QUINCY, Mass. (January 18, 2023) – Former New England Heavyweight Champion Justin “Crazy Train” Rolfe (7-4-1, 5 KOs) is making a comeback from his 10-month retirement in the 6-round, co-featured event February 18^th against Jonathan Gruber (3-1, 2 KOs) for the vacant USBF title at Melrose Memorial Hall in Melrose, Massachusetts.

“Turf War 4”, presented by Granite Chin Promotions (GCP), is being streamed live on BXNGTV.com.

Massachusetts Middleweight Champion Anthony “The Gentle Savage” Andreozzi (4-2, 1 KO) will make his first title defense against challenger Jamer Jones (2-1, 2 KOs), of Pittsfield (MA), in the 6-round main event.

The 31-year-old Rolfe, fighting out of Fairfield, Maine, hung up his gloves after his most recent  fight last May, losing to undefeated Philadelphia prospect Sonny Conto.

“I decided to stop fighting because I’d been coaching awhile and I have a 2-year-old son,” Rolfe explained. After the time off, I talked to Chris (his promoter Chris Traietti), telling him I was itching to fight again because I had some unfinished business. He gave me this opportunity to fight for the USBF title.

“I’ll have some normal concerns from having time off, but I had been fighting so hard for so long. I fought consistently and my body needed time away from boxing. I look different. This is, honestly, the best going into a fight. I’ll still be aggressive but not as straight forward. I took a step back and I still love boxing. It’s the ultimate for highs and lows. I still have fight left in me and I’m going to finish on my terms.”

A little-known fact is that Rolfe was a National Power Lifting Champion. In fact, his “Crazy Train” nickname came from when he set his personal best squat of 815 pounds while listening to Ozzy Osbourne’s song, “Crazy Train.” Rolfe’s powerlifting resulted in injuries and when he could no longer compete in his favorite sport, he found boxing.

Rolfe knows little about his opponent Gruber, who fights out of Fall River, Massachusetts, other than he had a limited amateur boxing career and lives considerably closer to Melrose than he does.

“I’m going into this fight humble, treating it like I was fighting a 20-0 guy,” Rolfe concluded. “No way he beats me if I use my power, speed, confidence and stay sharp. I think he will slow down; I take him out in the fourth or fifth round.”

Former New England Champion, welterweight Mike “Bad Man” Ohan, Jr. (16-2, 9 KOs), of Holbrook (MA), gets right back in the ring after his impressive performance this past December at famed Madison Square Garden, albeit in a loss to undefeated U.S. Olympian Tiger Johnson (7-0, KOs).. Ohan faces veteran  Puerto Rican fighter Daniel “The Hudson Valley Kid” Sostre (13-22-1, 5 KOs) in a 10-round junior welterweight match.

Indian welterweight Vaibhav Singh “Ahir Boxer” Yadav (9-2, 7 KOs), a former WBC Asia Silver and Asian Boxing Federation welterweight champion, makes his United States debut against William Parra Smith (4-13-1, 3 KOs), of Alaska, in a 6-rounder.

Also fighting on the undercard in a pair of 4-bouts is New Jersey welterweight Tyrone “Hands of Stone” Luckey (16-19-4, 12 KOs), the former ABF USA Mid-American super lightweight title holder, versus Carlos Marrero III (4-8-3, 0 KOs), of Bridgeport (CT). 

Tickets are on sale and priced (plus fees) at $70.00 (VIP Stage Seating), $60.00 (General Floor Seating) and $45.00 (General Auditorium Seating). Go online to purchase at https://granite-chin-promotions.ticketleap.com/ or from any of the participating fighters.

Doors open at 6 p.m. ET, first bout at 7 p.m. ET.

INFORMATION :  

www,granite-chin-promotions.com

Facebook.com/GraniteChin

Twitter: @Granite_Chin

South Philly heavyweight boxer Sonny Conto (9-0, 7KOs) looks to shatter triskaidekaphobia when he puts his undefeated record on the line and steps into the ring for a six-round bout against former USA New England Champion Justin Rolfe (7-3-1, 5KOs), of Fairfield, ME, at Parx Casino® on Friday, May 13 at 7 p.m.

“The fans of Bucks County, Philadelphia, and New Jersey are passionate about their boxing, and we have been bombarded with fans contacting us asking when we are going to return to Parx Casino®. I’m excited to tell them – WE ARE BACK!” stated promoter, Joe Hand, Jr.

Tickets at $50, $75, and $125 are on sale NOW at https://tickets.parxcasino.com/tickets/390007, Hold My Ticket Call Center at (1-877-466-3404) or by calling 215-364-9000. Must be 21 or older to attend.

Daiyaan Butt (10-2, 5KOs), also of Philadelphia, PA, has two first round knockouts in his last four fights and looks to show his power in a six-round super lightweight bout.

Super featherweight Jordon Murphy (2-0, 1KO), originally from Bensalem, PA, and now residing in Deerfield Beach, FL, will be returning to Bensalem to fight in front of his family and friends when he competes in a four-round super featherweight bout.

Undefeated D’Angelo Fuentes (7-0, 4KOs), of Coconut Creek, FL, will have his hands full in a six-round featherweight bout as he tries to push his undefeated streak to eight.

The always entertaining Christopher Burgos (3-5-1, 1 KO), of North Philadelphia, PA, will face Philip Davis (2-5-1) of Worcester, MA, in a six-round lightweight contest.

Making his debut on the card will be 2014 Pennsylvania Golden Gloves champion Karl Wylie out of Coatesville, PA.

For press credentials contact Bam McCloskey at Brittany@JoeHandPromotions.com.

ABOUT JOE HAND PROMOTIONS

Founded in 1971, Joe Hand Promotions is the nation’s oldest and largest television distributor of pay-per-view and closed circuit sports and entertainment events, such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), championship boxing, and concerts. JHP’s event consultants provide their marketing knowledge and promotional expertise to help commercial establishments grow their business through the use of live sports and entertainment programming. Additionally, JHP hosts 4-6 live boxing events per year in the Philadelphia area. These events have held sold-out crowds at various venues and arenas.

ABOUT PARX CASINO®

Parx Casino® is owned and operated by Greenwood Racing, Inc. and is the #1 revenue-generating casino property in Pennsylvania. Parx Casino® is conveniently located 20 minutes north of center city Philadelphia, I-95 exit 37 or PA Turnpike exit 351 (westbound), exit 352 (eastbound) on Street Road in Bensalem, Bucks County, with complimentary parking for over 5,000 cars. Parx features Xlounge, a luxury casino lounge, and over 200,000 square feet of gaming; 3,270 slot machines and 148 live table games; 40 poker tables; Parx Poker, a new custom-built private poker room; live racing and simulcast action. The Xcite Center at Parx Casino is a 1,500-seat live entertainment venue. Parx has an array of dining options to include Parxgrill, an upscale signature restaurant; Foodies quick service dining; Chickie’s & Pete’s Crab House and Sports Bar; Jax sports bar; Circle Bar; and Bambu Noodle House. In 2019, Parx launched sports betting and opened the massive year-round Liberty Bell Beer Garden gastropub to rave reviews. For more information on Parx Casino®, visit www.parxcasino.com.

LAS VEGAS – Father Time came knocking Saturday night. He looked a lot like Yordenis Ugas.

Manny Pacquaio couldn’t stop him.

Pacquiao, still a timeless legend, finally ran into that inevitable moment. The clock said it’s time to move on, time to do something else. Maybe a campaign for the Filipino presidency will be his next fight. Maybe he can go on to be a 43-year-old President. Then, he would be a young man all over again. But at 42, he’s old and finished as a fighter.

There are no more opening bells left on his calendar. Just another birthday in December. Pacquiao would not say what he plans to do next. But he didn’t have to.

Ugas punches told him again and again throughout 12 rounds.  Nearly every round included signs that Pacquiao’s days as a fighter are over. Ugas scored a unanimous decision, 115-113 on one card and 116-112 on two.

Ugas’ power moved Pacquiao backwards and sideways. At times, he looked awkward in trying to stay away from the Cuban, who was a late stand-in for the younger, stronger Errol Spence Jr. Mostly, the Filipino Senator looked stationary, a target for Ugas, a welterweight who is a step or down the welterweight ladder from Spence and Terence Crawford.

“My legs were tired,’’ Pacquiao (62-8-2, 31 KOs) said after his first fight in 25 months. “I just couldn’t move.’’   

It didn’t take long to see that Pacquiao has only moved into middle age.

“Manny, Manny, Manny.” The chants were from a crowd that remembered a younger man. They started long before opening bell. They echoed through the jammed T-Mobile Arena, loud enough to be heard on the Vegas’ strip and maybe on the streets of Manila.

In the first round, Pacquaio predictably pursued early, backing up the bigger, broad-shouldered Ugas. There was some immediate uncertainty evident in Ugas body language. Pacquiao’s foot speed and punching angles have bewildered just about everyone he has faced for more than two decades. Initially, it looked as if Ugas (27-4, 12 KOs) would be just another confused face. Pacquiao has seen a lot of them. Beaten most of them.

Near the end of those first three minutes, however, Ugas landed a big body shot. For a split second, it was almost like flipping as switch. Pacquiao froze. Those feet, ever fleet for so long, suddenly quit moving. Ugas a sent message, to both Pacquiao and himself. Pacquiao knew Ugas had the power to hurt him. Suddenly, Ugas was emboldened, knowing his size and strength were enough to offset Pacquiao’s diminished skillset.

For the rest of the bout, Pacquiao seemed to fight in desperate spurts. He’d rock Ugas, but never really hurt him. Ugas would respond, always countering with a big jab or an overhand right. Increasingly, the Cuban knew it was his fight. He’d smile at Pacquiao as if to say the fight and the 147-pound belt belonged to him.

“Most of all, I want to thank Manny Pacquiao,’’ Ugas said through a translator. “I want to thank him for what he has given me.’’

A gift from Father Time.

Guerrero scores dull decision over Victor Ortiz

It was a fight between ex-champions. Victor Ortiz-versus-Robert Guerrero might have worked Triller. But on a traditional boxing card featuring Manny Pacquiao-Yordenis Ugas, it just didn’t work.

There were boos throughout the 10 rounds.

There were cheers, but only in the end

Guerrero (37-6-1, 20 KOs) won, scoring a unanimous decision over Ortiz (32-7-3, 25 KOs) at T-Mobile Arena. In what looked to be a capacity crowd waiting for Pacquiao-Ugas, it was also unanimous, unanimously happy that it was finally over.

Mark Magsayo scores 10th-round KO

Call it a double down, two right hands that put Atizapan de Zaragosa onto the canvas and kept him there for a couple of scary moments in a devastating 10th-round knockout in a World Boxing Council featherweight eliminator Saturday on the Manny Pacquiao-Yordenis Ugas card at T-Mobile.

Magsayo (23-0, 16 KOs), a Filipino who had Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach in his corner, ended any chance of an upset on the cards. Zaragosa (32-5-1, 28 KOs), of Mexico, surprised Magsayo, knocking him down in the fifth. In the end, however, Magsayo’s power said it once. Said it again. Said it all.  

Carlos Castro delivers dramatic KO of Escandon

In the first round, he survived. In the middle rounds, he had to be stubborn. Then, he had to be resilient. Then, he was sensational.

Phoenix featherweight Carlos Castro (27-0, 12 KOs)did it all Saturday night in his first pay-per-view appearance on the Manny Pacquiao-Yordenis Ugas undercard at T-Mobile Arena.. First, he endured a bug punch. Then, he recovered.

Then, he won by knockout with a whirlwind of punches that left former contender Oscar Escandon exhausted, dazed and beaten.

At 1:08 of the 10th, it was official: Castro  was the KO winner and a proven contender at 126 pounds. 

Escandon (26-6, 18 KOs) rocked Castro in the closing seconds of the opening round. Then, it looked as if Castro was in for a long night. But he regained his footing and his wits. Then in a wild seventh, he gained momentum and kept it with a long jab and slick skillset. Escandon looked confused. He lunged and missed with a punch that sent him crashing onto the canvas like a kid doing a belly flop.

In the final round, Castro pursued and delivered a whirlwind-like finish with a beautiful succession of punches for a defining victory, the biggest thus far in his emerging career. 

-Mexican featherweight Angel Contreras (11-4-2, 6 KOs) upset any chance that John Dato (14-1-1, 9 KOs) might warm up the ring for fellow Filipino Manny Pacquiao in the final fight before the pay-per-view telecast for the Pacquiao-Yordenis Ugas card. Contrerras beat Dato, handing him his first loss and flooring the Filipino in the third-round of an eight-round  unanimous decision.  

California lightweight Mikel Clements (1-0) leaped into his pro debut on a major card, lunging to land punches through four head-rocking rounds for a unanimous decision over Eliseo Villalobos (1-2) of Simi Valley, CA.

The Pacquiao-Ugas undercard resumed after a long break following the tripleheader beginning like a guy waking up from a nap. It was a yawner. Super-middleweights Burley Brooks (6-2-1, 5 KOs) of Dallas and Cameron Rivera (9-6-4 of Fife, WA fought to a dull draw. Neither could gain an edge or even momentum in the six-rounder. 

The Manny Pacquiao-Yordenis Ugas card started with a triple-header, an afternoon matinee, before the fans were allowed into T-Mobile Arena Saturday.

Behind closed doors and in front of empty seats, Mexican lightweight Jose Valenzuela (9-0, 6 KOs), drawing first blood in a one-sided assault for a fourth-round TKO of Donte Strayhorn (12-4, 4 KOs) of Cinicinnati.

In the second bout, power-forward-sized heavyweight prospect Steve Torres (5-0, 5 KOs) of Reading, PA, landed early and often, scoring a first-round TKO of Justin Rolfe (6-3-1, 4 KOs) of Fairfield, ME.

In the third bout, Detroit lightweight Frank Martin (14-0, 10 KOs) outscored, outpunched and overwhelmed Ryan Kielczweski (30-6, 11 KOs) enroute to a unanimous decision over the fighter from Quincy, MA.  

DERRY, N.H. (August 30, 2020) – Two regional title bouts, supported by several stay-busy fights, highlighted Granite Chin Promotion’s first pro boxing event since this past November, ‘Return to Derry,” last night (Sat., Aug. 29), in front of a near capacity crowd at New England Sports Center in Derry, New Hampshire.

Two world champions were in attendance to support the fighters, undefeated reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) middleweight champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade and “El Gallo” Jose Antonio Rivera, the retired 3-time, 2-division title holder.

“I’m glad that tonight we took as step forward towards normalcy,” promoter Chris Traietti commented. Sports help to bring people together and tonight we had a packed house with people of all races, religions, and creeds. I’m happy these Americans enjoyed themselves here tonight.”

Justin “Crazy Train” Rolfe was crowned New England heavyweight champion by way of an 8-round unanimous decision over Tracey “Titan” Johnson in the main event.

Rolfe vs. Johnson II was a rematch of a 6-round majority draw last November in Quincy, Massachusetts. A lot more was at stake in the rematch, though, because the N.E. heavyweight title was on the line. Boston southpaw Johnson, the half-brother of Andrade, methodically boxed, while Maine-resident Rolfe came forward throwing bombs, and their contrast of styles made for a entertaining fight.

The elusive Johnson started finding his range in the fourth round, connecting with combinations as Rolfe appeared to tire, but he got his second wind and continued to be aggressive, often pinning Johnson on the ropes. The two evenly matched fighters went back and forth in the latter half of the fight, although Rolfe pressed the action and Johnson countered. Neither appeared to be hurt at any point during the bout., Both let loose in the eighth and final round, leaving nothing in the tank. Rolfe’s non-stop attack and turned out to be the difference in this match-up.

Ryan DiBartolomeo captured the vacant New Hampshire welterweight title, taking a 6-round split decision over Kris Jacobs, in the co-featured event. “I live in Massachusetts but all my fights (3-0-1) have been in New Hampshire and I train in Nashua (NH),” DiBartolomeo said after the fight. “Fighting in New Hampshire is like fighting at home and now I’m the New Hampshire welterweight champ.”

DiBartolemeo quickly came out of the corner and soon dropped Jacobs for an 8-count. Jacobs made it through the opening round, but he was unable to avoid the free-swinging DiBartolemeo’s strong right hand, peppering his opponents head, in round two. Jacobs settled down in the third, picked-up the pace in the fourth, and started letting his hands go more in the fifth, landing more effectively on his aggressive foe. The two fighters went at it toe-to-toe in the final round and DiBartolemeo closed the show.

New England middleweight champion Kendrick Ball, Jr., fighting light heavyweight Tahuk Taylor, displayed his skill set to the maximum, blasting his opponent to the mat with a sweet straight right, again with a beautiful left hook, and he was about to close the show when referee Jackie Morell mercifully ended the fight with 13-seconds left in round one.

Popular junior welterweight Mike “Bad Man” OHan, Jr. did just about everything but stop gritty DeWayne Wisdom, who was penalized two points and officially floored once. But he survived, albeit losing a lop-sided 6-round unanimous decision to Ohan.

New England Golden Gloves champion Francis “Frank The Tank” Hogan dismissed Rashan Wisdom, who went down on the canvas twice before his corner threw in the towel. Hogan is a tall, lanky southpaw who is well schooled and now 2-0 (2 KOs).

In a spirited fight, undefeated light heavyweight Edet “Papito” Mkpanam (4-0, 3 KOs) was relentless against a game Saul “Spider” Almeida, one of the top mixed-martial-arts fighters in New England. Mkpanan dropped Almeida in the first two rounds on his way to a tough 4-round unanimous decision.

Promising Boston lightweight prospect Jonathan Depina outclassed Theo “The Unholy Truth” Desjardin, flooring him early and finishing him off soon after with a blistering shot, to improve to 2-0 (2 KOs).

Middleweight Anthony Concepcion won by way of a third-round disqualification when his opponent, pro-debuting Caleb Denham, ignored the referee’s instructions to continue fighting.

Middleweight Larry “Slomoshun” Smith, fighting out of Dallas, recorded his first victory in more than nine years, taking a 4-round unanimous decision from Jesus “The Juice” Cintron. The 41-year-old Smith, 0-39-2 during his winless streak, dropped Anderson in the first round.

Larry Smith celebrated after his first win in 9 years

Texas light heavyweight Bryan Vera knocked out Mike Anderson with a big right hand early in round one. Referee Leo Gerstel immediately waved off the count right after Anderson hit the mat. Vera, who is known for his participating in The Contender reality television show, has defeated world champions Sergio Mora (twice), then-undefeated Andy Lee and Serhiy Dzinziruk during his 16-year pro career.

Veteran junior middleweight Cliff “Magician” McPherson had no tricks for Tyrone “Hands of Stone” Luckey because he was disqualified in the second round by referee Morrell for repeated holding.

Opening the night was a cruiserweight match between Larry “Hitman” Pryor and Francisco Neto. It didn’t take long for Pryor, whose cousin was the late, Hall of Famer Aaron “Hawk” Pryor, put down Neto with a nicely placed left hook. Neto beat the count but stood on wobbly legs, leading referee Gerstel to halt the fight at the 35-second mark of the opening round.

Complete results below:

OFFICIAL RESULTS
MAIN EVENT – VACANT NEW ENGLAND. HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Justin Rolfe (4-1-1, 3 KOs), Fairfield, ME
WDEC8 (79-73, 79-73, 78-74)
Tracey Johnson (4-8-6, 0 KOs), Boston, MA
(Rolfe won the N.E. heavyweight title)

CO-FEATURE – VACANT NEW HAMPSHIRE WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Ryan DiBartolomeo (3-0-1, 1 KO), Leominster, MA
WDEC6 (59-54, 59-54, 56-57)
Kris Jacobs (2-1-1, 0 KOs), Fall River, MA
(DiBartolomeo won vacant N.H. welterweight title)

CRUISERWEIGHTS
Larry Pryor (12-22, 6 KOs), Frederickson, MD
WTKO1 (0.35)
Francisco Neto (1-9), Woburn, MA

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS
Kendrick Ball, Jr. (15-1-2, 11 KOs), Worcester, MA

Tahuk Taylor (3-12-1, 1 KO), Greensboro, NC

Edet Mkpanam (4-0, 3 KOs), New Bedford, MA
WDEC4 (40-35, 39-36, 39-36)
Saul Almeida (0-12), Framingham, MA

Bryan Vera (27-16, 17 KOs), Auston, TX
WKO1 (1:01)
Mike Anderson (0-6), Philadelphia, PA

MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Francis Hogan (2-0, 2 KOs), Weymouth, MA
WTKO1 (1:37)
Rashan Blackburn (8-54-2, 4 KOs), Columbus, OH

Larry Smith (11-44-2, 7 KOs), Dallas, TX
WEC4 (40-35, 40-36, 40-36)
Jesus Javier Cintron (1-14-2, 0 KOs), Asbury Park, NJ

Anthony Concepcion (5-0-1, 4 KOs). Providence, RI
WDQ3 (152)
Caleb Denham (0-1, 0 KOs), Jamaica Plain, MA

JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Tyrone Luckey (10-12-4, 7 KOs), Little Egg Harbor, NJ
WDQ2 (2:51)
Cliff McPherson (2-41-1, 1 KO), Cleveland, OH

Mike Ohan, Jr. (10-1, 5 KOs), Holbrook, MA
WDEC6 (60-52, 59-54, 59-54)
DeWayne Wisdom (7-54-2, 3 KOs), Indianapolis, IN
LIGHTWEIGHTS
Jonathan Depina (2-0, 2 KOs), Boston, MA
WKO1 (2:17)
Theo Desjarden (0-12), Wrentham, MA