‘KO’ Rates the Top 12 Boxers from New England

As the New England correspondent for The Sweet Science boxing website, it again falls upon me to produce an annual accounting of the top-rated professional boxers from Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Vermont. Last year’s New England ratings were topped by Ocean State middleweight Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade.

Andrade continues to hold on to the top spot in 2022 but for how much longer? The now former WBO middleweight champion has given up his belt (and his promoter Eddie Hearn) after an uninspiring three-year title reign failed to produce any marquee matchups for Andrade at 160 lbs.

Jermall Charlo recently called out Andrade but we all know “Boo Boo” doesn’t want that smoke.

The biggest mover in these ratings is Jamaine Ortiz, the undefeated lightweight “Technician” from Worcester, Mass. Rated in my number eleven spot last year, Ortiz (pictured on the left against Nahir Albright) is now second only to Andrade in New England and he is a legitimate world rated contender on the verge of a title shot.

Top Rank has confirmed that Ortiz will face Vasyl Lomachenko later this year, likely in New York on Oct. 29. Ortiz previously sparred with “The Matrix” and aims to upset the defensive wizard.

KO’s Top 12 New England Ratings

1. Demetrius Andrade, Providence, Rhode Island: Now 34 years of age, time is becoming a factor for the former WBO middleweight champion. Big fights at moneyweight didn’t happen and Andrade is poised to move up to super-middleweight where he will chase after Canelo after meeting the unheralded Zach Parker in an interim title fight.

The tricky southpaw was supposed to fight Parker last May in the U.K. but the bout was scrapped when Andrade pulled out with a questionable shoulder injury.

No longer promoted by Eddie Hearn, Andrade (now 31-0 with 19 knockouts) has not fought since November of last year when he made his final defense of the WBO middleweight title, annihilating Jason Quigley in two very mismatched rounds in Manchester, New Hampshire. Andrade was actually upstaged on that night by another fighter from Providence—unified female super lightweight champion Kali Reis.

2. Jamaine Ortiz, Worcester, Massachusetts: What a difference a year makes. Ortiz has fought and won twice in 2022; beating Nahir Albright for the NABF lightweight title last February and then unanimously decisioning former world champion Jamel Herring last May in Las Vegas.

Now 16-0-1 with 8 knockouts, Ortiz is New England’s most promising up-and-comer. He’ll be a big underdog against Lomachenko but if he wins, the winner of Haney-Kambosos 2 awaits him.

3. Richard Rivera, Hartford, Connecticut: Another big mover in these New England ratings is 21-1 cruiserweight “Popeye” Rivera. The stick-and-move specialist looked great on the Uysk-AJ undercard battling Badou Jack to a hard-luck split-decision loss over ten rounds.

Rivera showed a very good chin, nifty boxing skills, and a faithful determination to his craft.

Promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, the 31-year-old Rivera vows to become a world champion. After the Jack debacle in Saudi Arabia, Rivera put the boxing world on notice. “I’m a force to be reckoned with,” he said.

(A couple days after the Jack disappointment, I followed up with Rivera to find out what’s next. “I’m filing an appeal,” he told me. “I’m not sure what will come of it but I definitely want a rematch on US soil. Whether or not I get the rematch, I’ll be training and waiting for any opportunity that comes my way.”) Rivera has 16 knockouts on his record.

4. Rashidi Ellis, Lynn, Massachusetts: The 29-year-old “Speedy” Rashidi is now 24-0 (15) after a 2022 move to junior middleweight where he stopped Jose Maruffo in one round in Texas.

Ellis’ career appears to be slowing down even if he isn’t. Inactivity has been costly for Ellis. Sister Rashida competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and she looks ahead to 2024 in Paris.

5. Kendrick Ball Jr., Worcester, Massachusetts: The 19-1-2 (12) Ball has bounced around the New England boxing scene since turning pro in 2016. He won a stay-busy fight last July on a Rivera Promotions show in Worcester, Mass. Ball can box a little and he did beat Bryan Vera.

At 29, Ball Jr. now competes as a light heavyweight. A 2021 TKO loss to Mike Guy in Springfield, Mass was changed to a NC when Guy tested positive for anabolic steroids.

6. Mykquan Williams, Hartford, Connecticut: After a 2021 automobile accident in which he broke his wrist, “Marvelous” Mykquan has won twice in 2022 to keep alive his status as the region’s top overall prospect. Now 18-0-1 (8) as a super-lightweight, it’s time for Lou DiBella and Jackie Kallen to introduce their undefeated fighter to bigger audiences and to better opponents.

7. Ronald Ellis, Lynn, Massachusetts: After upsetting Matt Korobov in 2020, “Akeem” Ellis has gone 0-2 against David Benavidez and Christian Mbilli. Ellis was stopped by Benavidez and then shut out on the scorecards against the unknown Mbilli. Ronald is yet to compete in 2022.

The elder Ellis brother is 18-3-2 with 12 knockouts. He made his pro debut way back in 2011.

8. Cassius Chaney, New London, Connecticut: This 35-year-old heavyweight lost for the first time as a pro last December, dropping an 8-round split decision to undefeated George Arias in New York. Chaney bounced back with a recent win at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut but here’s the skinny on the super-sized Chaney: he lacks passion in his profession and he paws with his punches. The big man is 22-1 (15) but it’s hard to see him making a splash at the world level.

9. William Foster III, New Haven, Connecticut: Known as the “Silent Assassin” due to his quiet demeanor, this 15-0 super featherweight is still in 8-rounders but not for long. Foster defeated two tough cookies on their own turf in 2022. Last January he beat undefeated Edwin De Los Santos in the Dominican Republic and in March he beat Philly fighter Avery Sparrow in Philly.

His older brother Charles Foster, 32, is an undefeated light heavyweight with a 21-0 (11) record. The heavier Foster holds victories over Denis Grachev and “Iron Magik” Alvin Varmall Jr.

10. Mark DeLuca, Whitman, Massachusetts: Now 28-3 after an upset loss (UD8) in 2022 to Edward Ulloa Diaz in the Dominican Republic, “Bazooka” DeLuca is now 34 and on the slide. The 2020 TKO loss to Kell Brook will probably be the biggest highlight of DeLuca’s pro career.

11. Greg Vendetti, Stoneham, Massachusetts: Following his 2020 unanimous decision defeat at the hands of Erislandy Lara, the junior middleweight “Villain” Vendetti has almost all but fallen off the map. Vendetti beat Jimmy Williams last year in Hartford to improve his record to 23-4-1 (12).

12. Brandon Berry, West Forks, Maine: Unranked in these New England ratings last year, Berry enters after picking up a UBO title at super-welterweight by stopping previously unbeaten Juan Manuel Witt (33-0-2) with a well placed sixth-round body punch last June. Perpetually on the comeback trail from adversity, Berry added another loss to his ledger in 2021 after a decision defeat in NH to journeyman Travis Castellon. “The Cannon” is now 24-6-2 with 17 knockouts.

Honorable Mentions: Tramaine “The Mighty Midget” Williams (New Haven, Connecticut), Francis “Frank The Tank” Hogan (Weymouth, Massachusetts), and Mike “Bad Man” O’Han Jr. (Holbrook, Massachusetts).

Williams is a 20-1 (6) super bantamweight southpaw with a great nickname. Standing just 5 foot 4, Williams flies under a lot of radars. In 2020, he challenged Angelo Leo for the vacant WBO super bantamweight title, dropping a 12-round unanimous decision. He’s only fought once since.

Hogan is 12-0 (11) as a tall middleweight and he just knocked out Cleotis Pendarvis in four at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. Only 21, Hogan is one of Jimmy Burchfield’s best young fighters.

Standing 6 foot 2, I’ve heard Hogan compared to former middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik.

O’Han is following in the footsteps of his father who also fought professionally. Very active since debuting in 2017, O’Han is a 16-1 (9) club show welterweight. Papa O’Han was active in the region’s club show scene from 1983 to 1995 going 14-6-2 (11) as the original “Bad Man” O’Han.

Photo credit: Amanda Westcott / SHOWTIME

Boxing Writer Jeffrey Freeman grew up in the City of Champions, Brockton, Massachusetts from 1973 to 1987, during the Marvelous career of Marvin Hagler. JFree then lived in Lowell, Mass during the best years of Irish Micky Ward’s illustrious career. A former member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and a Bernie Award Winner in the Category of Feature Story Under 1500 Words, Freeman Covers Boxing for the Sweet Science in New England.

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