Results R In. TKO's All Nite Long at the Worc Palladium.
“El Gallo” Jose Antonio Rivera of Worcester, Massachusetts came out of retirement to fight a recent change in opponents and ended up with Larry “Slomoshun” Smith of Dallas, Texas in the scheduled eight round main event. Smith mentioned to me before the bout that “He’s coming for the W. He’s doing this for his kids”. Rivera is the former International Boxing Organization (IBO) World welterweight title, the former World Boxing Association (WBA) World Welterweight Championship, the former WBA World super welterweight title.
The fight lasted 7 rounds with Rivera getting the TKO victory at 1:04. During round 7, Smith walks over to the blue corner and puts his knee to canvas and ref Bob Beniot started counting after Smith was getting worn out to the body. The fight was controlled by Rivera who tried to open up Smith, backing him up with Smith waiting on the counter and just wearing him out. Smith kept his guard up with Rivera continuing to go to the body, but at times Rivera was flat footed. Smith worked his reflexes but looked tired after the 1st round. The shots landed by Smith didn’t seem to phase Rivera. In round 5 Smith broke his right hand.
Rivera increased to 42-6-1, 25 kos and Smith decreased to 10-38-1, 7 Kos.
Smith Broke his hand in the 5th round.
Middleweight Kendrick Ball, Jr. of Worcester, Massachusetts and promoted by CES met up against Fabian “El Lobo” Valdez of Mexico Ball was coming off of a loss at Foxwoods when he fought Alexis Gaytan. Ball had a height advantage. Valdez more like a jack rabbit and fights with an awkward style. Ball lands a beautiful right on Valdez and in slow motion he went down. Ball continues on with combinations and ends the night at 2:21 with a body shot and a TKO victory. What a fantastic victory for Ball. The Worc crowd was in the house and was ecstatic with Ball getting the W. Balls increased to 10-1-2 and 7 kos and Valdez 2-4.
REMATCH!! REMATCH!!! Junior middleweight Khiary “Too Sharp” Gray of Worcester, Massachusetts also promoted by CES Boxing fought a 2nd time against “Lino” Antonio Chaves Fernandez of Brockton, MA. The first time they met up was on July 17, 2015, Gray won by TKO round 1 of 4. As usual you never know which Lino is going to show up. Ball was not the chief second in Gray’s corner. Round 1, both fighters exchanging punches. Gray landed a left and right and dropped Lino right to the canvas. Referee Bobby Benoit stopped the bout at 2:27 in round 1 and gets the TKO victory. Gray advanced to 16-4, 12 kos and Lino 9-34, 4 kos. Lino disagreed with the referee’s stoppage and was discussing with the ref his thoughts in the ring.
Welterweight Wilfredo "El Sucaro" Pagan of Southbridge faced the Mexican, Engelberto Valenzuela. Round 1, Pagan landing continuous lefts and rights on Valenzuela but doesn’t look like he’s doing any damage. Pagan doing the same in round 2 head, head, body head. Pagan lands a body shot and Valenzuela goes down to one knee in slow motion. Right before the end of round 2, Pagan lands left and rights to the body and Valenzuela goes down to one knee for the count by referee Steven Clark. At 1;29 of round 3, Pagan lands a magnificent upper cut on Valenzuela and Clark stops the bout. Pagan increased to 5-0, 3 kos by TKO and Valenzuela 11-15,
Featherweight Joshua Orta of Springfield, Ma and trained by Jose “Angel” Ortiz who earlier was victorious by TKO met up made his pro debut against Edwin Rosado of Worcester, Massachusetts. This was a phone booth fight while going to the head and body. This was not an easy fight for Orta who made his pro debut. Orta was ripping into the body of Rosado but was the aggressor of the two. After the bell of round 3, Rosado retired at stool and Orta gets the TKO victory and is now 1-0, 1 ko and Rosado 1-8-1, 1 ko.
The pro debut of welterweight Eslih Owusu of Worcester met up against the veteran Bryan "The Brick" Abraham of New York. Prior to the fight Abraham mentioned to me that he’s been training and is coming to win. Owusu moving around the ring, kept coming forward on Abraham, while kept landing the right hook on Abraham. Round 2 Abraham woke up a bit and both fighters starting to exchange punches. Abraham at times being hesitant and Owusu working his defense well. Round 3, Abraham gets the count and immediately afterwards Abraham goes down to one knee and referee Steve Clark gives him the count again. As the bout continued, it’s getting rough in there. After 4 rounds the judges scored the bout 40-36; 40-34 and 40-35 all in favor for Owusu. Owusu increased to 1-0; and Abraham 6-31-2, 6 Kos.
Welterweight Jose “Angel” Ortiz of Springfield and also came out of retirement and was originally scheduled to fight Seth Basler but now is fighting Patrick Leal of Somerville, MA. Leal who was also going to be A.J. Rivera’s opponent. Round 1 Ortiz dropped Leal with a left hook and dropped Leal again after combinations. Ortiz couldn’t finish off Leal in the first round even though he was playing with Leal the entire time. Round 2 Ortiz finished early at 1:03 when the referee stopped the bout due to a great body shoot. Ortiz gets the TKO win and increased to 5-13-1, 2 kos and Leal 0-5.
Unfortunately, A.J. Rivera, the son of “El Gallo” Jose Antonio Rivera, did not make his pro debut due to his medicals. Rivera was born with Spina Bifida and the doctors didn’t clear him for the fight.
Promoted: Granite Chin Promotions
Venue: The Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Event: Homecoming
