Uncasville, CT – Heavyweights Cassius Chaney and Juiseppe Cusumano continued their climb to the top of the division Saturday night at Mohegan Sun Arena with knockout victories in the main and co-main events of Summer Heat, presented by CES Boxing.

The New London, CT, veteran Chaney (22-1, 15 KOs) made quick work of Mathew McKinney in the main event, flooring his opponent three times to score the win at 2:07 of the opening round, while the 6-foot-4 Sicilian Juiseppe Cusumano (21-4, 19 KOs) finished Lynn, MA, native Dennis Ventura at 1:53 of the second round. The event streamed live on BXNG TV, showcasing both top-ranked heavyweights to a worldwide audience.

Body shots were the weapon of choice for both winners. Chaney exposed McKinney’s core early and often, using a devastating right hook to the ribcage to finish the fight. Cusumano was equally effective to the body, blasting Ventura with several unanswered hooks to the midsection before referee Danny Schiavone stopped the fight.

Chaney and Cusumano entered the weekend ranked 11th and 17th, respectively, among United States heavyweights and among the top 75 in the world. As they continue to establish their footing, the “who’s who” list among heavyweights is much clearer following Oleksandr Usky’s second win over Anthony Joshua this past weekend to retain the IBF, IBO, WBO, and WBA Super World Heavyweight titles. The opportunities are endless for both.

In other action Saturday at Mohegan, New London super featherweight Alejandro Paulino (11-0) kept his perfect record intact with a hard-earned 58-56, 60-54, 59-55 win over Bronx, NY, challenger Brandon Idrogo. Paulino ran into some trouble in the opening round courtesy of a hard, overhand right by Idrogo, but recovered quickly and dominated the second half of the fight to earn the win.

In similar fashion, Boston lightweight Jonathan de Pina (9-1) rebounded from a slow start to earn a narrow 59-56, 58-56, 58-56 unanimous decision win over New York’s Christian Otero.

Fighting for the first time since his MMA world title bout in February, Cranston, RI, light heavyweight Gary Balletto III (3-0, 2 KOs) returned to the boxing ring and scored a second-round knockout win over debut Jeremiah David Austin at the 2:55 mark. Stoughton, MA, heavyweight Sean Bey (7-0, 7 KOs) turned in an equally-impressive performance, stopping Dallas’ John Shipman at the 12-second mark of the second round following two knockdowns in the opening round. Bey remains perfect at 7-0 with each win coming by knockout and none of his fights lasting past the second round.

Also remaining undefeated, Springfield, MA, welterweight Jalen Renaud improved to 9-0 with a 58-56, 59-55, 60-54 unanimous decision win over Quincy, MA, veteran Michael Ogundo and southpaw middleweight Francis Hogan upped his record to 12-0 with a fourth-round knockout win over Cleotis Pendarvis, sending his opening crashing to the canvas at the 2:59 mark. Female welterweight Stevie Jane Coleman (3-1) scored her first career knockout in the opener, stopping debut Jesenia Rivas of Denver 39 seconds into the opening round.

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

INFORMATION

CES Boxingis 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 Magazine, Pollstar and VenuesNow. Mohegan 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.

Uncasville, CT – CES Boxing stablemates Cassius Chaney of New London, CT, and Sicilian slugger Juiseppe Cusumano could move one step closer to a shot at heavyweight championship glory this Saturday as they return to the ring for Summer Heat live from to Mohegan Sun Arena.

Chaney (21-1, 14 KOs) headlines in a 10-round bout against Fullerton, CA, native Matt McKinney while Cusumano (20-4, 18 KOs) faces Dennis Ventura of Lynn, MA, in the eight-round co-main event.

Tickets are available online at CESFights.com, MoheganSun.com, or through the Mohegan Sun box office. Summer Heat also streams live on BXNG TV for $19.99 beginning at 7 pm ET with play-by-play from CES publicist Michael Parente (@michaelparente) alongside color commentator and New England boxing icon “Sucra” Ray Oliveira. BXNG TV is the new home for watching boxing’s next era of champions and is available worldwide through the VYRE app on Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire Stick, Android, iPhone, and Samsung TVs or on the web at bxngtv.com

The two heavyweight bouts are just the tip of the iceberg for Saturday’s event. Springfield, MA, welterweight Jalen Renaud puts his unbeaten record on the line in a six-round welterweight showdown against 31-fight vet Kenyan challenger Michael Ogundo, who now lives and trains in nearby Quincy.

Also appearing at Summer Heat, super featherweight sensation Alejandro Paulino, also of New London, battles dangerous Bronx, NY, vet Brandon Idrogo in a six-round bout; and welterweight Stevie Jane Coleman of nearby Columbia, CT, faces Jesenia Rivas of Denver in a four-round bout. James Maner of Providence, RI; and New York City super middleweight Jahvel Joseph also appear on the card in separate bouts.

Undefeated Irish super middleweight Francis Hogan of Weymouth, MA, faces Cleotis Pendarvis of Lancaster, CA, in six-round bout; Stoughton, MA, heavyweight Sean Bey puts his perfect record and knockout streak on the line against Dallas’ John Shipman in a four-round bout; lightweight Jonathan de Pina of Boston battles New York’s Christian Otero in a six-round bout; and rising welterweight prospect Gary Balletto III of Cranston, RI; faces Niagara Falls’ newcomer Jeremiah David Austin in a four-round bout.

Saturday’s top-tier heavyweight bouts feature two well-established sluggers in Chaney and Cusumano, who rank 11th and 17th, respectively, among United States heavyweights and among the top 75 in the world, no small feat during a time in which the heavyweight division has enjoyed a much-needed return to its glory days. The two have also combined for 32 knockouts, setting the stage for potential fireworks Saturday at Mohegan.

Former WBC champion Deontay Wilder’s rise to prominence gave hope to U.S. heavyweights who had grown weary during the era of the Klitschko brothers’ dominance; when Wilder beat Bermane Stiverne in 2015, he became the first American heavyweight champion since Shannon Briggs in 2006, ending nearly a decade of international dominance.

With Wilder, Andy Ruiz, and Trevor Bryan long since dethroned, the WBA, IBF, WBC, and WBO belts have once again landed on foreign soil in the hands of Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk (IBF, WBA Super, and WBO) United Kingdom greats Tyson Fury (WBC) and Daniel Dubois (WBA), the latter of whom Cusumano faced a year ago in Cleveland before Dubois captured his first world title with a win over Bryan.

Wilder is still the top dog among American heavyweights despite the fact he hasn’t fought since October of 2021, but the gap between the rest of the field has tightened, opening up opportunities for either of CES’ top-rated contenders to land the opportunity of a lifetime. They just need to keep winning, a quest that resumes Saturday in CES’ first event at Mohegan in nearly seven years.

Both Cusumano and Chaney are facing different opponents than originally scheduled. Cusumano now battles Ventura (4-1), an upset-minded, 6-foot-3 slugger from Massachusetts, while Chaney steps into the ring opposite McKinney (9-5-3), a 6-foot-4 right-hander coming off a win in June who first appeared for CES in 2017, ironically against Cusumano.

Additional details for Summer Heat are available online. For more information, follow CES Boxing on Facebook, Instagram 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 Magazine, Pollstar and VenuesNow. Mohegan 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.

Uncasville, CT – Like any professional fighter, heavyweight Cassius Chaney would love to retire with enough money to secure a comfortable future for himself and his family.

Money, however, isn’t the only motivating factor whenever the hulking, 6-foot-6 slugger from New London, CT, steps through the ropes.

As the newest acquisition to the CES Boxing roster, Chaney still dreams of making it to the top of the mountain in professional boxing, and he’s awfully close; at 21-1 with 14 knockouts, the 35-year-old Chaney finds himself ranked among the top 15 heavyweights in the United States, right on the precipice of a major opportunity before the end of 2022.

With a new team in his corner, Chaney is confident the best is yet to come, and the new journey – perhaps the second half of his career, if you will – begins Saturday, August 20 when he headlines CES’ Summer Heat event at Mohegan Sun Arena in a 10-round showdown against Troy, NY, veteran Shawn Miller.

“Winning a world title is the only reason I stay in this,” said Chaney, who recently inked a long-term promotional deal with promoter Jimmy Burchfield Sr. after previously spending his entire career with Main Events.

“One of the things I can honestly do in life and be completely happy with is to go work with and help kids who are less fortunate – kids who need guidance and mentorship. That makes me just as happy as winning a fight. For me to continue boxing and to want to strive to be better each day, I have to have a team I’m comfortable with. That’s what’s most important.

“What I’ve always noticed about Jimmy is he is really into promoting his fighter. He will get out there and promote like other guys who are half his age. That’s something I’ve always respected, and I saw it as something I needed at this point in my career.”

Summer Heat kicks off at 7 pm ET. Tickets are available online at CESFights.com, MoheganSun.com, or through the Mohegan Sun box office. August 20 marks CES’ first show at Mohegan Sun Arena since October of 2015, renewing a long-standing partnership between the region’s top combat sports promotion and one of the world’s foremost entertainment venues.

Today, CES also announces the following main card bouts: Undefeated Irish super middleweight Francis Hogan of Weymouth, MA, battling Cleotis Pendarvis of Lancaster, CA, in six-round bout; female welterweight Stevie Jane Coleman (2-1) of Columbia, CT, facing Jesenia Rivas of Denver in a four-round bout; Stoughton, MA, heavyweight Sean Bey putting his perfect record and knockout streak on the line against Dallas’ John Shipman in a four-round bout; and lightweight Jonathan de Pina of Boston batting New York’s Christian Otero in a six-round bout.

Another item on Chaney’s bucket list was headlining at Mohegan, which he’ll finally be able to do on August 20. A gifted athlete his entire life, Chaney moved from his hometown of Baltimore to nearby Old Saybrook as a teenager to live with his grandmother. Growing up with three brothers, life at home was always competitive, and Chaney eventually went on to play Division II basketball for the University of New Haven, where he earned the East Coast Conference (ECC) Rookie of the Year Award in 2007 in addition to All-Conference honors each of his final three seasons.

A late bloomer by boxing standards, Chaney never envisioned himself stepping into the ring until watching re-runs of old fights on ESPN, particularly heavyweight Lennox Lewis. Chaney thought to himself, “I can do this.” His basketball coaches believed, too, and helped him transition from the hardwood to the squared circle.

At 28, Chaney made his professional debut and eventually won his first 21 fights. 28 fights. In 2019, he made headlines on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights with a sensational win over Joel Caudle, knocking his opponent out of the ring in the first round of their scheduled eight-round showdown. Later that year, he captured the vacant WBC USNBC Silver heavyweight title with a knockout win over Nick Jones. The only blemish on Chaney’s record is a close, split-decision loss to undefeated George Arias, an opportunity Chaney remains thankful for.

“I had to take that chance. I had to take that risk,” Chaney said. “I honestly believed going in that there was no way he could hurt me. I didn’t get the outcome I wanted, but a lot of positives came from it and I’m moving forward with my career.”

One of those positives is the opportunity fight under the guidance of CES and headline a fight card in his neck of the woods, which might not have happened had he won the Arias fight. While a victory that night could’ve taken his career to new heights, Chaney reiterates that he doesn’t do this solely for money. With money comes a lot of new faces in his inner circle, and Chaney is careful about who lets on the inside. That’s part of the reason why after launching an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball clinic for area youth over the summer, he felt the need to step back a bit as the demand for “access” increased.

“You can make a lot of money in this sport, but do the people creating those opportunities for you have your best interests in mind? I don’t want to be out there fighting my ass off for people who aren’t looking out for me,” Chaney said. “If my team has my back and no matter the outcome we’re still a team at the end of the day, I’ll fight anybody. Boxing can’t just be about making money.

“I need the right team behind me, a team that will look at what you need to succeed and make sure you have it so you can go into any fight with all the confidence in the world. I feel I have that now. Jimmy has always been good to me, even when I wasn’t with CES, and that alone is different.”

The August 20 event also features a special book signing by Hall of Famer promoter and author J Russell Peltz, who is selling and signing copies of his recently-published memoir Thirty Dollars and a Cut Eye, which was named the 2021 Book of the Year by the West Coast Boxing Hall of Fame.

Additional details for Summer Heat are available online. For more information, follow CES Boxing on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @CESBOXING.

INFORMATION

CES Boxingis 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 Magazine, Pollstar and VenuesNow. Mohegan 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.

Uncasville, CT – CES Boxing returns to Mohegan Sun Arena for the first time in nearly seven years Saturday, August 20 with Summer Heat, the latest installment of its 2022 Fight Series featuring two of the sport’s hardest-hitting heavyweight prospects.

CES’ newest acquisition, 6-foot-6 right-hander Cassius Chaney of New London, CT, and 6-4 Carini, Sicily, native Juiseppe Cusumano headline Summer Heat in separate bouts. The two CES stablemates have combined for 41 wins and 32 knockouts in nearly two decades as pros and find themselves firmly entrenched among the nation’s top 20 heavyweights with an opportunity to inch closer to the dream of competing for a world title.

Summer Heat kicks off at 7 pm ET. Tickets are available online at cesfights.com or through the Mohegan Sun box office. August 20 marks CES’ first show at Mohegan Sun Arena since October of 2015, renewing a long-standing partnership between the region’s top combat sports promotion and one of the world’s foremost entertainment venues.

In addition to the highly-anticipated heavyweight showcase, Summer Heat features the long-awaited return of New London female featherweight icon Shelly Vincent, undefeated Irish super middleweight Francis Hogan of Weymouth, MA; and fast-rising bantamweight prospect Angel Gonzalez of Hartford, CT.

Hogan (11-0, 10 KOs), another recent addition to the CES roster and a member of the Iron Workers Local 7 union, returns after cruising to a unanimous decision win over Rodrigo Lopes Rodrigues in June. The undefeated Gonzalez (10-0, 6 KOs) aims for his fourth win of the year in as many tries, which includes a hard-fought victory over Ira Terry at CES’ April 2 showcase in Connecticut. Stay tuned for additional fight announcements.

Chaney (21-1, 14 KOs) returns to his home state August 20 after signing a promotional agreement with New England’s top promotion, joining forces with promoter Jimmy Burchfield Sr. Born in Baltimore, Chaney relocated to Connecticut as a youth and initially put his talents to use on the basketball court at the University of New Haven.

Working with renowned trainer Stephen “Breadman” Edwards, Chaney climbed the ladder quickly among heavyweights after making his pro debut at the age of 28, winning his first 21 fights. In 2019, he made headlines on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights with a sensational win over Joel Caudle, knocking his opponent out of the ring in the first round of their scheduled eight-round showdown. Later that year, he captured the vacant WBC USNBC Silver heavyweight title with a knockout win over Nick Jones.

With the burning desire to win a world title, Chaney kept busy during the pandemic, too, scoring two more knockouts in 2020 and opening 2021 with a knockout win over 18-fight veteran Shawndell Terell Winters in Worcester. In his most recent fight in December, Chaney fought 10 hard rounds with fellow unbeaten heavyweight George Arias in New York City.

His new teammate, Cusumano (20-4, 18 KOs), is on a similar path. The heavy-handed Sicilian bounced back in June with a first-round knockout win over Irineu Costa Junior in Rhode Island, earning career win No. 20 and his 10th overall under CES’ guidance since signing with Burchfield in 2017. Cusumano has stopped his opponent in each of his last 14 wins dating back to 2014 and remains on the sport’s hardest punchers in the heavyweight division.

Vincent’s return to the ring brings additional star power to Summer Heat. The 43-year-old trailblazer and former world-title contender boasts a 27-2 record, two nationally-televised showdowns against rival Heather Hardy, and a UBF world super bantamweight championship. A fixture on the regional circuit for more than a decade, Vincent is unbeaten with CES in 17 fights, including her most recent win in November over veteran Shelly Barnett.

Additional details for Summer Heat are available online. For more information, follow CES Boxing on Facebook, Instagram 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 Magazine, Pollstar and VenuesNow. Mohegan 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.

NEW YORK–In a rematch of heavyweights, Jerry Forrest and world-ranked Michael Hunter battled to a 10-round split draw at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City.

It was Forrest who landed the more impactful shots, and seemed to Hunter in trouble throughout the fight. Hunter rallied down the stretch to make it closer on the cards as it looked like Forrest deserved the verdict.

Forrest landed 110 of 402 punches; Hunter was 126-of 458.

Each fighter won a card 96-94 and a 3rd card was 95-95.

Hunter of Las Vegas is now 20-1-2. Forrest of Newport News, VA is 26-4-2.

The fight was a rematch of Hunter taking an eight-round unanimous decision on June 21, 2014.

George Arias won eight-round split decision over Cassius Chaney in a heavyweight bout.

Arias landed 79 of 309 punches; Chaney was 45 of 225.

Arias took two cards by 99-91 and 97-93. Chaney won a card 96-94.

Arias is now 17-0. Chaney is 21-1.

Khainell Wheeler took a six-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Frederick Julan in a light heavyweight bout.

Julan landed 105 of 322 punches; Wheeler was 83 of 285.

Wheeler won by scores of 59-55 twice and 58-56 and is now 6-1. Julan is 12-1.

Mike Balogun stopped Trey Lippe Morrison in round one of their scheduled 10-round bout.

Balogun dropped two knockdowns and the bout was stopped at 2:40.

Balogun is now 18-0 with 14 knockouts. Morrison is 18-1.

Joe Jones stopped Junior Wright in round two of a scheduled six-round heavyweight bout.

Jones dropped Wright at the end of round one. Jones finished him off 13 seconds into round two.

Jones is now 13-4 with 10 knockouts. Wright is 18-4-1.

Photos by Nolan Shaffer

WORCESTER, Mass. (August 15, 2021) – Pro boxing returned to Worcester, Massachusetts last night as Rivera Promotions Entertainment (RPE) and Shearns Boxing Promotions presented “New England’s Future VII” at the famed Palladium.

“This was our first show since June 2019 and I’m very pleased,” RPE promoter Jose Antonio Rivera commented. “We had a good crowd, close to a sellout, about 1800. We had the opportunity to support a lot of local fighters. We had some good fights. I’d like to do one more show later this year.”

Undefeated heavyweight Cassius “C.O.G.” Chaney (21-0, 14 KOs), promoted by Maun Events, won a 10-round unanimous decision over game Shawndell Terell Winters (13-6, 12 KOs), a former NAB heavyweight champion, in the main event.

Chaney, fighting out of New London (CT), was a standout college basketball player at the University of New Haven. Neither fighter was hurt during the fight, although three consecutive rights from Chaney in the third round did buzz Winters.

Wildly popular Hartford fighter Richie “Popeye The Sailor” Rivera, promoted by Star Boxing, rolled to his 20th career victory without a loss, stopping Ernesto “Gatti” Berrospe Rivas (11-18, 6 KOs). All it took was one powerful right to the Mexican’s body, which came at the 2:16 mark of round one. The powerful Rivera, who is a former UBF light heavyweight and ABF Continental Americas cruiserweight champion, added the vacant NBA Intercontinental cruiserweight strap to the collection.

“I’m going to be world champion,” the charismatic Hartford fighter said after the fight. “I

?want Badou Jack next.”

R – CF.jpg
Richie “Popeye The Sailor Man” Rivera was once again good to the finish

Puerto Rico Olympian Enrique Collazo (16-1-1, 11 KOs) registered knockdowns in the third and fourth rounds, the latter from a vicious body shot that hurt Colombian Ronald Montes (18-14, 16 KOs) so severely he was able to continue in round five. Collazo was crowned the NBA Intercontinental super middleweight title holder.

Puerto Rico-native Wilfredo “El Sucaro” Pagan (6-1-1, 3 KOs), fighting out of nearby Southbridge (MA), and Bridgeport’s (CT) Carlos Marrera, III (2-6-2) fought to an entertaining 6-round draw in their battle for the vacant New England Junior Welterweight Championship. The momentum moved from one fighter to the other in each round in what was the Fight of the Night.

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Carlos Marrera, III (L) and Wilfredo Pagan battled to a draw

Worcester heavyweight Bryan Daniels (6-1, 4 KOs) defeated Corey Morey (1-5), who injured his left knee and unable to continue fighting. The fight was ruled a first-round TKO win for Daniels, who is a 2-time New England Golden Gloves champion.

Fighting for the first time in 3 ½ years, Worcester super middleweight Bobby “BH3” Harris (3-0-1,) worked off the rust against wild-swinging Honduran Juan Celin Zapata (6-19-2, 4 KOs) for a 4-round unanimous decision. Harris is a two-time national amateur champion and World Games Silver medalist.

Hometown favorite Demek “Hightower” Edmunds (3-0, 2 KOs), a 3-time New England Golden Gloves champion, was tested for the first time by Brazilian heavyweight Rafael De Souza (0-2). The final score (40-36 X 3) was not indicative of the competition, in which Edmunds pitched a shutout, but De Souza held his own for two rounds until college graduate Edmunds took total command in the third and fourth rounds.

Decorated Hartford amateur Angel “Set It Off” Gonzalez (5-0, 3 KOs) overcame a significant height disadvantage against his Hawaiian opponent, Richard “Hard To Hit” Bernard (1-4-1), for a hard-fought 4-round unanimous decision victory. Gonzalez is a 3-time New England Golden Gloves, 2-time Ringside Nationals and 2014 National PAL champion.

Worcester middleweight Eslih Owusu (5-0, 3 KOs) remained undefeated, decking journeyman Carlos Galindo (1-17) twice when the fight was stopped by the referee midway through the opening bell.

Promising junior middleweight Josniel “TG” Castro (4-0, 2 KOs), fighting out of Boca Raton (FL), pounded Anthony Everett (1-9) from the opening bell until the end, using crisp

combination to drop Everett twice en route to a 4-round unanimous decision (40-34 X 3).

Official results below:

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OFFICIAL RESULTS

MAIN EVENT – HEAVYWEIGHTS

Cassius Chaney (21-0, 14 KOs), New London, CT

WDEC10 (98-92, 97-93, 96-94)

Shawndell Terell Winters (13-6, 12 KOs), Harvey, Il

CO-FEATURE – VACANT NBA CONTINENTAL AMERICAS CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

Richie Rivera (20-0, 15 KOs), Hartford, CT

WKO1 (2:16)

Ernesto Berrospe Rivas (11-18, 6 KOs), Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

(Rivera won NBA Continental Americas cruiserweight title)

VACANT NBA INTERCONTINENTAL SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

Enrigue Collazo (16-1-1, 11 KOs), San Juan, Puerto Rico

WTKO4 (3:00)

Ronald Montes (18-14, 16 KOs), Barranquilla, Colombia

(Collazo won the NBA Intercontinental super middleweight title)

VACANT NEW ENGLAND JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

Wilfredo Pagan (6-1-1, 3 KOs), Southbridge, MA

D6 (58-56, 59-55, 57-57)

Carlos Marrero III (2-6-2, 0 KOs), Bridgeport, CT

HEAVYWEIGHTS

Bryan Daniels (6-1, 4 KOs), Worcester, MA

WTKO1 (0:50)

Corey Morey (1-5, 0 KOs), Philadelphia, PA

Demek Edmonds (3-0, 2 KOs), Worcester, MA

WDEC4 (40-36, 40-36, 40-26)

Rafael De Souza (0-2), San Paulo, Brazil

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Bobby Harris III (3-0-1, 0 KOs), Worcester, MA

WDEC4 (40-35, 40-36, 39-36)

Juan Celin Zapata (6-19-2, 4 KOs), Bronx, NY

MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Eslih Owusu (5-0, 3 KOs), Worcester, MA

WTKO12 (1:32)

Carlos Galindo (1-17), Woburn, MA.

JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Josniel Castro (4-0, 2 KOs), Boca Raton, FL

WDEC4 (40-34, 40-34, 40-34)

Anthony Everett (1-9), Lawrence, MA

LIGHTWEIGHTS

Angel Gonzalez (5-0, 3 KOs), Hartford, CT

WDEC4 (40-36, 40-36, 39-37)

Richard Bernard (1-5-1 (0 KOs), Waianae, HI

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INFORMATION:

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EVAN HOLYFIELD (4-0, 3 KOs) talks about his training camp, return to the ring against Donnis Reed in Jonesboro, GA, his dad and Holyfield-Tyson 3.

“I am with a whole new training staff right now, back down in Atlanta where I came up through the amateur ranks, with my former trainers and a new addition of Mark Breland. Everyone around here is like family, even Mark as I got to know him a little better and I’m happy and there is nothing more dangerous than a happy fighter. I am round a lot of good energy and a lot of good people. There have been some tough sparring days and some tough training days. I’ve been working on some new tools with Mark and adding some elements to my game. I feel like I really sacrificed for this camp and I’m anxious to see the results. You are going to see something different and I can’t wait to get in there to show people what I have learned. I’m pretty excited to see what happens.

Above L-R: Bert Wells, Mark Breland, Evan, Courtney Williams, Tony Williams
Below: Breland and Evan Courtesy Evan Holyfield

“I feel like it’s an early Christmas gift and I understand that everybody has not had the opportunity to get a fight this year and I feel like I am really blessed to get the opportunity.

“On Saturday, I know he is going to try and push me but being pushed comes with an evolution of yourself. The last three fights have been a tremendous experience for me, especially the last one going the distance.

“It’s a blessing to have my last name but it is also a blessing to be working towards living up to it

“Could my dad train me? My dad couldn’t train me because he understands it is an investment in time and that’s hard being the way he is and with what he possibly has coming up (Tyson?). Plus it’s not always easy to have the business in the family. If you are a trainer you have to be there all the time. Mark Breland is a dedicated trainer and he is going to be there no matter what part of the day as well as my other trainer Bert Wells. But my dad and me from talking regularly and he is always out there to help when needed. He always tells me to keep a level head, and the work I put in will be the results I get out, be in shape and to do what I do best – always throw combinations and don’t be there to be hit. He’s been by to see training and is pretty impressed with what we’ve been working on. He said to stay focused and work hard and that’s the name of the game. It’s all about staying ready and not getting ready.

“So, my dad training me is out but I do want to spar him one time.”

“I don’t feel like I am following in my dad’s footsteps, I feel like the sport has chosen me. I had my first fight at 8 years old but then my mom took me out of it – she didn’t like seeing her 8 year old child getting hit, so then I went to Taekwondo and was #1 in the nation for about a year. Then I got DQ’d for hitting someone too hard in the head so my dad said maybe you should try boxing where you can’t get DQ’d for hitting someone in the head. But I was getting kicked so I had to put the equalizer on him.

In high school all the kids were investing in one sport and one day I came downstairs and told my mom and dad “I want to do boxing and this is the only sport I want to do.” My dad said, ‘you know people are going to want to hurt you and compare you to me so if you are going to do this do it for yourself.’ I had my ups and downs in the beginning. My mom offered me many times to quit but this is really what I stuck to.

On Tyson and Holyfield-Tyson 3
“I was really impressed with Mike Tyson not having fought for as long as he has. I’ve been watching his YouTube videos and he’s been smoking a lot of weed so I was surprised that he had some wind too. It was good to see because everybody likes Mike Tyson. I didn’t think it was a draw but as long as they came out with good health and had a good time.

“My dad’s been training and getting back into shape and I know it’s something that he’s been wanting. So all of his training we thought was for no reason but it may be paying off. My dad will do what he did the first two times. You know, water and oil don’t always mix. My dad just seems to be Mike Tyson’s oil, so we will just have to see.

“I feel like a third fight with Mike Tyson would be great especially if his ear stays in tact. Of course, I got my pop.

CASSIUS CHANEY (19-0, 13 KOs) fights Jason Bergman (27-18, 18 KOs).

“I had training camp in Miami with Luis Ortiz’ trainer German Caicedo. Training camp was HARD, it was good though, but tough. I know that the sacrifice was there and as long as I am pushing through it and get through the training, I know when I fight it’s going to be easy. But it’s tough on everybody. I know that people are going through those days, like dang, but I’m cool with it.

“German has been around a long time – he has trained Shannon Briggs and has had Luis Ortiz basically his whole career since he came to the America. I went down to German in April to try it out. We stay in the gym. We are in a warehouse. There are seven of us that live there but I am the only American fighter – there is a Cuban, Puerto Rican, Dominican, Panamanian and an African. We are in West Miami and the only place I have ventured out to is Walmart – (laughing) I know where everything is in Walmart now.

“I’m just happy to get back in there, I need to keep busy. My body is getting stronger. The stuff I have been going through in the gym makes me realize, ‘hey, if I can get through this, when I fight, that’s the prize.’ That’s the fun part – when I put it together. I’m rounding out as a professional now.

“I think in 2021 I should have a couple of step up fights. There are some guys out there that make sense but it also has to make sense to them. I’m in a tricky situation. Main Events wants to be careful but they also want me to show them I’m getting better. I think once I hit the TV stream, the fans will enjoy my style. It’s just a matter of me putting in the work.

“I don’t watch the video (of me knocking Joe Caudle out of the ring) but people show it to me all the time or tag me in it. I don’t watch it because I threw so many punches that were so wrong, because I was mad at him. He was talking trash for so long, we were supposed to fight two years prior and it started then. He was going on social media saying he had a body bag for me and my mom saw it and my brother saw it, then after the fight he turns right around and asks me for advice! And I gave it to him!

“So I was sitting on that trash talk for so long that when the fight came around, that’s why my reaction was what it was then I was like, ‘wow, he went out of the ring.’ Then I was like ‘dang, it’s over’ then he tried to get back in the ring and I’m like “this dude is crazy.” I was in shock but then I was more in shock that he was trying to get back in the ring. I think there was a ghost next to him or something to save him from a horrible fall. Then the referee did the right thing.”

Regarding Bergman: “He’s a veteran and seems quite durable. I have to make my presence felt right away, to overwhelm him. I really want to use my jab and work on my range and he really shouldn’t touch me but I really want to be able to get some rounds in and show that I am learning as a professional and doing things different than I did in my last fight – getting better.”

PHILADELPHIA–Oleksandt Gvodyk retained the WBC Light Heavyweight title with a 5th round stoppage over Doudou Ngumbu after Ngumbu could not continue due to a leg cramp.

Gvozdyk controlled the distance trough the abbreviated contest, with the rare occasion of Ngumbu trying to dive in. In round five, Ngumbu started hopping around injured, and it was ruled he could not continue at the 58 second mark.

Gvozdyk, 174.7 lbs of Ukraine is now 17-0 with 14 knockouts. Ngumbu, 174.3 of Toulouse, FRA is 38-9.

“It wasn’t what I expected, but I did my best,” Gvozdyk said. “Sometimes this happens in the sport of boxing. It is what it is.

“My goal is to unify titles. I will wait to see what my team tells me to do next.”

Egidjust Kavaliauskas and ray Robinson battled to a ten-round draw in a welterweight bout.

It was a nip and tuck battle that each guy take turns pushing the action.

Robinson took a card 97-93 ans two cards read even at 95-95.

Kavaliauskas, 146.1 lbs of Oxnard, CA is 21-0-1. Robinson, 145.8 lbs of Philadelphia is 24-3-1.

“I won the fight, and I won it clearly,” Kavaliauskas said. “The judges did not agree, and I can’t control what fight they were watching. I still want to fight for a world title because I consider this fight a victory. I am still undefeated, and I know I can beat all of the champions in the welterweight division.”

“I think everyone in Philadelphia knows I won this fight,” Robinson said. “At the end of the night, I know I beat him. I’m the last person to beat Terence Crawford in the amateurs, and that’s the fight I want.”

Sonny Conto destroyed Omar Acosta in under a round of their scheduled four-round heavyweight bout.

Conto landed hard punches that backed Acosta into the corner, and then landed a wicked left hook that sent Acosta down. Acotsa got to his feet but wobbled, and the fight was stopped at 1:15.

Conto, 217.1 lbs of Philadelphia is 2-0 with two fist round knockouts. Acosta, 206.6 lbs of Hereford, TX is 1-6.

Jose Lopez stopped Askhat Ualikhanov after round six of their scheduled eight-round super lightweight bout.

Lopez landed hard shots throughout and had Ualikhanov in trouble several times before the fight was halted.

Lopez, 141.5 lbs Humacao, PR is now 12-1 with 10 knockouts. Ualikhanov, 141.3 lbs of Oxnard, CA is 4-2.

Joshafat Ortiz stopped James Thomas in round of their scheduled six-round super featherweight bout.

Ortiz dropped Thomas with a hard right, and the bout was stoped at 2:53.

Ortiz, 129.6 lbs of Reading, PA is 6-0 with four knockouts. Thomas, 130.3 lbs of Grand Rapids, MI is 6-5.

Juan Ruiz upset Frederick Lawson by scoring a 4th round stoppage in a scheduled eight-round super welterweight bout.

Ruiz seemed to have dropped Lawson in round four, but it was a ruled a slip. Lawson was groggy, and he took a flurry of punches on the ropes, and the bout was stopped at 1:16 of round four.

Ruiz, 149.5 lbs of Tijuana, MX is 22-4 with 14 knockouts. Lawson, 146.7 lbs of Accra, GHA is 27-2.

Christian Mbolli went the distance for the 1st time and pounded out a eight-round unanimous decision over Humberto Gutierrez in a super middleweight bout.

Mbilli, 163.3 lbs of Montreal won by scores of 80-72 and 79-73 twice, and is now 14-0. Gutierrez 165.5 lbs of Tijuana, MEX is 33-8-2.

Kudratillo Abudukakhorov won a 12-round unanimous decision over Keita Obara in an IBF Welterweight elimination bout.

Abudukakhorov, 145.8 lbs of Kuala Lumpor, MAL won by scores of 118-110, 117-111 and 115-113 and is now 16-0. Obara, 146.4 lbs of Tokyo, JPN is 20-4-1.

Cassius Chaney stopped Christian Mariscal in the 1st round of their scheduled six-round heavyweight bout.

Chaney registered two knockdowns, and the fight was stopped at 2:16.

Chaney, 248.6 lbs of new London, CT is 15-0 with nine knockouts. Mariscal, 251.2 lbs of Tijuna, MX is 12-3.

Jeremy Adorno made a successful pro debut with a four-round unanimous decision over Sebastian Baltazar in a super bantamweight contest.

Adorno, 120.1 lbs of Allentown, PA won by scores of 40-36 on all cards, and is now 1-0. Baltazar, 120.3 lbs of Tacoma, WA is 1-4.

Donald Smith remained undefeated with a 4th round knockout over Jose Antonio Martinez in a scheduled six-round super featherweight bout.

Smith registered a knockdown in round one. In round four, Smith landed a perfect counter left that plummeted Martinez to the canvas. The back of Martinez head hit the canvas, and the bout was stopped at 2:01.

Smithm 126.4 lbs of Philadelphia is 9-0 with six knockouts. Jose Antonio Martinez, 127.5 lbs of Albuquerque, NM is 11-18.

(Baltimore, Maryland) – Undefeated heavyweight prospect Cassius Chaney has re-upped with his long-time promoter Main Events. Now 13-0 with 7 KOs, Chaney signed with the Totowa, New Jersey-based promoter before making his pro debut on April 17, 2015. His next bout, the first under his new promotional contract, will be streamed live as part of the November 3 edition of the Golden Boy Fight Night series on Facebook from The Aviator in Brooklyn, which will be headlined by Sullivan Barrera versus “Irish” Seanie Monaghan.

Chaney has scored two early stoppages in his last fights since returning to his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland to train with Kevin Cunningham: a first round TKO on June 30, and a second round knockout before that on March 3.

Will the 31-year-old heavyweight do it again in his next bout on Saturday, November 3 at the Aviation Sports & Events Center in Brooklyn, New York? Let’s just say it’s a good idea to be in your seat at the opening bell and stay there.

Chaney (13-0, 7 KOs) says training at home in Baltimore makes all the difference. “I’m not training for the knockout, really. I’m just in a better, more comfortable situation, where I’m training and learning for me. It’s just happens my punches are stinging guys early. There’s a difference when you’re training and you know ‘if it goes long, I’m good,’ or ‘if it ends early, that’s good.'”

Chaney still lives in Connecticut, and begins his training with strength and conditioning work there. But he spends a month in Baltimore to train with Cunningham, staying with his mother and easing into a healthy routine. “Like anything, when you’re back home not worrying about too many things, training comes easier. The benefits of being back with my mom, eating her food, the gym isn’t that far. I don’t know too many people, I train, and I go back home,” explains Cassius.

Cassius says training at home also helps him relax, and he can just step on the gas in the ring. It also loosens him up, in a good way. “I’m starting to understand it’s OK to have fun in there as well. Before, I had to go in and come out with a win, find a way to win. I was so uptight. Now because of the training, the environment, and now my new contract, I know what to do and not to do. I’m more relaxed and I’m getting better. I’ll be in shape and I’m always mentally going to be there,” said Chaney.

Although he loves training in Baltimore, Chaney appreciates his incredible fan base and support in Connecticut. “I get a lot of support and I’m very appreciative of it. It feels great.” Chaney is sponsored by several local restaurants and is a proud alumni of Old Saybrook High School and the University of New Haven, where he played NCAA basketball on a scholarship before pursuing a career in the ring.

Chaney says he’s always learning something new, just as he did when he was earning his college degree. “When I look at getting in the ring, there is something about me – I figure things out, even when I don’t have the right resources. Who knows, my ceiling could be so high. I’m still maturing as an athlete, as a person. When I look at the (heavyweight) division, it’s all about making the right fights that will help you improve your confidence. I’m in a great division and I’m only going to get better.”

Chaney is looking forward to adding his name to boxing history in the heavyweight division. “I’m excited to go. Main Events has given me the opportunity to appear in different venues in different places. I’m thankful. I’ll be ready to go, and put on a show.”

Main Events CEO Kathy Duva said of Chaney, “Cassius has so much potential. It was a pleasure to work with him from his pro debut to get him to this point in his career and now, with his re-signing, to be able to take him to the next level. The heavyweight division better be ready for him!”

About Barrera-Monaghan: The Saturday, November 3 card, headlined by Sullivan Barrera versus “Irish” Seanie Monaghan as part of the Golden Boy Fight Night series on Facebook, will take place at The Aviator Sports & Events Center in Brooklyn, NY. The event is promoted by Main Events. The action will be streamed live globally on Facebook Watch via the Golden Boy Fight Night Page beginning at 6:00 p.m. PT/9:00 p.m. ET.

Tickets, priced from $125 to $50 are on sale and available through Eventbrite or by calling or emailing Main Events: 973-200-7050; boxing@mainevents.com.

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