Hometown favorite Kevin Lewis will make his professional debut in a 4-round bout against fellow Framingham resident, super middleweight Saul “The Spider” Almeida (0-14-4), one of the top MMA fighters in New England, this Saturday night in the first professional boxing show ever held in Framingham, Massachusetts.
“Fight Night in Framingham” card, presented by Shearns Boxing Promotions, will benefit the “Fighting Life” program, at Sheraton Hotel in Framingham, Massachusetts[BT1]. “Fighting Life” is 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.
High Octane Classics is the presenting sponsor. Other sponsors include Platts Landscaping and Shamrock Sports.
The 39-year-old Lewis may be making his pro debut, but he’s sparred in what may be a record 299 different gyms from around the world, Massachusetts to California, and including the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Alaska, Nevada, and so many more states.
A reformed drug and alcohol substance abuser, Lewis started his gym journey five years as part of his new lifestyle. A week after his pro debut, Lewis will be traveling to Ireland, where he plans to hit the magical 300-mark gyms where he’s sparred.
“Twenty years ago,” Lewis said, “I started boxing and today I’m certified a personal trainer. I was born in Marshfield, moved to Reno chasing a dream, and to Framingham six years ago. I have the record (299 gyms sparred in), but there’s no record keeper for this. I did it for the love of the sport and this has become a passion for me. I’m happy and clean.
“I’m taking this one step at a time. I wanted to give it a shot, because I felt that it’s only right that I turn pro, if I’m training fighters to go pro. This may be just one time, or I could have a few more fights. Let’s see how it goes. I’m going through this process and have learned that it’s a business. My goal is to own my own gym.”
Marlboro (MA) super lightweight Nelson “Chino” Perez (3-0, 2 KOs), another past New England Golden Gloves champion and “Fighting Life” program graduate, headlines against Ryan Venable (2-6) in the 6-round main event.
Undefeated Florida-based super welterweight Josniel “TG” Castro (5-0, 3 KOs), a Puerto Rico native who grew up in Massachusetts, faces Las Vegas fighter Rynell Griffin (8-47-2, 2 KOs) In the 6-round co-featured event.
A 3-time New England Golden Gloves champion, as well as a 2015 USA Nationals silver medalist, New Haven super middleweight Elvis Figueroa (7-0, 4 KOs) will fight for the first time in more than two years, against veteran Dallas fighter Larry “Slo Mo” Smith (12-49-2, 8 KOs), in a 6-round bout.
Figueroa’s stablemate, Felix Parrilla, a 4-time New England Golden Gloves champion in addition to being the 2018 National Golden Gloves silver medalist, who will make his pro debut in a 4-round fight versus Sidell Blocker (1-11-1).
Also fighting on the undercard in 4-round bouts is pro-debuting heavyweight Sean Evans, of Shrewsbury, MA, vs. pro-debuting Levi Guimareas, and Philadelphia welterweight Jeffrey Torres (7-1, 3 KOs) vs. Framingham’s Jader Alves de Oliveira (0-12).
