History awaits Ortiz, Gonzalez Friday in Worcester

FEATHERWEIGHT PROSPECT IRVIN Gonzalez Jr. of Worcester returns home Friday, February 28, 2020 when he battles Yeuri Andujar for a shot at the vacant WBC World Youth Featherweight Title in the co-feature of CES Boxing’s upcoming event at The Palladium. Gonzalez is aiming to become just the fourth WBC Youth title-holder in CES Boxing history and only the second U.S.-born fighter to currently reign as Youth champion. He would join his stablemate Jamaine Ortiz, who won the lightweight title in 2019.

Worcester, MA (February 25, 2020) – CES Boxing’s long-awaited return to Massachusetts is just 72 hours away as hometown heroes Jamaine Ortiz and Irvin Gonzalez Jr. attempt to make history at The Palladium in downtown Worcester.

The east coast’s No. 1 promotion launches its 2020 schedule on Friday, February 28 in the heart of the Bay State live and exclusively on UFC FIGHT PASS. Ortiz, the reigning WBC World Youth Lightweight Champion, headlines in an eight-round bout against 21-year-old Mexican challenger Luis Ronaldo Castillo(22-5, 17 KOs) while Gonzalez (13-2, 10 KOs), also of Worcester, aims for his own title in the eight-round co-main event when he battles Reading, PA, vet Yeuri Andujar (5-2, 3 KOs) for the vacant WBC Youth World Featherweight Championship.

Tickets for the event are priced at $35, $45 and $85 (VIP) and are available online at CESBoxing.com or ShowClix.com, or by phone at 401-724-2253. Preliminary bouts begin at 7 p.m. ET with the main card streaming live on FIGHT PASS at 9. Subscriptions for FIGHT PASS are available online at UFCFightPass.com. CES Boxing matchmaker and publicist Michael Parente handles play-by-play alongside legendary color commentator “Sucra” Ray Oliveira.

In February of 2019, Ortiz became just the third WBC Youth champion in CES Boxing history, joining a short list that includes former pound-for-pound king Chad Dawson and featherweight title-challenger Matt Remillard. A victory Friday by Gonzalez would make him the fourth WBC Youth title-holder in promotional history and make CES Boxing the only active promotion in the world with two reigning WBC Youth World champions. Ortiz and Gonzalez would also reign as the only American-born youth title-holders among the 16 current champions.

In anticipation for Friday’s championship event, CES Boxing will host a final press conference Thursday at Lundgren Honda of Auburn. This event is open to the public.