UNCASVILLE, CT – The talk is done and the weights are in at Mohegan Sun Arena, where CES Boxing presents Championship Jackpot 2026 tonight — a loaded 9-bout card featuring the highly anticipated return of former 3-time, 2-division world champion Demetrius ‘Boo Boo’ Andrade (32-1, 19 KOs) against Brazilian spoiler Douglas ‘The Good Boy’ Ataide (20-5-1, 11 KOs), and WBC International Featherweight Champion ‘King’ Kevin Walsh (20-0, 10 KOs) against hard-hitting Dominican Dannis Aguero Arias (20-5, 17 KOs).

? Demetrius Andrade 166.75 vs. Douglas Ataide 166.75 – Super Middleweights
? Kevin Walsh 127 vs. Dannis Arias 127 – Featherweights
? Slawomir Bohdziewicz 183.25 vs. Russ Kimber 175 – Cruiserweights
? Douglas Marroquin 162 vs. Daine Smikle 162 – Middleweights
? Gianni Liguori 138 vs. Luis Porozo 133 – Jr. Welterweights
? Carlos Perez 143 vs. Anthony Mora 144 – Welterweights
? Joseph Chisholm 127.75 vs. Rashad Hicks 126 – Featherweights
? Anthony Nieves 159.75 vs. Jancel Guante 157.25 – Middleweights
? Kevante Wineglass 139.25 vs. Josh Melvin 139 – Jr. Welterweights

? Limited Tickets remain – purchase yours now on at CES Fights or the Mohegan Sun Box Office!

For more information on Championship Boxing 2026 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.

BROCKTON, MA – Fresh off the biggest victory of his career, undefeated WBC International Featherweight Champion “King” Kevin Walsh (20-0, 10 KOs) returns to New England on Friday, July 24, to take on dangerous Dominican puncher Dannis Aguero Arias (20-5, 17 KOs) at Mohegan Sun Arena.  The 8-round featherweight bout serves as the co-feature of CES Boxing’s Championship Jackpot 2026, a stacked 9-bout card that also features the return of former 3-time, 2-division world champion Demetrius ‘Boo Boo’ Andrade.

Tickets for Championship Jackpot 2026 are quickly selling out.  Purchase yours now at cesfights.com. 

Walsh enters the bout against Arias ranked #14 by the WBCfollowing a career-defining split decision victory over former world title challenger Michael Conlan on March 20 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Fighting in front of Conlan’s hometown crowd on St. Patrick’s Day weekend, Walsh captured the WBC International Featherweight Championship in one of the most impressive road victories by a New England fighter in recent memory.

“It was an unbelievable experience,” recalls the Brockton native. “Fighting in another country had always been a dream of mine, and the whole experience was amazing. As soon as I landed in Ireland, everyone treated me great and made me feel welcome.  Honestly, I felt like I was home.” 

The fight itself was a tactical, closely contested affair where Colan would find success as a southpaw but would consistently run into Walsh’s right hands and left hooks whenever he switched to orthodox. 

“It was a close fight, but I knew when that final bell rang that I had won,” agreed Walsh. “I hurt him in the first and second rounds, and I honestly thought I was going to get the knockout, but Mick Conlan is a great fighter.  He’s an Olympian who’s fought world champions and some of the best fighters in the world. It wasn’t an easy task, but I was in the best shape of my life, and I think that showed.”

Walsh’s win abroad was a graduation to the world level after the 33-year-old first established himself as New England’s premier featherweight by vanquishing regional rivals Tremaine Williams (W 10), Ricky De Los Santos (TKO 8) and Irvin Gonzalez (TKO 4)before conquering Belfast.

Throughout his five-year professional career, Walsh gained a reputation as an active fighter willing to take on all comers. That mindset hasn’t changed with the win over Conlan.

“I truly feel like I’m meant for this,” explained Walsh. “Whenever I’m the underdog, I rise to the occasion. It makes me train and work even harder. I love when the odds are against me.”

Kevin’s next challenge comes in the form of Dannis Arias, a hard-hitting Dominican who has shared the ring with the likes of former three-time, two-division world champion Guillermo Rigondeaux and has foes in common with Walsh as he dropped a close decision to Williams in June and stopped Gonzalez in four rounds three years ago.

“At this stage of my career, I expect everybody to be a good fighter,” admits Walsh. “I know Arias is durable.  He comes forward, keeps a high guard and throws a lot of punches.  He fought Tremaine Williams in June, and me and Tremaine had a close fight, so I’m looking forward to a competitive fight.”

While Walsh’s victory over Conlan vaulted him into the WBC’s top 15 and sparked conversations about a future world title opportunity against the likes of Bruce ‘Shu Shu’ Carrington, Kevin believes that remaining active is critical as he continues his march.

“If it were completely up to me, I’d be fighting for a world title next,” confesses Walsh, “but boxing doesn’t always work that way. I have to be patient, stay humble, keep working, keep making a name for myself and my opportunity will come.”

This mindset is what CES Boxing Founder Jimmy Burchfield Sr. believes will take Walsh all the way to a world championship.

“Kevin has earned everything he’s achieved,” said Burchfield. “He never shied away from a tough fight. He beat every top featherweight in New England, then traveled halfway around the world and defeated Michael Conlan in front of his own fans. That’s the kind of mentality world champions have. We believe Kevin belongs on the world stage, and July 24 is another opportunity to prove it.”

Returning to Mohegan Sun also allows Walsh to perform in front of the fans who have supported him from the very beginning before he moves on to world title opportunities.

“The support means everything,” Walsh said. “When I came home from Ireland, the reception in Brockton was unbelievable. It honestly felt like I had won a world title. My hometown has always had my back, and I never take that for granted.  This is why we train so hard and put our heart and soul into this—not just for our families, but for our fans too. We do it for you guys, and we’re going to keep fighting for you.”

Championship Jackpot 2026 takes place on Friday, July 24 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, headlined by the long-awaited return of former 3-time, 2-division world champion Demetrius ‘Boo Boo’ Andrade against Brazil’s Douglas Ataide and WBC International Featherweight Champion ‘King’ Kevin Walsh against Dannis Arias.  Don’t miss it!

For additional updates and event information, follow CES Boxing on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @CESBOXING.

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.

Uncasville, CT – Dominican Dannis Aguero Arias stunned the capacity crowd at Mohegan Sun Arena last night, stopping hometown favorite Irvin Gonzalez Jr. via fourth-round knockout in the main event of CES Boxing’s Winter Brawl to capture the vacant WBC Silver Featherweight Title. The hard-hitting Arias (20-2), who boasted 16 knockouts – all on Dominican soil – entering Saturday’s fight made his United States debut against the well-decorated Worcester, MA, native Gonzalez (15-4), who fought for the first time in 13 months after spending all of 2022 recovering from elbow and hand surgeries. Arias was the aggressor from the opening bell, throwing wild, lopping haymakers and fighting effectively on the inside to drive Gonzalez into the ropes. Arias scored a knockdown in the third when Gonzalez leaned too far through the ropes on the tail end of a flurry and then finished the fight at the 2:04 mark of the fourth courtesy of a hard, overhand right that sent his opponent crashing to the canvas. Referee Johnny Callas wisely waved it off before Gonzalez could get to his feet, securing Arias’ ninth consecutive, all of which have come by knockout. In other action, New London, CT, super featherweight Alejandro Paulino (12-0) won by knockout against the dangerous Ryizeemmion Ford (8-4). After scoring a knockout in the closing seconds of the fourth round, Paulino battered Ford with a flurry of shots in the fifth, prompting referee Danny Schiavone to wave it off at the 1:17 mark. The 24-year-old Paulino bounced back nicely after sustaining damage from hard right hands in the first and second round to secure the 10th knockout of his young career. Continuing his successful transition from MMA to boxing, Long Island’s John Gotti III (2-0) made quick work of Minnesota’s Alex Citrowske (1-2-), scoring three knockdowns in the opening round – including the clincher at the 2:59 mark – for his second win on the professional circuit. Gotti made his successful debut as a boxer in October and was previously 5-1 as a pro in MMA, fighting under the umbrella of CES MMA. Hometown favorite Chordale Booker (18-1) of Stamford, CT, rebounded nicely from his first career loss in April on Saturday, cruising to a methodical 80-72, 80-72, 79-73 unanimous decision over Texas middleweight Angel Hernandez (17-8-2). Booker has his way with the shorter, overmatched Hernandez, boxing effectively on the outside and landing cleanly early and often. Booker hadn’t fought since April, when he suffered a first-round knockout loss to prospect Austin Williams. Having to switch gears when his original opponent suffered an injury, Brockton, MA, super featherweight Kevin Walsh (7-0) captured the vacant New England 130-pound Title in a hard-earned 59-55, 59-54, 56-57 win over New York’s Christian Otero (4-3). Walsh was previously scheduled to face Rhode Island’s Mike Valentin, but instead battled the taller, heavy-handed Otero, boxing effectively on the inside and getting the better of their exchanges despite Otero’s height and reach advantage. In what was the biggest upset of the night, Boston’s Mitch Louis-Charles (7-3-2) stopped previously unbeaten Josniel Castro (9-1) with a thunderous right hand at the 1:56 mark of the fourth round, ending the super welterweight prospect’s win streak at nine fights. Louis-Charles, who was born in Quebec and now trains in Boston under Alex Rivera of Rivera Brothers Boxing, hadn’t fought since August of 2021 when he lost a split decision to Connecticut’s Jose Rivera at CES Boxing’s show in Springfield, MA. The humble right-hander promptly called out CES favorites Francis Hogan and Jalen Renaud following Saturday’s upset win, perhaps setting the stage for a pair of future all-New England showdowns. Also at Winter Brawl: Former MMA standout Mike Kimbel (1-0) of Waterbury, CT, made his successful debut in boxing, stopping upstate New York’s Robert Banks at the 1:50 mark of the fourth and final round Heavyweight Gabriel Aguilar Costa (1-3) survived a second-round knockout to earn a split-decision win over Brockton, MA, native Chad Leoncello (1-1-1), avenging his knockout loss to Leoncello in November Female welterweight prospect Stevie Jane Coleman (4-1) of Columbia, CT, won her fourth in a row, beating the tough Michaela Nogue (2-3) of Egg Harbor, NJ, by majority decision, 39-37, 39-37, 38-38 Worcester light heavyweight Kendrick Ball Jr. (19-1-3) fought to a majority draw against Argentinian Victor Hugo Exner (9-13-1) For more information, follow CES Boxing on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @CESBOXING. INFORMATION CES Boxing is one of the top promotions in the northeast and one of the few to successfully promote both mixed martial arts and professional boxing. Launched in 1992 by longtime boxing judge Jimmy Burchfield Sr., the promotion is the only in professional boxing to boast two reigning WBC Youth world champions in lightweight Jamaine Ortiz and featherweight Irvin Gonzalez. CES Boxing recently teamed with UFC FIGHT PASS, the world’s No. 1 streaming platform for combat sports, to showcase its events to a worldwide audience, and worked as a promotional consultant for the Mike Tyson-Roy Jones Jr. pay-per-view event in November of 2020. Mohegan Sun Arena is one of the busiest Arenas in the United States and is ranked consistently among the top venues in the world according to Billboard Magazine, Pollstar and VenuesNow. Mohegan Sun Arena finished 2021 with its first “#1 Indoor Arena” ranking for its capacity in the world according to Pollstar and VenuesNow, ranked among the top 10 venues in the United States regardless of size based on ticket sales, and was named “2021 Innovator of the Year” by Celebrity Access for its ViacomCBS residency.  In recent years, the award-winning venue has also been the “#1 Casino Venue in the World,” “#1 Social Media Venue in the World” and a seven-time national award winner for “Casino of the Year – Arena” by the Academy of Country Music. For more information on concerts and other great events, visit MoheganSun.com. For information on this week’s schedule, call the Entertainment and Special Events hotline at 1.888.226.7711.

Uncasville, CT – The weights are in and the stage is set as CES Boxing makes its 2023 debut tomorrow night at Mohegan Sun Arena with Winter Brawl, featuring 10 exciting bouts.

Winter Brawl is headlined by a 10-round featherweight showdown from the vacant WBC Silver title between Irvin Gonzalez Jr. (15-3, 11 KOs) of Worcester, MA, and San Cristobal, Dominican Republic native Dannis Aguero Arias (19-2, 16 KOs).

Tickets for Winter Brawl are available online at MoheganSun.com, or through the Mohegan Sun box office. The event will also stream live on Spectation Sports beginning at 9 pm ET featuring play-by-play from CES Boxing publicist Michael Parente alongside color commentator and New England boxing icon “Sucra” Ray Oliveira.

Other bouts at Winter Brawl include Stamford, CT, light middleweight Chordale Booker (17-1, 7 KOs) in an eight-round showcase against 37-fight veteran Angel Hernandez (17-17-3, 11 KOs); New London, CT, super featherweight Alejandro Paulino (11-0, 9 KOs) in a six-round bout against Ryizeemmion Ford (8-3, 6 KOs); and a four-round cruiserweight bout between John Gotti III (1-0) of Oyster Bay, NY, and Alex Citrowske (1-1-1, 1 KO) of Saint Cloud, MN.

Listed below are official weights from Friday’s weigh-in. For more information, follow CES Boxing on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @CESBOXING.

WEIGH-IN RESULTS

Irvin Gonzalez; Worcester, MA; 125.5

Dannis Aguero Arias; San Cristobal, Dominican Republic; 123.75

John Gotti III; Oyster Bay, NY; 175.5

Alex Citrowske; Saint Cloud, MN; 174.25

Alejandro Paulino; New London, CT; 134

Ryizeemmion Ford; Alliance, OH; 134

Chordale Booker; Stamford, CT; 154

Angel Hernandez; McAllen, TX; 151.2

Kevin Walsh; Brockton, MA; 130.25

Christian Otero; New York, NY; 133.5

Mike Kimbel; Waterbury, CT; 141.5

Robert Banks; Baldwin, NY; 141

Kendrick Ball Jr.; Worcester, MA; 174

Victor Hugo Exner; Felicia, Santa Fe, Argentina; 174.5

Josniel Castro; Boca Raton, FL; 153.5

Mitch Louis-Charles; Boston, MA; 154.5

Stevie Jane Coleman; Columbia, CT; 134

Michaele Nogue; Egg Harbor, NJ; 134.5

Chad Leoncello; Brockton, MA; 221

Gabriel Aguilar Costa; Sao Paulo, Brazil; TBA

For more information, follow CES Boxing on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @CESBOXING.

INFORMATION

CES Boxing is one of the top promotions in the northeast and one of the few to successfully promote both mixed martial arts and professional boxing. Launched in 1992 by longtime boxing judge Jimmy Burchfield Sr., the promotion is the only in professional boxing to boast two reigning WBC Youth world champions in lightweight Jamaine Ortiz and featherweight Irvin Gonzalez. CES Boxing recently teamed with UFC FIGHT PASS, the world’s No. 1 streaming platform for combat sports, to showcase its events to a worldwide audience, and worked as a promotional consultant for the Mike Tyson-Roy Jones Jr. pay-per-view event in November of 2020.

Mohegan Sun Arena is one of the busiest Arenas in the United States and is ranked consistently among the top venues in the world according to Billboard Magazine, Pollstar and VenuesNow. Mohegan Sun Arena finished 2021 with its first “#1 Indoor Arena” ranking for its capacity in the world according to Pollstar and VenuesNow, ranked among the top 10 venues in the United States regardless of size based on ticket sales, and was named “2021 Innovator of the Year” by Celebrity Access for its ViacomCBS residency.  In recent years, the award-winning venue has also been the “#1 Casino Venue in the World,” “#1 Social Media Venue in the World” and a seven-time national award winner for “Casino of the Year – Arena” by the Academy of Country Music. For more information on concerts and other great events, visit MoheganSun.com. For information on this week’s schedule, call the Entertainment and Special Events hotline at 1.888.226.7711.

Uncasville, CT – The stakes just got a whole lot higher for Worcester, MA, featherweight Irvin Gonzalez Jr.

With heavyweight Juiseppe Cusumano unable to fight Saturday due to an illness, Gonzalez’s originally-scheduled eight-round bout against Dannis Aguero Arias will now be contested at 10 rounds for the vacant WBC Silver Featherweight Title as the new main event of CES Boxing’s 2023 season opener, Winter Brawl, at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Cusumano’s bout against Hungarian Istvan Bernath has been postponed, elevating Gonzalez to main-event status in his first bout in more than a year.

As an added bonus, Winter Brawl will stream live on Spectation Sports beginning at 9 pm ET featuring play-by-play from CES Boxing publicist Michael Parente. Dubbed “the future of combat sports,” Spectation Sports is a live sports streaming platform focusing on combat sports and sports gaming that features live events, an extensive video library, featured articles, and fighter rankings. A premium subscription is required to stream live content, starting with monthly passes as low as $19.99 that can be canceled at any time.

Doors open at 6 pm Saturday with preliminary bouts beginning at 7. Today’s official weigh-in is open to the public and begins at 4 pm at the Arena. Tickets for Winter Brawl are still available online at MoheganSun.com or at the Arena box office.

Saturday’s live stream features six bouts, including the main event. The others are:

• Stamford, CT, light middleweight Chordale Booker (17-1, 7 KOs) in an eight-round showcase against 37-fight veteran Angel Hernandez (17-17-3, 11 KOs)
• New London, CT, super featherweight Alejandro Paulino (11-0, 9 KOs in a six-round bout against Ryizeemmion Ford (8-3, 6 KOs)
• A four-round cruiserweight bout between John Gotti III (1-0) of Oyster Bay, NY, and Alex Citrowske (1-1-1, 1 KO) of Saint Cloud, MN
• Mike Kimbel of Watertbury, CT, making his professional boxing debut against Robert Banks (0-1) of Monroeville, NY, in a four-round bout
• Undefeated super lightweight Kevin Walsh (6-0, 4 KOs) of Brockton, MA, in a six-round bout against Christian Otero (4-2, 2 KOs) of New York City

After missing all of 2022 while recovering from elbow and hand surgery, Gonzalez (15-3, 11 KOs) fights for the first time since December of 2021 and now competes for the WBC Silver title, previously held in the 126-pound division by former bantamweight world champion Nonito Donaire and former world-title challenger Rocky Juarez.

The 31-year-old Arias, a San Cristobal, Dominican Republic native, boasts a 19-2 record with 16 KOs, including eight consecutive wins – all by knockout. Saturday is Arias’ United States debut.

For more information, follow CES Boxing on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @CESBOXING.

INFORMATION

CES Boxing is one of the top promotions in the northeast and one of the few to successfully promote both mixed martial arts and professional boxing. Launched in 1992 by longtime boxing judge Jimmy Burchfield Sr., the promotion is the only in professional boxing to boast two reigning WBC Youth world champions in lightweight Jamaine Ortiz and featherweight Irvin Gonzalez. CES Boxing recently teamed with UFC FIGHT PASS, the world’s No. 1 streaming platform for combat sports, to showcase its events to a worldwide audience, and worked as a promotional consultant for the Mike Tyson-Roy Jones Jr. pay-per-view event in November of 2020.

Mohegan Sun Arena is one of the busiest Arenas in the United States and is ranked consistently among the top venues in the world according to Billboard Magazine, Pollstar and VenuesNow. Mohegan Sun Arena finished 2021 with its first “#1 Indoor Arena” ranking for its capacity in the world according to Pollstar and VenuesNow, ranked among the top 10 venues in the United States regardless of size based on ticket sales, and was named “2021 Innovator of the Year” by Celebrity Access for its ViacomCBS residency.  In recent years, the award-winning venue has also been the “#1 Casino Venue in the World,” “#1 Social Media Venue in the World” and a seven-time national award winner for “Casino of the Year – Arena” by the Academy of Country Music. For more information on concerts and other great events, visit MoheganSun.com. For information on this week’s schedule, call the Entertainment and Special Events hotline at 1.888.226.7711.