member Susan Isham, 47, who lost her life in a tragic car accident last weekend in Bethel, Maine. Susan had worked backstage for the promotion beginning in 2013, handling check-ins at the backdoor of the Colisée. She was a beloved mother and grandmother, known for her hard work ethic and charming, upbeat personality. Susan was involved in many causes in the Bethel community.
“We’re all still in shock at Susan’s sudden passing last Friday,” said NEF co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson. “She was a valued member of the NEF team, a good friend, and a kind, charitable person. She will be missed by all who knew her. Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this difficult time. ‘NEF XX’ will be proudly dedicated to her memory.”
The “NEF XX” fight card (subject to change and approval of the Combat Sports Authority of Maine):
PROFESSIONAL BOXING
140 Brandon Berry 9-1 (West Forks) vs Roberto Valenzuela 73-69-2 (Romanza Gym)
155 Tollison Lewis 1-0 (CMBJJ) vs Zenon Herrera 0-0 (Independent)
140 Josh Parker 0-1 (Ruthless MMA & Boxing) vs Elias Leland 0-0 (AMMA)
118 Ernesto Ornelas 0-0 (Choi Institute) vs Brandon Ali Garvin 0-4 (Frazier’s)
PROFESSIONAL MMA
155*TITLE Bruce Boyington 10-8 (c) (Boyington’s TKD) vs Jimmy Davidson 7-1 (Sityodtong)
205 Matt Andrikut 1-0 (Conviction MMA) vs Jesse Baughman 0-0 (Team Link)
170 Crowsneck Boutin 1-1 (Choi Institute) vs Matt Bordonaro 2-0 (Victory MMA)
150 Jon Lemke 4-3 (Team Irish) vs Matt Denning 2-0 (CMBJJ)
145 Ray Wood 5-1 (Young’s MMA) vs Vovka Clay 3-0 (Boston BJJ NH)
145 Derek Shorey 3-2 (Shatterproof Combat Club) vs Damon Owens 2-0 (Young’s MMA)
125 Kevin Barrett 0-0 (Young’s MMA) vs James Alexander 1-10 (F2 Arena)
AMATEUR MMA
145 *TITLE Aaron Lacey 5-1 (Young’s MMA) vs Caleb Horner 6-2 (F2 Arena)
125 *TITLE Dustin Veinott 4-3 (c) (CMBJJ) vs Ryan Burgess 1-0 (Berserkers MMA)
265 Bryce Bamford 0-0 (First Class MMA) vs Bryce Locke 0-0 (Independent)
200 Jacob Cameron 1-5 (Independent) vs Victor Irwin 0-0 (Young’s MMA)
225 Joe Krech 0-0 (Independent) vs Mike Williams 0-0 (CMBJJ)
185 Ruben Redman 1-3 (Mass Effect MMA) vs Caleb Farrington 2-0 (Team NEU)
185 Dominique Bailey 0-1 (Independent) vs Anthony Spires 0-0 (Independent)
175 Caleb Swoveland 0-0 (Ruthless MMA & Boxing) vs TBD
155 Ricky Dexter 3-2 (Team Irish) vs Steve Bang 3-3 (CMBJJ)
155 Rafael Velado 1-0 (First Class MMA) vs Ken Dunn 0-2 (Maine Kyokushin Karate)
155 CJ Ewer 4-2 (Young’s MMA) vs Jason Lachance 2-2 (MMA Athletix)
155 Matt Hanning 1-1 (Independent) vs Levi Sewall 0-0 (Young’s MMA)
145 Caleb Hall 5-3 (Choi Institute) vs Matt Tamayo 0-0 (F2 Arena)
140 David Thompson 0-1 (Shatterproof Combat Club) vs Pierce Wiegman 0-0 (First Class MMA)
125 Justin Witham 0-3 (Shatterproof Combat Club) vs Brent Ouellette 0-0 (CMBJJ)
115 Erin LaMonte 3-0 (Gracie Fitness) vs Randi Beth Boyington 1-1 (Boyington’s TKD)
New England Fights’ next event, “NEF XX: A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE,” takes place on November 21, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine. The event will mark the first time in Maine history a mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event and a professional boxing event have taken place together on the same show. Tickets for “NEF XX” start at just $25 and are on sale now atwww.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée box office at 207.783.2009 x 525. For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com. In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”
About New England Fights
New England Fights (“NEF”) is a fight events promotions company. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for Maine’s fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.
Lewiston, Maine (October 14, 2015) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its next event, “NEF XX: A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE” on Saturday, November 21, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine. The event will feature a first for Maine – mixed-martial-arts (MMA) bouts and professional boxing bouts on the same event with an MMA cage and a boxing ring set up side-by-side. Earlier today, the promotion announced the main event of the boxing portion of the fight card. Reigning Northeast Junior Welterweight Champion Brandon “The Cannon” Berry (9-1, 6 KOs) will face Roberto “El Viejo” Valenzuela (73-69-2, 56 KOs) in an eight-round welterweight contest.
Berry won the Northeast Junior Welterweight Title one year ago in Lewiston with a unanimous decision victory over Eric Palmer (6-8-3, 1 KO). The title was the first in the professional career of the standout from West Forks, Maine. Berry would, just a month later, suffer his first loss in a bout in which he severely injured his shoulder early on. Following a successful surgery and months of rehab, Berry returned triumphantly to the ring this past summer with a second-round technical knockout (TKO) win in Skowhegan, Maine.
“I am very anxious as always to step back into the boxing ring on November 21stin Lewiston,” stated Berry. “It’s exciting to be fighting for my tenth professional victory. I’m honored to have been invited back to the Colisee to headline another Pro Boxing card. I want to thank NEF for making this possible for me, and hope to have another action packed, competitive fight like we had in October 2014. A lot has changed for me in my boxing career, and I look forward to showing all of my fans my improvements made. As far as my opponent, the most experienced one to date, Roberto Valenzuela, it will be a good test for me while giving up size and experience. We tried to make a fight with a couple of different guys from the area but were unable to. My job is to train hard and be ready for whoever they put on the other side of the ring, one round at a time.”
Valenzuela is about as much of a veteran as one will find in a boxing ring. Having begun his professional career in early 1992, Valenzuela got off to an amazing 14-0 start, competing around his home state of Sonora, Mexico. Among the opponents Valenzuela has faced in his career are the likes of former world champions Andre Berto (30-4, 23 KOs) and Steve Forbes (35-14, 11 KOs) and current world champion Zahir Raheem (35-3, 21 KOs). Valenzuela fought former lightweight world champion Jose Luis Castillo (66-13-1, 57 KOs) on the undercard of a 1996 Joey Gamache (55-4, 38 KOs) and Julio Cesar Chavez (107-6-2, 86 KOs) bout in Anaheim, California. In addition, Valenzuela held the Mexican Pacific Coast Super Featherweight Title from 2003 to 2007. He has the strongest pedigree of any opponent Berry has faced to date.
“I’ve fought all over the United States, but never in Maine, so I’m excited to go somewhere I’ve never been,” said Valenzuela through a translator. “I’ve been doing this since he was a pup. I’ve been told that he has VHS tapes of some of my fights from some cards he taped on TV when he was a kid (laughing). Thankfully, I’ve got video of him more recently on Youtube. He’s nothing I haven’t seen before in a fight or in sparring. I’ll be ready.”
“When Brandon signed on to the ‘NEF XX’ fight card, he was very clear that he wanted us to find him an opponent who’s been in the ring with the best,” recalled NEF co-owner and promoter Nick DiSalvo. “Roberto presents a challenge unlike any other Brandon has faced to date. He has actively competed as a professional for nearly a quarter of a century. He hasn’t sat on a shelf either. He just fought this past spring and summer. Brandon Berry will be tested onNovember 21, make no mistake about it. But Brandon has recently been sparring several times a week all over New England with top-notch partners. He is coming into this bout as a whole new Brandon Berry, determined to make his mark in the boxing world.”
New England Fights’ next event, “NEF XX: A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE,” takes place on November 21, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine. The event will mark the first time in Maine history a mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event and a professional boxing event have taken place together on the same show. Tickets for “NEF XX” start at just $25 and are on sale now atwww.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée box office at 207.783.2009 x 525. For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com. In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”
About New England Fights
New England Fights (“NEF”) is a fight events promotions company. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for Maine’s fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.