Ces (12)

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Juiseppe Cusumano
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Sicilian heavyweight Cusumano returns to Bally's Twin River June 24 with a new camp and a new outlook on his future in boxing
 

Lincoln, RI – The new Juiseppe Cusumano doesn’t like to look back too much at the old Juiseppe Cusumano

Juiseppe 2.0 is a leaner, stronger, more determined version of the old model, not the same Cusumano who barely lasted two minutes against Daniel Dubois in August.

Fight fans can expect fireworks Friday, June 24 at Ballys Twin River Lincoln Casino Resort when Cusumano (19-4, 17 KOs) unveils a never-before-seen rendition of himself in an eight-round bout against Brazilian heavyweight Irineu Beato Costa Junior at Summer Splash, presented by CES Boxing.

His long-awaited return to Ballys, where has hasn’t fought since 2019, caps a busy training camp in which the 6-foot-4 Cusumano spent the majority of time away from his residence in Danville, VA, and instead trained everywhere from Costa Rica and Tampa to Connecticut and New York.

Summer Splash also features Warwick, RI, resident Jaime "Hurricane" Clampitt battling Texas lightweight Miranda "El Alacrana" Reyes, plus the Ballys debut of unbeaten super middleweight and 6-foot-2 southpaw Francis Hogan of Weymouth, MA. Tickets are available at CESFights.com.

When Cusumano lost to Dubois on Showtime, a lopsided bout in which the "Sicilian Nightmare" hit the canvas three times before referee George Nichols stopped the fight, the 34-year-old heavyweight considered walking away from the sport. He had already begun thinking about life after boxing, using his payout from the Dubois fight to purchase a gym in anticipation of running his own fitness boxing courses.

But, in a plot twist straight out of Hollywood, Cusumano had a change of heart. He knew his performance against Dubois didn’t reflect who he was as a fighter or how much he had progressed under the guidance of promoter Jimmy Burchfield Sr. To quote a certain well-known fictional Italian boxer, there was "still some stuff in the basement." He had to make one more run at not only competing for a world title, but showing boxing fans there’s more to him than what they saw that fateful night in August.

"I told Jimmy, ‘That’s not me,’" Cusumano said. "I had only six rounds of sparring before that fight. I was in out of the gym. I had a lot of personal issues going on. And the whole world saw me like that. It eats me alive.

"It would’ve been different if I was ready and I went through a war and lost a close fight, but I wasn’t mentally ready – or really ready in any regard. I’ve got to get back on Showtime and show what I really have in my blood and in my heart.

"I won’t be a happy man if I don’t do what I’ve got to do. Then I’ll sit back and say, ‘Oh, I could’ve done that, but I didn’t.’ At least now if anything happens in my career that messes me up, I’ll know I gave it all I’ve got. No regrets."

After taking some time off to recover and reflect on his mistakes – and pray, Cusumano said – he received a call from the manager of unbeaten Chinese heavyweight Zhilei Zhang inviting him to spar for two weeks in New Jersey. That turned into a three-week stay with Zhang’s camp in Tampa, this time with Cusumano participating in every minute of every workout, not just the sparring sessions.

"As soon as I finished camp there, I knew I didn’t want to go back home," Cusumano said.

As luck would have it, he then received a call from an associate in Costa Rica inviting him to fly south for a makeshift "boot camp" training in the jungles and mountains, often running eight miles a day in brutal conditions.

"The training I did there was unbelievable," Cusumano said. "It got me out of my comfort zone – way out – and it felt to me like when I got past that zone, I got lost. Now you’re in a different world and you’re still pushing. That’s what you need in fights. You have to get out of your comfort zone."

After Costa Rica, Cusumano reached out to his promoter, who then set him up at Champs Boxing & Fitness in Danbury, CT, under the guidance of coach Dave McDonough. Cusumano has been at Champs for the last four weeks, traveling back and forth to New York to spar with the likes of WBO world light heavyweight champion Joe Smith Jr. and Connecticut heavyweight Cassius Chaney.

"I’m really proud of myself," Cusumano said. "You have to make tough decisions in life. I could’ve stayed home, ran the gym, worked a 9-to-5, but I knew I had already made a name for myself and hadn’t even put 100% into it. I never traveled and got the work like I should have. I didn’t stay consistent. I went back home, fooled around, got sidetracked. Now I’m making the sacrifices necessary to achieve this dream."

Cusumano still has family in Virginia, including his 12-year-old son, a budding southpaw baseball star who cranked three home runs in his last game. Being away from loved ones is difficult, but Cusumano knows if he doesn’t give it his all now, he’ll regret it later in life. This is the version of himself he always dreamt he could be.

"This is what I needed. I needed to be around boxing and be around good sparring. That’s what I was missing," Cusumano said. "Now, if I get a call and people need work, I’m there. That’s what I should have been doing all along."

Full fight details for Summer Splash are available online. For more information, follow CES Boxing on FacebookInstagram and Twitter at @CESBOXING.

 
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Photo courtesy of Will Paul

SICILIAN HEAVYWEIGHT JUISEPPE Cusumano, right, unloads on Matt McKinney during their September bout at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, R.I. Cusumano returns to the Ocean State on Friday night riding an 11-fight win streak into his co-feature bout against Pittsburgh's Fred Latham. The fight streams live on Facebook via FIGHTNIGHT LIVE beginning at 8 p.m. ET. The fight card, promoted by CES Boxing, is the opener of the 2018 Twin River Casino Fight Series.
Hard-hitting heavyweight Cusumano faces fight of his life Friday night against Pittsburgh vet Latham

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Feb. 20th, 2018) -- There's nothing better in boxing right now than being a heavyweight contender in what is now a wide-open weight class, unless you're a heavyweight who happens to hit like a runaway freight train.
 
Meet Juiseppe Angelo Cusumano, the hard-hitting, heavy-handed Sicilian who'd like nothing more than to throw his hat in the proverbial ring as the next great heavyweight champion.
 
The time is now; with the Klitschko brothers no longer hoarding every belt under the sun, there are currently three fighters sharing the four major world championships, which means there are far more open roads to success than there were when Wladimir and Vitali held each belt for periods of nine and five years, respectively.
 
For what it's worth, the Klitschko brothers boast two of the top 10 longest individual title reigns in heavyweight boxing history with Wladimir's nine-year, seven-month, six-day stranglehold on the IBF, WBO and WBO belts ranking behind only Joe Louis(11 years, eight months, eight days) for the longest ever, but those days are long gone.
 
Right now, it's world champions Anthony Joshua (WBA, IBF), Deontay Wilder(WBC) and Joseph Parker (WBO) in the crosshairs of every heavyweight with a puncher's chance, and Cusumano (13-1, 11 KOs) is confident 2018 will be the year he serves notice to the rest of the division that perhaps there's a new challenger on the block.
 
"I want to give it my all," said Cusumano, who fights again Friday night at Twin River Casino. "The heavyweight division is open and I'm going to have to do everything I need to do to be the best I can be."
 
Before he sets his sights on the top dogs in the division, Cusumano must first take care of Pittsburgh's Fred Latham (9-1-2, 5 KOs), by far his toughest test to date. Their six-round heavyweight showdown is the co-feature of CES Boxing's 2018 season opener, which streams live on Facebook via FIGHTNIGHT LIVE beginning at8 p.m. ET.
 
Cusumano has won 11 consecutive fights dating back to his only career loss in 2012 and has resurfaced under the promotional guidance of CES Boxing following a two-year layoff in which poor management and alcohol abuse kept him away from the gym. Feeling as though he'd missed his shot, Cusumano considered walking away from boxing until Danville, Va., trainer Marcus Luck rolled the dice on the 6-foot-4 heavyweight and introduced him to CES Boxing president Jimmy Burchfield Sr.
 
The rest is history. Since signing with CES Boxing, Cusumano scored three scintillating knockout wins in a three-month span in 2017 and might've made it 4-for-4 in December were it not for a brief bout with pneumonia postponing his scheduled fight against Brandon Johnson.
 
At 29, Cusumano knows this is the year he needs to assert himself. No more distractions or layoffs, just a heavy focus on his craft. He recently hired a new strength and conditioning coach, who has forced him to push his body to the limit.
 
"He's really kicked my butt," he said. "You'll see my body when I get up there."
 
Cusumano has shared his progress with fans via social media, including a photo of him training underwater, a mirror image of the iconic snapshot of all-time greatMuhammad Ali standing at the bottom of a Miami swimming pool in 1961.
 
The message is clear: Cusumano is hungry again, and that's potentially bad news for the rest of his weight class.
 
"Each fight, I feel like I'm getting better and better," he said. "A three-year layoff is a long time, so after these three fights I've just had, I get more motivated. I get more into it."
 
He also knows plenty about Latham, who recently starred on the long-runningShoBox: The New Generation series on Showtime against Junior Fa in November. Cusumano has actually sparred with some of Latham's previous opponents.
 
"He's got a pawing jab and he doesn't like to fight, really. He likes stay away and score points from a distance and stuff, so I'm going to have to attack," Cusumano said. "He has problems every time someone attacks. I know he fought Keith Barr[in 2015] and Keith Barr is not that big of a guy and he's not good, but he was able to land a lot of big punches on Fred just because of the pressure he was putting on him.
 
"I'm going to have to keep pressure on him and let him feel my power early and let him know it's going to be a very long night if he wants to stay in that ring."
 
With each fight up north, the Danville resident becomes more and more of a fan-favorite in Rhode Island, particularly in the Federal Hill neighborhood of Providence, a predominantly Italian-American community.
 
He promises to look leaner than ever, even though he stills weights close to usual number of 235 pounds, and he's adamant he's not looking too far ahead. When asked about the other contenders his division, Cusumano simply says, "One at a time."
 
"This fight is only [three days] away so I'm pretty focused on that right now and this week is about getting my energy back, rebuilding, because, like I said, I've been killing it," he said. "Now I've just got to get that energy back and the night of the fight I should feel like Superman."
 
Tickets for Friday's event are priced at $47.00, $102.00, $127.00 (VIP) and $152.00 (VIP) and can be purchased online at www.cesboxing.comwww.twinriver.com orwww.ticketmaster.com, by phone at 401-724-2253/2254 or at the Twin River Casino Players Club. All fights and fighters are subject to change.
 
Doors open at 6 p.m. ET with the preliminary card beginning at 7 followed by the main card streaming live on Facebook via FIGHTNIGHT LIVE at 8 with play-by-play announcer Michael Woods and color commentator Xavier Porter. FIGHTNIGHT LIVE is available online on all portable devices at www.facebook.com/FaceFIGHTNIGHTLIVE/
 
Ray Oliveira Jr. (9-1, 1 KO) of New Bedford, Mass., faces New Haven, Conn., veteran Edwin Soto (11-2-2, 4 KOs) in the eight-round main event for the vacant World Boxing Union (WBU) Canadian-American-Mexican Super Welterweight Title.
 
The Feb. 23rd card also features the return of longtime fan-favorite "Mr. Providence" Vladine Biosse (15-7-3, 7 KOs), who fights for the first time in a year and a half when he faces Atlantic City, N.J., super middleweight Antowyan Aikens(11-4-1, 1 KO) in a six-round special attraction.
 
Undefeated prospect Jamaine Ortiz (7-0, 4 KOs) of Worcester, Mass., faces Laredo, Tex., veteran Victor Rosas (9-7, 3 KOs) in a six-round lightweight bout and junior welterweight Anthony Marsella Jr. (7-0, 4 KOs) of Providence returns for his seventh consecutive fight at Twin River in a six-round bout against Cancun, Mexico native Israel Villela (6-8, 2 KOs).
 
Regional rivalries highlight the preliminary card, starting with Johnston, R.I., junior welterweight Nicky DeQuattro (2-0, 1 KO) making his Twin River debut in a four-round bout against Carlos Galindo (0-0) of Lima, Peru. Providence lightweightMichael Valentin (3-0, 1 KO) puts his unbeaten record on the line againstDemetrius Wilson (2-4) of St. Louis, Mo., and Springfield, Mass., welterweightMiguel Ortiz (2-1, 1 KO) faces Wilson Mascarenhas of New Bedford, both in four-round bouts. Providence featherweight Ricky Delossantos (3-0) aims for his fourth consecutive win in a four-round bout against New Bedford's Efren Nunez (0-1). Taunton, Mass., native Marqus Bates (2-2, 2 KOs) battles welterweightLatorie Woodberry (1-5) of Roanoke, Va., in a four-round bout.
 
11020648885?profile=originalThe entire fight card is dedicated to the memory of super bantamweight Luis Rosa Jr. of New Haven, the son of Luis and Marilyn Rosa, who passed away tragically onJan. 14th. Rosa Jr. will be inducted into the CES Ring of Honor.
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Having already conquered personal demons, McCreedy begins comeback Friday night at Twin River

 

LOWELL, Mass. (Dec. 14th, 2015) – The blade was probably an inch from his throat, maybe closer. He was too drunk to remember all the details.

 

The only thing Joey McCreedy remembers is waking up strapped to a bed in a psychiatric ward the following morning, just a few hours after threatening to commit suicide in his mother’s bedroom while his 7-year-old brother looked on.

 

Once considered the pride of Lowell, Mass. – the young, handsome football star, the darling of the family, the next Micky Ward in and out of the boxing ring – McCreedy had finally hit rock bottom.

 

Years of masking his on-again, off-again depression with excessive partying and drinking drove him to the edge. The pressure of following in the footsteps of a regional icon, the feeling of failure after losing the biggest fight of his career in Vegas, an entire city turning its back on him, all of it left McCreedy searching for a way out.

 

The turmoil reached its boiling point one night when McCreedy, already intoxicated following an argument with his girlfriend, who had grown tired of his drinking, went back to the liquor store, bought more alcohol and began mixing it with prescription sleeping pills.

 

“For some reason, I went downstairs, grabbed a knife, walked into my mom’s room and said, ‘Mom, I love you. Goodbye. I can’t take this anymore.’ I was numb.

 

“I gave up on myself.”

 

 

THE 30-YEAR-OLD MCCREEDY (15-8-2, 6 KOs) begins his long-awaited comeback Friday, Dec. 18th, 2015 on the undercard of CES Boxing’s “Holiday Bash” at Twin River Casino in a six-round bout against Texas’ Emmanuel Sanchez (6-4, 1 KO), his first fight in more than a year.

 

He’s much leaner than the last time he fought, no longer tipping the scales at 175 pounds, instead fighting closer to the middleweight limit of 160. He was in such good shape throughout this recent training camp he actually had to put on a few pounds to meet Sanchez in the middle at 165.

 

This isn’t the same McCreedy who, while training for his September 2014 bout against Rich Gingras, used to come home every night from the gym and polish off a couple of bottles of alcohol in his room. McCreedy knows this is his last chance to not only get back to the top, back to where he was that night in Vegas when he fought for a title against Sean Monaghan at the MGM Grand – the pinnacle for most promising fighters – but also to silence those who doubt he has much left in the tank.

 

McCreedy has always cared what other people think, perhaps to a fault, so when he returned to Lowell following the knockout loss to Monaghan, it hurt him to see so many people turn away, people who had once extended a hand or lent their support. Such is the case in boxing. Life is great at the top when friends come out of the woodwork, but the fall from grace is painful and lonely.

 

“I lost friends. I lost best friends,” McCreedy said. “A lot of people just gave up on me, just like they did with Micky when he was young.”

 

That emptiness only drove McCreedy to drink more. His depression worsened following the loss to Gingras, a fight he only agreed to so he could cash his paycheck and buy more liquor.

 

“I was thinking about Vegas, I was thinking about Lowell, I was thinking about my girlfriend, I was thinking about how I had a chance at the biggest shot in the world and I fucked it up,” he said. “I kept drinking, drinking and drinking.”

 

McCreedy firmly believes hitting rock bottom, the night he held the knife to his throat, just seconds from taking his own life, was a necessary chapter in the story of his recovery.

 

“God knew I was stubborn,” he said. “God knew I wasn’t going to get help so he said, ‘OK, we’re going to do it the hard way.’”

 

Had his mother not intervened, knocking the knife from his hand and tackling her on to the ground – “I don’t know she did it. They say mothers have that super mom strength,” he said – McCreedy would still be on the same path toward self-destruction, perhaps with a much grizzlier ending. 

 

Under heavy medication for the next two weeks, bound in a straight jacket and locked in a cramped, one-room cell with only a hint of sunlight peering in through a tiny window, McCreedy faced his worst fears. 

 

“I was literally on the same floor with people screaming and yelling,” he said. “It was like some shit you see in a movie.”

 

 

IT TOOK TIME, but McCreedy eventually opened up. With the help of a psychiatrist, he dug deep to the root of his depression, the burden of trying to emerge from Ward’s shadow, the pressure of losing on boxing’s biggest stage, dealing with bipolar disorder and mood swings. He understood what he had put his family through. He recalled his high school years as a star football player, never having to worry about grades, and the inevitable realization that the sport was merely a pastime, not a career.

 

McCreedy left the hospital with a second chance at life. He blocked out the negative influences, left behind his connection to Ward and Dicky Eklund, both of whom were larger-than-life figures in Lowell, and began training at the nearby West End Gym.

 

When he says this is the new Joey McCreedy, he’s sincere. No more drinking, no more partying. He’s got a new job, a new car and an incredible story to share with others in hopes that it’ll one day steer someone in danger toward the right path.

 

“Everyone deals with depression in a whole different way,” he said. “I figured, let me get me story out there. Maybe I can save a life.

 

“I’m a different person. I think different. I can’t explain it. It’s something you have to go through yourself, but if I can do this, anybody else can.”

 

The result in the ring Friday is almost inconsequential at this point. McCreedy has already won the most important battle.

 

Tickets for the “Holiday Bash” are priced at $40.00, $75.00 and $125.00 (VIP) and available for purchase online at www.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, www.ticketmaster.com, by phone at 401-724-2253/2254, or at the Twin River Casino Players Club. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

 

The Dec. 18th event will be held in conjunction with the Toys For Tots Foundation. All fans in attendance are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy, which can be left in the collection boxes conveniently located in Twin River’s Interactive Fan Zone.

 

As an added bonus, the Dec. 18th “Holiday Bash” also features a live performance by Grammy nominated recording artist Karina Pasian of New York City, plus the induction of former CES ring announcer and current Brockton, Mass., Mayor Bill Carpenter into the CES Ring of Honor.

 

In addition to the McCreedy-Sanchez bout, unbeaten Worcester, Mass., junior middleweight Khiary Gray (10-0, 8 KOs) faces Mexico’s Roberto Valenzuela (69-70-2, 56 KOs) in a six-round bout and fellow junior middleweight Jimmy Williams (9-0-1, 5 KOs) of New Haven, Conn., makes his Twin River debut in a six-round bout against Chris Gray (13-21-1, 1 KO) of Vero Beach, Fla.

 

The undercard of the “Holiday Bash” features more of New England’s rising stars, including undefeated Worcester super lightweight Freddy Sanchez (6-0, 5 KOs), who puts his record on the line against dangerous New York vet Sidney Maccow (4-3, 3 KOs) in a six-round bout.

 

Providence, R.I., natives Phil Dudley and Cido Hoff, fighting out of Rhode Island’s 401 Boxing, make their professional debuts in separate four-round bouts; Dudley faces Lawrence, Mass., lightweight Jacob Solis (1-1) and Hoff battles unbeaten super featherweight Timmy Ramos (2-0, 2 KOs) of Framingham, Mass., whom Hoff faced twice as an amateur.

 

Marlboro, Mass., super featherweight Julio Perez (2-0) aims for his third win of the year against former Greater Lowell Golden Gloves standout Josh Bourque of Salem, N.H., in Bourque’s professional debut and New Bedford, Mass., junior welterweight Ray Oliveira Jr. (3-0, 1 KO) battles 34-fight Brockton vet Antonio Fernandes. Both are four-round bouts.

 

Also making his Twin River debut in Friday’s special attraction, Albanian middleweight Fatlum Zhuta (1-0-1, 1 KO) of Anchorage, Ala., faces Boston’s Deivison Ribeiro (0-2) in a four-round bout.

 

For more information the Dec. 18th “Holiday Bash” visit www.cesboxing.com, follow @CESBOXING on Twitter and Instagram and “like” the official CES Boxing Facebook fan page.

 

– CES –

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CES photo by Emily Harney
SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT JOSEPH "Chip" Perez, left, of Hartford, Conn., faces Lawrence, Mass., slugger Agustine Mauras for the third time in Saturday, Jan. 17th, 2015 in the eight-round headliner of CES Boxing's pro-am fight card at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. Perez and Mauras fought to a draw twice in 2014 and will now face one another a third time for the vacant New England Title. 
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Star-studded Jan. 17 card features two title bouts and Chinese national champions


 

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (Jan. 6th, 2015) -- Unbreakable in its quest to continue bringing quality championship boxing to New England and beyond, CES kicks off the new year Saturday, Jan. 17th, 2015 with two dynamic title bouts at Mohegan Sun Arena, including what might be the final chapter of one of the region's most intense rivalries.

 

After fighting to a draw twice in 2014, Hartford, Conn., super featherweight Joseph "Chip" Perez (10-3-2, 3 KOs) will battle Agustine Mauras (6-0-3, 3 KOs) of Lawrence, Mass., in an eight-round bout for the vacant N.E. title while Josh Crespo (3-1-2, 1 KO) of New Haven, Conn., faces Portland, Maine's Jorge Abiague (7-0-1, 1 KO) in an eight-round bout for the vacant N.E. super bantamweight crown.

 

This unique, dual main event headlines one of the most action-packed regional cards in years. The event also features a star-studded amateur undercard in addition to the professional debuts of two standout Chinese boxers, in association with Jay-Z's Roc Nation Sports, among them a former Olympian and six-time national champion.

 

Tickets for the event are priced at $40, $65 and $125 (VIP) and can be purchased by calling 401-724-2253/2254, online at www.cesboxing.com or www.ticketmaster.com, or at the Mohegan Sun Box Office. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

 

The Mauras-Perez trilogy ends Jan. 17th in anticipation of a winner finally being crowned following two highly entertaining draws in 2014. The two rivals first faced one another in July in Boston with all three judges scoring the six-round bout 57-57. The rematch took place two months later in Connecticut, also a six-rounder. Judge Robert Paolino scored the bout 58-56 in favor of Perez while Glenn Feldman gave the edge to Mauras by the same score. Don Trella scored it 57-57, resulting in another draw.

 

The announcement of the third -- and perhaps final -- installment of the Mauras-Perez saga has sparked tremendous excitement via social media, with fans of both sides weighing in on the predicted outcome. 

 

Crespo-Abiague is another evenly-matched bout between two of the region's top fighters in the 122-pound division, one looking to build another winning streak with the other hoping to take another step forward following the biggest victory of his young career.

 

The 34-year-old Cuban-born Abiague is no stranger to success in the northeast, having won four times on New England soil since relocating in 2013. Following a close loss to unbeaten prospect Nate Green in October, Abiague returned to the ring a month later to beat 19-fight veteran Eduardo Melendez. For Crespo, this upcoming title bout is another chance to strike down another established fighter after dominating Xian Wei Qian, the reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) Asian Featherweight Champion, in October.

 

Jan. 17th also features the return of New Haven super middleweight Elvin Ayala (26-6-1, 12 KOs), a former five-time title challenger and WBC U.S. National Boxing Council (USNBC) champion, who faces Hyannis, Mass., veteran Paul Gonsalves (7-5-1, 3 KOs) in a six-round bout. Ayala pieced together an impressive six-fight win streak before a stunning loss to Curtis Stevens in January of 2014 and has his hands full with Gonsalves, who went the distance last year with unbeaten contenders Mike Lee and Angel Camacho Jr., two opponents with a combined 26-0 record.

 

Also back in action is unbeaten Hartford light heavyweight prospect David Bauza (6-0, 3 KOs), who ends a four-year layoff when he faces Jose Torres (2-2, 2 KOs) of Springfield, Mass. Bauza rose to prominence between 2009 and 2010 with six consecutive wins in an 11-month span. Torres is best known for his stunning fourth-round knockout win over dangerous cruiserweight slugger Josh Harris in 2011.

Photo: Ct state boxing champion James Williams DVD is out ! !

Quiet Storm: James Williams (Boxing Documentary) .

New Haven junior middleweight Jimmy Williams (7-0-1, 3 KOs) will put his unbeaten record on the line in a six-round bout against an opponent to be determined.

 

Not to be outdone, New Bedford, Mass., lightweight Briam Granado makes his professional debut against Willie Carville (1-0) of Lewiston, Maine, while unbeaten Worcester, Mass., prospect Khiary Gray-Pitts (3-0, 1 KO) returns to face hard-hitting veteran Emmanuel Medina (3-4-1, 3 KOs) of Tilton, N.H.

 

A five-time Northern New England Golden Gloves champion, the 29-year-old Carville looks to build off his win over Paulo Souza in October while Granado makes his highly anticipated debut following a brief amateur career. Fighting for the fourth time since June, Gray-Pitts attempts to extend his unbeaten strike to four fights against the crafty Medina, who has never faced a fighter with a losing record since turning pro in 2009.

 

Also featured on the undercard, light heavyweight southpaw Meng Fanlong and junior welterweight Wang Zhimin debut after successful amateur careers. Signed to Roc Nation Sports in 2014, Fanlong competed in the 2012 London Olympics and also advanced to the finals of World Amateur Boxing Championships in 2011 in addition to winning the Chinese National Championship for six consecutive years between 2008 and 2013. He faces Marcellus Yates (0-1) of Washington, D.C., in a four-round bout. Zhimin won the gold medal in the 2011 World Series of Boxing and also reached the finals of the Chinese National Championships in 2010, one year after earning a bronze medal. Zhimin also debuts Jan. 17th in a four-round bout.

 

-- CES --

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CES photo by Will Paul
UNBEATEN MIDDLEWEIGHT PROSPECT Khiary Gray-Pitts, left, will face his toughest testFriday, Nov. 7th, 2014, at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, R.I., when he battles 5-foot-11 southpaw Vincent Floyd of Philadelphia on the undercard of CES Boxing's 2014 season finale, "Winner Take All." The Worcester, Mass., native is 2-0 with one knockout. Floyd is 1-0-1 in two professional bouts.

After turning his life around through boxing, Gray-Pitts seeks third win Friday night

 

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Nov. 5th, 2014) -- Growing up in Worcester, Khiary Gray-Pitts had two choices: stay in the streets and keep rolling with the wrong crowd, or get back in the boxing gym and turn his life around.

 

"The more I got into trouble, the more I realized I had to get back into boxing," he recalled.

 

A promising young amateur born and raised in a city synonymous with boxing excellence, from former world champion Jose Antonio Rivera to current world-title challenger Edwin Rodriguez, Gray-Pitts (2-0, 1 KO) seemed destined for greatness as a teenager until a devastating loss cost him a trip to the nationals and sent him veering down the wrong path.

 

"I began hanging with the wrong crowd, just getting into all sorts of trouble," he said.

 

Gray-Pitts was arrested eight times -- five times as a juvenile -- before one last run-in with the law forced him to reflect on the damage his behavior was doing to his mother and older brother, Trevor. Something finally clicked. He knew it was time to get back into the gym and off the streets.

 

"I never got into trouble when I boxed," he said.

 

Gray-Pitts clearly made the right choice, as evident by his success not only at the tail end of his amateur career, but in his brief foray as a professional as well, where he's now unbeaten in two fights preparing for yet another bout Friday, Nov. 7th, 2014 at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, R.I.

 

Gray-Pitts will face Philadelphia's Vincent Floyd (1-0-1), a 5-foot-11 southpaw, on the undercard of CES Boxing's season finale, "Winner Take All," in a four-round middleweight bout that could steal the spotlight from the world championship main event.

 

The bout will end a whirlwind year for the 21-year-old prospect, one in which he fought his amateur finale and his professional debut all within a span of seven days, a remarkable transition in a short amount of time by industry standards. Now Gray-Pitts is one of the most feared, avoided fighters in his weight class, turned down by more than half a dozen regional fighters when approached with the idea of facing him on Friday night.

 

"I'm a whole different person now," said Gray-Pitts, who is also the father of a 2-year-old daughter, Khilani. "I have a whole different outlook on everything."

 

Prior to his run-ins with the law, Gray-Pitts excelled as a two-sport athlete in Worcester, playing both basketball and football. He reluctantly began boxing in seventh grade after a friend told him to give it a try.

 

"I used to think boxing was for people that couldn't fight until I tried it," Gray-Pitts said. "After the first few days of training, I stayed with it. I had to beg my mom for an entire year before I could actually take an amateur fight."

 

Gray-Pitts amassed an impressive amateur record before a loss to Eddie Gomez in the amateurs cost him a shot at the nationals. That's when his downward spiral began. For the next three years, he swerved in and out of trouble until linking up with Kendrick Ball of Camp Get Right Boxing in Worcester.

 

That's when everything changed. Gray-Pitts began working exclusively with Ball and improved drastically as a fighter, finishing the second half of his amateur career in style with a win over fellow CES stablemate Ray Oliveira Jr. in May.

 

The idea of turning pro so quickly, just seven days after beating Oliveira Jr., was Ball's idea. He knew Gray-Pitts was ready, and when the opportunity to fight on a CES card in June presented itself, both he and his fighter took advantage.

 

"Everyone always told me I had a pro style, but I really didn't know I was ready until Kendrick told me I was," Gray-Pitts said. "He taught me a lot, specifically about turning my punches over and looking for that opening. I'm a lot more aggressive now."

 

That aggressiveness showed in his pro debut when he ate a few right hands from his opponent, On'rey Townes, before finishing him off just 27 seconds into the third round. As for absorbing a few blows, Gray-Pitts didn't seem to mind.

 

"I had to find out what it felt like, but I didn't do it on purpose," he said with a laugh.

 

"It actually felt good. It woke me up. It made me realize, 'OK, this isn't a game anymore.'"

 

The severity of the blows minus headgear isn't the only difference between the amateurs and the pros. Gray-Pitts noted the change in environment from his last amateur fight to his pro debut, the atmosphere and energy in the crowd. It'd be enough to unnerve some young fighters, but Gray-Pitts came out poised and looked every bit the professional.

 

"I was nervous," he admitted, "until the third round."

 

That quick flash of brilliance in the third, the overhand right that sent Townes crashing to the canvas, could be considered a warning shot for the rest of New England, a message of sorts to those already ducking Gray-Pitts before he turns 22 later this month. Leave it to a Philadelphia fighter to step up to the plate in what could be the fight of the night.

 

"I've been waiting for Friday since my last fight," he said. "I love being active."

 

"Winner Take All" is an all-ages show. Tickets for the event are on sale now for $40, $100 and $126 (VIP) and can be purchased online at www.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, at the Twin River Box Office or by phone at 401-724-2253/2254. Doors open at 6 and the first bout begins at 7 p.m. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

 

Friday's event is headlined by the 10-round main event between Providence's Shelito Vincent (12-0, 1 KO) and Jackie Trivilino(9-8-3, 1 KO) for the vacant Universal Boxing Federation (UBF) female super bantamweight title.

 

Super middleweight Angel Camacho Jr. (12-0, 4 KOs) of Providence, R.I., will face Hyannis, Mass., vet Paul Gonsalves(7-4-1, 3 KOs) in the six-round co-feature. Camacho Jr. was originally scheduled to face Tylon Burris of Hartford, but Burris withdrew this weekend due to a back injury.

 

This will be Camacho Jr.'s first fight since 2011 and just his second in the last six years while Gonsalves is fighting for the fifth time in 2014, among them an impressive majority decision loss to unbeaten Mike Lee in July on the undercard of ESPN2's FridayNight Fights telecast.

 

Unbeaten Brockton, Mass., heavyweight Julian Pollard (4-0, 4 KOs) makes his Twin River debut in a special four-round attraction against Providence veteran Arthur Saribekian (23-5-1, 18 KOs) while Cranston, R.I., welterweight Nick DeLomba (5-0) will battle Miami's Lazar Stojadinovic (1-1-1) in a six-round bout.

 

"Winner Take All" also features New Bedford, Mass., prospectsRay Oliveira Jr. (1-0, 1 KO) and Scott Sullivan (1-0, 1 KO), who both won their pro debuts Sept. 12th. Sullivan faces unbeaten lightweight Oscar Bonilla (2-0-1) of New Haven, Conn., while Oliveira Jr. takes on 6-foot-3 super middleweightMike Rodriguez (0-1) of Springfield, Mass.

 

Unbeaten Worcester, Mass., middleweight prospect Khiary Gray-Pitts (2-0, 1 KO) faces Greg Thomas (0-4) of Philadelphia. Warwick, R.I., super middleweight and Air Force vet Zack Christy (1-0), who also debuted in September, returns to faceSergio Cabrera (0-4) of Somerville, Mass.

 

Visit www.cesboxing.com for more information, follow CES Boxing on Twitter at @CESBOXING and Instagram at CESBOXING, or "like" CES Boxing on Facebook.

 

-- CES 

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Providence, R.I., lightweight Luis Felix will face seven-time UFC vet Drew Fickett in the main event Friday, March 14th, 2014 at "CES MMA XII" at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, R.I. Felix is searching for his third win over a former UFC vet in as many tries. (CES photo by Ian Travis Barnard)

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CES MEDIA ALERT

New-look Felix hopes rededication to MMA will carry him past Fickett on Friday 


                        
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Seven-time UFC vet Drew Fickett owns wins over Kenny Florian and Josh Koscheck and has won 31 bouts by submission.
 Forget everything you think you know about Luis Felix.

 

After years of treating mixed martial arts like a hobby, the Providence-based lightweight is ready to go "all in" as he prepares for the toughest test of his career Friday night at Twin River Casino.

 

"No more excuses," said Felix (10-7, 3 KOs), who'll face seven-time Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) veteran Drew Fickett in the main event of "CES MMA XXII" on Friday, March 14th, 2014.

 

"I've pretty much put everything aside to focus on fighting and make a run at being elite and making it to the next level. This is all I do now. No more secondary job. I'm pretty much all in at this point."

 

Despite a tremendous wrestling background, which helped him become a state champion at nearby Cranston East High School, and his willingness to fight anyone at any given time, the knock on Felix through the years was his conditioning -- or lack thereof -- and whether or not he took the sport seriously.

 

"In the past, I wasn't always all in," he said. "It was always fun, but I used it as a hobby."

 

It showed. Felix spent the first three years of his professional career teetering on the brink, never winning more than two consecutive fights. A loss to Joe DeChaves in 2010, which, to this day, Felix says was "the biggest fluke," pushed Felix to jump right back into the cage less than a month later against then-unbeaten prospect Joe Proctor. Felix pulled off the upset, knocking out Proctor in the second round.

 

"I had been fighting every month, so I was in great shape," Felix said. "By the time I stepped in with Proctor, I had gotten much better as a fighter."

 

Proctor eventually made his way to the big stage two years later, starring in Season 15 of The Ultimate Fighter, but the fight paid more immediate dividends for Felix, whose career path changed dramatically after handing Proctor his first career loss. He suddenly realized what he could accomplish when motivated.

 

"I really started taking it more seriously after that," he said. "All the hype was behind [Proctor] at the time and where he was going. After that fight, I started talking with [UFC veteran] Jorge Rivera and a few other coaches and really began buckling down. Ever since then, the way I go about this has been completely different."

 

The win over Proctor was merely a precursor to what unfolded over the next three years. Since then, Felix has won four of his last five fights, including a win over another UFC vet, Marc Stevens, earning Felix the reputation as a fighter who saves his best for his biggest fights. Felix also upended Boston-based prospect Lucas Cruz in December. Cruz was 6-1 at the time and owned wins over Pete Jeffrey and John Ortolani before losing by split decision to Felix.

 

"For me, it's a challenge, like when they're saying, 'Oh, this guy is that good,' or, 'This guy is better than you,' or, 'This guy has done this,'" Felix said. "Having that kind of challenge in front of me is motivation enough for me to get after it."

 

Facing Fickett (42-20, 3 KOs) is a similar challenge. At his best, Fickett is one of the most dangerous fighters in the sport, having beaten both Kenny Florian and Josh Koscheck, but his own self-destructive past -- alcohol abuse, etc. -- has put him in a similar "do or die" mode where every fight could be the end of the road or the beginning of a new journey.

 

"Knowing someone like him, who has been at that level and fought some of the best in the world, I know where I want to go and where I want to be in this sport," Felix said. "To fight someone of his caliber is just another challenge.

 

"I don't know what it does immediately for me, but I know what's at stake for me personally and where I want to be. This fight for me is everything. I'm not looking past it. I'm not looking at where it will put me. I'm just focusing on this challenge in front of me."

 

Just how serious is Felix these days? Not only is he working with Rhode Island-based boxing coach Vic Fagnant, who he considers "the biggest blessing" in his career the past two years, he's also been working on his strength and conditioning with former CES MMA lightweight champion Mike Campbell, who pressed Felix to train with him for five years until he finally decided to take his advice in preparation for this upcoming fight.

 

"That's been a whole new spectrum for me," Felix said. "I never really lifted weights or did strength training. Working with Campbell and seeing the things he's done as an athlete really opened my eyes. I already feel such a big difference in my explosive strength in a short amount of time.

 

"From the first day I went in there, it was like learning something new. Now I look forward to going in there and training and getting my ass kicked."

 

Felix also has a manager, Patsy Sperduto, who has helped keep him on track. Having a trustworthy inner-circle with people looking out for his best interests is a far cry from the days when Felix simply agreed to take fights just to stay active. It's a new look for a fighter hoping to make that final push toward being elite. No more excuses. He's finally "all in."

 

"I'm taking this as a career and trying to move forward with it," Felix said. "Being dedicated and putting in the training I need has really helped me."

 

Tickets for "CES MMA XXII" are on sale now at $40.00, $55.00, $100.00 and $125.00 (VIP) and can be purchased online at www.cesmma.com or www.twinriver.com or by phone at 401-724-2253/2254. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

 

Several undercard bouts at "CES MMA XXII" could steal the show, including the highly-anticipated middleweight bout between UFC vet Thomas Egan (7-4, 6 KOs) of Dorchester, Mass., and Plymouth, Mass., veteran Chip Moraza-Pollard (7-6, 4 KOs) a former Reality Fighting and Bellator contender. Egan, born and raised in Kildare, Ireland, starred on UFC 93 in Ireland.

 

Looking to keep the momentum going from his win over Chris Woodall in November, former TUF vet Chuck O'Neill (12-6, 4 KOs) of East Bridgwater, Mass., will battle Dade City, Fla., welterweight Roger Carroll (13-10) in a three-round bout. Caroll has won 11 bouts by submission. Lightweight contender Andres Jeudi (5-2, 1 KO) of Somerville, Mass., will face Brendan Rooney (5-1) of Shelton, Conn. 

 

Also on the undercard, rising featherweight star and Johnson & Wales alum Charles Rosa (6-0, 3 KOs) of Boynton Beach, Fla., will return to Twin River for the fourth time in a three-round bout against Philadelphia veteran Brylan Van Artsdalen (9-9, 1 KO), an eight-time Bellator veteran.

 

Marshfield, Mass., featherweight Brendan Fleming (3-2) will take on Baltimore's Robert Sullivan (3-1); fellow featherweight Josh LaBerge (8-4, 3 KOs) of Fall River, Mass., will battle Philadelphia's Steve McCabe (6-14, 5 KOs); Tommy Venticinque (0-1) of Warwick, R.I., will face Rick Rivera of Springfield, Mass., in a welterweight bout; and Winthrop, Mass, featherweight Kyle Bochniak (1-0) will aim for his second win of the year when he faces Marius Enache (1-2) of Philadelphia. 

 

-- CES --

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LINCOLN, R.I. (July 27th, 2013) – No sooner had he wrapped the belt around his waist than Rich Gingras found himself empty-handedSaturday night in one of the wildest finishes in the history of Rhode Island boxing.

 

Shortly after it was announced Gingras (13-3-1) had dethronedVladine Biosse (15-2-2) to capture the New England Super Middleweight Title in the main event of Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports’ “Game On” show at Twin River Casino, the Rhode Island Athletic Commission admitted it miscalculated the scores and that the bout had actually been scored a majority draw, allowing Biosse to escape with his title.

 

Judge Glen Feldman’s score was originally counted as 77-76 in favor of Gingras, which, at the time, gave Gingras a 77-76, 77-75, 76-76 majority decision win. Feldman actually scored the bout 76-76, matching Wayne Lima’s score, resulting in a majority draw.

 

The fight itself was as good as advertised with both Gingras and Biosse trading blows non-stop for eight rounds. After a slow first round, the action picked up in the second and never waned until the final bell. Gingras was the aggressor for most of the fight, utilizing wide hooks and uppercuts to slow Biosse, while Biosse spent the latter half of the fight with his back to the ropes slugging his way out of trouble. Neither fighter worked to establish his jab, instead punching and counterpunching with sheer force for eight rounds.

 

The co-feature had its own controversy as Jersey City, N.J., middleweight Chris Chatman (11-2-1) edged hometown favoriteThomas Falowo (10-2) of Pawtucket, R.I., 77-75 on all three scorecards. Similar to the main event, both fighters slugged it out for eight rounds. Chatman started strong as the aggressor, but Falowo fought back and showed incredible stamina by turning the tide in the final three rounds. The difference was a knockdown scored by Chatman in the fourth in which he picked himself off the canvas following a questionable knockdown and caught Falowo on the temple with a wide, left hook. Falowo sputtered backward and crashed to the canvas. Visibly hurt – and upset – Falowo punched canvas before getting back on his feet.

 

Making his Twin River debut after having just fought eight days ago in New Hampshire, Russell Lamour (5-0) of Portland, Maine dominated Woonsocket, R.I., veteran and fan favorite Joe Gardner (11-7-1), stopping Gardner 38 seconds into the sixth and final round after sending Gardner to the canvas three times.

 

Lamour scored the first three knockdowns in the closing seconds of the third, fourth and fifth rounds with vicious body shots, and ultimately went to the body again at the start of the sixth to finish Gardner for good. The win was Lamour’s second in eight days – both by knockout – while Gardner lost his second consecutive fight.

 

Female bantamweight Marcia Agripino (1-0) of Groton, Conn., made a strong impression in her professional debut, sending Brooklyn, N.Y., veteran Vanessa Greco (1-3-3) to the canvas within minutes of the opening round and ultimately coasting to a 40-35, 40-35, 39-36 unanimous decision win. Hartford junior welterweight “Jabbin’” Joe Wilson (1-0)73413_444224092342517_1801886356_n.jpg also dominated in his debut Saturday, outworking the tough Saul Almeida (0-3) of Framingham, Mass., to earn the unanimous 40-36 decision on all three scorecards.

Also on the undercard, Providence super middleweight KJ Harrison-Lombardi(2-2) remained unbeaten with a 39-37, 40-36, 40-36 unanimous decision win over Boston’s Maceo Crowder (2-2).

 

– CES –

 

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CES photo by Ian Travis Barnard
RED-HOT BANTAMWEIGHT PROSPECT Andre Soukhamthath will face veteran Blair Tugman of Connecticut on Friday, June 7th, 2013 on the undercard of Classic Entertainment & Sports' "New Blood" mixed martial arts event at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, R.I. Soukhamthath, a Woonsocket, R.I., native has won four consecutive fights. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                

Wednesday, June 5th, 2013                                            

CES MEDIA ALERT

 

Soukhamthath hopes to silence confident Tugman Friday night in his toughest test to date

 

LINCOLN, R.I. (June 5th, 2013) -- Andre Soukhamthath is about to swim into uncharted waters Friday night at Twin River Casino in an attempt to prove, despite what his opponent says, he's not just some "big fish in a small pond."

 

Dubbed "The Asian Sensation," Soukhamthath (4-1, 3 KOs) will face his toughest test to date on June 7th when he battles Branford, Conn., bantamweight Blair Tugman (5-4), who made it clear he isn't impressed with Soukhamthath's recent success.

 

"I have a lot of respect for him," Tugman said, "but in looking at who he's fought and where he's fought, he hasn't fought the guys I've fought in the venues I've fought in.

 

"He's a big fish in a small pond until he beats someone with a little more experience. Then he'll deserve a little more respect. He's been beating guys who don't have the experience of the guys I've fought."

 

 

Since losing his professional debut, Soukhamthath, a Woonsocket, R.I., native, has won his last four fights - all at Twin River - beating Gilvan SantosVinnie TisconieRob Costa and Kurt Chase-Patrick, the latter coming via second-round knockout in April in Soukhamthath's most complete performance.

 

"I'm not sure if he's trying to hype himself up, or whatever. Good for him," Soukhamthath said of Tugman. "Saying I'm a big fish in a small pond is basically saying I'm overrated. At the end of the day, it doesn't really bother me.

 

"I always come to fight no matter what. If he can hang with me, then good for him."

 

Friday's Soukhamthath-Tugman showdown is part of the undercard of Jimmy Burchfield's Classic Entertainment & Sports' "New Blood" mixed martial arts event at Twin River. Tugman has experience on his side, but he's also been out of the cage for more than two years. In the interim, he earned a job as an assistant wrestling coach at Wesleyan University in Middletown and also opened his own private wrestling academy for youths and high-school students in Branford, so while he didn't have the time to actively pursue a fight, he spent most of the past two years maintaining his wrestling and his conditioning.

 

Will rust be a factor Friday?

 

"I doubt it," Tugman said. "I feel pretty good. I've been training pretty hard these past three months helping other fighters prepare for fights, and I've been doing a lot more sparring and adding some workouts you normally wouldn't do unless you were preparing for a fight. I still practiced my wrestling, Jiu Jitsu and kickboxing during my layoff. It's not like I sat on the couch for two years."

 

While Soukhamthath acknowledges this will probably be his toughest fight as a pro, he's also noticed many changes within himself both in and outside of the cage. He's now working with regional boxing David Keefe to sharpen his stand-up game - "he's been the missing piece to the puzzle," Soukhamthath said - and he's improved drastically with each fight, culminating in an all-around solid effort in his win over Chase-Patrick in April.

 

"When I was an amateur, and even all the way up until my first pro fight, I didn't know how to finish. Now that's all I want to do. I'm hungry for it," he said. "I've shown I'm an all-around fighter; I can submit guys, beat them on the ground, or knock them out.

 

"Some people still think otherwise, and that's fine with me," he continued. "That's why people still want to fight me. They think my ground game is weak, but once they get a hold of me they see how strong I am and how hard it is to hold me down and keep me down. That's why mentality today is different than the Andre from two years ago."

 

Though Tugman has the edge in wrestling experience, he's aware of Soukhamthath's recent improvement and is preparing for the unexpectedFriday.

 

"He's good on his feet and pretty good on the ground," Tugman said. "I have to be ready for everything."

 

Tickets for "New Blood" are $36.00, $56.00, $101.00 and $126.00 and can be purchased by calling CES at 401.724.2253/2254, online at www.shop.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, at the Players Club booth at Twin River, or through any TicketMaster location. Doors open 6 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7.

 

The undercard includes several regional matchups and intra-state showdowns, including the return of Providence light heavyweight Greg "Ribz" Rebello (15-4, 8 KOs) and Bridgewater, Mass., welterweight and former The Ultimate Fighter reality television series standoutChuck "Cold Steel" O'Neil (10-5, 2 KOs). After knocking out hometown favorite Jesse Peterson in Maine in February, Rebello will face Williamsport, Pa., veteran Lewis Rumsey (8-8, 4 KOs) next Fridaywhile O'Neil will look to build off his win over Rhode Island's Keith Jeffrey in December when he faces Andrew Osborn (6-5, 1 KO) of Fayetteville, N.C.

 

One of the best intra-state showdowns will take place between East Providence, R.I., lightweight Nate "The Snake" Andrews (4-0, 2 KOs) and Lincoln veteran Jeff "Candyman" Anderson (11-7, 2 KOs). Andrews has risen considerably in the past year with wins in each of his first four fights, but has yet to face anyone as experienced and as tough as Anderson; known for fighting the best opposition in the northeast, Anderson has wins over Damien TritesJohn Ortolani and Pete Jeffrey on his resume, but has lost three consecutive bouts, albeit against Mike CampbellMatt Bessette and Saul Almeida, who have combined for 36 wins.

 

In the bantamweight division, highly-touted amateur Sophanarith Amwill make his professional debut Carlos Hernandez of Lynn, Mass., and Providence veteran Joe Reverdes (1-2) - fighting for the first time since August - will fight Williamsport's Joshua Aarons (1-6). In what could be one of the best fights on the undercard, veterans Pedro Gonzalez (7-5) of Rockport, Mass., and Sidemar Honario (8-3, 2 KOs) will square off in a three-round bantamweight bout.

 

Providence welterweight Ruben Ortiz will make his highly-anticipated debut against fellow newcomer Brian Sparrow of Sandwich, Mass., and Eric Spicely (1-0) of Providence will take on newcomer Tundee Oduyingho of Johnston, R.I., in a welterweight bout. Coventry, R.I., featherweight Shaun Marmas (5-4) will also be featured in a separate bout. All fights and fighters are subject to change. 

 

(Twin River has waived its 18+ rule for "New Blood." Anybody under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult and must enter through the West entrance).

 

- CES -

Twin River Casino is an exciting gaming, dining and entertainment destination, located in Lincoln, R.I., just 45 minutes from Boston and 10 minutes from Providence. Twin River features more than 4,700 slotmachines, many virtual gaming options with black jack and roulette tables and more. This unique gaming facility also hosts simulcasting of the best thoroughbred and greyhound racing from around the country, a 29,000-plus square foot Twin River Event Center with headline entertainment, the legendary Catch a Rising Star Comedy Club, free concerts at the Lighthouse Bar, Fred & Steve's Steakhouse and Wicked Good Bar & Grill, as well as 13 other dining outlets.

 

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CES photo by Ian Barnard
FORMER UFC VETERAN John "Doomsday" Howard of Boston will return to the cage Friday, June 7th, 2013 in the main event of Classic Entertainment & Sports' "New Blood" mixed martial arts event at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, R.I. Howard is hoping for a return trip to the UFC when the promotion lands in Boston later this summer. 

                                                    

CES MEDIA ALERT

 

Howard hopes to keep good times rolling with UFC's Boston invasion looming on the horizon

 

LINCOLN, R.I. (May 29th, 2013) -- In what has been a long stretch of "must-win" fights for John "Doomsday" Howard since his release from the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC), another tough test looms on the horizon next Friday at Twin River Casino.

 

The pressure is greater than ever as the Boston native Howard (19-7, 8 KOs) prepares for his main-event showdown with veteran Chris Woodall (12-3, 5 KOS) of Cummings, Ga., which will highlight Classic Entertainment & Sports' "New Blood" mixed martial arts event scheduled for Friday, June 7th, 2013.

 

Tickets for "New Blood" are $36.00, $56.00, $101.00 and $126.00 and can be purchased by calling CES at 401.724.2253/2254, online at www.shop.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, at the Players Club booth at Twin River, or through any TicketMaster location. Doors open 6 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7.

 

Since the UFC released him in 2011, Howard has won five consecutive fights, including the last four by knockout, putting him on the precipice of a possible return to the UFC. As fate would have it, the UFC is coming to Howard's backyard in August at the TD Garden in an event that will air as the centerpiece of the launch of FOX Sports' new 24-hour network, FOX Sports 1.

 

UFC or no UFC, next Friday's battle against Woodall is another big fight for Howard, not only to keep his win streak alive, but also to keep him at the head of the class among middleweights in the northeast. The 39-year-old Woodall brings plenty of experience to the table; next Friday, he'll end a seven-year layoff, returning to the cage for the first time since August of 2006.

 

While next Friday's event could serve as the final sendoff for Howard on his route back to the UFC, the undercard is loaded with tremendous regional matchups and intra-state showdowns, including the return of Providence light heavyweight Greg "Ribz" Rebello (15-4, 8 KOs) and Bridgewater, Mass., welterweight and former The Ultimate Fighterreality television series standout Chuck "Cold Steel" O'Neil (10-5, 2 KOs).

 

After knocking out hometown favorite Jesse Peterson in Maine in February, Rebello will face Williamsport, Pa., veteran Lewis Rumsey(8-8, 4 KOs) next Friday while O'Neil, fresh off his win over Rhode Island's Keith Jeffrey in December, will face Andrew Osborne (6-5, 1 KO) of Fayetteville, N.C.

 

One of the best intra-state showdowns will take place between East Providence, R.I., lightweight Nate "The Snake" Andrews (4-0, 2 KOs) and Lincoln veteran Jeff "Candyman" Anderson (11-7, 2 KOs). Andrews has risen considerably in the past year with wins in each of his first four fights, but has yet to face anyone as experienced and as tough as Anderson; known for fighting the best opposition in the northeast, Anderson has wins over Damien TritesJohn Ortolani and Pete Jeffrey on his resume, but has lost three consecutive bouts, albeit against Mike CampbellMatt Bessette and Saul Almeida, who have combined for 36 wins.

 

"New Blood" also features four exciting bantamweight bouts, highlighted by the showdown between Andre Soukhamthath (4-1, 3 KOs) of Woonsocket, R.I., and Blair Tugman (5-4) of Branford, Conn. Soukhamthath has won four consecutive fights since losing his debut while Tugman is returning to the cage for the first time since April of 2011, when he lost to John McLaughlin at the Bellator Fighting Championships.

 

Also in the bantamweight division, highly-touted amateur Sophanarith Am will make his professional debut Carlos Hernandez of Lynn, Mass., and Providence veteran Joe Reverdes (1-2) - fighting for the first time since August - will fight Williamsport's Joshua Aarons (1-6). In what could be one of the best fights on the undercard, veteransPedro Gonzalez (7-5) of Rockport, Mass., and Sidemar Honario (8-3, 2 KOs) will square off in a three-round bantamweight bout.

 

After beating Thomas Evans in April, Coventry, R.I., featherweightShaun Marmas (5-4) will step up to face undefeated Boston nativeSergio Cabrera (2-0-1) in what will be Marmas' toughest test to date. Providence welterweight Ruben Ortiz will make his highly-anticipated debut against fellow newcomer Brian Sparrow of Sandwich, Mass., and Eric Spicely (1-0) of Providence will take on newcomer Tundee Oduyingho of Johnston, R.I., in a welterweight bout. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

 

(Twin River has waived its 18+ rule for "New Blood." Anybody under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult and must enter through the West entrance).

 

- CES -

 

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UNDEFEATED BANTAMWEIGHT SHELITO Vincent will face Angel Gladney of South Carolina on Friday, May 17th, 2013 at the Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, R.I., for the vacant WIBA International title, the first female title bout to be held in Rhode Island since 2008.

 

                                              

Thursday, May 16th, 2013           

CES MEDIA ALERT

 

Vincent hopes hard work, commitment lead to victory Friday in main event title bout at Twin River

 

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (May 16th, 2013) -- Tomorrow night, Shelito Vincent, the unbeaten bantamweight from New London, Conn., will have the opportunity to achieve something most boxers only dream about when she fights Angel Gladney for the vacant Women's International Boxing Association (WIBA) International championship in front of her hometown fans at Twin River Casino.

 

As if often the case in evenly-matched title bouts, the outcome might hinge on who wants it more.

 

"There's no way this girl is working harder than me," said Vincent (8-0), who now lives and trains in Providence under the guidance of Peter Manfredo Sr. "Why wouldn't I work hard for something I've wanted my whole life?"

 

Vincent's shot at the title, which is the eight-round main event of "The New Era," presented by Jimmy Burchfield's Classic Entertainment & Sports, comes just a year and a half after her professional debut in 2011, a rapid climb even by female boxing standards. It's also the first women's title bout to be held in Rhode Island since Jaime Clampittfaced Belinda Laracuente for the International Women's Boxing Federation (IWBF) lightweight title at Twin River in 2008. Vincent's opponent, Gladney (8-7-1, 6 KOs), is a tough veteran from Columbia, S.C., who has fought for a title before, namely in 2010 when she challenged Kaliesha West for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) female bantamweight title. That fight ended in a seventh-round knockout win for West. Will Gladney's second shot at a title end differently?

 

"In 2010, it just wasn't my time," said the 25-year-old Gladney. "I was too young, but it was an experience for me. I learn as I go. I didn't have much amateur experience, so fighting Kaliesha West was a real learning experience. Of all the girls she's fought, she said I was the toughest, so I've kept my head up and kept going."

 

The one edge Gladney has entering Friday's showdown is she has six knockout wins on her resume, whereas Vincent has yet to record a knockout, but, as Vincent pointed out, "she has a lot of losses, too, and I don't have any of those."

 

"But I respect her a lot," Vincent added. "I know it's going to be a tough fight. If you want to be the best, you have to start fighting the best. I'm ready. There's nothing I've wanted more than this. She better be ready for a fight."

 

Gladney, who considers herself a counterpuncher with "a little bit of everything" in her arsenal, credits her trainer, Dominic Neal, and promoter, Andrew Stokes, for keeping her on track. Following back-to-back losses at the end of 2012, Gladney kicked off the new year with a win over Kelan Robey in April, her final test before she faces Vincenttomorrow night.

 

"I really wanted to get that win," Gladney said. "I'm really excited about this opportunity. I just want to keep fighting and stay active. I love this sport."

 

Vincent was originally supposed to face Christina Ruiz of Texas, but Ruiz pulled out of the fight, citing a hand injury. Gladney accepted the challenge on just two week's notice. The stage has now been set forFriday night in what will be a major opportunity for both Vincent and Gladney.

 

"When I got into boxing, this is what I dreamt about," Vincent said. "I'm going hard on Friday night."

 

"Mr. Providence" Vladine Biosse (14-2-1, 7 KOs) will also return to the ring May 17th in the eight-round super middleweight co-feature against Philadelphia's Latif Mundy (10-5, 4 KOs). Tickets for "The New Era" are $41.00, $76.00, and $126.00 (VIP) and can be purchased by calling CES at 401.724.2253/2254, online at www.shop.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, at the Players Club booth at Twin River, or through any TicketMaster location. Doors open 6 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7.

 

The undercard features seven bouts, most of which are regional showdowns, starting with Pawtucket, R.I., middleweight Thomas Falowo (9-1, 7 KOs) stepping up to face undefeated power-puncherTylon Burris (5-0, 3 KOs) of Hartford, Conn., in a six-round bout. Super middleweight Rich Gingras (12-3, 8 KOs) of Attleboro, Mass., a former contestant on The Contender reality television series, will battle the red-hot Joey Gardner (11-5-1, 1 KO) of Woonsocket, R.I., in a six-round bout.

 

The always-busy Falowo, who's known for throwing a high volume of punches from start to finish, will have his hands full with Burris, who has raised eyebrows in New England following an impressive knockout win over previously-unbeaten light heavyweight prospect Kevin Cobbs in November. Falowo has won his last three bouts, all by knockout, since suffering his first loss in May of 2012.

 

The Gingras-Gardner showdown came to fruition after Providence's Alex Amparo was forced to withdraw from his scheduled rematch with Gardner due to a rib injury. Gardner, who has won his last three fights, will instead face Gingras, a former cruiserweight now looking to make his mark in the super middleweight division.

 

Also on the undercard, Boston's Maceo Crowder (2-0, 1 KO), the half-brother of former U.S. Olympian and Providence native Demetrius Andrade, will return from a three-year absence to face Harwich, Mass., veteran Paul Gonsalves (4-3, 3 KOs) in a four-round super middleweight bout; and welterweight Jon Smith (1-0) of Cranston, R.I., will battle newcomer Oscar Diaz of Hartford, Conn., in a four-round bout. In a six-round special attraction, former Cranston amateur standout Nick DeLomba will make his professional debut against Portland, Maine native Jimmy Smith (0-0-0); the latter is returning to the ring for the first time in more than a year after his debut was cut short due to an accidental head butt. Smith and DeLomba faced one another twice as amateurs with each fighter winning once.

 

Hyannis, Mass., heavyweight Jesse Barboza (5-1-1, 3 KOs) will take on West New York, N.J., challenger Phillip Triantafillo (2-2, 1 KO) in a four-round bout, and Springfield, Mass., welterweight Zack Ramsey (3-0, 3 KOs) will return to face Bryan Abraham (6-16-2, 6 KOs) of Schenectady, N.Y., in a four-round bout. All fights and fighters are subject to change. 


 

 


CES is proud to announce its May 17th event will be held in honor of those affected by the recent Boston Marathon bombings, along with all the first responders, fire fighters and law-enforcement officials who worked tirelessly in the aftermath of such a senseless tragedy. On May 17th, "This one's for Boston!"

 

Also on May 17th, former New England Patriots fullback and three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Pass will receive the CES Special Recognition Award, and an additional ceremony will be held in memory of the late Matthew Cariglio Sr., a dear friend of the Classic Entertainment & Sports family.

 

Three-time world title challenger and former reality television star Peter Manfredo Jr., "The Pride Of Providence," will also be on hand beginning at 6 p.m. for a special meet-and-greet outside the arena. Manfredo Jr. will also provide televised color commentary alongside play-by-play host Patrick Sullivan.

 

Twin River Casino is an exciting gaming, dining and entertainment destination, located in Lincoln, R.I., just 45 minutes from Boston and 10 minutes from Providence. Twin River features more than 4,700 slotmachines, many virtual gaming options with black jack and roulette tables and more. This unique gaming facility also hosts simulcasting of the best thoroughbred and greyhound racing from around the country, a 29,000-plus square foot Twin River Event Center with headline entertainment, the legendary Catch a Rising Star Comedy Club, free concerts at the Lighthouse Bar, Fred & Steve's Steakhouse and Wicked Good Bar & Grill, as well as 13 other dining outlets.

- CES -

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MR. PROVIDENCE VLADINE Biosse will star in one half of the co-main event scheduled for Friday, May 17th, 2013 at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, R.I., when he faces hard-hitting Philadelphia veteran

CES MEDIA ALERT

 

Fan-favorites Biosse, Vincent return to Twin River to celebrate 'new era' of New England boxing

 


PROVIDENCE, R.I. (April 24th, 2013) -- Fresh off a sold-out, standing-room-only crowd in March, Jimmy Burchfield's Classic Entertainment & Sports is bringing professional boxing back to Twin River Casino Friday,

May 17th, 2013 for another dynamic event featuring the region's most sought-after talent.

 

"Mr. Providence" Vladine Biosse (14-2-1, 7 KOs) and female bantamweight sensation Shelito Vincent (8-0), also of Providence, will headline "The New Era" in a rare co-main event; Biosse will face Philadelphia veteran Latif Mundy (10-5, 4 KOs) in an 8-round super middleweight bout and Vincent will fight the dangerous Christina Ruiz(6-5-2, 4 KOs) of San Antonio, Tex., in an 8-round bout for the vacant Women's International Boxing Association (WIBA) International bantamweight title.

 

Tickets for "The New Era" are $41.00, $76.00, and $126.00 (VIP) and can be purchased by calling CES at 401.724.2253/2254, online at www.shop.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, at the Players Club booth at Twin River, or through any TicketMaster location. Doors open 6 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7.

 

 

Biosse, a two-time winner on ESPN's Friday Night Fights, is looking to avenge a Jan. 19 loss to Marcus Upshaw against the 5-foot-8 Mundy, who has faced tough competition in recent years against Ossie Duran,Matt Korobov and Patrick Majewski; the three have a combined record of 68-11-2 with 35 knockouts.

 

Ruiz, a two-time title challenger, will be Vincent's toughest test as she fights for a title for the first time in her career. Ruiz recently lost a unanimous decision to International Female Boxing Association (IFBA) super bantamweight champion Kaliesha West in California and also challenged Alicia Ashley for the then-vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) title in July of 2011. Her last two wins (February of 2011 and April of 2010) have come by knockout. Vincent is coming off a March 1 win over Mikayla Nebel and is already 2-0 in 2013. 

 

The undercard features the highly-anticipated rematch between Rhode Islanders Joe Gardner (11-5-1, 1 KO) of Woonsocket and Providence'sAlex Amparo (5-1, 3 KOs) in a six-round bout. Gardner handed Amparo his first career loss via unanimous decision in November and is coming off another impressive win over fellow Woonsocket native Reynaldo Rodriguez in March.

 

Boston's Maceo Crowder (2-0, 1 KO), the half-brother of former U.S. Olympian and Providence native Demetrius Andrade, will return from a three-year absence to face Harwich, Mass., veteran Paul Gonsalves(4-3, 3 KOs) in a four-round super middleweight bout; and welterweightJon Smith (1-0) of Cranston, R.I., will battle newcomer Oscar Diaz of Hartford, Conn., in a four-round bout. Willimantic, Conn., light heavyweight Kevin Cobbs (7-1, 2 KOs); female flyweight Noemi Bosques (1-0-1) of Providence; Hyannis, Mass., heavyweight Jesse Barboza (5-1-1, 3 KOs) and Pawtucket, R.I., middleweight Thomas Falowo (9-1, 7 KOs) will also be on the undercard in separate bouts. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

 

For more information on "The New Era" and all of CES' upcoming shows, visit www.cesboxing.com.

 

(Twin River has waived its 18+ rule for "The New Era." Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult and must enter through the West entrance.)

 

- CES -

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Unfinished Business"


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After long layoff, Barboza returns to Twin River ready to make a major push in 2013    

 

BARNSTABLE, Mass. (Feb. 14th, 2013) -- The only thing worse than the two-year layoff for Jesse Barboza was the fact his last fight ended in a disappointing draw, leaving the former three-time New England Golden Gloves champion with a lot of free time to think about what had went wrong. 

 

"I had two years to deal with it," Barboza said. "It drove me nuts."

 

Barboza (5-1-1, 3 KOs) finally got the sour taste of his mouth last November when he returned from his hiatus with a unanimous-decision win over Kevin Franklin in Providence, R.I.

 

Now Barboza's comeback is about to come full circle as he prepares to fight at Twin River Casino on Friday, March 15th, 2013 under the guidance of his first - and only - promoter, Jimmy Burchfield's Classic Entertainment & Sports. This will be his first fight with CES since November of 2010, ending a hiatus Barboza hopes he can finally put in his rearview mirror.

 

"I love CES," said Barboza, who'll face Altoona, Pa., heavyweightJeramiah Witherspoon (2-2-1, 1 KO) in a four-round bout on the undercard of "Unfinished Business" at Twin River.

 

"I love how they do things. When you go somewhere else and work with other people, it makes you appreciate having a team around you where you can say, 'Hey, can you get this done for me?' and it gets done with no questions asked."

 

Three years ago, the Barnstable, Mass., native stepped out from under the shadow of his own amateur success and began his professional career with a thrilling, second-round knockout win in nearby Plymouth. With a hard-working promoter and a dedicated management team in his corner, Barboza had everything a young fighter could ask for - most importantly, stability.

 

Within nine months, the former Golden Gloves standout was 3-0 with three knockouts, but everything went sour when he lost for the first time in his career to to then-unbeaten heavyweight Winston Thorpeat Twin River. Communication between he and his manager broke down, and Barboza soon began switching trainers on a routine basis in search of the right fit.

 

"Sometimes you hit bumps in the road and people aren't always ready for that," Barboza said. "The lack of communication had as much to do with me as it did with them. I should've just told them I wasn't comfortable with this fight, or that fight ...

 

"Sometimes when you tell people you're not ready for a certain fight they think you're a coward," he continued. "That's not how it is. People were dogging [super middleweight world champion] Andre Ward for a long time wondering when he'd step up. Look at him now. You always want to fight tough guys, but, at the same time, you have to make the right decisions. The risk has to match the reward."

 

Following the loss to Thorpe, Barboza returned to the ring four months later with an uninspiring, unanimous-decision win over Antonio Robertson, raising even more concerns within his inner circle. As he continued to struggle with finding the right opponent, Barboza's layoff went from being just a few months to suddenly a year and a half to two full years before he finally stepped back into the ring.

 

The good news was that throughout his hiatus, Barboza worked with only one trainer, Jeff Gonsalves, the younger brother of Barboza's first trainer, Dave Gonsalves Jr., so he knew it was only a matter of time before he returned.

 

"Sometimes that doubt might creep in, and it's scary," Barboza said, "but for me it was never really there.

 

"It would get tough being on that rollercoaster, but I knew I wasn't ever going to stop. During that whole [layoff] I was training. I didn't take any time off. Jeff and I have been on the same page the whole time. He's a student of the game. He loves boxing. A lot of trainers have big names and a big following with hundreds of clients, and that's great for them, but I had to get away from that. I had to find someone who was 100 percent focused on me. I know what I need in a trainer; I need a lot of attention to detail. A lot of guys have too much pride and don't think they can learn anything else, but Jeff isn't one of those guys. We still struggle, but you're always going to have that. He takes my ideas, I take his, and it just kind of works out."

 

Barboza's win over Franklin in November didn't end the way he had hoped it would - "I wanted a knockout," he said, "but my timing was still a little off" - but having the opportunity to step back into the ring only four months later should help him regain the rhythm he once had earlier in his career.

 

As he prepares for his 27th birthday in June, Barboza knows that while there is still plenty of time left him for him to achieve his dream of becoming a world champion, this is the year that could make or break his career, and it'll start March 15th under the guidance of the promoter who got it all started four years ago.

 

"I've already made up my mind that this is going to be the year I'm going to make my name," Barboza said. "You have to set short-term goals first, but I want everyone to know there's a new American heavyweight on the scene.

 

"My goals are still the same. If you're in this for anything other than to be on top of the world, you should quit or retire. You're not in this sport to finish in second place; you're in it to be a champion. I'm here to prove I belong at the top of the heavyweight division. I want to prove it to myself, my community ... my family. This is the year I break through. I'll be a contender by the end of the year."

 

The 10-round main event of "Unfinished Business" features the long-awaited rematch between Providence, R.I., super middleweights Joey Spina (26-3-2, 18 KOs) and Peter Manfredo Jr. (38-7, 20 KOs), who'll face one another for the first time since 2006. Also on the undercard, Providence's Alex Amparo (5-1, 3 KOs) will look to avenge his first career loss when he faces Woonsocket, R.I., veteran Joey Gardner (10-5-1, 1 KO) in a six-round super middleweight rematch. Gardner beat Amparo by unanimous decision in November.

 

"Unfinished Business" also features a six-round battle between light heavyweights Rich Gingras (12-3, 8 KOs) of Attleboro, Mass., andDennis Okola (14-8, 4 KOs) of Nairobi, Kenya (now training out of Cheshire, Conn.), and a six-round interstate showdown between Boston middleweight Julio Garcia (6-3, 3 KOs) and Thomas Falowo (8-1, 6 KOs) of Pawtucket, R.I.

 

Looking to bounce back following his first career loss in November, light heavyweight Kevin Cobbs (6-1, 2 KOs) of Burlington, Vt., will facePaul Gonsalves (4-2, 3 KOs) of Harwich, Mass., in a four-round bout. Female bantamweight Noemi Bosques (1-0), a St. Petersburg, Fla., native who now trains in Providence, will face Queens native Vanessa Greco (1-2-1) in a four-round bout. All bouts are subject to change.

 

Tickets for "Unfinished Business" are $40.00, $60.00, $100.00 and $150.00 (VIP) and can be purchased by calling CES at 401.724.2253/2254, online at www.shop.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, at the Players Club booth at Twin River, or through any TicketMaster location. Doors open 6 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7.

 

(Twin River has waived its 18+ rule for "Unfinished Business." Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult and must enter through the West entrance.)

 

- CES -

Contacts:

Michael Parente, Classic Entertainment & Sports, (401) 263-4990 ormichael@cesboxing.com.

Kim Ward, Twin River Casino, (401) 475-8352 or

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