Championship Boxing Returns to Lowell

BOSTON – Professional boxing returns February 25 to the home of “Irish” Micky Ward for the first time in more than a decade when NABA light heavyweight champion George Khalid Jones headlines NER Promotions’ inaugural professional boxing show, “Championship Boxing Returns to Lowell,” February 25 at Lowell Memorial Auditorium in Lowell, Massachusetts. In the last pro show held in Lowell, Ward stopped George Andujar in the third round of their September 10, 1994 match.

Jones (20-2-1, 13 KOs), of Paterson (NJ), defends his NABA light heavyweight belt against veteran Thomas Reid (33-14-1, 13 KOs), of Jackson (TN), in the 12-round main event. Rated No. 4 by the World Boxing Association, Jones also is ranked in the top 20 of all the other major organizations (No. 12 WBO, No. 13 IBF, No. 17 WBC). His only career losses have been to world-class opponents Montell Griffin (DEC12) and Eric Harding (TKO7).

“We’re building a team of professionals who have a wealth of valuable experience in boxing and marketing,” NER Promotions president Rick Brutti. “We selected Lowell because of its rich boxing tradition as host of the New England Golden Gloves and, of course, it’s where Micky Ward is from. He will be among many special guests at our show. We’re all excited and can’t wait for February 25.”

Former (2000) Brazilian Olympian, super featherweight Agnaldo Nunes (9-1-1, 5 KOs), now fighting of out Revere, faces veteran Freddy “The Rabbitt” Castro (5-10-5, 2 KOs) in the eight-round co-feature.

Former NABA welterweight champion Luis Hernandez (11-2, 5 KOs), of Ecuador, squares off against Robert “Doctor” Kayma (12-4, 4 KOs), of West Palm Beach via Uganda, in a six-round match.

Also scheduled to fight on “Championship Boxing Returns to Lowell” in four round bouts are Haverhill’s unbeaten featherweight Dennis “Mighty” Moses (3-0, 3 KOs) against Lisa “Blondie Pederson, fighting out of Las Vegas; New York City super middleweight Rob Cuscher, former New York and Florida Golden Gloves champion, makes his pro debut versus Cory Phelps (1-0, 1 KO), of Kentucky; New Jersey lightweight Ricardo Rosas (2-1, 1 KO) takes on Apollo Welch (1-0, 1 KO), of New York City. Hometown hero Jose Abel Ayala (8-3, 2 KOs), the super featherweight from Lowell and South Boston cruiserweight Chris Tillman (3-0, 3 KOs), the 2-time All-Marine, also are slated to fight on the card in separate matches. All matches and fighters are subject to change.

Tickets are priced at $100.00 for VIP (ringside or stage seating plus tickets to the pre and post-fight parties), $65.00 floor, $40.00 balcony and $25.00 general admission. Tickets go on sale Monday (Jan. 31) at Lowell Memorial Auditorium’s box office (978.454.2299). Doors open at 6 pm., first bout at 7:30 pm.