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Older and wiser, Collins aims to complete the ultimate comeback story in world title bout this Saturday at
CES 72 at Foxwoods Resort Casino
MASHANTUCKET, Conn.  In combat sports, title shots don’t come overnight. Neither does success. For Fran "The Fury" Collins, it’s taken more than a decade – with a lot of turbulence in between – to get closer than most to reaching the pinnacle of his craft.

In 72 hours, the 37-year-old Collins returns to the cage for the third time since his comeback to face New Hampshire’s Tim Caron for the vacant CES MMA World Middleweight Title in the main event of CES 72 scheduled for this Saturday, March 18 at Foxwoods Resort Casino’s Great Cedar Showroom.

The Collins-Caron main event headlines a full day of mixed martial arts, which also includes seven pro fights and six amateur bouts beginning at 6:30 pm. Among them is eight-time UFC veteran and Hartford, CT, native William "Knightmare" Knight (11-5), who has been added to the card in a heavyweight showdown against 22-fight vet Jordan Powell – Knight’s first appearance with CES MMA since January of 2020. Tickets are available online at CESFights.com or Foxwoods.com or the Foxwoods box office.

There’s a lot to unpack with Collins reaching main event status only nine months after resuming his career following a 10-year layoff. An Irish fighter competing for a world title on St. Patrick’s Day weekend is also a great surface-level storyline, but there’s more to Collins’ legacy than heritage.

Most fighters begin to reach their physical prime around the time Collins stepped away from the sport, and while there’s a chance he could’ve fought for a title much sooner had he not endured such a long layoff, Collins says the late 20s version of "The Fury" might not have been ready for such a life-changing opportunity.

"The difference is when you’re younger you’re just going out there having fun," Collins said. "MMA is more of an art to me now. I take it much more seriously from the stretching to the breathing to the mobility. There’s so much more that goes into this than just going out there and scrapping."

The fact Collins has reached this stage is impressive in and of itself. A U.S. Air Force veteran and recovering alcoholic – he’s been sober since June 12, 2020 – Collins spent part of his time away from MMA pursuing semipro football, a sport he dominated in high school. MMA temporarily kept him out of trouble; his drinking problems began after his military career, but when he turned pro in 2011 he managed to focus long enough until alcoholism consumed him again just a couple years.

Life changed when a coworker told him he had a drinking problem. He quit the next day, beginning the inevitable road back to MMA. Within two years, he returned to the cage, beating Deran Martinez in 23 seconds at CES 69 in June.

Make no mistake, the comeback wasn’t about scratching an itch or proving a point, nor was it some one-off bucket-list item. Collins decided to rededicate his life to this sport for the sole purpose of chasing a world title, an opportunity to open doors that could help him provide for his 12-year-old daughter.

"I knew I’d get here," Collins said. "I manifested it in my mind. It’s about knowing what I can do."

"The toughest part was getting my mind right. When you become sober, you have to relearn everything. It was mainly the mental game. Anyone who’s competed will tell you it’s 85 percent mental. It took a long time, even the first couple of fights. Then you get to a point where you are in a groove and you’re like, ‘Just put me in there with anyone.’"

Collins reached that point in his last fight at CES 70 against Mus'Aib Baiyina. He struggled early, ran out of gas, and then found his second wind in the final round, finishing the fight via ground and pound with just over two minutes remaining.

"After grinding through it, I got to the end and realized, ‘I’m still here,’" Collins said. "That was the turning point for me to declare I’m ready for a title shot."

He faces a tall order Saturday against the durable, 35-year-old Caron (12-5, 5 KOs), also a military veteran and a five-time Bellator vet who last fought for CES in 2018 while making an appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series that same year. Caron also comes in hot, having beat 7-2 Salaiman Ahmadyar and 9-3 Alton Cunningham in his last two fights.

"I’m not worried. I know it’s an ‘any given Sunday’ scenario and he’s more experienced, but when you fight against [coach and former UFC world heavyweight title challenger] Gabriel Gonzaga every day in camp, it’s hard to be scared of many things," Collins said.

"I heard rumors that [Caron] says he’s going to knock me out. I find that funny considering he hasn’t finished any of his last few fights. We’ll see. All the best to him. Win, lose, or draw, we’ll shake hands when it’s all said and done."

Collins’ demeanor is that of a much more mature fighter who sees the game differently than he did a decade ago. Despite being nicknamed "The Fury" – an fitting nickname given his propensity to "go 110 percent with everything I do" – Collins has learned to pull back when necessary and push harder when it’s time to test his limits. He’s even imparted his wisdom on younger fighters when they’ve been willing to listen. But what’s most important now is focusing on Saturday night and what’s at stake. The Fran Collins who steps inside the cage this weekend is much more prepared for this opportunity than the one who took the region by storm more than a decade ago.

"If you are serious about this and it’s what you want to do, then each fight should sharpen one tool for the next fight," Collins said. "All of a sudden, you have this tool belt with everything in it. You have to remained focused. This is not a joke. You can lose your life inside that cage. This sport is not for the faint of heart."

Full fight card details are available onlineFollow CES MMA on FacebookInstagram and Twitter at @CESMMA.
INFORMATION
CES MMA is a mixed martial arts promotional company based out of Providence, R.I., founded by legendary boxing promoter Jimmy Burchfield Sr. It promoted the first sanctioned professional MMA event in the state of Rhode Island on Sept. 17, 2010 at Twin River Casino Hotel. Since its inception, CES MMA has been a gateway to the UFC developing the careers of UFC contenders Calvin Kattar, Rob Font, Charles Rosa, William Knight, Mike Rodriguez, Tony Gravely, Andre Soukhamthath and others. In October 2012, CES MMA promoted its first pay-per-view event at The Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, featuring the professional MMA debut of former WWE superstar Dave Bautista.

Since 1992, Foxwoods Resort Casino has offered guests The Wonder Of It All as the premier resort destination in the Northeast. As the largest resort casino in North America, Foxwoods offers a vast array of gaming in seven casinos; AAA Four-Diamond hotels, restaurants from gourmet to quick service, world-renowned spas, award-winning golf, state-of-the-art theaters, exclusive retailers and free-to-play online casino games. Foxwoods Resort Casino is owned and operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, a federally recognized Indian tribe located at one of the oldest reservations in existence, Mashantucket, in Southeastern Connecticut. As pioneers of the Indian casino gaming industry, the history of the Mashantucket Pequots reveals one of America's greatest come-back stories. Today, the tribe owns and operates one of the largest gaming resort destinations in North America, Foxwoods Resort Casino, along with a variety of complementary business enterprises, including Eastern Connecticut's premiere luxury golf experience, Lake of Isles, and the decadent Spa at Norwich Inn. As one of the highest revenue contributors and largest employers in Connecticut, the Mashantucket Pequots have hosted more than 330 million visitors since 1992 and contributed over $4 billion in slot revenue payments to the State through a first-of-its-kind agreement, established in 1993. Likewise, the tribe has contributed hundreds of millions in donations and sponsorships to support worthy charities, community events and programs, and other tribes in need, locally and throughout the United States.  
–CES–
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Older and wiser, Collins aims to complete the ultimate comeback story in world title bout this Saturday at
CES 72 at Foxwoods Resort Casino
 

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Juiseppe Cusumano
F
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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[Links:   Photo 2, Video of press conference]  

 

MAYOR ELICKER, ALONG WITH CYCLING ADVOCATES & BUSINESSES, KICK OFF NATIONAL BIKE MONTH & HIGHLIGHT CITY EFFORTS TO PROMOTE BIKE & E-BIKE RIDERSHIP

 

Connex Credit Union announces new e-bike loan product -- and new state legislation (S.B. 4) will provide e-bike rebates and vouchers -- making e-bikes more accessible and affordable for residents.

 

NEW HAVEN, CT –Mayor Justin Elicker, along with local cycling advocates, businesses and organizations, came together to celebrate National Bike Month and to kick off New Haven Bike Month, in an effort to promote bike and electronic bike (e-bike) ridership across the city. Over thirty bike rides and events have been organized during the month-long celebration, providing opportunities for both newer and seasoned cyclists. In addition, Connex Credit Union announced the launch of a new e-bike loan product, which – along with the recent passage state legislation (S.B. 4, The Connecticut Clean Air Act) that will soon provide new e-bike rebates and vouchers – promises to make e-bikes a much more affordable and accessible mode of transportation for city residents. The event took place on the New Haven Green in front of the Pierre Lallement plaque, which honors the inventor of the bicycle who peddled from his Ansonia home to New Haven in 1866 in a demonstration for a patent he was pursuing and later received. 

 

"National Bike Month is the perfect time for residents to explore bikes and e-bikes as a greener, healthier, and more cost-effective way to commute around the city. With its flat terrain and over 40 miles of bike lanes and paths – and more coming online soon – cycling is becoming an increasingly attractive transportation option for more New Haven residents," said Mayor Justin Elicker, an avid cyclist. "In addition, with the new cash rebates soon coming from the state coupled with the new loan product from Connex Credit Union, e-bikes will be much more accessible and affordable for city residents. As a bike rider myself, I’m excited to participate in New Haven Bike Month events and for all the ways New Haven is becoming a more bike-friendly city.” 

 

NEW HAVEN BIKE MONTH

 

National Bike Month was established in 1956 to showcase the many benefits of bicycling and to encourage more people to try biking. New Haven’s celebration is being spearheaded by New Haven Bike Month and the New Haven Coalition for Active Transportation, in collaboration with other community partners.

 

“It’s been special to see the coalition of organizers, sponsors, and volunteers that have come together to make Bike Month happen in May,” said Caroline Tanbee Smith, co-founder and organizer of New Haven Bike Month. “That is aligned with our fundamental belief that every single person should have a voice in the future of transportation in our city. Thanks to the hard work and passion of volunteers and organizers — there will be over 30 rides, celebrations, courses, and gatherings across multiple neighborhoods in the city throughout the month!" 

 

Sandeep Aysola, Director of the New Haven Department of Transportation, Traffic & Parking added, “The Department of Transportation is on a mission to create a transportation system that is safe, equitable, dependable, and affordable. We believe in fostering and creating mobility options that meet the needs of all communities, ensure safety, provide reliable connections, enrich public spaces and most importantly are environmentally friendly and sustainable. We are excited to kick-start Bike Month in partnership with all stakeholders, including residents, businesses, sponsors, volunteers and local and state partners.”

 

The City of New Haven’s Youth and Recreation Department is also offering bike excursions, events, and education programs -- including on bike safety and bike repair -- which will continue into the summer and fall, with more information to be posted on the city’s website in the coming weeks.

 

E-BIKES

 

In an exciting new development that will make e-bikes a more viable transportation option for more city residents, Connex Credit Union announced a new e-bike loan product that offers fixed rates, fix payments, and flexible terms for individuals who live, work, worship or attend school in New Haven, Fairfield, Hartford, and Middlesex Counties covering 80% of Connecticut residents.

 

With minimum loan amounts of $1,000 and first payments deferred for 90 days, interested residents can easily apply for an e-bike loan online (connexcu.org), over the phone (1-800-CR-UNION) or at a local branch, with most approvals happening the same day. (Additional details about the loan product can be found here.)  To help celebrate bike month, Connex will also give e-bike loan holders a $25 bonus to their Share Savings Account.

 

"Connex is thrilled to be part of Connecticut's e-bike movement and to put e-bike purchasing within reach for more people," said Carl Casper, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Connex Credit Union. "E-bikes provide clean, efficient, fun, and cost-effective transportation. This is a terrific opportunity."

 

In addition, last week the Connecticut General Assembly passed Senate Bill 4, also known as the Connecticut Clean Air Act, which among other provisions, will add electric bikes to the state’s CHEAPR electric vehicle rebate program. When signed into law, this legislation will provide rebates or vouchers of up to $500 to low-middle income residents to purchase e-bikes that cost up to $3,000. 

 

“About 60% of trips in America are under six miles and NCAT believes that by creating a cycling friendly community we can switch a lot of these trips to bicycle,” said Raymond Tsao, board member of the New Haven Coalition for Active Transportation. “Creating a truly bicycle friendly city means providing education and engagement around active transportation. That’s why NCAT is proud to offer free bicycle education to every e-bike loan customer of Connex Credit Union, and that’s also why we partner with organizations like AAA Northeast and SLR Consulting to fund our community engagement work throughout National Bike Month and Bike to Work Week.”

 

“Creating a bike friendly city means lowering all barriers to people getting on their bikes and riding. By working with Connex Credit Union, Park New Haven is excited to help even more people afford to make the switch and think outside the car,” said Doug Hausladen, Vice Chair of New Haven Coalition for Active Transportation and Executive Director of the New Haven Parking Authority. “With 90 days no payments someone starting in the workforce today will be able to have three months of worry-free riding before making affordable payments, well under the monthly cost of a personal vehicle. For those trips under 5 miles, an e-bike is the perfect vehicle to use and it is a healthy alternative to sitting in traffic.”

 

The New Haven Parking Authority has also started a new electric cargo bike share program as well, thanks to $18,000 in grant funding from the New Haven Climate Emergency Mobilization Taskforce.

 

“The mission of NHPA is to support Downtown and to provide safe, affordable, and convenient parking,” said Andrew Orefice, Vice Chairman of the New Haven Parking Authority. “With the increase in apartments and residents downtown and growing capacity at Union Station and transit in New Haven, our Parking Authority is working towards supporting car-free living by working with Connex to create their e-bike loan program and by creating an electric cargo bike share pilot to power the weekly grocery run or the hauling of work gear. Helping to fill in the gaps, NHPA has applied for more grant funding to purchase electric vehicles to add to the bike share system in the future.”

 

Local bike shop owners, including John Brehon, owner of The Devil’s Gear, and Bob Jacobson, owner of College Street Cycles, along with other advocates and organizations also voiced their enthusiasm for these developments.

 

“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete,” said Paul Wessel, Co-Coordinator of Greater New Haven Clean Cities Coalition, highlighting the words of another innovator, engineer, and futurist Buckminster Fuller. "Today we celebrate bicycle innovators - past, present, and future, our local bikes stores - The Devil's Gear and College Street Cycles, Connex Credit Union, our wonderful elected leaders, and supportive organizations for building and promoting a new option for more sustainable transportation.”

 

Barry Kresch, President of the Electric Vehicle Club of CT, said "The Electric Vehicle Club of CT supports all forms of emission-free transport, e-bikes included. E-bikes are an increasingly popular form of clean transportation, especially in urban environments, and the Connex Credit Union program will serve to accelerate e-bike adoption. They have the potential to reduce total vehicle miles traveled and reduce congestion on our road.”

 

 

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You've heard mention of the Armory community garden during several past management team meetings and you are invited to a special day at the garden tomorrow, Saturday June 4th from 12 - 2 pm.

We will be having an abbreviated garden workday where we do some planting, watering and weeding, and we will also have a presentation from Yale School of Architecture professor Elihu Rubin and several of his students (who are also all Armory gardeners) on our beloved Goffe Street Armory which serves as a beautiful backdrop to the garden AND we'll be having a cooking demo from the one and only Farmer D!

The workday will run from 12 - 12:30 pm, the Armory presentation from 12:30 - 1 pm, and the cooking demo from 1 - 2 pm. Please feel free to share among your networks as we learn more about our historic armory and efforts to save it and enjoy some delicious vegan food as well.

The garden is located at 97 County Street (one-way side) across the street from Goffe Street Park.

See the flyer below for more info and we look forward to seeing you tomorrow...

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There are still some slots available for our Youth Fitness class at the Q-house!
Class starts today April 12 from 7:00 Pm to 7:45 Pm and it lasts 5 weeks.
This class is open for kids aged 7 to 12 years old.
Click here to register
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If you have trouble registering please contact our front desk
at 203-773-0770 or email us at qhouse@leapforkids.org
Participants that are 16 and older will also be required to be fully vaccinated (but not boosted) and they will be asked to send a picture of their vaccination card to QHouseForms@leapforkids.org 
If you have a medical/religious exemption you will be asked to provide proof of it.
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Watch live coverage of a hearing held by the House Jan. 6 Committee to investigate the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.

The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot resumes its hearings Monday as committee members say they have uncovered enough evidence for the Justice Department to consider an unprecedented criminal indictment against the former president.

The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol resumes its series of hearings in an effort to show the American public how democracy came to the brink of disaster.

The House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol resumes Day 4 of hearings on Tuesday at 1 p.m. ET.

The House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol holds Day 5 of hearings on Thursday at 3 p.m. ET.

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Fresh off a 13-month layoff, featherweight star Gonzalez is rested and ready to make his mark among the sport's best January 21 at Mohegan Sun Arena
Irvin Gonzalez Jr.
 

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Uncasville, CT  Bad news, featherweights: Irvin Gonzalez Jr. is back and finally healthy as he enters his prime.

The Worcester, MA, native returns to the ring for the first time in 13 months on Saturday, January 21 as CES Boxing opens its 2023 season with Winter Brawl at Mohegan Sun Arena.

The 26-year-old Gonzalez (15-3, 11 KOs), a decorated amateur who competed in the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials, made one of the most difficult, yet beneficial, decisions of his career in 2022 when he sat out the entire year to fully recover from two major surgeries.

In January of 2022, doctors repaired an elbow injury that had been bothering him for years. In April, he had surgery on his hand, another setback that all but derailed his chances of fighting again before the end of the year. The surgery on his elbow was his third; the difference this time was he didn’t halt the recovery process to rush back into the ring.

The end result is a healthier, happier, and well-rested Gonzalez who is mentally and physically ready to make his move in the 126-pound division.

"This is the first time I’ve been injury-free in a long time," Gonzalez said. "In the past when I had injuries, there was always a worry in the back of my mind that something would go wrong. Now I don’t have to worry.

"I took the time to heal completely and mentally I’m in such a better placed now. I’m going into my prime years fully healed."

A fully-healed Gonzalez in his mid-20s could be a game-changer in the featherweight division. At his peak, Gonzalez breezed through his weight class, turning pro at the age of 20 and winning his first 12 fights. After signing with CES in 2019, Gonzalez began his resurgence with back-to-back knockout wins, including a thrilling victory over Yeuri Andujar to capture the WBC Youth title in February of 2020.

Then the pandemic hit, which kept Gonzalez inactive for nine months until he starred on the undercard of the Mike Tyson-Roy Jones extravaganza, narrowly losing to Edward Vazquez in what may have been the fight of the night.

Gonzalez was supposed to return the following summer at CES’ groundbreaking outdoor show in Rhode Island, but the elbow injury flared up, forcing him to withdraw from his scheduled WBC USNBC title bout. Against Adan Ochoa. Gonzalez remained on the shelf until December of 2021 when he beat the dangerous Yeison Vargas in Orlando, another 13-month layoff between bouts.

The obvious goal in 2023 is to be more prolific and remain as active as ever, perhaps enough to line up a major opportunity before the end of the year. Gonzalez fought four times in 2019, but has also stepped in the ring three times in the last three years.

"I want to come out this year on a major note. I want fight after fight after fight," Gonzalez said. "Hopefully, I get the fights I need to get back to where I’m supposed to be and by the end the year hopefully be in the conversation for something big."

The injuries were as big a setback mentality as they were physically; a skilled athlete his entire life, Gonzalez played football, baseball, and soccer and ran cross country in high school, but never suffered physical ailments until he dove deeper into boxing – the sport he chose to pursue over the others. Having boxed since the age of 8, the sudden inability to perform at his best was a bitter pill to swallow for Gonzalez.

"It definitely got frustrating, especially after the first surgery," he said. "When I had to go back a second time knowing it wasn’t fixed, that was tough from a mental standpoint. You try to tell yourself you’re not injured, but I knew I had to get right physically."

With the surgeries behind him, Gonzalez could be one of boxing’s breakthrough stars in 2023. The journey begins January 21 in what might be the biggest fight of Gonzalez’s career – a new lease on life in the squared circle with the much-needed peace of mind to succeed.

Winter Brawl is headlined by heavyweight "The Sicilian Nightmare" Juiseppe Cusumano (21-4, 19 KOs) facing "The Hungarian Hammer" Istvan Bernath (10-1, 8 KOs) in the 10-round main event and the long-awaited return of Stamford, CT, light middleweight Chordale Booker (17-1, 7 KOs) in an eight-round showcase against 37-fight veteran Angel Hernandez (17-17-3, 11 KOs).

The event also features super featherweight Alejandro Paulino (11-0, 9 KOs) putting his undefeated record on the line in a six-round bout against Ryizeemmion Ford (8-3, 6 KOs) and undefeated welterweight Josniel Castro (9-0, 7 KOs), a Boca Raton, FL, native who’s fought his entire pro career in New England from Massachusetts to New Hampshire, facing one of his toughest tests to date in a six-round showdown against Quebec native and Boston resident Mitch Louis Charles (6-3-2, 3 KOs).

For more information, follow CES Boxing on FacebookInstagram and Twitter at @CESBOXING.

INFORMATION

CES Boxing is one of the top promotions in the northeast and one of the few to successfully promote both mixed martial arts and professional boxing. Launched in 1992 by longtime boxing judge Jimmy Burchfield Sr., the promotion is the only in professional boxing to boast two reigning WBC Youth world champions in lightweight Jamaine Ortiz and featherweight Irvin Gonzalez. CES Boxing recently teamed with UFC FIGHT PASS, the world’s No. 1 streaming platform for combat sports, to showcase its events to a worldwide audience, and worked as a promotional consultant for the Mike Tyson-Roy Jones Jr. pay-per-view event in November of 2020.

Mohegan Sun Arena is one of the busiest Arenas in the United States and is ranked consistently among the top venues in the world according to Billboard MagazinePollstar and VenuesNowMohegan Sun Arena finished 2021 with its first "#1 Indoor Arena" ranking for its capacity in the world according to Pollstar and VenuesNow, ranked among the top 10 venues in the United States regardless of size based on ticket sales, and was named "2021 Innovator of the Year" by Celebrity Access for its ViacomCBS residency.  In recent years, the award-winning venue has also been the "#1 Casino Venue in the World," "#1 Social Media Venue in the World" and a seven-time national award winner for "Casino of the Year – Arena" by the Academy of Country Music. For more information on concerts and other great events, visit MoheganSun.com. For information on this week’s schedule, call the Entertainment and Special Events hotline at 1.888.226.7711.

 

–CES–
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Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness
Severe Cold Weather Alert
At the direction of Governor Ned Lamont, the Division of Emergency Management (DEMHS) within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP), the Department of Housing (DOH), the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), and the Department of Social Services (DSS), United Way 2-1-1, the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, and other partners are implementing the severe cold weather protocol to ensure everyone has adequate shelter during the upcoming severe cold weather.  
The reason for the activation is the arrival of intense arctic cold in Connecticut starting tonight resulting in temperatures in the single digits and wind chill factors below zero, followed by a potential winter storm.  
The current protocol activation will be in effect from noon today, January 14, until noon Wednesday, January 19.  
Cities or towns opening warming centers or other facilities to help those in need should following appropriate COVID sheltering protocols. If your town opens a shelter or warming center, please indicate its status on the WebEOC Daily Operations incident, which will track open warming centers and overflow or temporary emergency shelters. If you receive a call from someone looking for shelter and you are not aware of any shelter space, please direct the person to 2-1-1. Working with local shelters, 2-1-1 will act as clearinghouse to ensure that shelter space is found for those that need it.  
If you have any questions about the policies for access to shelter in your area, please contact info@cceh.org
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Families will need to take extra precautions to stay safe this holiday season with variants such as Omicron spreading more easily. Vaccination, testing and masking are all key. Learn more: http://ynh.care/6180JLvqG.

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Today the city of New Haven began the process of distributing at-home rapid tests to essential staff with symptoms or COVID exposures – including teachers and other school staff ahead of tomorrow’s return to the classroom. This will help ensure essential staff can safely return to work. This initial distribution is part of 10,000 tests the city obtained in recent days.

The city has also received 9,000 tests from the State of Connecticut. Distribution of those tests will begin tomorrow. This initial tranche of tests will be distributed to non-profit service providers who work with vulnerable communities – such as the elderly and those experiencing homelessness. A large portion of these tests will also be dedicated to New Haven Public School children with symptoms or COVID exposures. NHPS will share information directly with families in the near future on this.

While we do not yet have enough rapid tests to distribute widely to the public, we expect to receive additional tests from the state, at which time we will announce additional distributions.

If you need to get tested, Wren labs is re-opening their testing site on the New Haven Green tomorrow afternoon (3-6 PM) and will continue to operate the 60 Sargent Drive location each morning (8 AM – Noon) except for Fridays. No appointments are required, and there may be wait time.

As a reminder, get vaccinated, boosted and wear your masks.

Check out the City’s Covid website at https://covid19.newhavenct.gov/ or call: 203-946-6999 for more information.

Thanks everyone!

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The late Rohn Lawrence plays guitar at the Milford Performance Center

New Haven guitarist Rohn Lawrence to get fitting send-off: a funeral at Toad’s Place

My blogs

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May be a black-and-white image of 4 people and people standing
A tribute to recently deceased New Haven native Fred Parris, of the Five Satins. This photo, from The New Haven Sound by Paul Lepri, shows Mr. Parris on the far right with four of the Five (from left to right: Nate Moseley, Sy Hopkins, and Lew Peeples). Here's a link to their 1956 hit "In the Still of the Nite:" https://buff.ly/3FWRFVL
[Image Description: A black and white photo of four members of The Five Satins, all wearing matching suits. From left to right, members Nate Moseley, Sy Hopkins, and Lew Peeples pose singing with their arms outstretched to the right. On the far right, Fred Parris is turned to the left, looking up and singing.]
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Recovery starts with connection. We're here to help. Visit local harm reduction and treatment providers if you, or someone you know, is struggling with addiction.
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City Hall with an update on the parking ban. Por favor espere para escuchar este mensaje en español.  

The citywide parking ban will be lifted at 12:00 PM (noon) today. If you’ve parking in a school lot please remove your car by 2 PM. If you’ve parked in a Yale lot please remove your car by 5 PM. We appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation.

Please remember to clear your sidewalk – it’s the law. 

Thanks, and have a good day.

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May be an image of text that says 'CONNECTICUT VIOLENCE 日 世 0 PEEION PROGEAA A group of trained community members that disrupt, prevent, and stop the spread of violence through crisis intervention and proactive relationships with high-risk youths and the institutions that impact their lives. NHVHEALTH DEPARTMENT PROMOT D PREVENT PROTECT'

The CT Violence Intervention Program works to build strong relationships with community-based groups and the highest-risk youth to prevent conflict, neighborhood shootings and homicide. Skilled Violence Prevention Professionals are prepared for crisis and de-escalation situations that occur in the community. LEARN MORE https://bit.ly/3pQiXsl #violenceprevention #highriskyouth #commnitygroup

May be an image of text that says 'CONNECTICUT VIOLENCE Θ 世 O IERESION PROGRA Un grupo de miembros de la comunidad capacitados que interrumpen, previenen y detienen la propagación de la violencia a través de la intervención en crisis y relaciones proactivas con jóvenes de alto riesgo y las instituciones que impactan sus vidas. NHVHEALTH DEPARTMENT PRO ROTECT'

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Tune into the First Friday's Hosted by Maurice Williams , on the Tom Ficklin Radio Show, Friday morning February 4th, 2022, 11 am EasternMay be an image of one or more people, beard and suit . Find out why the community will stop the APT Foundation from invading Newhallville. " We the People-part 1" Also Tune into a Special Edition of the Tom Ficklin Radio Show with guest host Sean Reeves on Monday, February 7th at 11 am Eastern to further be informed. "We the People-Part 2". Join Maurice on Friday morning and Sean on Monday morning and their guests, No photo description available.

just go to Click Here Join in . For convenience and referral, my shows are archived. Click Here for Show Archives

 

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Sel5_XnW45mTlakzv0DvF-OHQlVx4ttCdEGbaKZlZjBjITEFZwrX2949ekIA6cAeWuJBFWY4WZfIl1UH6rxGdmQ-EIO13AzgTmvAoh_kXdUYonfcCP-WN8g=s0-d-e1-ft#%3Ca%20href=

"President Obama: "The future of our country is at stake." -- Michelle Obama: "We're working to change the future of this nation."" 

Protect our Democratic House Majority

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Protect our Democratic House Majority

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