UNCASVILLE, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena was a sea of pink on Saturday night as CES Boxing treated fans to CES Autumn Classic 2025, a loaded 11-bout card featuring two champions, several of New England’s brightest prospects, and a very worthy cause.
A portion of the night’s proceeds benefited the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston as fans and fighters alike proudly wore pink to join the fight against cancer while donating money through the JoAnne Sullivan Memorial Fund. Fans who couldn’t attend can still join the cause by donating here: The JoAnne Sullivan Memorial Fund.
CES Autumn Classic was the first show in a four-week run across three states for CES Boxing, who last week announced a new broadcast partnership with New England Sports Network (NESN) to bring the best of the region’s Boxing and MMA to New England fans.
Savage: Ellis forces Fortuna to Quit
In the first main event, top welterweight contender “Speedy” Rashidi Ellis (28-1, 18 KOs) of Lynn, MA continued his climb toward world title contention, scoring a fourth-round TKO over former two-time world champion Javier “El Abejon” Fortuna (39-7-1, 28 KOs) of Braintree, MA.
Ellis used his trademark speed and accuracy early, finding openings for his right hand and body attack. Fortuna, a saavy southpaw veteran from the Dominican Republic, looked to frustrate Ellis with movement and counters.
By round 3, “Speedy” was in full command. A blistering left hook to the body dropped Fortuna late in the round, and moments into the fourth, the former champ took a knee citing a shoulder injury, forcing referee Ricky Gonzalez to halt the bout at 1:53 of round 4.
“Fortuna’s a good, crafty fighter,” said Ellis immediately after the bout. “I wish the fight ended differently, but I got the victory. CES has kept me active, and that’s been great. Everyone at 154 is nervous now: Vergil Ortiz, Erickson Lubin, ‘Boots’ Ennis, Charlo, whoever. I’ll fight anyone.”
‘King’ Kevin Walsh Defends the Silver; Wants the Gold
In the other main event, Brockton, MA’s Kevin “The King” Walsh (19-0, 10 KOs) kept his perfect record intact with a unanimous decision victory over Jose Sosa (8-2, 6 KOs) of Brooklyn, NY by way of the Dominican Republic.
In a thrilling eight-round lightweight clash, both fighters traded bombs early, with Sosa landing a left hook that momentarily stunned Walsh in the opening frame. Walsh answered back in kind, dropping Sosa with a right hand at the bell to end Round 4. The two continued to trade throughout, with Walsh closing strong to earn scores of 77-74 (twice) and 76-75.
“Hats off to Jose Sosa and his team,” said Walsh after the bout. “He’s a tough kid, but there’s only one king. I’ve got these silver titles – now I want gold. I’m 19-0 and ready for a world title. Nick Ball, Stephen Fulton – let’s go!”
Undercard Action
Heavy-handed Polish prospect Slawomir Bohdziewicz (7-0, 6 KOs) of Stamford, CT continued his knockout streak with a second-round stoppage of Cesar Ugarte (6-6, 6 KOs). After scoring an early knockdown in the opening round, “Slaw” ended matters with a vicious left hook to the body at 1:21 of round 2.
Many fans expected a Mexican war, but Stamford middleweight Douglas Marroquin (8-0, 5 KOs) wasted little time in stopping Jesus Silva (6-6, 1 KO), landing a concussive short right hand to the head followed by a crunching left hook to the body that dropped the Monterrey native for the count. Time of the ending was 1:26 of round 1.
Electrifying super bantamweight puncher Joseph Chisholm (6-1, 6 KOs), of Stratford, CT made quick work of Facundo Ased (9-10, 5 KOs), dropping the Argentine in under a minute with a hellacious left hook to the head. Time of the stoppage was 0:50 of round 1.
Dorchester, MA’s Tevin Regis (7-0, 6 KOs) scored a scary knockout of Anthony Mora (7-6-1, 4 KOs) stopping the New Britain, CT fighter with a picture-perfect right hand in round 4 of their lightweight bout. Time of the stoppage was 1:05 of Round 4.
New Haven super lightweight Carlos Perez improved to 5-0 with a unanimous decision victory over tough journeyman Stephen Davis (1-8-1, 1 KO). Scores were 40-36 (twice) and 39-37.
Coventry, RI’s William Guilmette (2-0, 2 KOs) flattened Douglas Silva (0-3)with the first punch he threw, a thudding overhand right to the head that knocked the Woburn, MA native out just 10 seconds into their super middleweight bout.
Super Lightweight Gianni Liguori (4-0-1, 3 KOs) of Branford, CT dropped Alejandro Medina de la Rosa (3-7, 3 KOs) twice en route to a second-round TKO at 2:35.
Cranston middleweight Tyler “My Time” Macari (2-0, 2 KOs) continued his hot start, flooring Katriel Young (1-5, 1 KO) multiple times before referee Ricky Gonzalez mercifully ended matters at 2:34 of Round 1.
In the opening bout of the evening, Kevin Mojica (3-0, 3 KOs) of Johnston, RI remained perfect, scoring two knockdowns of LaTreveon Grant (1-4, 1 KO) for a first-round TKO at the two-minute mark.
For more information on CES Autumn Classic 2025 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”.
About Mohegan Sun Arena
Mohegan Sun Arena, one of the busiest sports and entertainment venues in the world, was awarded the 2024 Newsweek Readers’ Choice award for “Best Casino with Live Entertainment in America.” Mohegan Sun Arena was also named “Best Casino/Resort Venue of the Year” at the 35th Annual Pollstar Awards. In 2021, the 10,000-seat Arena also received its first worldwide “#1 Indoor Arena” ranking for its size from both Pollstar and VenuesNow. In recent years, the “Most Beloved Venue in America” has also been named the “World’s Best Casino Venue,” by Hartford Magazine, and is an eight-time national award winner for “Arena of the Year” by the Academy of Country Music Awards and one from G2E Las Vegas. For more information on concerts and other great events, visit theMohegan Sun website. For this week’s schedule, call the Entertainment and Special Events hotline at 1.888.226.7711. Complimentary self-parking is available in three convenient garages.
