QUINCY, Mass. (November 13, 2023) – Hometown favorite Kendrick “Peppa” Bell, Jr. (21-1-3, 12 KOs) will be fighting for his third title on Saturday night, December 9, as he takes on veteran Venezuelan fighter Heber Rondon (20-15,13 KOs) in an eight-round match for the vacant United States Boxing Federation (USBF) Light Heavyweight Championship.

“Pandemonium at the Palladium 2”, presented by Granite Chin Promotions (GCP), will be streamed live on BXNGTV.com from Worcester, Massachusetts.. GCP has also partnered with Project New Hope, a Worcester-based charity that supports veterans and their families.

Ball, 31, is coming off a dominant eight-round unanimous decision (80-72 X 3) over Oscar Riojas (28-16-3), headlining a show at Polar Park in Worcester. The Dec. 9^th fight will be his sixth at the Palladium.

“I like the Palladium,” Ball said. “I’m comfortable there  because I’m right at home, only down the street from my house. I love fighting at home. It’s a great feeling to be in front of my city and every time I fight there, I feel more and more confident to say this is my city. I’ve put on a dominant performance every time I’ve fought there. and this will be my third title I’ve won in Worcester. I love fighting in front of my family and family, I still feel there are people in Worcester that haven’t seen me fight, so every time I fight here is definitely an opportunity for them to catch me and make them see why I say this is my city”

A former World Boxing Association (WBA) Fedelatin Super Welterweight Champion, Rondon is a southpaw who has been in tough with the likes of Fernando Vargas, Bek Nunmaganbet, Elvis Figueroa and Jose Armando Resendiz. Rondon is capable of upsetting his opponent. In 2020, Rondo won an 11-round unanimous decision in Venezuela against 14-0 Brahian Jose Medina for the aforementioned Fedelatin title.  

“I know my opponent is a tough lefty,” Ball noted. “I fought a lefty in my last fight at Polar Park. Lefties are a little tricky, but I know how to adjust in fights and we’re going to work on fighting a lefty in training, so I’ll be ready.”

Ball is hoping an impressive win will open doors for him in terms of fights on a higher level outside of New England.

“This fight is for another belt,” Bell concluded, :but it’s not the main focus. It definitely helps get my ranking up and attracts people to see me fight even more. I’m hoping this fight will open big doors for me for my next fight. I want to get a big money fight. It’s time I get my shot at a money fight. I’m 21-1-3 with 12 knockouts. My only loss came in 2018. I haven’t lost since and that says a lot. I’ve been active in the ring, so I deserve a money fight. A lot of people don’t know but in most of these fights, I haven’t made big money, close to nothing. I still have a regular job to survive. I struggle like everyone else if not more sometimes because my goal is to get the big money fights. That’s what I’m hoping for in 2024.”

Another Worcester fighter, junior middleweight Khiary“Too Sharp” Gray (17-6, 13 KOs), who will be fighting for the first time in two years, faces veteran Jimmy “The Quiet Storm” Williams (18-13-2, 6 KOs) in a six-round match that could steal the show.

“Having Kendrick on the show was a no-brainer for me,” GCP president Chris Traietti commented. “The goal is to make this the biggest Granite Chin show to date and since the show is in Worcester, we had to put on some big names in Worcester. Kendrick and Khiary are on that list. The Palladium is going to be packed on December 10^th and everybody there will get a chance to see Kendrick win his third professional title.”  

The stacked “Pandemonium at the Palladium 2,” card also finds International Boxing Association (IBA) Americas Super Middleweight Champion Steve “The Savage” Sumpter (9-0, 7 KOs), of Pittsfield, MA., in action against an opponent to be determined.

Card subject to change. Additional fights and fighters will soon be announced.

Tickets are on sale and available for purchase online at www.ThePalladium.net.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. ET, first bout at 7 p.m. ET.

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Jamel Herring stopped former two-division world champion Carl Frampton to retain the WBO Junior Lightweight world title at Caesars Palace Dubai.

Herring dominated the fight by boxing. He began to break the smaller Frampton down, and in round five. In round six, Herring dropped Frampton for a second time with a powerful left, Frampton tried to fight on, but began to take a battering and the fight was stopped at 1:40.

Herring of Coram, NY is 23-2 with 11 knockouts. Frampton of Belfast, IRE is 28-3.

Frampton announced his retirement after the fight.

“I’m just honored to share the ring with him, Herring said. “He’s a two-division world champion. He’s done great in the sport of boxing, and it was just an honor.
 
“It was an emotional rollercoaster just to get here. My last outing was not my best. People doubted me. They called me every name in the book, but even with the cut, I wasn’t going to give up. I wasn’t going to quit, and Carl Frampton is a tremendous champion. I’ve been a fan since day one. It’s tough to see any veteran of the sport go out like that.”

Frampton said, “I said before the fight I’d retire if I lost, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I want to just to dedicate my life to my family now. Boxing has been good to me. It’s also been bad to me, but the last few years with these boys have been the best years of my career. I just want to go home to my beautiful wife and kids, and that’s it.

“I just got beat by the better man. I really struggled to get inside on him.”

Nietes Decisions Carillo

Former four-division world champion Donnie Nietes won a 10-round unanimous decision over Pablo Carillo in a super flyweight fight.

Nietes landed 97 of 425 punches; Carrillo was 81 of 416.

Nietes, 114 1/2 lbs of The Philippines won by scores of 99-91, 98-92 and 96-95 and is now 43-1-5. Carillo, 114 1/2 lbs is 14-3-1.

Keyshawn Davis stopped Richman Ashelley after round four of their scheduled six-round lightweight fight.

Davis is 2-0 with two knockouts. Ashelley is 10-2.

Fahad Al Bloushi won a four-round unanimous decision over Suraj in a super featherweight fight.

Bloushi is 4-1. Suraj is 2-2.

Tursymbay Kulakhmet stopped Heber Rondon in round one of their scheduled 10-round super welterweight bout.

Kulakhmet dropped Rondon twice with vicious hook, and the bout was stopped/

Kulakhmet is now 3-0 with two knockouts. Rondon is 20-1.