WORCESTER, Mass. (November 3, 2024) – World Boxing Council (WBC) U.S. Junior Middleweight Champion Josniel “TG” Castro (14-1, 8 KOs) turned in a dominating performance last Friday night against previously undefeated Denzel “Double Impact” Whitley (14-1, 8 KOs) in the main event on the “Worcester Championship Boxing” card, presented by Granite Chin Promotions (GCP), at DCU Event Center in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Fighting out of Boca Raton, Florida, Castro made his first title defense memorable by out-boxing Whitley for a 10-round unanimous decision (100-90, 99-91, 98-92). Castro’s crisp jab set-up his point-scoring combinations and also prevented Whitley from gaining any momentum throughout the clash.

Whitley, of Holyoke (MA), is the NABF welterweight champion who moved up in weight to challenge Puerto Rico-native Castro.

“I’m at a different level,” Castro said after the fight about the statement he had made in the ring. “I’ve been working very hard. I just fought here (Worcester) in August, but my manager (Chuck Shearns) wanted to make this fight, so we did. I worked on my jab and showed I could land it – up and down – in the fight. The best is yet to come.”

Kevin Nagle (R) remained undefeated with a win over Jake Paradise

In the co-featured event, undefeated Kevin “Big Gulp” Nagle (10-0, 8 KOs) peppered a game Jake “No Love” Paradise (8-4, 8 KOs), the former Massachusetts Cruiserweight Champion fighting in front of a hometown crowd, who suffered an injury to his left knee in the first round. Nagle, of Scituate (MA), consistently trapped the immobile Paradise and connected with combinations from various angles to win a fourth-round technical knockout and capture the vacant WBC U.S. Silver Heavyweight title.

Popular Worcester welterweight Dan “Grafton Hill’s Favorite Son” Docimo (1-0, 1 KO) thought he had notched his second victory when Jaequez Jones (0-3) went down in the opening round and couldn’t continue. However, the referee ruled that Docimo had pushed Jones, who hit his head on the mat and was too injured to continue, resulting in a “no contest”.

Haitian junior middleweight Edwine Humaine, Jr., fighting out of Springfield (MA), improved to 10-0 (8 KOs) with a first-round knockout of Jimmy “The Quiet Storm” Williams (18-16-2, 6 KOs) with a short body-shot that Williams was unable to recover from.

Hometown favorite Khiary “Too Sharp” Gray (19-7, 14 KOs) outclassed veteran middleweight Daniel “Daniel “The Hudson Valley Kid” Sostre (13-27-2, 5 KOs) enroute to an explosive ending late in the sixth round. The fighters were trash talking throughout the bout and Gray eventually caught him with a powerful right that knocked out Sostre in a neutral corner.

Two-time New England Golden Gloves Champion Justin “The Bandit” Laporte (2-0,2 KOs), fighting out of nearby Millbury (MA), won a one-sided, four-round unanimous decision over junior middleweight Rakim Johnson (7-24-1, 5 KOs) in an entertaining match from start to finish. Laporte scored two knockdowns in each of the second and third rounds, although he was buzzed a few times himself. A left uppercut sent the resilient Johnson down again in the fourth and final round, but he somehow made it to his feet, and he was still standing at the end of the fight. Laporte, a southpaw, is a U.S. Marine, licensed realtor and college student (Nichols College).

Another two-time New England Golden Gloves Champion, Jhon “Dwave” Devers Rodriguez (2-0, 2 KOs), floored middleweight Tymar Miles (0-4) three times in round one, all the result of an overhand right, forcing the referee to wave off the fight after the third knockdown. Born in Puerto Rico, Rodriguez fights out of Worcester.

In the opening bout of the evening, 17-year-old Chicopee (MA) junior middleweight Adrian Valdez Reyes (2-0, 2 KOs) dropped Tracey Coppedge (0-5) twice in the opening round, the second time on the canvas earned Reyes the knockout victory as Coppedge was unable to beat the count after a left dropped him.

Official results below:

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“Worcester Championship Boxing” Official Results

MAIN EVENT – WBC U.S. JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

Josniel Castro (14-1, 8 KOs), Champion, Boca Raton, FL

WDEC (100-90, 99-91, 98-92)

Denzel Whitley (14-1, 8 KOs), Challenger, Holyoke, MA

(Castro retained the WBC US junior middleweight title)

CO-FEATURE – VACANT WBC U.S. SILVER HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

Kevin Nagle (10-0, 8 KOs), Scituate, MA

WTKO4 (1 :45).

Jake Paradise (8-4, 8 KOs), Worcester, MA

(Nagle won the WBC US Silver heavyweight title)

MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Khiary Gray (19-7, 14 KOs), Worcester, MA

WKO6 (2:21)

Daniel Sostre (13-27-2, 5 KOs), San Juan, Puerto Rico

Jhon Devers Rodriguez (2-0, 2 KOs), Worcester, MA

WTKO1 (1:00)

Tymar Miles (0-4), Poughkeepsie, NY

JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Edwine Humaine, Jr. (8-0, 9 KOs), Springfield, MA

WKO1 (3:00)

Jimmy Williams (18-16-2, 6 KOs), New Haven, CT

Justin Laporte (2-0, 1 KO), Millbury, MA

WDEC4 (40-32, 39-33, 39-33)

Rakim Johnson (7-24-1, 5 KOs), Indianapolis, IN

Adrian Valdez Reyes 2-0 (2 KOs), Chicopee, MA

WKO1 (1:09)

Tracey Coppedge (0-5), Wilson, NC

WELTERWEIGHTS

Dan Docimo (1-0, 1 KO), Worcester, MA

NC1 (0:28)

Jaequez Jones (0-4), Rocky Mount, NC

QUINCY, Mass. (September 19, 2024) – “Worcester Championship Boxing,” presented by Granite Chin Promotions (GCP), will be headlined by a title fight that is a legitimate 2024 New England Fight of the Year candidate, at DCU Event Center in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Josniel “TG” Castro (13-1, 8 KOs) will defend his newly captured World Boxing Council (WBC) U.S. super welterweight title in the 10-round main event against undefeated challenger Denzel “Double Impact” Whitley (14-0, 8 KOs), of Holyoke, Massachusetts.

“This is going to be the biggest main event in Massachusetts for 2024,” GCP promoter Chris Traietti exclaimed. “Two guys with something to prove. The winner will end up world-rated by the WBC, this is as good as it gets!”

The 27-year-old Castro, fighting out of Boca Raton, Florida, has endured an arduous trip to get where he is today, including a stretch in which he was homeless and on his own. Whitley, 26, is a legacy boxer, who was practically born in the ring. His father and head trainer, Derrick Whitley, and uncle/assistant trainer Darren Whitley, were solid prizefighters from 1995 to 2003. The twin brothers own, operate and train Denzel at their Whitley Brothers Boxing and Fitness in Holyoke.

Both team camps should be credited for accepting the GCP offer of this potentially explosive fight between the pair of talented, promising prospects. Neither fighter is interested in building their records the old-fashioned, easy way of fighting overmatched foes.

“I took this fight because he (Whitley) isn’t on my level,” Castro said. “They called Chuck (Castro’s manager Chuck Shearns), and I was down for it. It’s a perfect fight for us. He has a good record, and it’ll look good on my resume. I’m defending my belt and leaving there (Worcester) with a victory.

“Right now, everything in my life is smooth. I’m ready to take it to the next level in boxing and that’s what I’m focused on. I’m doing anything I can to get to the next level, taking it one step at a time. I think this fight can get me to the next level. The victory I’m about to get will better position me for better fights, pay and platforms. I want to defend my title and, afterwards, maybe I’ll stay at 154 or drop down to 147.

“He (Whitley) is a late starter. I keep the same pace and pick it up later. I’m looking forward to this fight and putting on a clinic. If a knockout comes, it comes, but I’m not going to be looking for it. Nobody is taking my belt!”

Whitley, of course, thinks otherwise. He has had tremendous success fighting as a welterweight, capturing the Massachusetts and USBF welterweight crowns, and he’s still the reigning North American Boxing Federation champion.

Denzel Whitley (L)

“I’m going to try something new, fighting at 154, because it was starting to be hard for me right now to get to 147,” Whitley explained. “So, I’m fighting at 154 and I’ll be in shape and feeling good about my body and mindset. I was given this opportunity to fight at 154 for another belt and that gives me added motivation. I have to do what’s good for me and I want to fight. I’ve had a little trouble making weight (147 lbs.) and I’m taking this test at 154. If I feel good, I may stay at 154, or I could shoot back down to 147. I like to challenge myself. Why not give this a try?

“Anything you do in sports, or to make achievements in life, you need to be great and take chances. I want to be great and I’m going to go get it. Fights aren’t going to get easier (at this stage of his career), so I’m taking a shot. This is my job and I’m ready to go.

“He (Castro) is a decent boxer who has lateral movement. But we have a game plan that I’m not going to reveal. I think it’ll be a very entertaining fight. I’m not going to back down; I’m going to bring it to him. I’m coming for that strap!”

Located in the center of Massachusetts, Worcester has become the second home for Castro and Whitley. Castro was born in Puerto Rico, grew up in Lawrence (MA), and lived in-and-out of foster homes for years until he was 18, including a time when he was homeless and living in an abandoned building.

“I’ve fought in Worcester a lot (3 times, including his title-winning performance in his last fight this past August at Polar Park),” Castro noted. “It’s like my second home. I’m originally from Lawrence, not too far from Worcester. I’ve also fought on cards near Worcester — Webster and Framingham – and a lot of fans from Worcester were there. I’m comfortable fighting in Worcester.”

Whitley countered, “Worcester isn’t too far from my home, about a 50-minute drive, and this will be my fourth fight in a row in Worcester. It’s a nice city and I’ve added a few fans from there. I consider Worcester my second home. The atmosphere there – the fans always show me love – gives me even more energy. I’ve never fought at DCU Center and I’m excited to take on a new venue.”

DCU Center, formerly called Worcester Centrum, has hosted several major boxing events during the past 40 years like the 2010 U.S. Olympic Boxing Trials, Hall of Famer Sugar Ray Leonard’s successful comeback fight versus Kevin Howard in 1984, and several world title fights featuring Worcester’s Jose Antonio Rivera, who defeated Alejandro Garcia Hernandez in 2005 to capture the WBA super welterweight title on a Don King-promoted event.

The full card will soon be announced. Card subject to change.

Tickets are on sale at www.ticketmaster.com. Doors open at 6 pm ET, first bout at 7 pm ET.

INFORMATION:

Facebook.com/GraniteChin

WORCESTER, Mass. (August 11, 2024) – Two fighters from Florida shined under the stars last night in most beautiful ballpark in the nation, Shearns Boxing Promotions (SBP) in conjunction with Kendrick Ball’s Camp Get Right Boxing presented “Punch-Out at Polar Park II”, at Polar Park in Worcester, Massachusetts.

A mix of cagey veterans and promising local talent entertained the crowd, recording numerous knockdowns and knockouts on a perfect night weather-wise. The event was originally scheduled for Friday night, but inclement weather reports led to a one-night postponement.

“Kendrick and I were extremely pleased with the event,” promoter Chuck Shearns said. “It was a beautiful night, and the crowd enjoyed it. We are happy for Josniel Castro capturing his first title belt.”

The main event turned out to be eight rounds of action in a highly competitive fight as Josniel “TG” Castro (13-1, 8 KOs) decisioned (79-73, 78-74 X 2) Jerry “Silent Assassin” Bradford (9-3, 5 KOs) to capture the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) U.S. Silver Super Welterweight Championship.

Fighting out of Boca Raton (FL) but with strong ties to New England, Castro showed maturity in the ring as he controlled the fight, throwing and landing the more effective punches, using his lead to set up crisp combinations. It was a storybook performance from Castro, who overcame homelessness to secure his first title belt as a prizefighter.

“This (title belt) means everything to me,” Castro commented after his fight. “This is the next step on the road to a world title. I’ve progressed a lot by listening to my coaches. I’m more relaxed now instead of just trying to please the crowd.

“Now, I’m going to get ready for my next fight. I’m not targeting any particular fighter. I just want to work my way up the rankings in whatever way it takes starting with my next fight.”

In the co-featured event, the comeback of former two-division world champion Maureen “The Real Million Dollar Baby” Shea (31-2-1, 13 KOs) couldn’t have gone better for the Irish Mexican fighter from the Bronx, who now resides in Delray Beach, Florida. Shea showed little if any rust, out-boxing and outclassing Beata Dudek (4-3, 4 KOs) to capture an eight-round unanimous decision, in which Shea won every round. She extended her unbeaten streak to 19 (18 wins, 1 draw) dating back to 2010.

Fighting for only the sixth time in the last seven years, Shea used her experience, talent and conditioning to sweep all eight rounds. “I never feel rust,” Shea remarked. “I don’t believe in ring rust because of the way I train and what I’ve learned. I’ve had to learn things after all these years. I live a good life and enjoy doing this.

“My goal is to get the titles that are rightfully mine. I’m 43 but women get better with age. I weighed 122 pounds for my pro debut (in 2005) and at 43 I weighed in at 119 for this fight. I know and understand my body.”

Promising southpaw Justin “The Bandit” Laporte, a junior middleweight from nearby Millbury (MA), turned in an electrifying pro debut, blasting out junior middleweight Tymar Miles (0-3) only 62-seconds into the opening round. Laporte connected with a perfectly thrown right-left combination, dropping Miles who managed to beat the count. Laporte threw two well placed left crosses that ended the night for Miles. The 24-year-old Laporte is a licensed realtor, studies at Nichols College, and a proud U.S. Marine.

Worcester junior middleweight Keno Luna (3-0, 2 KOs), a four-time New England Golden Gloves Champion, remained undefeated and went the distance for the first time as a professional, pitching a shutout (40-36 X 3) for a four-round unanimous decision against game Izaiah Vargas (1-11, 1 KO).

Scituate (MA) heavyweight Kevin “Big Gulp” Nagle (9-0, 7 KOs) kept his undefeated intact with a six-round unanimous decision over Mexican veteran Jose “Olympico” Humberto Corral (20-34 (12 KOs). Nagle, who won every round on one of the judges’ scorecards, five on the other two, went the full six rounds for his second fight in a row.

Two-time New England Golden Gloves Champion Jhon “D-Wave” Devers Rodriguez, of Worcester, won his pro debut in impressive fashion, knocking out Igor Santos (0-2) with an overhand fight, after an earlier knockdown from a similar punch, in the first round.

The most popular fighter on the card, Worcester welterweight “Grafton Hill’s Favorite Son” Docimo (1-0, 1 KO) had a memorable pro debut, knocking out Tracey Coppedge (0-4) midway through the opening round. A barrage of punches sent Coppedge to the canvas early in round one and a right hook closed the show at the 1:24 mark for a technical knockout.

In his first fight in 11 years, Connecticut heavyweight Joe Powers (2-2, 2 KOs) pounded Arquilla Prote’s (0-9) body, dropping him three times enroute to a second-round technical knockout victory.

In the opening bout of the evening, New York super middleweight Austin Cassee needed only 59-seconds to stop Erick Matheus Alves (0-5). Cassese decked Alves with the flurry of punches and moments later, he closed the show, throwing punches in punches against an overwhelmed Alves for a technical knockout win.

Steven “Tank” Tankanow was honored for his contributions to Worcester boxing. “Tank” was best known as the manager of multiple world champion Jose Antonio Rivera, of Worcester.

The Greg Hill Foundation received a portion of the proceeds to continue improving the lives of local families in need.

Official results are below:

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OFFICIAL WEIGHTS

MAIN EVENT – VACANT WBC U.S. SUPER WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

Josniel Castro (13-1. 8 KOs), Boca Raton, FL

WDEC8 (79-73, 78-74, 78-74)

Jerry Bradford (9-2, 10 KOs), Tarzana, CA

CO-FEATURE – FEMALE JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHTS

Maureen Shea (31-2-1, 13 KOs), Delray Beach, FL

WDEC8 (80-72, 80-72, 80-72)

Beata Dudek (4-3, 4 KOs), Miskoic, Hungary

HEAVYWEIGHTS (6)

Kevin Nagle (9-0, 7 KOs), Scituate, MA

WDEC6 (60-54, 59-55, 59-55)

Jose Humberto Corral (20-34, 12 KOs), Aqua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico

Joe Powers (2-2, 1 KOs), Groton, CT

WTKO2 (1 :21)

Aquilla Prote (0-9), Boston, MA

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Austin Cassese (1-0, 1 KO), Shrub Oak, NY

WTKO1 (0:59)

Erick Matheus Alves (0-5), Boston, MA

JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Keno Luna (3-0, 2 KOs), Worcester, MA

WDEC4 (40-36, 40-36, 40-36)

Izaiah Vargas (1-11, 1 KO), Seattle, WA

Jhon Devers Rodriguez (1-0, 1 KO), Worcester, MA

WKO1 (2:02)

Igor Santos (0-3), Woburn, MA

Justin Laporte (1-0, 1 KO), Millbury, MA

WKO1 (1:02)

Tymar Miles (0-3), Poughkeepsie, NY

WELTERWEIGHTS

Dan Docimo (1-0, 1 KO), Worcester, MA

WTKO1 (1:21)

Tracey Coppedge (0-4), Wilson, NC

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INFORMATION:

Website: www.polarpark.com, www.cgrboxing.com, www.greghillfoundation.org

Facebook: /ShearnsBoxingPromotions, /CampGetRightBoxing, /PolarParkWorcester, /TheGregHillFoundation

X : @ShearnsBoxing, @PolarPark, GHillFoundation

Instagram: @ShearnsBoxingPromotions, @cgrboxing, @PolarParkWorcester, @greghillfoundation

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. (October 17, 2021) – Local favorite Nelson “Chino” Perez played the sheriff role in last night’s main event on the “Fight Night om Framingham” card, presented by Shearns Boxing Promotions, at the Sheraton Hotel in Framingham, Massachusetts.

“Fight Night in Framingham,” the first professional boxing show ever in Framingham, was a charity event held for the benefit of locally based “Fighting Life,” an after-school youth boxing program and academic empowerment program, available 100-percent free of charge to students beginning in elementary school through high school education.

“We’re very happy with this show, which was 18 months in the making (rescheduled when originally canceled due to the pandemic,” promoter Chuck Shearns said. “You could feel the vibes in the room. The feedback we received was everybody had a good time. We had a good turnout, roughly 600. This will not be the last pro boxing show in Framingham. The venue has already asked us back. There wasn’t a lot of buzz leading up to the show, but those who didn’t attend will learn that it was successful, and I expect the next one will be even better.”

Nelson (4-0, 2 KOs), fighting out of neighboring Marlborough, has to overcome the awkward style of his opponent, “Outlaw” Ryan Venable (2-7, 0 KOs), which included several rounds of obvious frustration. Perez, who is a proud graduate of “Fighting Life,” settled down nicely and took the fight to Venable, flooring him in the third and again in the sixth, enroute to a 6-round unanimous decision.

In the co-featured event, undefeated super welterweight prospect Josniel “TG” Castro (6-0, 3 KOs) continued to show steady improvement. He set up his punches well, effectively threw crisp combinations, and controlled the pace throughout, peppering Las Vegas journeyman Rynell Griffin (8-48-2, 2 KOs) with constant punches to the head and body. Castro’s intense pressure paid off in the third, when Griffin went down twice from powerful body shots. Another body shot sent Griffin to the mat in the next round and referee Tom Clark immediately waved off the fight.

R – Castro Griffin.JPG
(L-R) – Josniel Castro & Rynell Griffin

Castro was born in Puerto Rico and presently lives in Boca Raton, Florida, but he grew up in Lawrence (MA) and also resided and trained in Worcester (MA) and Portland, Maine.

Undefeated New Haven (CT) Elvis Figueroa (8-0, 5 KOs) was on a mission in his first action in more than two years. His relentless attack on Dallas veteran Larry “Slo Mo” Smith (12-50-2, 8 KOs) led to a third-round stoppage. After a Figueroa assault at the end of round two, Smith took a knee at the end of the second, and his corner threw in the towel early in the following round.

R – Smith Figueroa.JPG
(L-R) – ELVIS WAS IN THE HOUSE: Larry Smith & Elvis Figueroa

Figueroa is a 3-time New England Golden Gloves Champion, in addition to capturing a silver medal at the 2015 USA National Championships.

In a fight between pro-debuting heavyweights, Sean Evans (1-0, 1 KO), of nearby Shrewsbury (MA), needed only 49-seconds to take out Levi Guimareas (0-1) with a straight right. Guimareas beat the count, but he was in no condition to continue.

New Haven super featherweight Felix Parrilla’s long awaited pro debut was worth the wait as the 21-year-old floored Sidell Blocker (1-12-1) mere seconds into the opening round with a left hook. Blocker took a beating in the second round, hitting the canvas once again, and between rounds the fight was halted on the advice of the ring physician. Parrilla is a 3-time New England Golden Gloves Champion, as well as 2018 National Golden Gloves silver medalist.

Puerto Rican welterweight Jeffrey Torres (8-1, 4 KOs),fighting out of New Haven, battered a game Jader Alves de Oliveira (0-13) all around the ring until a perfectly placed left hook closed the show with only seconds remaining in the opening round.

Brazilian Rodrigo da Rocha (1-0, 1 KO) won his pro debut in style, dropping Leonard Ladeira (0-7) twice in the first and two more times in the second, the latter coming off a sweet left-right combination from which Ladeira was unable to beat the 10-count. The fight was contested at a 185-pound catchweight.

Complete results below:

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MAIN EVENT – SUPER LIGHTWEIGHTS

Nelson Perez (4-0, 2 KOs), Marlboro, MA by way of Puerto Rico

WDEC6 (59-53, 59-53, 59-53)

Ryan Venable (2-9, 0 KOs), Roanoke, VA

CO-FEATURE – SUPER WELTERWEIGHTS

Josniel Castro (6-0, 4 KOs), Boca Raton, FL

WTKO4 (1:06)

Rynell Griffin (8-48-2, 2 KOs), Las Vegas, NV

HEAVYWEIGHTS

Sean Evans (1-0, 1 KO), Shrewsbury, MA

WTKO1 (0:49)

Levi Guimareas (0-1), Woburn, MA

185-POUND CATCHWEIGHT

Rodrigo da Rocha (1-0, 1 KO), Woburn, MA by way of Brazil

KO2 (2:04)

Leonardo Ladeira (0-7), Revere, MA by way of Brazil

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Elvis Figueroa (8-0, 4 KOs), New Haven, CT

WTKO3 (1:04)

Larry Smith (12-50-2, 8 KOs), Dallas, TX

WELTERWEIGHTS

Jeffrey Torres (8-1, 4 KOs), New Haven, CT by way of Puerto Rico

WKO1 (2:56)

Jader Alves de Oliveira (0-13), Framingham, MA

SUPER FEATHERWEIGHTS

Felix Parrella (1-0, 1 KO), New Haven, CT

WTKO2 (3:00)

Sidell Blocker (1-12-1, 0 KOs), Pleasantville, NJ

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INFORMATION:

Facebook.com/ShearnsBoxingPromotions

Twitter: @ShearnsBoxing

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. (September 30, 2021) – Undefeated Florida-based junior middleweight Josniel “TG” Castro (5-0, 3 KOs) has experienced a long, often difficult trip to get where he is today as he prepares to fight for the fourth time in 2021.

The 24-year-old Castro faces 57-fight veteran Rynell Griffin, of Las Vegas. In the co-featured event on the “Fight Night in Framingham” card, presented by Shearns Boxing Promotions for the benefit of “Fighting Life,” at Sheraton Hotel in Framingham, Massachusetts[BT1] .

It will mark the first professional boxing show ever held in Framingham, a city incorporated in 1700, located in the MetroWest sub-region of Greater Boston, less than 40 miles from Boston.

“Fighting Life” is an after-school youth boxing program and academic empowerment program, available 100-percentfree of charge to students beginning in elementary school through high school education.

High Octane Classics is the presenting sponsor. Other sponsors include Platts Landscaping and Shamrock Sports.

Born in Puerto Rico, Castro moved as a baby to Lawrence and years later he escaped the mean streets there by moving to Maine to focus on his boxing career. During most of his young life, he bounced from one foster family to another, homeless other times, eventually he moved to Florida, where his life dramatically changed when he entered DS Boxing in Boca Raton.

“I was getting into trouble in Lawrence and moved to Maine to get on the right path as an adult.” Castro explained. “I had a lot of personal issues. I then moved and trained for a while in Worcester (MA), where I met Chuck Shearns, who became my adviser and later my manager. I’m not worried about this fight because, at the end of the day, I’ll do what I do. I’m going to continue to work hard and figure things out.”

Castro (TG stands for The Gorilla) understands how fortunate he is to have a strong team in his corner. In addition to Shearns, Team Castro includes head trainer Derik Santos, strength & conditioning coach Phil Daru, nutritionist Jose Rojas, and camp coordinator Maureen Shea.

Santos, who owns DS Boxing, has been involved in training, whether as chief cornerman or assistant, the likes of Nate Campbell, Randall Bailey, Dyer Davis, Sergey Kovalev, Adonis Stevenson, Chris Algieri, Yordenis Ugas, Rances Barthelemy, and MMA star Vitor Belfort for his recent fight with Evander Holyfield.

“The goal is for J to be a boxer-puncher,” Santos commented. “He’s kept busy and that’s credit to Chuck. When he first came in, I liked what I saw, but he’d come into the gym for a few days and then be out. I saw him spar and could tell that he was a kid I could help. He had it! I could see it in his eyes, movements, and reactions. He needed a manager, though, to invest in him I spoke with Chuck and liked him right away. Good managers need to keep their ego in check because they aren’t there every day like a trainer. I’m protecting Chuck’s investment and J’s career. Chuck understands and we’ve been in good sync. We communicate well. I believe in J and the synergy I have with Chuck. Everything is working out well for all of us.”

Castro.JPG
“J deserves to be where he is based on his work, inside and outside of the ring,” Shearns remarked. “My family and I are proud to represent him. He is extremely talented, works hard and most of all loves to learn and get better. Boxing is not known as a team sport, but we have been very fortunate to have put together a true team of professionals. Coach Derik has been a great match for J’s desire and willingness to learn. I could see it right away. Coach Phil and Coach Jose have him doing and learning things he’s never even thought of. Maureen Shea has become a bit of a quarterback for us and I can’t thank her enough. Although we have been busy, coming up on 6 fights in 12 months, it’s still very early in this journey. That said, when you have a person like him, with the tools he has, matched with a team like this. I just say: Watch Us!

No matter how difficult things get in the ring, nothing compares to the obstacles Castro has overcome to become an undefeated prospect. His future is bright, in large part because of the invaluable support he’s receiving from Team Castro members.

poster.jpg
The 6-round main event will showcase a “graduate” of Fighting Life, Marlboro, MA super lightweight Nelson “Chino” Perez (3-0, 2 KOs), a pat New England Golden Gloves champion who will fight Ryan Venable (2-6).

Hometown favorite Kevin Lewis will make his professional debut in a 4-rounder against a fellow Framingham resident, super middleweight Saul “The Spider” Almeida (0-14-4), one of the top MMA fighters in New England.

A pair of New Haven (CT) fighters will also be in action. Three-time New England Golden Gloves champion, super middleweight Elvis Figueroa (7-0, 4 KOs), and 4-time New England Golden Gloves champion, pro-debuting featherweight Felix Parilla, will fight in 6 and 4-round bouts, respectively, against Texas veteran Larry “Slo Mo” Smith (12-49-2, 8 KOs) and Sidell Blocker (1-11-1).

Also fighting on the undercard in 4-round bouts is Boston heavyweight Wallace Nass Silva (0-2) vs. pro-debuting Sean Evans, of Shrewsbury, MA; Brazilian middleweight Leonardo Ladeira (0-6), of Revere (MA), vs. TBA, and Philadelphia welterweight Jeffrey Torres (7-1, 3 KOs) vs. Framingham’s Jader Alves (0-12).

Priced at $75.00 ringside and $60.00 general admission, tickets are available to purchase online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fight-night-in-framingham-tickets-171408807357, at UpperKuts gym, or from any of the local fighters on the card.

Doors open at 6 p.m. PT, first bout at 7:00 p.m.