QUINCY, Mass. (February 3, 2022) — Hometown favorite Kevin “Lucky” Lewis will make his professional debut in a grudge match against fellow Framingham fighter Saul “The Spider” Almeida (0-14-4), one of the top MMA fighters in New England, on February 26th at Sheraton Hotel in Framingham, Massachusetts.
Last October, super middleweight Lewis was matched against Almeida, who weighed in considerably more than the contract weight, and their fight was cancelled. Lewis and Almeida will final square-off, albeit in a light heavyweight match.
“I weighed 168-pounds on the money,” Lewis explained. “He weighed in at 188. We had signed a contract two months before to fight at 168. It wasn’t suggested that I take the fight. I’ve gained 20 pounds and I am at that weight now.”
Lewis may be making his pro debut, but he’s sparred in more than 300 different gyms from across the U.S. and around the world, including the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and most recently Ireland.
“I am excited to finally make this fight happen after the fiasco that occurred in the fall,” Granite Chin president Chris Traietti remarked. “Saul didn’t do right by Lewis in the first affair, but both guys seem eager to fight. Once both guys agreed to fight at a much higher weight, it only made sense to get contracts out to both guys and give them a chance to fight.”
The “Showcase Boxing” main event has changed after veteran Tyrone “Hands of Stone” Luckey (15-16-4, 11 KOs) withdrew from his 8-round fight versus Jeffrey Torres (9-1, 5 KOs) due to a family issue. Torres’ opponent will soon be announced.
“Showcase Boxing,” presented by Granite Chin Promotions, will be streamed live on www.bxngtv.com for $19.99.
“Showcase Boxing” will also mark Granite Chin’s first event in Massachusetts in more than 2 years, as well as being only the second professional boxing show ever in the City Framingham, which is located 23 miles west of Boston.
The 6-round co-featured event matches red-hot welterweight prospect Denzel “Double Impact” Whitley (7-0, 5 KOs), of Holyoke (MA), against Alfred “Keenan” Raymond (1-0), of Cranston, Rhode Island. Denzel is trained by his father and uncle, Derrick and Darrin, who were respected pro fighters in New England, while Raymond turned in an impressive pro debut last November 13, upsetting previously undefeated Julien Baptiste (3-0) by way of a 4-round split decision.
Another rapidly climbing prospect, Boca Raton (FL) welterweight Josniel “TG” Castro (8-0, 6 KOs), returns to his second home for a showdown with Mexican veteran Juan Jesus Rivera Garces (18-27, 12 KOs), the former WBC Youth World Super Lightweight Champion.
Holyoke (MA) junior welterweight Carlos Castillo (4-0, 3 KOs) and Pittsfield (MA) super middleweight Steve Sumpter (3-0, 3 KOs) are slated to fight in their first scheduled 6-rounders, respectively, versus Antonio Chaves Fernandez (9-41-4, 3 KOs) and Rodrigo “The Young Lion” Almeida (2-11, 1 KO).
Veteran middleweights Manny “Shake Em’ Up” Woods (17-15-1, 6 KOs), of Saint Petersburg (FL), and Larry “Slo Mo” Smith (12-50-4, 8 KOs), of Dallas, will open the night in a 10-round bout.
Nationally decorated amateur Felix Parilla (3-0, 3 KOs), of New Haven, is in a 6-round fight against junior lightweight Ronny Arana (0-4). Parrilla is a 4-time New England Golden Gloves Champion, as well as a 2018 National Golden Gloves silver medalist.
Also scheduled to be in action in 4-round bouts are light heavyweight Scott “Scotty Bomb” Lampert (2-3, 2 KOs) vs. Stephen “Clubber” Langlais (3-1, 2 KOs), Springfield (MA) super middleweight Laurent Humes (3-0, 3 KOs) vs. Juan Celin Zapata (6-20-2, 4 KOs), Pittsfield junior middleweight Jamer Jones (2-0, 2 KOs) vs. Maycon Oller Da Silva (0-3), Framingham’s pro-debuting light heavyweight Kevin “Lucky” Lewis vs. crosstown rival Sal “The Spider” Almeida (0-14-4), and Swansea (MA) junior middleweight Anthony Andreozzi (0-2) vs. Robert Bricks (0-8).
Card subject to change.
Tickets are on sale for purchase at www.TicketRiver.com (Search: SHOWCASE). Ticket prices are $50.00 (General Seating), $75.00 (Ringside), and $1,000.00 for a table of 10.
Doors open at 7:00 pm. ET with the first bout at 7:00 p.m. ET.