QUINCY, Mass. (January 12, 2023) – Newly crowned Massachusetts Middleweight Champion Anthony “The Gentle Savage” Andreozzi (4-2, 1 KO) will make his first title defense on the “Turf War 4”card, presented by Granite Chin Promotions (GCP), February 18^th at Melrose Memorial Hall in Melrose, Massachusetts.

Andreozzi, who captured the vacant title last November with a 6-round majority decision in Bridgewater (MA) versus Julien Baptiste, faces challenger Jamer Jones (2-1, 2 KOs), of Pittsfield (MA), in the 6-round main event.

“Turf War 4”, which will be streamed live on BXNGTV.com, will mark Granite Chin’s first promotion in Melrose, which is located in Greater Boston.

“Anthony has gone from an 0-2 guy nobody knew or cared about to one of the more exciting guys on the Massachusetts scene,” GCP President Chris Traietti commented. “He’s a gusty guy. There’s no other way to put it. He is willing to fight all the guys in the area and earn his keep. Nothing has been given to him, it has been earned. On February 18^th, he’s going to have a 6’ 3” opponent in front of him who is athletic. It’ll be interesting to see what adjustments Anthony can make. It is going to be two polar opposite styles in the ring, which usually makes for an exciting fight.”

Andreozzi, of Swansea (MA), marches to a different beat in boxing. “I really like danger, the more dangerous the opponent, the better,” he explained. “I like a challenge. I’m more comfortable each fight with chaos; the harder, the better. Defending my title has no effect on me because I don’t fight for belts. I took a few pictures and gave the belt to my coach.  I out dogged my opponent in the last fight. He was confident in his jab, but I took his away. Confidence can betray you sometimes.

“I took a year off and now I’m back. I heard my opponent is a gym boxer; he looks good punching, but he’s not tough. He beat two nobodies and was knocked out in his last fight by a bum. I made a promise to my wife because the fight is too close to Valentine’s Day and I’m cutting weight. We can’t go out for dinner, but I promised her a special gift: I’m going to make him quit! Whether it’s on the stool or in the ring, he won’t be able to go the distance with me.”

The reported 6’ 3” Jones, of course, doesn’t agree with Andreozzi’s bold prediction. He didn’t have much of an amateur career with only 13 matches. He played baseball and basketball but started boxing because of his pent-up aggression that he can use in the ring.

“I’ve been out of the ring almost a year,” Jones remarked, “but I’m confident going into this fight. I’m confident in my skills and ability. It’s going to be a good fight. I saw my opponent fight my friend, Carlos Castillo (Nov. 2021), and I was at his last fight. He came in on the B side and made his way to a belt.

“I was an aggressive guy before, but I’m going back to boxing more to take advantage of my abilities. I’m not concerned about a 6-round fight for the first time because I usually spar 6 or more rounds. I just need to come in ready and confident. An impressive ability will help me climb the ladder and move forward with my career.”

Former New England Heavyweight Champion Justin “Crazy Train” Rolfe (7-4-1, 5 KOs), fighting out of Fairfield, ME, returns to the ring for the first time in 10 months to bang with Jonathan Gruber (3-1, 2 KOs), of Fall River, MA., in the 6-round, co-featured event for the vacant USBF title.

Another former New England Champion, welterweight Mike “Bad Man” Ohan, Jr. (16-2, 9 KOs), of Holbrook (MA), will be in a bounce back fight 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’s opponent is in a scheduled 10-round welterweight match with veteran  Puerto Rican fighter Daniel “The Hudson Valley Kid” Sostre (13-22-1, 5 KOs).

Indian welterweight Vaibhav Singh “Ahir Boxer” Yadav (9-2, 7 KOs) will make his U.S. debut against William Parra Smith (4-13-1, 3 KOs), of Alaska, in a 6-round bout. Yadav is a former WBC Asia Silver and Asian Boxing Federation welterweight champion.

Also fighting on the undercard in a pair of 4-rounders 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 an opponent to be determined; and Framingham (MA) cruiserweight Kevin “Lucky” Lewis (0-1) vs. Jeremiah David Austin (0-1), of Woburn (MA).

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.

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BRIDGEWATER, Mass. (November 23, 2022) – Fiery Anthony “The Gentle Savage” Andreozzi captured the vacant Massachusetts State Middleweight Champion in tonight’s “Jimmy Farrell Fight Night” main event, promoted by Granite Chin Promotions, as Bridgewater Veterans Club in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

The inaugural “Jimmy Farrell Fight Night” honored the late boxing trainer who coached many successful amateur and pro boxers in the Boston area during the past 4-plus decades.

A portion of the show’s proceeds was donated to Old Colony Hospice in Farrell’s memory.

“Jimmy meant a lot to me and so many others in New England boxing,” Granite Chin Promotions president Chris Traietti said. “We wanted to honor him in a special way. I felt that naming a Pro-Am show after him was the best way to pay tribute to Jimmy. We plan on making this an annual event.”

Styles make fights and the main event matched an aggressive brawler, Andreozzi, against a pure boxer, Baptiste. Andreozzi, of Swansea, took the fight to Woburn’s Baptiste in the opening round, landing the more damaging punches. Switching often between an orthodox and southpaw stance, the entertaining Andreozzi kept up the pace, peppering Baptiste with a wide assortment of punches.

In the third, Andreozzi kept beating Baptiste to the punch, as well as showboating in a display of confidence against a growingly frustrated Baptiste, who did get in a few solid shots in the fourth to get back in the fight.

Baptiste started letting his hands go more, cracking Andreozzi several times during some exciting exchanges. Andreozzi rest and went back to what was so successful for him during the first half of the fight, working off the jab and moving forward.

The title belt seemed to be up for grabs going into the sixth and final round, in which the two fighters went toe-to-toe right to the end. Andreozzi (4-2, 1 KO) won a 6-round majority decision versus Baptiste (4-3, 2 KOs) and Mass. middleweight title.

Andreozzi vs. Baptiste was supposed to happen this past August, however, Andreozzi fell sick hours before the show and was canceled.

“This feels amazing,” Andreozzi commented after the fight. “I live for this. I have a little cut lip from some incidental headbutts, but I’m a crasher. His trainer’s words (questioning why he didn’t fight in August when he didn’t fight) was the reason I fought like this. His words were in my head since that night. I wrote ‘em on the mirror so I saw it every day when I shaved.”

“Anthony and Julien saved the show,” Traietti added. “People saw a fight they will remember for years. Congratulations to Anthony for coming out on top and that opens things up for his future,. And Julien is not done.”

Pro-debuting Stephen “Jason” Davis (1-0, 1 KO), fighting out of nearby Brockton, and junior welterweight Lucinei Santos (0-6) barely got started when Santos was suddenly decked. He fell awkwardly and was unable to continue at the 51-seconds mark of round one due to an injury.   

New York light heavyweight Scott ”Bombz” Lampert (4-6, 2KOs) came into the ring true to his nickname against Michael Medeiros (0-3), firing bombs from all angles against his overmatched opponent. Medeiros was decked four times, the last set up by a body shot, followed quickly by a perfect left-right combination to the head, resulting in a second-round knockout.

Heavyweight Kirk Wilmont (2-0,2KOs), of Brockton, opened the show with a pounding of Aquilla Prote (0-2). Wilmont dropped Prote twice in the opening round, effectively mixing shots up and down to the head and body. In the second round. Wilmont closed the show with a powerful right that sent Prote to the canvas for the third time. Once again, he barely beat the 10-count but this time he stood on wobbly legs, and referee Melissa Kelly halted the bout.

Official results below:

 _____________________________________________________________________                                          

PRO RESULTS

VACANT MASSACHUSETTS STATE MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

Anthony Andreozzi (4-2, 1 KO), Swansea, MA

60-54, 58-56, 57-57)

Julien Baptiste (4-3, 2 KOs), Woburn, MA

(Andreozzi won Mass. St. middleweight title)

HEAVYWEIGHTS

Kirk Wilmont (2-0, 2 KOs), Brockton, MA

WTKO2 (1 :12)

Aquilla Prote (0-2), Boston, MA.

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS

Scott Lampert (4-6, 3 KOs), Dover Plains, NY

WKO2 (2:22)

Michael Medeiros (0-3), Boston, MA

JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHTS

Stephen Davis (1-0, 1 KO), Brockton, MA

WKO1 (0 :51)

Lucinei Santos (0-6), Boston, MA

QUINCY, Mass. (October 20, 2022) – There are legitimate reports that the Thanksgiving Eve (Nov. 23) main event has bad blood brewing between the camps, largely because  Anthony “The Gentle Savage” Andreozzi resents how one of Julien “Black Dragon” Baptiste‘s coaches harassed him after he was forced to pull out of their originally schedule fight last August due to illness.

The two fighters were originally slated to fight for the vacant Massachusetts Middleweight Championship, but Andreozzi was too ill to fight, but their match will now headline “Jimmy Farrell Fight Night”, presented by Granite Chin Promotions, at Bridgewater Veterans Club in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

Granite Chin’s Pro-Am card will honor the late Farrell, the highly respected trainer from Quincy (MA), who recently passed away after a long battle with cancer. A share of the proceeds will be donated to Old Colony Hospice.

Andreozzi (3-2, 1 KO) has been training for this fight since May. He’s so serious that he quit his job in order to have additional time to train. “Moving the fight date didn’t disrupt my training,” Andreozzi explained. “My medical issue disrupted our fight. I was throwing up before I got there (venue). I have a delicate stomach and that resulted in an infection in my lower stomach, causing a volatile scenario. . I have a form of colitis and have dealt with it my whole life. I took more medication but kept throwing up. I took 4 different medications. The combination of cutting weights – only 3-4 pounds of water the day of the fight – and taking antibiotics gave me stomach poisoning. The doctor said it was a ‘perfect storm.’ I learned my lesson and that won’t happen again.

“I was thrown a curveball, but I’m used to that. His coach said some horrible stuff to me while I was still puking-up blood in the parking lot. There’s bad energy here. That gave me motivation to train 2 or 3 times a day. I started boxing two years ago on the B side. No amateur background and now I’m fighting for the state title. I want to let him (Baptiste’s coach) know that I’m not scared and shouldn’t have been talked about like that.”

Baptiste (4-2, 2 KOs), of Woburn (MA), has been training 8 weeks for this fight and he’s eager to go. He never questioned Andreozzi for pulling out of their originally scheduled fight.

“I’m ready to go,” Baptiste remarked. “I’ve trained longer and gotten stronger to prove I’m better than him. We were set to fight, but right before it, he wasn’t well. He was throwing up. I’ve never had anything like that happen in the pros. It did happen before in the amateurs. That was my first experience as a pro. I took it as a learning experience. I hope he’s well and there’s no animosity (on his end). I’m sure he’s trained hard for this fight like I have. I need to go into the ring and prove I’m better than him.”

“I am excited that this fight is finally happening in November,” Granite Chin Promotions president Chris Traietti noted. “What happened to Anthony was unfortunate. When I saw him outside the venue, I knew there was no way he was fighting. He was trying to wait it out to see if his stomach pain passed, but I told him he would have to report to the ringside doctor and get cleared before I would consider letting the fight happen. I remember breaking the news to Julien and I had an awful pit in my stomach. I sincerely just felt horrible for both guys for different reasons. But that is in the past, Thanksgiving Eve the fans in Bridgewater are in for a great night of boxing. The main event won’t be short of action and there is going to be a new Massachusetts Middleweight Champion crowned.”

In the 4-round co-feature, Atlanta light heavyweight James “Savage” Hagler, Jr. (3-1, 1 KO), the grandson of the late, great Marvelous Marvin Hagler, takes on entertaining New York light heavyweight Scott “Bombz” Lampert (3-6, 2 KOs).

Fighting on the pro undercard in 4-round bouts is Brockton heavyweight Kirk Wilmont (1-0, 1 KOs) vs. Aquilla Prote (0-1), and Brockton pro-debuting junior welterweight Stephen Davis meets an opponent to be determined.

Additional pro matches, as well as the amateur portion of the card, will soon be announced.

Card subject to change.

Tickets are priced at $60.00 (floor seats), $40.00 (standing room only), and $400.00 for ringside tables of 4 are available for purchase at  https://granite-chin-promotions.ticketleap.com.

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

INFORMATION:  

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QUINCY, Mass. (July 19, 2022) – In a crossroads fight that will determine the future careers of the participants, Anthony “The Gentle Savage” Andreozzi and Julien “The Black Dragon” Baptiste will fight August 6th in the 6-round. co-featured event on “The Next Chapter,” presented by Granite Chin Promotions, at Bridgewater Veterans Club in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

At stake will be the vacant Massachusetts Middleweight Championship, as well as bragging rights for the eventual victor.

Andreozzi (3-2, 1 KO), fighting out of Swansea (MA), is excited about the opportunity to fight for a title belt at this early stage of his pro career.

“Fighting for a title is surreal,” Andreozzi said. “This time two years ago, I had little more than a few BoxFit classes under my belt, and to get here from there in this time frame has been a wild ride. This win could be a huge launching point for my career. I didn’t follow the traditional path most fighters take. I don’t have the years of Golden Gloves or any amateur experience, nor do I pick and choose my opponents. Coach and I had the same mindset since my pro debut. It won’t be easy but, 10 toes in and punch our way through the rankings. This title will open doors for me to be on my way.

“I’ve seen Baptiste fight a few times. He’s a clean boxer with a strong physical presence. He can throw his hands and move his head well. But in the shows I’ve seen him get beat up by welterweights, one of whom is my teammate. Styles make fights is always a big talking point in our camp. My style is very fluid. I don’t stick to one stance, guard, mindset, or anything for that matter. Julien is a more traditional boxer. He has a nice rhythm and smooth strikes. I always say my first goal is to take their strengths and nullify them, followed by exposing and then capitalizing on their weaknesses. I like to play a lot of head games in the ring and set traps.

“We’d all like to say we’re going to knock him out, but he’s a big guy for this weight class, and I’m not even in this weight class. So, I’m not looking to waste my energy knocking him out. I think it will be a competitive fight the first few rounds, followed by me taking over the last four and torturing him for a decision win. If I clip him along the way that’s great, but I’m not chasing it.”

Baptiste (4-2, 2 KOs), of Woburn (MA), understands the implications of this fight regarding his immediate future.

“This is just another day at the gym, another win under my belt,” the 33-year-old Baptiste said. “It can change the outcome of my career, what will come out of it in the end. I’ve been doing everything right. In my life. I’ve sacrificed and I’m in great health. It’s my time!

“I know my opponent is tough. I didn’t watch him fight on the cards we were both on. I heard he presses to get the action started. We’ll see what August 6th brings. I’ll know what adjustments are needed to make to capitalize on his weaknesses once we’re in the ring. I’m not going to rush to put pressure on him for a quick knockout. I’ll do what I have to do to win,”

“This is a great local matchup that will provide non-stop action,” Granite Chin president Chris Traietti commented. “Both guys have contrasting styles, and both are in a crossroads situation. The winner of this will be on a major undercard by year’s end, the other will have to rebuild locally for a bit. I am proud of both guys for stepping up and taking this fight.”

Former New England Welterweight Champion Mike “Bad Man” Ohan, Jr., fighting out of nearby Holbrook (MA), takes on Argentinian junior welterweight Jonathan “Yoni” Ariel Sosa (7-13-2, 4 KOs) in the 10-round main event.

There’s another Massachusetts title fight on tap as Raphael Torres (2-0, 2 KOs), of Framingham (MA), and Fall River’s (MA) Jonathan Gruber (3-1, 2 KOs) battle for the vacant Massachusetts Cruiserweight Championship in a 6-round bout.

New Bedford (MA) light heavyweight prospect Edet “Papito” Mkpanam (7-0, 6 KOs), the 2018 New England Golden Gloves runner-up, meets veteran Texas fighter Larry “Slo Mo” Smith (13-50-2, 9 KOs) a 6-rounder.

Promising Brockton (MA) welterweight David “The Blessed One” Ribeiro (1-0, 1 KO) meets 71-fight veteran DeWayne Wisdom in a 4-round match. The 25-year-old Ribeiro was a decorated amateur who captured a gold medal at the 2020 New England Golden Gloves Championships.

Also slated to fight in a 4-round bout is Methuen (MA) junior middleweight Luke Iannuccilli (2-0, 2 KOs).

Card subject to change.

Tickets are available for purchase at GRANITE-CHIN-PROMOTIONS.TICKETLEAP.COM or www.ticketriver.com (Search: The Next Chapter) for $45.00 (standing room), $60.00 (floor seats), $80.00 (VIP stage seats) and $40.00 for a table of 4.

Doors open at 7 p.m. ET, first bout at 7:30 p.m. ET.

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