09.01.04 – The twice postponed “Return of Friday Night Fights: The Showdown Part 2,” has been re-scheduled for January 30 at the Worcester National Guard Armory, promoter Doug Pendarvis announced today. “We wanted to do this show the right way and decided to hold off until after the holidays,” Pendarvis said. “We’ve got firm commitments from the fighters and major sponsors on board like Budweiser and the Holiday Inn of Worcester.”
Former world title contender “Sucra” Ray Oliveira (45-9-2, 21 KOs), of New Bedford (MA), would still headline the card in an eight-round match of welterweights against Fray Luis Sierra (15-11, 13 KOs).
The co-feature has been upgraded to a 10-round championship match between world middleweight champion Leititia “Baby Girl” Robinson (9-0, 8 KOs), of Chicago, and No. 4 rated Yvonne Reis (3-1-1), formerly of Marlborough (MA) and now fighting out of Ft. Lauderdale, for Robinson’s IWBF title. Robinson-Reis marks the first women’s world championship match ever held in boxing rich Worcester, in addition to being the first world title fight there in nearly 21 years, since Marvelous Marvin Hagler successfully defended his undisputed middleweight crown (Feb. 11, 1983) against Tony Sibson (TKO6) at The Centrum. The following year (May 5, 1984), Sugar Ray Leonard came out of his first retirement and defeated Kevin Howard (TKO 9) at the same site, only to temporarily go back into retirement.
WBA welterweight champion, “El Gallo” Jose Antonio Rivera, will be honored in his hometown of Worcester during the show dedicated to the memory of boxer Jamar Carter, who died two months ago in a New Jersey house fire.
The undercard includes six-round bouts between Worcester cruiserweight Roy “House of” Payne (15-12-4 (6 KOs) and Arizona veteran Robert Folley (27-8-2, 17 KOs), as well as super middleweights Derrick Graham (12-7-1, 4 KOs), of Newark (NJ), versus TBA.
In a special attraction, former New England Golden Gloves champion Denise “Mighty” Moses (2-0, 2 KOs), of Lawrence, takes on Philadelphia’s Anita Parker (0-1), in a four-rounder. Haverhill welterweight Alex Infante (3-2) meets Bilai Burns (0-4), of Philadelphia.
More undercard will soon be announced. All fighters and matches are subject to change.
Tickets, priced at $40.00 ringside and $25.00 general admission, may be ordered by calling 508.751.5131. For more information call Pendarvis Boxing Promotions at 617.592.2771.