26.01.04 – Former world junior welterweight title contender “Sucra” Ray Oliveira (45-9-2, 21 KOs) and Elias Cruz (11-10, 7 KOs) are the main event fighters in Friday night’s (Jan. 30) professional boxing show — “Return of Friday Night Fights: The Showdown Part 2” — at the Worcester National Guard Armory.
“The Showdown Part 2” is promoted by Doug Pendarvis in association with Budweiser, Holiday Inn of Worcester, and North Shore Pontiac & Buick. The show is dedicated to the memory of boxer Jamar Carter, who died last year in a New Jersey house fire.
Oliveira-Cruz is an eight-round, junior middleweight match. Oliveira, of New Bedford, is the ex-IBU and two-time NABF champion who holds victories against past world champions Charles “The Natural” Murray (twice) and “Cool” Vince Phillips, as well as the only victory against present WBA super lightweight champion “Vicious” Vivian Harris.
Cruz, of Miami, is the former Dominican Republic lightweight title-holder. The ring veteran has lost to present WBA welterweight champion “El Gallo” Jose Antonio Rivera, who lives in Worcester, and former world champ Ricardo Mayorga.
The 10-round co-feature marks the return of Marlborough (MA) native Yvonne Reis, now fighting out of Ft. Lauderdale (FL), as she challenges IWBF middleweight champion Leititia “Baby Girl” Robinson in the first world women’s pro boxing title fight ever held in nearby Worcester.
Robinson (9-0, 8 KOs), of Chicago, defends her IWBF crown against No. 4 rated Reis (3-1-1) in the first world title fight held in Worcester in nearly 21 years, since Marvelous Marvin Hagler successfully defended his undisputed middleweight crown (Feb. 11, 1983) against Tony Sibson (TKO6) at The Centrum.
Real is a graduate of Marlborough High School and Emerson College in Boston. A former martial arts student and kick boxer, she now works as an office manager and personal trainer in Ft. Lauderdale, where she is trained by former world champion Bonnie Canino. Yvonne was 14-3 as an amateur, winning the 156-pound division at the US Nationals and National Golden Gloves, in addition to capturing the silver medal at the 2002 AIBA World Championships.
A six-round cruiserweight bout is scheduled between Desert Storm veteran and college graduate Roy “House of” Payne (15-12-4, 6 KOs), of Worcester, and veteran Robert Folley (27-8-2, 17 KOs), of Mesa (AZ).
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. Also on the undercard in four-round matches is Haverhill welterweight Alex Infante (3-2) versus Bilai Burns (0-4), of Philadelphia, while Worcester welterweight Bobby McAndrews (2-3-1, 2 KOs) faces pro debuting Ben Rosario, of Leominster (MA).
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.