QUINCY, Mass. (October 17, 2024) – Undefeated heavyweight Kevin “Big Gulp” Nagle (9-0, 7 KOs) has taken a challenging journey, to say the least, towards his first title shot on November 1^st on the “Worcester Championship Boxing” card, presented by Granite Chin Promotions (GCP), at the famed DCU Event Center in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Nagle, fighting out of Scituate (MA), faces Worcester’s Jake Paradise (8-3, 8 KOs) in the eight-round co-featured event for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) USA Silver Heavyweight Championship.

Nagle’s U.S. Army Reserve unit was deployed to Kosovo in 2006-2007, followed by an additional military tour in Iraq. Unfortunately, he came home with alcohol and opioid issues. After a brief amateur career, the now 40-year-old Nagle stopped boxing when he was 25, but he sparred periodically with his friend, heavyweight Steve Vukosa, who is now Kevin’s head trainer.

Nagle and his then-wife had agreed to Kevin hanging up his gloves after the birth of their first child because she was concerned about his possible brain injuries in the future. In 2022, Nagle and his wife separated and the first call he made was to Vukosa, who contacted promoter Chris Traietti.

“I came back to make a run so my kids would have good memories,” Nagle remembered. “I became a licensed nurse because of the alcohol and opiate problems I came home with from Iraq, and I wanted to become a caregiver. I’ve been a psychiatric nurse at the VA in Brockton for the past 10 years.”

Nagle made his pro debut when he was 39 and he started training when he weighed 340 pounds. Today, he’s down to 270 pounds and fighting for a strap.

“I love boxing and even when I was sparring with Steve I never gave up on my dreams and that’s the message I’m sending to my children (the four are aged between 3 and 8),” Nagle added. “I tell them that they need to try…win, lose or draw. I put in a lot of work to get into shape. I’m older now and push myself.”

Nagle dreamed of fighting someday for a title, but he’s blown away to be fighting for the WBC USA Silver crown.

“I thought it would be for the Mass. Title, or possibly for the New England championship, but this is beyond what I ever dreamed. I never dreamed of fighting for a WBC title and it’s because this is what Chris designed. He’s a man of his word. Every step I’ve taken, whether positive or not, has impacted my life. After this fight it’ll be whatever Chris says. I’d like to get into bigger fights and make some money, but I do what Chris tells me and hopefully that will be fighting on a bigger platform.”

Ironically, Nagle’s opponent has had his demons as well. Paradise has overcome drug addiction, homelessness, and suicidal depression anxiety.

“This will be a clash of recovering fighters,” Nagle noted. “Anything can happen in boxing. Every time I go into a fight, I never know what’s going to happen. It’s boxing!”

Nagle also revealed how he came up with his nickname, “Big Gulp.” When Kevin came back from Iraq, he was drinking so much water that he started drinking half water, half soda. He and Steve came up with the nickname, “Big Gulp.”

Tough rooting against a guy like Kevin Nagle.

The loaded GCP event is headlined by a terrific match-up between Josniel “TG” Castro (13-1, 8 KOs), fighting out of Boca Raton (FL), who defends his newly captured WBC U.S. super welterweight title against reigning Junior North American Boxing Federation champion Denzel “Double Impact” Whitley (14-0, 8 KOs), of Holyoke (MA), in the 10-round main event.

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

QUINCY, Mass. (September 23, 2024) – Massachusetts heavyweights Kevin “Big Gulp” Nagle (9-0, 7 KOs) and Jake Paradise (8-3, 8 KOs) have taken completely different routes in life to get where they are as opponents on November 1^st on the “Worcester Championship Boxing” card, presented by Granite Chin Promotions (GCP), at DCU Event Center in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Nagle and Paradise are matched in an eight-round bout for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) USA Silver Heavyweight Championship. Neither fighter has fought more than six rounds as prize fighters.

The GCP event will be headlined by a the 10-round main event, as Josniel “TG” Castro (13-1, 8 KOs), fighting out of Boca Raton (FL), defends his newly captured World WBC U.S. super welterweight title versus undefeated challenger and reigning Junior North American Boxing Federation champion Denzel “Double Impact” Whitley (14-0, 8 KOs), of Holyoke, Massachusetts.

“Both guys have an incredible personal backstory filled with struggles and adversity,” GCP promoter Chris Traietti commented. “I applaud both guys for the success in their personal struggles, I sincerely mean that, but November 1^st is a match for a regional WBC title. None of the other stuff matters once that bell rings and we will find out which guy is moving on and which guy gets exposed. I have had a lot of harsh criticism about Jake Paradise’s ring boxing journey. He has an opportunity to shove all my words back in my face. I will say, regardless of the outcome, I will have a different level of respect for him getting on the ring with Kevin.”

Nagle, who fights out of Scituate (MA) fought as an amateur, but he didn’t turn pro until many years later, after he and his wife separated, which led “Big Gulp” back into the gym. A psychiatric nurse at the VA in Brockton (MA), Army veteran Nagle was deployed twice in Kosovo and he also volunteered for duty in Iraq. He is trained by Steve Vukosa, who was 14-1-1 as a heavyweight.

“I never thought I would fight for a major organization’s title like the WBC,” Nagle said. “I’m proud to have this opportunity and I hope it goes well so my kids can look back at the achievement. My opponent is naturally smaller (30-pounds difference) and faster, so I think he will try to keep the tempo fast. I’m prepared to fight the eight-round distance if necessary. I’ve been training for this one day at a time.”

Paradise, 30, will be fighting at home in Worcester, where Bruce Alston trains him. Paradise is a fighter who has overcome numerous obstacles, including drug addiction, homelessness, suicidal depression anxiety.

“It feels incredible to be fighting for this title because it is what I’ve dreamed of,” Paradise commented. “My opponent brings size and strength into the ring. He is a big, strong guy and I’m taking this fight extremely seriously. I have nothing but respect for Kevin. He served his country – I thank him for that – and it is an honor to be in there with him. It’s going to be a war! My career has been up and down but that’s how my life has been and what built me into the man and fighter I am today. I might fall down but when I get up, hell’s coming with me. Everything the streets have thrown at me, I know I’ve been through more to get there, and I will stand across from a man who bleeds like me. I’ve gone through the darkness, but I’ve always had the faith that I could make it out. I want to stand tall and represent the underdogs in the world who have messed up, been counted out, and talked down to their whole life. Kids who don’t see a way out need to keep fighting like I have.”

Nothing can be determined from their common opponents – Tadeau Costa and Aquilla Prote – because Nagle knocked out Costa twice, Paradise did likewise in their only fight, and both stopped Prote.

However, both have overcome odds and despite the final outcome, they’re both winners.

Additional bouts, including several matches showcasing other Worcester-based boxers, 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

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. (February 26, 2024) – Heavyweight Kevin “Big Gulp” Nagle remained undefeated, improving his professional boxing record to 7-0 with seven knockouts, as he headlined for the first time on last Saturday night’s “Fight Night at the Vets Club” card, presented by Granite Chin Promotions (GCP), in front of a packed house at cozy Bridgewater Veterans Club in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

GCP partnered with the Bridgewater-based charitable organization, Fire For Effect Foundation, which honors and empower veterans, first responders and their families by providing essential resources, support and community-building initiatives that foster resilience, restore hope, and strengthen the fabric of our community. Go to www.ffefinc.org for more information.

Fighting out of Scituate (MA), Nagle not only headlined for the first time, he also was in his first scheduled six-round fight, only a month after his previous bout. It was appropriate for a military veteran who was deployed overseas twice and works at the Brockton VA hospital in Brockton (MA) as a psychiatric nurse to shine at the Bridgewater Veterans Club.

Nagle immediately established his strength advantage, using his 287 ½ pound frame to punish his opponent, Mexican Alfred “Concho” Trevino (9-11-1, 1 KO), right from the opening bell. Trevino hit the canvas in the first round from a powerful right to the body and Nagle closed the show in the second round, stopping Trevino with a pair of right-handed punches that both landed on the button.

Nagle explained after the fight that he and his head trainer, Steve Vukosa, worked hard on being quicker in this fight, moving his feet along with his punching at a more accelerated pace than in his past fights. He even looked nimbler than before, cutting off the ring to consistently trap his opponent on the ropes and in the corner.

Marshfield welterweight prospect Joe Bush (2-0, 2 KOs), a silver medalist at the 2023 New England Golden Gloves Tournament, had the largest group of supporting fans in attendance. They stood and cheered as the 26-year-old Bush outclassed veteran Rakim Johnson (7-23-1, 5 KOs). Bush dropped the game Johnson four times, displaying accurate punching with good pop, until the fight ended in the third round after a double left-hook. 

In the Fight of the Night, Medford (MA) super middleweight Greg “Iron” Bono (2-1-1, 1 KO) and Brazilian Bruno Dias (1-13-1, 0 KOs) fought to a thrilling four-round majority draw in which Bono won on one judge’s scorecard (39-37). The other two judges scored the entertaining fight, 38-38, and the momentum went back and forth between the two fighters during the entire four rounds.

Former Massachusetts Middleweight Champion Anthony “The Gentle Savage” Andreozzi (5-3, 1 KO) was in action again for the first time in more than a year, fighting off early rust against Brazilian Igor Pessoa (0-8) for an impressive second-round technical knockout, one year to the day after his first surgery. In his previous fight, Andreozzi shattered the tip of his fibula into pieces and completely severed a few ligaments when he attempted to walk it off. Tony had two surgeries and had a plate inserted, as well as five screws and a bolt that resulted in a bone infection.

New Hampshire middleweight Ricky Ford scored two wins in one fight. He looked sharp against Erick Alves (0-2), who was decked in the corner at the end of round one by an overhand right. He took a knee in the second round after getting hit by a wicked body shot and the end came in the following round, the result of a sweet left hook. After the fight, Ford dropped to a knee in the middle of the ring to propose marriage to his longtime girlfriend who happily accepted.

In the opening bout of the evening, relentless New Hampshire middleweight Ryan Clark (4-5, 2 KOs) pressured Jay Gregory (0-10-1) from start to finish in their rematch enroute to a shutout decision as he won all four rounds on each of here judges’ scorecard (40-36 X3). 

Bridgewater TV taped the entire show live for viewing this week.

Granite Chin returns March 23^rd in Worcester (MA) with “Pandemonium at The Palladium 3.”

____________________________________________________________________

Complete Results Below:

OFFICIAL RESULTS

MAIN EVENT — HEAVYWEIGHTS

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

WKO2 (0 :36)

Alfred Trevino (9-11-1, 1 KO), Aqua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS

Anthony Andreozzi (5-3, 2 KOs), Swansea, MA

WTKO2 (0:24)

Igor Pessoa (0-8), Woburn, MA by way of Brazil

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Greg Bono (2-1-1, 2 KOs), Medford, MA

MD4 (39-37, 38-38, 38-38)

Bruno Dias (1-13-1, 0 KOs), Woburn, MA by way of BraziL

MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Ryan Clark (4-5, 2 KOs), Berwick, NH

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

Jay Gregory (0-10-1), Auburn, NY

Ricky Ford (5-1-2, 3 KOs), Claremont, NH

WTKO3 (2:01)

Erick Alves (0-2), Malden, MA.

WELTERWEIGHTS

Joe Bush (2-0, 2 KOs), Marshfield, MA

WTKO3 (1:49)

Rakim Johnson (7-23-1, 5 KOs), Indianapolis, IN

_______________________________________________________________ 

INFORMATION:  

Facebook.com/GraniteChin

Twitter: @Granite_Chin

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. (November 11, 2023) – It only seemed appropriate that a U.S. Army veteran, Kevin “Big Gulp” Nagle (4-0, 4 KOs), was the star of last night’s “Friday Fight Night” card, presented by Granite Chin Promotions (GCP) on Veterans Day eve, at Bridgewater Veterans Club in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

GCP partnered with the Bridgewater-based charitable organization, Fire For Effect Foundation, which honors and empower veterans, first responders and their families by providing essential resources, support and community-building initiatives that foster resilience, restore hope, and strengthen the fabric of our community. Go to www.ffefinc.org for more information.

Nagle, fighting out of Scituate, was deployed in Iraq and Kosovo. He is a disabled veteran who works at the VA Medical Center in Brockton (MA). Weighing in at nearly 300 pounds, he took advantage of his size and power advantages over the 213-pound Max DaSilva (0-2). Heading into the third round, Nagle’s cornerman, Steve Vukosa, instructed Nagle to put his three-punch combination together. “Big Gulp” did just that, hurting DaSilva with a right uppercut, followed by a left-right combination to close the show.

Coming off his first loss as a professional, Lynn (MA) super middleweight James “Pitbull” Perkins (13-1-1, 10 KOs) rebounded strongly against tough Saul “The Spider” Almeida Braga. Perkins dropped his opponent in the opening round, and it appeared that this fight wasn’t going to last long. Braga, who is a veteran MMA fighter, persevered and gave Perkins much needed rounds.

James Perkins (L) stayed in his opponent’s face for all six rounds

Like Perkins, New Hampshire middleweight Ryan Clark 2-6, 2 KOs) is a come forward, fan-friendly fighter. Last night his non-stop, aggressive style paid off as his contact pressure broke down a game Jay Gregory and closed the show in the third round when the referee halted the fight.

The most gifted boxer in action last night was undefeated Cuban lightweight Armando Rabi (10-0, 9 KOs), the 2015 Cuban National Champion, who faced battled-tested Brazilian Aldimar Silva (22-25, 14 KOs). After a few minutes of strategic maneuvering, Rabi fired a perfectly placed straight right that immediately dropped Silva, who had been laying on the ropes, unable to beat the count at the 2:46 mark of round one.

Revere super middleweight Travis Gambardella (8-2-2, 4 KOs) attacked journeyman Juan Celin Zapata from the opening bell, cracking Zapata with an overhand right last in the opening round that sent the Honduran to the canvas. The referee waved off the fight when Zapata reacted wobbly.

New Bedford super middleweight “Vicious” Anthony Vieira improved to 3-0 with his third knockout, dropping pro-debuting Milton Noleto three times. The first came in the opening round via a body shot. In the third and final round, the well-schooled Vieira sent his opponent sprawling from a punch Noleto felt was an illegal shot to the back of his head. Noleto never recovered and an overhand right to the head soon floored him again. At that point, the referee had seen enough and stopped the fight.

Complete results below:

---

OFFICIAL RESULTS

HEAVYWEIGHTS

Kevin Nagle (4-0, 4 KOs), Scituate. MA

WKO3 (2:11)

Max DaSilva (0-2), Woburn, MA by way of Brazil

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS

James Perkins (13-1-1, 10 KOs), Lynn, MA

WDEC6 (60-53, 60-53, 59-54)

Saul Almeida Braga (1-19-4, 1 KO), Framingham, MA

Anthony Vieira (3-0, 2 KOs), New Bedford, MA

WTKO3 (2:00)

Milton Noleto (0-1, 0 KOs), Woburn, MA by way of Brazil

Travis Gambardella (8-2-2, 4 KOs), Revere, MA

WTKO1 (2:42)

Juan Celin Zapata (7-24-2, 5 KOs), Bronx, NY by way of Honduras

MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Ryan Clark (3-5, 2 KOs), Barrington, NH

WTKO3 (1:41)

Jay Gregory (0-9-1), Auburn, NY

LIGHTWEIGHTS

Armando Rabi (10-0, 9 KOs), Havana, Cuba by way of UAE

WTKO1 (2:46)

Aldimar Silva (22-25, 14 KOs), Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil

---

Granite Chin Promotions’ final event of the year, “Pandemonium at The Palladium 2,” will be held Saturday evening, December 9, at The Palladium at Worcester, Massachusetts. Tickets are on sale and available for purchase online at www.ThePalladium.net.

INFORMATION:

Facebook.com/GraniteChin

Twitter: @Granite_Chin

QUINCY, Mass. (May 22, 2023) – Heavyweight Kevin Nagle (1-0, 1 KO), fighting out of Scituate (MA), has certainly taken a circuitous route to professional boxing.

The 39-year-old Nagle will be in action Saturday night, June 10^th, in a four-round match against Reinaldo Souza (0-1) on the “Fight Night at the Vets Club” card, presented by Granite Chin Promotions’ (GCP), at the Veterans Club in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

Nagle, who started boxing when he was 10, made his professional debut this past February in Melrose (MA), stopping Aquilla Prote in the second round.

Boxing was put to the side by Nagle when he played high school football at South Shore Regional Vocational Technical, and then while he played rugby after he graduated from high school, prior to him joining the National Guard at 20 and going to boot camp.

He wanted to pick up boxing again upon his return home from camp and reconnected with some of his coaches from his early days at the Pembroke Boxing Club, after which he started training at the famed Petronelli Gym in Brockton. Kevin had a brief amateur boxing career, highlighted by him reaching the semifinals of the New England Golden Gloves.

In 2006, he was deployed to Kosovo and then he volunteered for a six-months stint in Iraq when his company was deployed there. Once his National Guard commitment was fulfilled, he joined Local 223 as a laborer.

Later, he took CNA classes and Kevin was responsible for dementia care at the Veterans Administration (VA). He attended nursing school and has been a psychiatric nurse for the past eight years at the Brockton VA.

Nagle wanted to box again and after local boxer/trainer Mark DeLuca hooked him up in 2014 with Steve Vukosa (14-1-1, 5 KOs), a former New England Heavyweight Champion, and Kevin has been Steve’s primary sparring partner ever since.

But why did it take so long for Nagle to join pro boxing’s ranks?

“I had kids, and my wife didn’t let me fight,” Nagle explained. “When we separated, my first call was to Steve, not a lawyer, and I told him it was time to get back into boxing and I needed to get into shape. Steve introduced me to (promoter) Chris Traietti, who I had watched fight, and he said he’d get me one fight. Boxing has helped me be focused with all I’m going through.

“My goal with Steve was for me to go pro. I wanted to accomplish that for my kids and accomplished it. Anything that happens now in boxing is like having a cherry on top. I wanted to show my kids that I didn’t give up on my dream. I wanted to be a soldier and did that, too. My overall goal is to work my way up to a competitive fight. I’m just a crazy, old guy working in the gym with Steve and Martin Grealish. This experience is keeping me centered, I’m not trying to take over the boxing world.”

“When Steve Vukosa first approached me about Kevin turning pro,” Traietti added, “I didn’t really take it overly serious at first, but I knew Kevin. I sincerely liked him on a personal level, so I gave him a call and we chatted. Once he told me about his current situation, I knew he was serious, and this was important to him. He is 39 years old and doesn’t have any aspirations of some long career, but he wants an opportunity to get on a big card and get the experience of fighting on a national stage. Fortunately, for him, that is exactly what I can do for my guys. The plan is to keep him active in 2023 with a handful of fights and get him the big experience he is looking for in 2024.”

Julien “Black Dragon” Baptiste (4-2, 2 KOs), of Woburn (MA), and New Hampshire’s Ryan Thomas Clark (2-3. 1 KO) throw-down in the six-round main event for the vacant United States Boxing Federation (USBF) middleweight title.

Also slated to fight on the “Fight Night at the Vets Club” are former New England Welterweight Champion Mike “Bad Man” Ohan, Jr. (17-2, 9 KOs), of Holbrook (MA), vs. William Parra Smith (4-14-1, 3 KOs) in an eight-round bout; unbeaten Lynn (MA).super middleweight James “Pitbull” Perkins (11-0-1, 8 KOs) vs. TBA in a six-rounder; and Boston lightweight Arika Skoog (1-0-1, 1 KO), the 2020 USA Boxing Elite National and multiple New England Golden Gloves champion, vs. Sarah “Switch Kick” Click (1-4-1).

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