Mike “Bad Man” Ohan, Jr. turns in career best performance, Julien Baptiste stops Jamer Jones, O’Toole, Hyde & Hogan winners

QUINCY, Mass. (August 12, 2023) – Last night’s main event was truly the Fight of the Night on the entertaining “Veterans Stadium Showcase” Pro-Am card as Holbrook (MA) junior welterweight Mike “Bad Man” Ohan, Jr. (19-2, 9 KOs) had his best performance ever against Harry “The Hit Man” Gigliotti (9-5, 3 KOs), fighting out of Haverhill (MA), in an old-fashioned throw-down.

“Veterans Stadium Showcase,” presented by Granite Chin Promotions (GCP), was streamed live from Veterans Memorial Stadium in Quincy, Massachusetts. Part of the proceeds went to Operation Homefront.

“As special as this night was for me, it meant even more to the fighters,” GCP President Chris Traietti commented. “I couldn’t be prouder of all the fighters or more appreciative of the fans for their enthusiasm all night. I want to give my sincere thanks to all the city leaders and local businesses that supported this event for allowing a Quincy business to do something special in the greatest city on earth.”

Ohan, Jr., the former New England Welterweight Champion, showed poise and patience as he adjusted and eventually broke-down the always tough Gigliotti on his way to a convincing eight-round unanimous decision.

Gigliotti came out firing clean, explosive shots in the first round, taking the fight right to Ohan, Jr., the former New England Welterweight Champion. Ohan. Jr. started beating Gigliotti to the punch in the second. The third was even and Ohan, Jr. established control in the second half of the fourth round, putting together his punches, which slowed down Gigliotti. As both fighters landed punch after punch in the fifth, Ohan, Jr. suddenly floored Gigliotti with a left to the body at the end of the round. Ohan, Jr. patiently and methodically took total control as Gigliotti rode his bike in the sixth, moving much more away rather than to Ohan, Jr,, who hurt Gigliotti with more body punches as the bell rang.

With Ohan, Jr. now controlling the action and pace, he owned the seventh and it appeared Gigliotti knew he needed a knockout to win. He didn’t at the KO but never stopped trying and Ohan, Jr. finished in style, landing a series of shots right to the end.

“Everything leading up to this fight made me better for this fight and my future,” Ohan, Jr. said after the fight. “I hit him with a picture-perfect body shot, but he’s a really tough kid. The first two rounds were for adjustments. He felt my power punches and that body shot was the beginning of the end for him. I had to adjust to beat him on the inside and that’s how I broke him down. I wish I got the stoppage, but I had a great performance. There’s always work to do, though, to get to the top.”

The co-featured event was a middleweight unification bout between USBF champion Julien “Black Dragon” Baptiste, of Woburn (MA), and Massachusetts titlist Jamer Jones, of Pittsfield (MA), in a great fight, one that would have been the Fight of the Night on most shows.

Julien Baptiste took care of business

Jones sent Baptiste to the mat with a big right at the end of the opening round. Baptiste let his hands go in the second round, however, and he buzzed the 6’ 3” Jones right before the bell signaling the end of the round. In a back-and-forth fight, Jones counter-punched well in the third, while Baptiste managed to get inside of Jones’ long reach. The two fighters exchanged solid punches in the fourth, popping each other with great regularity, but the torrid pace slowed slightly in the fifth, only to pick back up in round six. Suddenly, Baptiste connected with an overhand right, practically knocking out Jones on his feet. Jones somehow got to his feet, but the referee wisely stopped the fight.

Frank Hogan registered his 14th KO

It was Tank Time once again. Undefeated middleweight Francis “Frank The Tank” Hogan (15-0, 14 KOs), the gifted southpaw from nearby Weymouth (MA), bullied his Argentinian opponent, Miguel “El Pirado” Angel Suarez (15-13, 9 KOs) in an impressive display. Hogan, a 2020 USA Boxing Olympic Team Alternate, floored Suarez in the opening round with a left hook to the body, right to the head. In the second round, he dropped Suarez twice, after which the referee waved off the fight. Hogan has now stopped 14 of his 15 opponents without suffering a loss.

Thomas O’Toole (R) improves each fight

Thomas “The Kid” O’Toole (8-0, 6 KOs), fighting out of Galway, Ireland, didn’t need more than a single round to capture the vacant USBF Cruiserweight title, The Irish lefty started the fight with a blistering attack of Scott “Bombs” Lampert (5-9, 4 KOs), who was unable to answer the bell after one round, in which, Lampert was decked twice. O’Toole, a 2019 Irish National Champion, used crisp combinations to overpower the gutsy Lampert.

Tommy Hyde (R) passed test

Irish super middleweight prospect Tommy “The Governor” Hyde (6-0, 4 KOs) passed the toughest test of his young pro career, effectively using his amateur pedigree against Polish veteran Robert Talerek (27-21-3, 18 KOs) en route to a dominant six-round unanimous decision victory. A three- time Irish National Champion from Cork, Hyde looked sharp, consistently blasting away Talerek’s body up and down, dropping the Pole with a perfectly placed hook in the fifth round. Talarek is a former IBF European and IBO Inter-Continental Middleweight Champion.

Lowell (MA) lightweight Gabriel “The Menace” Morales (8-0, 4 KOs) remained undefeated, taking a four-round majority decision from Nathan Benichou (2-17-1, 2 KOs).

Rhode Island journeyman Alfred Raymond (1-6-1) nearly upset unbeaten Salem (MA) junior middleweight Kenny “Lionheart” Lawson (7-0-1, 5 KOs), which ended in a hard-fought six-round majority draw.

Scituate (MA) heavyweight Kevin “Big Gulp” Nagle (3-0, 3 KOs) used his nearly 100-pound advantage, pounding his pro-debuting opponent, Bruno Saravia (0-1), closing the show in round two with a lethal right hook to the body that sent Saravia to the canvas for a TKO win.

Methuen (MA) middleweight Luke “The Quiet Storm” Iannuccilli (7-0, 3 KOs) kept his undefeated record intact, pitching a six-round shutout against always tough Ryan Thomas Clark (2-5, 1 KO) in the evening’s opening bout.

Three USA Boxing-sanctioned amateur matches preceded the pro card.

Complete results below:


PRO RESULTS

MAIN EVENT — JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHTS

Mike Ohan, Jr. (19-2, 9 KOs), Holbrook, MA

WDEC8 (79-72, 78-73, 76-75)

Harry Gigliotti (9-5, 3 KOs), Haverhill, MA

CO-FEATURE – USBF & MASSACHUSETTS MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIPS

Julien Baptiste (6-3, 3 KOs), Woburn, MA

.WTKO6 (2 :55)e

Jamer Jones (3-2, 3 KOs), Pittsfield, MA

(Baptiste won the Mass. middleweight title and retained the USBF title)

HEAVYWEIGHTS (4)

Kevin Nagle (3-0, 3 KOs), Scituate, MA

WTKO2 (2:10)

Bruno Saravia (0-1), Boston, MA

VACANT USBF CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

Thomas O’Toole (8-0, 6 KOs), Galway, Ireland

WTKO1 (3:00)

Scott Lampert (5-9, 4 KOs), Dover, NY

(O’Toole won USBF cruiserweight title)

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Tommy Hyde (6-0, 4 KOs), Cork, Ireland

WDEC6 (60-53, 60-53, 59-54)

Robert Talarek (27-21-3, 18 KOs), Ruda Slaska, Poland

MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Francis Hogan (15-0, 15 KOs), Weymouth, MA

WTKO2 (2:08)

Miguel Angel Suarez (15-13, 9 KOs), Beccar, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Luke Iannuccilli (7-0, 3 KOs), Methuen, MA

WDEC6

Ryan Thomas Clark (2-5, 1 KO), Berwick, NH

JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Kenny Larson (7-0-1, 5 KOs), Salem, MA

WD6 (57-57, 57-57, 56-58)

Alfred Raymond (1-6-2, 0 KOs), Warwick, RI

LIGHTWEIGHTS

Gabriel Morales (8-0, 4 KOs), Lowell, MA

WDEC4 (40-36, 39-37, 38-38)

Nathan Benichou (2-17-1, 2 KOs), Puebla, Puebla, México.

AMATEUR RESULTS

147 lbs. – Shaquille Mair (Everybody Fights)

WMDEC3

Desmond Le (Dialed In Method)

119 lbs.-– Jennifer Perella (unattached)

WUDEC3

Danielle Millian (STC Boxing)

156 lbs. — Dylan Connors (Quincy BoxFit)

WRSC2 (0:44)

Ronilson De Castro (unattached)





Williams-Hogan showdown highlights undercard of Thursday’s pre-St. Patrick’s Day extravaganza in Boston live on UFC FIGHT PASS®

Boston, MA – CES Boxing’s best and brightest invade the Bay State this week for an unforgettable St. Patrick’s Day Weekend extravaganza.

Stablemates Jimmy “Quiet Storm” Williams and Francis “Frank The Tank” Hogan face another in a highly-anticipated eight-round middleweight bout on the undercard of Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions Hollywood Fight Nights Boston show Thursday, March 16 at the Agganis Arena live on UFC FIGHT PASS®.

The card is headlined by undefeated Irish southpaw super welterweight “King” Callum Walsh putting his perfect 5-0 record on the line in a 10-round bout against Spanish challenger Leonardo di Stefano Ruiz. Williams and Hogan are two of three CES Boxing fighters on the undercard; unbeaten super featherweight Kevin Walsh of nearby Brockton returns fresh off a career-defining win in January to face New Jersey’s Andrew Bentley in a six-round bout.

Tickets are available through TicketMaster, online at AgganisArena.com, or the Agganis Arena box office. Fight fans can also stream the action live beginning at 7 pm ET with a monthly or annual subscription to FIGHT PASS.

The Williams-Hogan showdown pits one of CES’ longest-tenured fighters against one of its most recent acquisitions and highly-touted prospects.

A former college football player born in Plainfield, NJ, and raised in New Haven, CT, Williams (18-10-2, 6 KOs) joined the CES family in 2013 when he made his professional debut at the age of 26.

He first began boxing at 8 years old, but pursued football most of his life. Injuries derailed his football career following several tryouts with NFL team, so he returned to boxing in his mid-20s. More than a decade later, the now 36-year-old Williams continues to answer the bell against elite competition. Since scoring an upset win over former world champion Yuri Foreman in 2021, Williams has faced highly-skilled Greg Vendetti, Tyrone James, Vito Mielnicki Jr., Luis Arias, and now the undefeated southpaw Hogan, who boasts an impressive 13-0 record with 12 KOs entering March 16.

The 22-year-old Weymouth, MA, native Hogan signed a promotional agreement with CES in the summer of 2022, bringing his impressive power and elite skillset to the region’s most sought-after promotion.

A third-year apprentice with the Iron Workers Local 7 Union, Hogan debuted professionally at 19 years old following more than 200 amateur bouts under the bright lights of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, scoring a knockout win to launch a streak of 10 consecutive wins by knockout to begin his pro career.

The 6-foot-2 Hogan is a unique blend of height and power, a rangy opponent with a quick jab and even quicker wit whose eccentric weigh-in outfits have become folklore amidst the pre-fight hysteria. Thursday is his opportunity to prove he’s ready for the next level of competition while the wily veteran Williams hopes he has enough left in the tank for one last run at championship glory.

The fast-rising Walsh (7-0, 4 KOs) returns Thursday fresh off the biggest win of his career January 21 at Mohegan Sun Arena. Originally scheduled to face Rhode Island rival Mike Valentin, Walsh was forced to pivot on short notice and square off against the taller, rangier Christian Otero of New York. The Brockton native aced the test with flying colors, sending Otero to the canvas in the opening round and holding on for a split decision win to capture the vacant New England Super Featherweight Title.

Walsh, 30, who fights out of the Cappiello Boxing and Fitness Gym in downtown Brockton, turned pro in 2021 following a short, but successful, amateur career and continues to climb the ladder among his peers in the 130-pound weight class after fighting at various weights early in his career. On Thursday, he faces the 37-year-old southpaw Bentley, a dangerous, slick competitor who has faced some of the top 126- and 130-pounders in recent years, including Pennsylvania’s Joshafat Ortiz and unbeaten Raymond Cuadrado.

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.




With heavy hands and a new team in his corner, unbeaten southpaw Hogan looks to make his mark June 24 at Ballys Twin River

Monday, June 13, 2022With heavy hands and a new team in his corner, unbeaten southpaw Hogan looks to make his mark June 24 at Ballys Twin River

 Lincoln, RI – Hard-hitting southpaw Francis Hogan has always had the physical tools to succeed in professional boxing. Until now, he never had an entire team in his corner.

That all changed in May when the unbeaten 6-foot-3 middleweight signed a multi-year promotional agreement with regional giant CES Boxing, whom he first fought for in October of 2020.

Hogan returns Friday, June 24 at Summer Splash in a six-round bout against Rodrigo Lopes Rodrigues at Ballys Twin River Lincoln Casino Resort, and while it’s not his official promotional debut, it’s his first fight since officially joining the CES team and his first in front of Rhode Island fans (the October 2020 bout was held in an empty arena due to the pandemic).

What excites Hogan (10-0, 10 KOs) most is the security of having a promoter like Jimmy Burchfield Sr., the president and CEO of CES, who has proven he’s willing to go the extra mile for his fighters – a stark contrast to Hogan’s first two years as a pro when he bounced from fight card to fight card just hoping to get an opportunity against the right opponent to build his résumé.

“I finally feel like I’ve made it,” said the 21-year-old Hogan, who is also a member of the Iron Workers Local 7 union. “Things started getting rough after my first couple of fights, and it seemed like it was harder than ever to get guys to fight me. It turned into a headache.

“My thing is as long as I’m in the gym training and nothing messes with my rhythm, I’m good. Jimmy made me feel welcome from Day 1. I actually felt like part of the team before I even sat down and talked to him.”

Hogan’s Ballys debut is part of a stacked fight card that features the return of female icon Jaime “Hurricane” Clampitt, Sicilian heavyweight Juiseppe Cusumano, and rising lightweight prospect Alejandro Paulino of New London, CT. Tickets are available at CESFights.com.

Hogan’s attributes – and potential – are endless. He began boxing at a young age, a byproduct of watching classic fights on television with his father, Richard, and younger brother, Richie Jr. When his father began bringing him to the gym to train, Hogan immediately fell in love with the sweet science, ditching baseball, football, and whatever other sport he wanted to play to fully focus on boxing.

“I knew that was my sport,” he said. “Everything else went out the window.”

He and his brother rose through the amateur ranks together, with Francis accumulating eye-popping numbers: More than 200 amateur bouts, two international amateur titles in Canada, six national championships, a gold medal at the 2019 New England Golden Gloves, and a third-place finish in the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2019, all despite losing his first 40 fights as an amateur. His power was what stood out the most. Nicknamed “Frank the Tank” by his father, Hogan at one point had more knockout victories than any other amateur boxer in the country at either 152 or 165 pounds.

As a pro, Hogan continues to get stronger by the day. He knocked out each of his first 10 opponents, including four in the first round in addition to a nail-biter in July of 2021 when he nearly went the distance with New Jersey’s Isiah Hart, ending the fight 1:36 into the sixth and final round. He aims to keep the strike alive on the 24th against the durable Rodrigues (8-2), who faces an unbeaten opponent for the third fight in a row.

“I consider myself a boxer-puncher,” Hogan said. “I can box, but if not, I can slug it out. When that happens, I end up knocking people out cold.”

Hogan’s day job as an iron worker, which he landed through the influence of his father, usually consists of 8 ½-hour days, beginning at sunrise working on buildings in downtown Boston or Cambridge. Then he’d hit the gym early in the afternoon, sometimes twice a day depending on whether or not he had a fight coming up. To keep himself fresh, Hogan typically takes time off from work when preparing for an intense training camp knowing proper sleep and recovery are fundamentals to his success.

He’s as realistic as he is ambitious. Hogan understands that at some point the knockouts might not come as easily as they appear (at least to the untrained eye). Super middleweight star Edgar Berlanga knocked out his first 16 opponents in the opening round, but as the level of competition increased, so, too, did the workload; Berlanga has now gone the distance in his last three bouts, albeit all victories.

That day will come for Hogan, too, but not for lack of modesty or preparation. The art of knocking out an opponent is a science to Hogan, set up and administered by his ability to change levels in the ring, adjust on the fly, find his opponent’s weakness, and strike while the iron is hot (no pun intended). If the formula continues, Hogan could easily reach his goal of finishing 2022 with a 14-0 record, all by knockout, of course.

Being part of the right team will help. He’s had family by his side since Day 1, notably his father and brother, but Richie Jr. is heading to the Marines, so the circle’s a bit smaller than it used to be. Nonetheless, Hogan is excited about the opportunity to work alongside one of the sport’s most revered promoters, and he’s closely followed the trajectory of CES’ hottest fighter, Jamaine Ortiz, who recently beat former world champion and Olympian Jamel Herring on ESPN, proof positive that Golden Boy, Top Rank, Matchroom, etc., aren’t the only promotions capable of bringing a fighter to the next level.

“I’ve been watching his progress and watching him get the big fights we all dream of getting,” Hogan said of Ortiz. “It makes me feel good knowing I can get there, too, with the people I’ve surrounded myself with.”

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

Bally’s Twin River Lincoln Casino Resort, located in Lincoln, RI, is the state’s largest gaming and entertainment venue as well as its top tourist and cultural attraction. Formerly known as Lincoln Park and then Twin River Casino Hotel, the renovated facility offers 162,000 square-feet of gaming space with over 5,000 gaming positions. The casino operates over 4,100 slot machines and virtual table games (including blackjack and roulette), as well as 125 live table games including blackjack, roulette, craps, sports betting, and more. This unique gaming facility also hosts simulcasting of the best thoroughbred and greyhound racing from around the country, a 29,000+ square foot Twin River Event Center with headline entertainment, free concerts at the Lighthouse Bar, incredible food and drinks at Fred & Steve’s Steakhouse, and authentic Italian cuisine at Jerry Longo’s Meatballs & Martinis. The hotel at Bally’s Lincoln features 136 rooms and suites. Amenities include an indoor pool with a stone fireplace feature wall, multiple meeting space, a fitness center and an outdoor courtyard off the pool and lobby that is also available for special events. Guests may access the hotel from the casino’s north entrance.




“St. Valentine’s Day Massacre” changes New headliner is undefeated prospect Francis “Frank The Tank” Hogan

BOSTON (February 3, 2022) – Undefeated super welterweight prospect Francis “Frank The Tank” Hogan (9-0, 9 KOs) has been elevated to the headliner on “St. Valentine’s Day’s Massacre” card, presented by Vertex Promotions, February 12th at Moseley’s On The Charles in Dedham, Massachusetts.

The cancellation of the original main event between Adrian Sosa and Zack Kuhn resulted in a few changes. Kuhn (10-10-1, 5 KOs) is now fighting another undefeated prospect, James “The Slim Reaper” Perella (8-0, 6 KOs), in an 8-round Special Welterweight Attraction.

The 21-year-old southpaw Hogan, fighting out of Weymouth (MA), has knocked out each of his 9 professional opponents to date. The popular fighter was a celebrated amateur boxer, highlighted by his gold-medal performance at the 2019 New England Golden Gloves Championships.

“It’s Tank Time” once again, but this fight Hogan will be making his debut as a headliner, in addition to fighting in his first scheduled 8-rounder.

The 6-round fight between Dorchester (MA) lightweight Jonathan Depina (6-1, 4 KOs) and Jonathan “El Guapo” Hernan Godoy (5-12) has moved up to the co-featured event.

Perella’s (8-0, 5 KOs), of Mansfield (MA), was supposed to fight Mexican challenger Danny “Venado” Flores (15-26-1, 8 KOs), but he was injured during training, and he has been replaced by Kuhn. “The Slim Reaper” is a 4-time USA New England Championships and 4-time New England Golden Gloves Champion.

Irish light heavyweight Tommy “The Kid” O’Toole” (2-0, 2 KOs), of Galway, is matched against Greg Hackett (3-20-1) in a 4-rounder. O’Toole was the 2019 Irish Elite Championship gold medalist, who a powerful southpaw returning to the Boston area for his third pro fight.

Five 6-round bouts are on tap: South Boston super welterweight Joe Farina (7-1, 4 KOs) vs. Rynell Griffin (8-49-2, 2 KOs), Houston super lightweight Miranda “El Alacrana” Reyes (5-0-1, 3 KOs) vs. Jaica Pavilus (1-4-1, 1 KO), undefeated Philly welterweight Tahmir Smalls (6-0, 3 KOs) vs. Leonides Fowlkes (2-7-1), popular Dorchester featherweight Troy Anderson, Jr. (1-0, 1 KO), a 2016 Rocky Marciano Tournament champion, vs. Mike Fowler (7-42, 2 KOs), and super lightweight Marcus Davidson (2-0, 2 KOs) vs. Rakim Johnson (6-15-1, 5 KOs),.

Also fighting on the undercard in four-round bouts is Southbridge (MA) super featherweight Alex Rivera (2-0, 1 KO) vs. Brandon Grimmett (0-5), as well as the Davidson’s older brother from Kansas City (KS), pro-debuting lightweight Marcell, a 2-time Ringside World and 2019 National Golden Gloves Champion, vs. TBA.

Fighters subject to change.

Tickets are on sale for $85.00 and up (ringside), $75.00 (general admission) and $50.00 (standing room). Tickets are available to purchase online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/st-valentines-day-massacre-21222-tickets-243038654157?aff=ebdssbdestsearch or contact any of the competing fighters to purchase tickets.

Doors will open at 6:30 pm. ET with the first bout scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. ET.




RayJay Bermudez, James Perella & Francis Hogan all winners

DEDHAM, Mass. (November 21, 2021) – Vertex Promotions closed its first season in style last night with its fourth event in less than 60 days, “Fall Brawl,” at Moseley’s on the Charles in Dedham, Massachusetts.

“We feel good about what we’ve done, especially considering we just started promoting,” Vertex promoter Dave Clark said. “Fans and fighters are enjoying what we’re doing. We’re making plans for next year, but we don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves. We’re in rhythm.”

Headliner RayJay “The Destroyer” Bermudez (14-0, 11 KOs) outclassed his tough Mexican opponent, super lightweight Danny “Vendado” Flores (15-25-1, 8 KOs). Bermudez patiently fought his fight, setting up power punches and staying away from Flores’ punches, comfortably and effortlessly moving in and out. A three-punch combination buzzed Flores at the end of round one, Bermudez nearly putting Flores away as the bell sounded. Bermudez continued to control the pace in the second, repeatedly whacking Flores, even though Flores tried to bait Bermudez into a brawl midway through the third. His request backfired as Bermudez pounded him with a steady diet of powerful lefts and rights.

The accumulation of punches Flores ate eventually took its toll as Bermudez consistently ripped vicious punches to Flores’ head and body, nearly ending the fight at the end of round four. Flores somehow preserved, but it was only momentary, as Bermudez pinned Flores on the rope and fired away in the next round. The beating didn’t end as Flores asked for more and Bermudez gladly obliged. In the end, Bermudez won a brutal 8-round unanimous decision, but Flores got kudos for lasting six hard rounds.

Bermudez, from Albany (NY), is the NBA Continental Junior Welterweight and ABF American West Super Lightweight champion.

In the co-featured event, undefeated Mansfield (MA) welterweight James “The Slim Reaper” Perella (8-0, 6 KOs) peppered Andre Byrd (8-11-2, 1 KO) from all angles, using his height and length from the outside during the first five rounds. In the sixth round, he fought more on the inside, smothering Byrd’s punches, and shifted into an attack mode in the seventh and eighth. Byrd, however, hung tough and made it to the final bell, as Perella took a one-sided 8-round unanimous decision. Perella needed to go rounds and Byrd gave that to him.

A graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, Perella is a 4-time USA New England Championships and 4-time New England Golden Gloves Champion.

R – harney_perrella_bryd009.JPG
James Perella (L) needed and got in rounds

Once again it was Tank Time! Undefeated super welterweight Francis “The Frank” Hogan pleased his growing fanbase by remaining perfect, winning his ninth pro fight, each by knockout. The 21-year-old southpaw knocked Rynell Griffin (8-49-2, 2 KOs) on his rear in the first round, followed with a knockdown in the second with a left hook, and two more trips to the canvas in the third, until the referee halted the fight. Using his right as a range finder, in addition taking advantage of his height and reach advantages, his lethal left closed the show. Hogan, of Weymouth (MA), is the reigning New Hampshire Super Welterweight Champion as well as a 2019 New England Golden Gloves champion.

R – hogan_griffin012.JPG
Francis Hogan (R) remained perfect

Four-time U.S. Army champion “The Dedication” Daniel Bailey (8-0, 4 KOs, fighting out of Tampa (FL), drilled Austin Reed (10-0, 5 KOs), dropping him the round one with an overhand right, and he closed the show at the end of the same frame with a lefthanded uppercut. Bailey, the cousin of former world champion Randall Bailey, also captured top honors at the 2012 Ringside National Tournament.

Fighting in his first scheduled 8-round fight, 2020 Dominican Republic Olympian Rohan “El Rayo” Polanco (6-0, 3 KOs) stepped up in terms of competition and passed the test with flying colors against veteran Argentinian super lightweight Jonathan “El Potro” Eniz (27-16-1, 11 KOs), dominating the fight for a decisive decision.

Undefeated “The Amazing” Shawn McCalman improved his record to 10-0 (6 KOs), stopping super middleweight David Rohn (0-10-1) with a crushing body shot early in round one. McCalman, of Colorado, is the reigning ABF American West champion.

Local favorite Troy Anderson, Jr. (3-0. 3 KOs), fighting out of nearby Dorchester (district of Boston), was too much for Ronny Arana (0-3) to handle. A 2016 Rocky Marciano Tournament champion, southpaw Anderson displayed solid fundamentals throughout the fight, trapping his opponent on the ropes in the second round, and unloading a pair of unanswered double-digit flurries. Anderson cut-off the ring effectively in the third, pressing the game Arana, who showed signs of fatigue yet survived to the end. The virtually unmarked Anderson went the distance for the first time in his young career, but he pitched a shutout for a 4-round unanimous decision, winning each round on the three judges’ scorecards.

In the first scheduled 6-rounder of the night, New Bedford middleweight Drew “Tomahawk” Dwelly (4-0-2, 4 KOs) decked Ginno Montoya (0-7) three times in the opening round, the second on a left hook to the stomach, for a convincing victory by way of a technical knockout.

Pro-debuting welterweight Miguel Valencia, of Worcester, won a 4-round split decision over Boston’s James Murrin (1-1, 0 KOs) in a competitive match.

Puerto Rico-native Alex Rivera (2-0, 2 KOs), fighting out of Southbridge (MA), out-boxed featherweight DeShawn Kennedy (0-5) enroute to a commanding 4-round unanimous decision.

Kansas City super lightweight Marcus Davidson (2-0, 2 KOs) needed only four-seconds to win his fight against pro-debuting Marlon Hardnick, Jr. Davidson moved across the ring, threw a 2-punch combination, the latter punch a left hook that sent his opponent to the canvas, which ended the fight.

In the opening bout of the evening, Salem (MA) super welterweight Kenny Larson had a memorable professional debut, dropping Seigenald Daley, Jr. (0-2) midway through round one, and moments later Lawson connected right on the button with a right cross that floored his opponent. Referee Kevin Hope stopped the fight without counting.

Complete results below:


OFFICIAL RESULTS

MAIN EVENT – SUPER LIGHTWEIGHTS

RayJay Bermudez (15-0, 11 KOs), Albany, NY

WDEC8 (60-54, 60-54, 60-52)

Danny Flores (15-26-1, 8 KOs), Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

CO-FEATURE – WELTERWEIGHTS

James Perella (9-0, 6 KOs), Mansfield, MA

WDEC8 (80-72, 80-72, 79-73)

Andre Byrd (8-12-2, 1 KO), Jacksonville, FL

SPECIAL SUPER WELTERWEIGHT ATTRACTION

Francis Hogan 9-0, 9 KOs), Weymouth, MA

WTKO3 (1:32)

Rynell Griffin (8-49-2, 2 KOs), Las Vegas, NV

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Shawn McCalman (10-0, 6 KOs), Aurora, CO

WTKO1 (1:07)

David Rohn (0-10-1), Vila Park, IL

MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Drew Dwelly (4-0-2, 4 KOs), New Bedford, MA

WTKO1 (2:26)

Ginno Montoya (0-7), Greenwood, NE

SUPER WELTERWEIGHTS

Kenny Larson (1-0, 1 KO), Salem, MA

WTKO1 (2:44)

Seigenald Daley, Jr. (0-2), Kalamazoo, MI

WELTERWEIGHTS

Miguel Valencia (1-0), Worcester, MA

WDEC 4 (40-36, 39-37, 37-39)

James Murrin (1-1, 0 KO), Boston, MA

Marcus Davidson (2-0, 2 KOs), Kansas City, KS

WTKO1 (0:04)

Marlon Hardnick, Jr. (0-1), Kalamazoo, MI

SUPER LIGHTWEIGHTS

Rohan Polanco (6-0, 3 KOs), Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

WDEC8 (80-7, 80-72, 79-73)

Jonathan Eniz (27-16-1, 11 KOs), Dolores, Buenos Aires, Argentina

LIGHTWEIGHTS

Daniel Bailey (9-0, 5 KOs), Tampa, FL

WTKO1 (2:50)

Austin Reed (0-10), Garden City, KS

SUPER FEATHERWEIGHTS

Alex Rivera (2-0, KOs), Southbridge, MA

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

DeShawn Kennedy (0-5), Holland, MI

Troy Anderson, Jr. (3-0, 2 KOs), Dorchester, MA

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

Ronny Arana (0-3), New York, NY




RayJay Bermudez & Francis Hogan Register impressive knockouts

DEDHAM, Mass. (September 25, 2021) – Albany lightweight RayJay “The Destroyer” Bermudez lived up to his nickname in the main event last night on the “Fight Night on the Charles at Moseley’s II” card, presented by Vertex Promotions, at Moseley’s On The Charles in Dedham, Massachusetts.

“Fight Night on the Charles at Moseley III” will be held this evening (Saturday) at the same venue, headlined by an 8-round super lightweight bout between undefeated Adrian “Tonka” Sosa (11-0, 9 KOs) and Danny “Venado” Flores.

The reigning NBA Continental Junior welterweight and ABF American West super lightweight champion, Bermudez outclassed his Ugandan opponent, Philip “The Hunter” Adyaka (7-16, 4 KOs), in fact, destroying him in a one-sided fight that only lasted until midway through the second round. In the final round, Bermudez badly hurt Adayaka with a powerful right hand and Adayaka never recovered. He was getting pounded when the referee waved off the fight.

“I felt sharp and strong in the ring tonight,” Bermudez said after the fight. “I was strong from a good training camp. I knew he was nervous when the fight started. I knew going into this fight and it would only go one or two rounds. I just want to keep fighting and work hard to get to the top.”

In the co-featured event, celebrated New England amateur boxer Francis “Frank The Tank” Hogan (8-0, 8 KOs) kept his perfect pro record intact on his 21st birthday, abusing Rakim Johnson (6-14-1, 5 KOs) from the start until the eventual finish in round three. Hogan dropped Johnson with a right hook in round two and again moments later, which was not ruled a knockdown because of a low blow. A tall, lanky southpaw from Weymouth (MA), Hogan came out in the third to close the show, throwing explosive punches that decked Johnson three more times in the third, until the referee mercifully ended the fight.

R – Hogan.jpg
Francis “Frank The Tank” Hogan (L) picked apart Rakim Johnson

“For me, personally, there was no better way to celebrate my 21st birthday than this,” Hogan talked about winning in such impressive fashion on his birthday. I live to do this in the ring. I wanted everybody there for me to celebrate. The key tonight was relaxation. I started out that way and got things going right up to the end. I want to close out the year fighting. And when that call comes for a world title fight, It’ll be Tank time!”

New Hampshire cruiserweight champion Larry “Hit Man” Pryor (15-24, 9 KOs), fighting out of Maryland, overcame a second-round knockdown and trailed, 20-17, on all three judges’ scorecards, until he cracked an unsuspecting Bryant , a 2-time New England amateur champion, with a left hook thrown from downtown that landed right on the button for a shocking third-round knockout.

Cornered by World super middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade and father, Paul, Providence middleweight Anthony Conception (8-0-1, 6 KOs) dominated Lenwood “Mr. Composure” Dozier (10-27-3, 5 KOs) enroute to a 6-round unanimous decision. Conception won all six rounds, using a stiff jab to set up powerful combinations to the head and body, buzzing a very game Dozier at the end of the third round with several well-placed right uppercuts.

New Bedford (MA) middleweight Drew “Tomahawk” Dwelly (3-0-2, 3 KOs) ripped a left hook to David Rohn’s (0-9-1) body, dropping the Illinois fighter midway through the opening round. Rohn beat the count, however, he didn’t respond to the referee’s instructions and the fight was halted.

Complete results below:


OFFICIAL RESULTS

MAIN EVENT – LIGHTWEIGHTS

RayJay Bermudez (14-0, 11 KOs), Albany, NY

WTKO2 (1:35)

Philip Adyaka (7-16, 4 KOs), Saint Paul, MN by way of Uganda

CO-FEATURE – JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Francis Hogan (8-0, 8 KOs), Weymouth, MA

WTKO3 (3:18)

Rakim Johnson (6-14-1, 5 KOs), Indianapolis, IN

CRUISERWEIGHTS

Larry Pryor (15-24, 9 KOs), Frederick, MD

WKO3 (2:17)

Bryan Daniels (6-2, 4 KOs), Worcester, MA

MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Anthony Conception (8-0-1, 6 KOs), Providence, RI

WDEC6 (60-54, 60-54, 60-54)

Lenwood Dozier (10-27-3, 5 KOs), Washington D.C.

Drew Dwelly (3-0-2, 3 KOs), New Bedford, MA

WTKO1 (1:48)

David Rohn (0-9-1), Villa Park, IL





Helenius Stuns Brooklyn Crowd, Drops And Stops Kownacki In 4

BROOKLYN, NY — In a crowd-silencing upset, heavyweight stalwart Robert “The Nordic Nightmare” Helenius (30-3, 19KO) stopped previously unbeaten fan favorite Adam “Babyface” Kownacki (21-15KO) in the main event of a PBC on FOX card from the Barclays Center.  

In the opening round, the fight looked like it would be a classic Kownacki display, as the Polish-born Brooklynite immediately greeted Finland’s Helenius with fists of fury from the opening bell.  

But in the second, Helenius fought fire with fire and stood toe-to-toe with Kownacki, trading wild blows.  Kownacki bested Helenius in their exchanges, but proved vulnerable to Helenius’s right hand.

Everything changed midway through the fourth when Kownacki, who had banked all three rounds to that point, exchanged right hands with Helenius.  The 30 year-old Kownacki landed a heavy right cross at the same time the 36 year-old Helenius clipped him with a right hook on the chin, which sent him dazed and to the mat.  Referee David Fields incorrectly ruled a slip, but Kownacki was all out of sorts when the fight resumed. Hazy-eyed and woozy, Kownacki struggled to steady his 265.2lb frame. Helenius continued to batter Kownacki, who displayed zero survival skills, and scored a knockdown with a straight left.  The barrage of punches continued to rein on Kownacki until Fields stepped in to stop the contest at the 1:07 mark of the fourth round, silencing the 8,811 fans in attendance, most of whom were decked out in Polish red and white.

It was as great a night as it could have been for Helenius, who was knocked out cold by Gerald Washington in his only other fight on US soil.  The Finland-native, who holds wins over former world champions Sam Peter and Lamon Brewster, has now won two in a row since the Washington bout.  

Tonight marked Kownacki’s first defeat and tenth fight at the Barclays Center.  It was also the first time he was back in the ring since his historic twelve round brawl against former world title challenger Chris Arreola, a bout that set the CompuBox record for most punches thrown (2,172) and landed (667) in a heavyweight contest.  

“Kownack is a tough fighter,” Helenius said.  “I worked hard in training camp and it paid off.

“I knew that I hit him hard and I knew I just had to continue. I knew he was still hurt after that punch. 

Kownacki also spoke after the fight, stating, “”It wasn’t my night. It’s boxing. It’s a tough sport and things just didn’t go my way tonight. It was a learning experience and I’m going to go back to the drawing board and get back to work.

“He hit me with a good shot. I knew what was going on, but I’m just upset with myself. It is what it is.”

Ajagba Batters Cojanu En Route To 9th Round TKO

Heavyweight prospect Efe Ajagba (13-0, 11KO) battered and broke down Romania’s Razvan Cojanu (17-7, 9KO) en route to a ninth round TKO victory.  

Ajagba, 25, started slow, perhaps a bit gun-shy as this was his first time back in the ring since his fight against Iago Kiladze — a fight in which both men traded early knockdowns before Ajagba landed a fight-ending right in the fifth.  Tonight, the former Nigerian Olympian, needed a few rounds to find a rhythm, and while he slowly eased his way into the contest, his Romanian counterpart was letting his hands fly.  

After enduring a rocky start, one in which Ajagba would likely admit he was on the receiving end of too many clean shots, the Nigerian started to ramp things up in the late-middle rounds.  

By the seventh round, Ajagba was beginning to wear down Cojanu, and every backwards step Cojanu took, Ajagba matched with a step forward.  Roughly two minutes into the eight round Ajagba landed an explosive right cross that halted Cojanu in his tracks. Ajagba, who trains out of Houston, TX with Ronnie Shields, quickly followed up with a flurry of punches that sent the Romanian to the mat.  The Romanian barely beat referee Ron Lipton’s 10-count and convinced him he was fit to continue. 

In the next round, Ajagba would finish off Cojanu for good, punishing him for the majority of the round until the Romanian willingly took a knee near Ajabga’s blue corner.  Lipton stepped in to wave off the bout at the 2:46 mark of round nine.  

“Cojanu has a lot of experience,” Ajagba said post-fight. “When I threw my jab, he used his right hand to block my vision, so I couldn’t throw as many combinations as I wanted. It was a good challenge. 

“Ronnie told me to attack the body behind the jab. It was very effective and it started to slow him down. When he got close to me, I knew to throw more and punish him. 

Frank Sanchez Easily Outpoints Joey Dawejko In Ten Round Clash

In the opening bout of the televised portion of the PBC on FOX card, 27 year-old Cuban heavyweight Frank “The Cuban Flash” Sanchez (15-0, 11KO) turned back the always-game Joey “Tank” Dawejko (20-8-4, 11KO) to earn a ten round unanimous decision (100-90×2, 98-92).

It was a relatively clean performance from the 6’4” 222lbs Sanchez, who didn’t allow for the shorter, stockier Dawejko (5’10”, 247lbs) to get into an offensive rhythm.  The rising heavyweight prospect did well in the early onset to keep Dawejko out of range, employing a weighted mixture of jabs and defensive footwork to muffle any Dawejko offense.  

By the early-middle rounds, Sanchez was scoring regularly with jabs, and more devastatingly with straight rights that were landing without resistance.  By the time the fifth round came to a close, Dawejko was sporting a nasty cut over his left eye.  

After being dominated the previous round, the stout Polish-American dug deep in the sixth though and had his best round of the fight, landing two beautiful lefts – one upstairs, one downstairs – during the frame.  Any minor success was short-lived, however, as the Cuban came back with two big rights to bookend a clear-cut Sanchez seventh round. 

Credit is deserved for the game Philadelphian though, who never stopped trying to close the distance between him and Sanchez.  Dawejko various ways to jumpstart his offense — at times lunging into range while throwing looping left hooks and windmilling rights.  Other times, the 29 year-old Polish-American shuffled into range behind a double jab. Unfortunately, when Dawejko did close the gap, Sanchez punished him for it.  

At the end of ten, all three judges scored the contest wide for Sanchez, 100-90, twice and 98-94.  

“I was well prepared and I thought I fought very well tonight,” Sanchez said afterward. “I dominated the fight. I showed good footwork and movement and did exactly what we worked on.

“I didn’t want to fight Dawejko’s fight, and he realized that and it frustrated him. He might have thought he’s faced guys like me, but there’s no other heavyweight like me.”

Dawejko shared his thoughts post-fight, too, saying, “I knew he was going to fight on the outside and he stayed on the outside. Not much to say, he just did what he had to do. 

“He was scared that’s why he was running around. He kept jumping back and staying away, so I guess he made it easy on the judges.”

Carlos Negron Takes Robert Alfonso’s “O”, Stops Him In One

Puerto Rican heavyweight Carlos Negron (21-3, 16KO) dropped previously unbeaten Cuban Robert Alfonso (19-1-1, 9KO) twice in the first round to score a TKO victory in a contest initially slated for eight rounds.  

Negron, 33, caught Alfonso early with a left hook that the former 2008 Cuban Olympian never recovered from.  The 6’6” Puerto Rican kept the pressure on and battered Alfonso around the ring until Alfonso collapsed to the mat where referee Mark Ortega immediately stopped the contest at the 2:03 mark of the first round.  

The win stops a two-fight skid for Negron, who had been KO’d in both.  

For the 33 year-old Alfonso, tonight marks his first pro defeat.

Steven Torres Knocks Out Ajabor In 2

Heavyweight prospect Steven Torres (3-0, KO) kept his win and KO percentage perfect, stopping previously unbeaten Alex Ajabor (2-1, KO) in the second of a scheduled four round contest. 

Midway through the round’s opening frame, Ajabor landed a clean shot on Torres and got overly excited.  The 34 year-old Ajabor carelessly flung punches at Torres, who countered with a clipping right that dropped Ajabor hard to the mat.  

In the next round, Reading, PA’s Torres emphatically ended the fight with a straight right that landed on the button and turned off Ajabor’s lights.  The referee immediately waved off the fight at the 2:32 mark of the second round.  

The 6’7” Torres, who is trained by Anibal Adorno (father of Top Rank prospects Joseph and Jeremy), has fought all of his pro contests at the Barclays Center.  

Zachary Ochoa Earns Hard-Fought UD Over Angel Sarinana

In his Barclays Center debut, Brooklyn native Zachary “Zungry” Ochoa (21-1, 7KO) scored a hard-earned unanimous decision (77-73×2, 76-74) over fellow junior welterweight Angel “Pescado” Sarinana (10-10-3, 4KO) in a eight round affair. 

It was a back and forth affair that initially saw Ochoa wanting to box on the outside, sticking and moving.  But the Mexican in Sarinana wanted action, and insisted on bringing the fight to Ochoa, constantly walking himself into range where the two were more than happy to eat a shot to a land a few of their own.  

In the seventh round, referee Mike Ortega deducted a point from 27 year-old Sarinana for headbutting.  Early in the following round Ortega evened the score, deducting a point from Ochoa for holding.  

It was only once the fight resumed after the holding deduction did Sarinina throw all caution to the wind, bull-rushing his way towards Ochoa throwing fists from all angles, scoring most notably with left hooks.  Ochoa dealt with Sarinana’s explosive aggression well enough to pepper in his own hooks and crosses that made for electrifying exchanges as the fight came to a close.  

But in the end, it was the 27 year-old Ochoa, who got the nod from all three judges.  The win runs his unbeaten streak to five — all via decision. He was retired by Yves Ulysses, Jr. in 2017, which remains the lone blemish on his record.  

Conversely, the loss drops Sarinana’s record on US soil to 1-6.  His only win in the US came against previously unbeaten Kazakh, Dimash Niyazov at the Barclays Center in 2018.   

Gonzalez Notches First Stoppage Win Over Labby 

In a welterweight contest initially slated for six rounds, New York City’s Arnold Gonzalez (4-0, 1KO) scored a third round TKO over Illinois’ Traye Labby (4-5-4, 3KO). 

It was undoubtedly the most impressive the 25 year-old Gonzalez has looked in his young career.  The Ecuadorean-American found a home for his right hand early and often and strategically applied pressure that Labby struggled to deal with.  Early in the third round, Gonzalez walked a wounded Labby into a neutral corner and unloaded a barrage of shots that whipped a defenseless Labby’s head in every direction until the referee stepped in to stop the contest at the :53 second mark.  

It was the first loss in eight fights for the 24 year-old Labby, who last tasted defeat in April 2017.  

For Gonzalez, who trains with Julian Chua out of the famed Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles, tonight marked the third consecutive fight at the Barclays Center.  

Boston’s Hogan Scores Impressive KO Win In Debut

In his pro debut, Boston’s Francis “The Tank” Hogan (1-0, 1KO) scored a fourth round KO over fellow middleweight southpaw Brent Oren (2-4) to kick off an eight bout fight card from the Barclays Center. 

Hogan, 19, fought a calculated and at times reserved fight, but displayed bursts of offense that left Lynchburg, VA’s Oren with no answers.  

Roughly two-thirds into the fourth round, Hogan planted a meaty left hook to the liver that immediately shut down Oren’s system, leaving him crumpled in a ball near the red corner where he was counted out.  The end officially came at the 2:11 mark of round 4.    

Hogan, who racked up various amateur titles over the last few years, made the decision to turn pro after dropping two close contests at the US Olympic qualifying tournament in December.  He’ll look to go 2-for-2 as a pro on April 9 when he makes his hometown debut in Boston. 




Heavyweight Sensation Efe Ajagba Takes on Former Title Challenger Razvan Cojanu in Co-Main Event of FOX PBC Fight Night & on FOX Deportes Saturday, March 7 from Barclays Center in Brooklyn

BROOKLYN (February 4, 2020) – Undefeated heavyweight sensation Efe Ajagba will take on former title challenger Razvan Cojanu in the 10-round co-main event of FOX PBC Fight Night and on FOX Deportes Saturday, March 7 from Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™.

The night of heavyweight action begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and is headlined by undefeated Polish star and Brooklyn native Adam Kownacki looking to thrill his hometown crowd when he takes on Robert Helenius in a 12-round WBA Heavyweight Title eliminator. The opening attraction will see rising heavyweight Frank Sánchez step in to face Philadelphia’s Joey Dawejko in a 10-round battle.

Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are on sale now and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com and barclayscenter.com. Tickets are also available for purchase now at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center.

The non-televised undercard lineup will include exciting Brooklyn native Zachary “Zungry” Ochoa (20-1, 7 KOs) in an eight-round super lightweight fight and undefeated Cuban heavyweight Robert Alfonso (19-0-1, 9 KOs) in an eight or 10-round attraction against Puerto Rico’s Carlos Negrón (20-3, 16 KOs).

Rounding out the action is heavyweight prospect Steven Torres (2-0, 2 KOs) in a four-round bout and the pro debut of Boston’s Francis Hogan in a four-round middleweight fight.

Nigeria’s Ajagba (12-0, 10 KOs) has increased his opposition in his recent fights and passed those tests by getting off the canvas to stop Iago Kiladze in December 2019 and defeating fellow 2016 Olympian Ali Eren Demirezen by 10-round unanimous decision in July, both on FOX. The 25-year-old Ajagba gained widespread notoriety in August 2018 when his opponent, Curtis Harper, walked out of the ring after touching gloves to start the first round. Ajagba won the fight without throwing a punch as Harper was disqualified. Living in Stafford, Texas and training with renowned veteran trainer Ronnie Shields, Ajagba will make his 2020 debut and third career appearance at Barclays Center on March 7, after four victories in 2019.

Born in Romania and now residing in Burbank, California, Cojanu (17-6, 9 KOs) most recently won a decision over Tamaz Zadishvili in October 2019. The 32-year-old has fought professionally since 2011 and rebounded from a defeat in his first pro fight to win 16 of his next 17 bouts. He defeated Zhiyu Wu in 2016 to earn a title fight against Joseph Parker, which he lost by decision in 2017. Cojanu would then go on to challenge top heavyweight contender Luis Ortiz, plus rising contenders Daniel Dubois and Nathan Gorman, in three straight fights from 2018 until his most recent triumph.

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