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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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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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Join us on June 22nd, 2022 for the grand opening of the Farmer's Market at Dixwell Q-House! The new CitySeed Farmer's market will be on Wednesdays from 3:00pm-6:00pm.
There will be fresh produce, music, activities for kids, and more!
Parking is available behind the Q-House building. Use the entrance off of Foote Street.
LEAP is thrilled to be partnering with the Q-House to support the Farmer's Market as part of our role managing the Q-House! Stop by Dixwell Q-House for food, fun, and friends! You won't want to miss it.
Visit https://cityseed.org/ for more information.
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Lincoln, RI – The timing couldn’t be better for Queens’ Ashiek Ajim as he prepares for what might be the most important fight of his young mixed martial arts career.

The 27-year-old bantamweight was supposed to get his first crack at a world title back in March at CES 66, but, as luck would have it, a few roadblocks prevented him from stepping inside the cage that night.

Three months later, Ajim has a new opponent, another shot at the crown, and an even greater appreciation for what’s at stake in less than two weeks when he battles Mongolia’s Azjavkhlan Baatar for the vacant CES MMA World Bantamweight Championship at CES 69 Friday, June 17 at Ballys Twin River Lincoln Casino Resort live on UFC FIGHT PASS®. Bataar, fresh off a big win at CES 67 in his promotional debut, predicts a first-round finish on the 17th, courtesy of his "heavy" left hand.

The Ajim-Bataar five-round title bout highlights a stacked fight card that also features the long-awaited homecoming of UFC vet and Boston light heavyweight Mike Rodriguez, plus the return of fan-favorites Richie Santiago of Milford, MA, and UFC vet and Fall River, MA, flyweight Mitch Raposo. Tickets are available at CESFights.com.

As Ajim (5-1) puts the finishing touches on his training camp for the June 17 bout, he’s cognizant of the unpredictability of combat sports. He was scheduled to face former bantamweight champ Jay Perrin at CES 66, but Perrin got the call to compete for the UFC shortly before the event. Days later, Ajim suffered an injury while in the process of preparing for a new opponent, temporarily shelving his shot at a world title.

"It all happened pretty quickly," Ajim recalled, "but the way I looked at it was maybe this was the universe’s way of saying, ‘Don’t go into a fight like this. Take your time and wait for the right opponent.’"

Ajim remained confident he’d get his chance and watched from the sidelines as the next surprising series of events unfolded. With both he and Perrin out of the mix, Brazilian Diego Silva beat hometown favorite Andre Soukhamthath for the vacant crown at CES 66, only to get stripped of the belt for breaching his contract several weeks later. When Baatar (8-6) beat Johnny Lopez a month later at CES 67, the stage was set for the most logical matchup – Ajim vesus Bataar for bantamweight supremacy.

"I'm really excited," Bataar said. "This is a great opportunity to fight for a world championship. I'm here to be a world champion.

"He is a good fighter and has a very dangerous right hand, but I will be better than him in any position no matter where the fight goes. My left hand will be too heavy for him."

While not one for predictions, Ajim is as prepared as one could be heading into such a high-profile fight. In addition to feeling "100 percent" physically, Ajim has done his homework, studying as much fight footage he can in anticipation of his showdown with Bataar, including Bataar’s aforementioned win over Campbell in April.

"Prior to that last fight, he hadn’t fought in two years, but guys get better over time," Ajim said of Bataar. "I like his style. He’s really well-rounded. Wrestling is definitely his background, and he can transition well to striking, but the wrestling is always in his back pocket.

"His last fight was surprising in that he put more pressure [on Campbell] than he has in previous fights. He usually fights off his back foot, and I expect that going into this fight. He might give me that space and I will use that to keep the pressure on him. He might not want to exchange too much with me. I’m ready for wherever the fight goes.

"I’m not the type to do much talking. I’ll let my fighting speak for me."

With six fights – and soon to be seven – under his belt, Ajim is reaching that point in his career where promotions like the UFC begin to take notice. His goal, as is the case with most fighters, is to get to that next level, but he’s also mindful of the development process, particularly with the way he has built a solid career under the guidance of CES. All six of his fights have occurred with CES and he’s used the platform to score eye-opening wins over Arslan Otchiyev, Andres Rodriguez, and Carlos Espinosa, to name a few. Having experienced the benefit of remaining patient, Ajim is in no rush to reach the finish line.

"CES has been very good to me and has built me the way I fighter should be built up," Ajim said. "I feel like after one or two more fights, I might be ready for the UFC, but if you asked me a fight or two ago I would’ve said no. I would’ve turned it down. I don’t want to be the guy that’s learning on the job. Once I’m there, I want to be the guy to beat."

Also at CES 69, Rodriguez (11-7) battles Vero Beach, FL, native Jeremy May (13-11); Santiago (8-4) faces Harris Bonfiglio (4-1) of Gilford, CT, in an all-New England bantamweight showdown; undefeated lightweight Eddy George (5-0) of West Haven, CT, faces New York’s Jacob Bohn (10-9); Raposo (6-1) battles Los Angeles’ Heinrich Wassmer (7-5); and Southampton, MA, lightweight Nate Ghareeb (5-1) faces Missouri’s Javon Wright (6-5). Full fight card details are available online.

Stay tuned for more updates or follow CES MMA on FacebookInstagram and Twitter at @CESMMA.

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Q-House Activities JUNE 6 - JULY 9 202211020676876?profile=originalMore slots available for the 4th cycle of activities at the Q-House!
All classes are free of charge for the participants and last 5 weeks from June 6 to July 9.
Take a look at the flyer to find out about what we offer and click on the link below to register.
Click here
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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
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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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SUMMER FUN IN NEW HAVEN: MAYOR JUSTIN ELICKER, JOINED BY NEW HAVEN YOUTH AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, NEW HAVEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS & POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE, TO ANNOUNCE SUMMER 2022 ACTIVITIES, EVENTS & PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH & FAMILIES
Mayor’s 2022 Summer Youth Guide, containing dozens of activities, will be available online and printed copies to be backpacked home to families beginning this Friday.
NEW HAVEN, CT – On Friday, June 3 at 10:30 a.m. at Lighthouse Point Park, Mayor Justin Elicker will be joined by city leaders from the New Haven Youth and Recreation Department, New Haven Public Schools, the Police Athletic League and others, to announce a host of Summer 2022 events and programs for New Haven’s children, youth and families. The City of New Haven, local non-profits and other organizations will be offering Summer Camps, Family Fun Days, Movies in the Park, organized sports, arts programs, youth employment opportunities, academic and enrichment programs and more.
The announcement is being coordinated with the delivery of the Mayor’s 2022 Summer Youth Guide, which will be available online and printed copies will be backpacked home to New Haven Public School families beginning this Friday.
DETAILS:
WHAT:
Press conference announcing Summer 2022 events, activities and programs for New Haven children, youth and families.
WHEN:
Friday, June 3rd at 10:30 a.m.
WHERE:
Lighthouse Point Park, 2 Lighthouse Road, New Haven, CT
Specific location: Beach Pavilion (covered area located between the lighthouse and the jetty)
Parking Instructions: Upon entering, inform the park staff at the gate that you are attending the press conference. Then proceed to the carousel and park on the service road adjacent it.
WHO:
Mayor Justin Elicker
Gwendolyn Williams, Director, New Haven Youth and Recreation Department
Keisha Hannans, Assistant Superintendent, New Haven Public Schools
Gemma Joseph Lumpkin, Director of Youth, Family and Community, New Haven Public Schools
Officer Esau Ramirez, representative of the Police Athletic League
Among others.
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