“Speedy” Rashidi Ellis brings Mayhem to Mill City on June 21!

LYNN, MA – Micky Ward country will be buzzing from the sounds of thudding punches and boisterous cheers on Saturday, June 21, when WBC US Silver Welterweight Champion “Speedy” Rashidi Ellis (26-1, 17 KOs) returns to the famed Lowell Memorial Auditorium to headline CES Boxing’s Mill City Mayhem against rugged Honduran veteran Josec “The Scorpion” Ruiz (24-8-3, 17 KOs).  The bout will be broadcast live worldwide on Swerve.TV.  

‘Mill City Mayhem’ tickets are available at CES Fights or the Lowell Auditorium website.  Starting at $52, tickets are quickly selling out, so purchase yours now for a great night of boxing. 

The bout marks a homecoming of sorts for Ellis, who first fought at Lowell Memorial Auditorium as a teenager in the Golden Gloves tournament.

“I was 16 the first time I fought there,” recalls the 32-year-old of fighting in the historic building in Lowell, a city known as the cradle of the American Industrial Revolution because of its textile mills and factories.  “It’s like my career coming full circle after 16 years.”

Ellis, from nearby Lynn, spent 10 years fighting all over the United States before returning to his home state last year after signing with CES Boxing.  The “Savage with a Smile,” currently ranked #8 with the WBO, is determined to make a statement on his way to a world title shot in front of his home crowd.

Standing in his way is Ruiz, a battle-tested warrior fighting out of Miami who has never been stopped – a fact Ellis is eager to change. 

“I’m planning on knocking him out,” said Ellis emphatically. “He’s got almost 40 fights, and he’s never been stopped — but there’s a first time for everything.”

Ruiz is an aggressive fighter with a granite chin who has gone the distance with the likes of Albert Bell, Henry Lebron, and Gabe Flores Jr.  While Rashidi acknowledges that Ruiz may not go down easy, he believes that he possesses a combination of power and speed that will eventually overwhelm the 30-year-old.

“Once these guys see my speed and feel my power, they lose confidence and don’t want to fight anymore,” explained Rashidi, citing his most recent opponent Jose Angulo, whom Ellis stopped in 7 rounds.

“Jose Angulo came to fight,” elaborated Ellis.  “He was tough, but he became gun shy during the course of the fight because every time he’d try something, I’d counter him.”

Eventually, Rashidi began landing power shots at will against the Ecuadorian, forcing Angulo’s corner to stop the fight citing a busted ear drum after 6 completed rounds.

Eager to stay active between bouts, Ellis re-signed with the Boston Butchers for the 2025 season.

“They’re one round fights, but it’s very high intensity,” said Ellis, who is 19-3 in 2 seasons with the team.  “It keeps me sharp against good fighters. Plus, my brother joined this year, so it’s been fun doing damage together again like in our amateur days. It brings back memories.”

Rashidi’s older brother Ronald is a competent super middleweight in his own right, compiling an 18-5-2 record with 12 knockouts over a 13-year career.

On June 21st, however, Ellis’ attention will be laser-focused on his main goal of securing a world title shot.  Ranked #8 with the WBO, Rashidi knows his time is coming. 

“I have to give them no choice but to fight me,” said Ellis of current world champions Jaron Ennis (IBF/WBA), Brian Norman Jr. (WBO) and Mario Barrios (WBC). “I’m getting punished for being good, so I have to take out whoever stands in my way to get to them.”

That includes the hard punching Roiman Villa, the only man to defeat Ellis. “I reached out to him recently and asked for the rematch,” confirmed Rashidi. “He said talk to his promoter, so we’ll see what happens. I plan to knock him out next time.”

But before Rashidi can take on the likes of the division’s elite, he has to make a statement on Saturday in front of his loyal supporters. 

“June 21 is going to be a great show from top to bottom,” exclaims Ellis.  “The fans will get their money’s worth with me, Francis Hogan, the amateurs on the card, and of course, my ‘stepbrother,’ Salsa Mike Fontanez.  We’re going to have fun in there and I’m going to showcase my talent. You’ll see why these other guys don’t want to fight me.”

For more information about ‘Mill City Mayhem’ and all other CES Boxing events, visit cesfights.com.

INFORMATION
About CES Boxing

CES Boxing is one of the top promotions on the East Coast.  Founded in 1992 by Jimmy Burchfield Sr., CES Boxing has promoted many world class fighters, including Jamaine Ortiz, Juiseppe Cusumano, Hank Lundy, Vinny Paz, Peter Manfredo, Mariusz Wach, Jason Estrada, Matt Godfrey, Chad Dawson and Ray Oliveira. CES Boxing has promoted such super fights as “The Thriller on Triller: Tyson v Jones Jr.”, “Mayweather vs. Gotti III” and “The Contender: Manfredo v Pemberton”.