QUINCY, Mass. (January 29, 2024) – The fightin’ Whitley brothers, undefeated welterweight Denzel (13-0, 7 KOs) and junior welterweight Derrick Jr. (7-4-1, 0 KOs), will fight on the same card as professional boxers on the March 23rd “Pandemonium at the Palladium 3” card, presented on Granite Chin Promotions (GCP), at the famed Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts.
“Pandemonium at the Palladium 3” will be streamed live on BXNGTV.com.
Junior North American Boxing Federation (NABF) Welterweight Champion Denzel “Double Impact” Whitley will make his first title defense in a rematch with Kenny “Lionheart” Larson (7-1-1, 5 KOs) in the 10-round main event.
Last December 19th at The Palladium, Whitley captured the vacant Junior NABF title with a 10-round split decision over the previously unbeaten Larson, who fights out of Salem (MA), by scores of 99-90, 97-92, 92-97, also at The Palladium
Whitley, of Holyoke (MA), is also the reigning Massachusetts and USBF Atlantic Welterweight Champion.
“Why not do it again,” Whitley rhetorically asked. “I normally don’t do rematches, I mean I haven’t as a professional, but I always say if I’m going to benefit from it by moving up in the rankings or fighting for more money, then I’m all for it. The first fight was good, the crowd went crazy and was so involved, and the second will be even better. I’m shooting for the same outcome to be victorious.
“Me and my brother being on the same card is a bonus added to the night. Ever since we turned pro, of course, he’s been a pro a little longer, and when I turned pro it was always something we talked about. We wanted to make it happen and now we get to do it on the big stage with him in the co-feature and me as the main event. He’s going to go out there and warm up the crowd and all our people there for us, then I’m going to put the finishing touches on the night in the grand finale. I’m happy that we are finally getting to live out our dreams together.”
Larson, of course, believes the result will be much different in the rematch, saying: “Because Christmas is over and there are no more gifts to give.”
Whitley’s older brother, southpaw Derrick, will be fighting former New England Welterweight Champion Mike “Bad Man” Ohan, Jr. (19-2, 9 KOs) in the 10-round co-featured event.
“I’m very excited to fight on the same card as my brother,” Derrick commented. “It’s been a long time coming and so exciting that our first time is in the main event and co-feature. Our name generally speaks for itself due to the past, but I feel that me and Denzel have created a new conversation, and this is just another page in that story. I’m definitely excited to be starting 2024 off with a great matchup and I’m definitely looking to steal the show from Denzel.”
Ohan, 30, has been inactive since last August when he won an impressive eight-round unanimous decision over Harry Gigliotti.
“At this point of my career,” Ohan Noted, “I’m just taking fights that will make me better. No other reason.”
“In order for Granite Chin to be the most dominant promotion company in Massachusetts,” GCP president Chris Traietti explained, “we have to put on the best fights and that is exactly what we are doing on March 23rd. Denzel and Kenny put on a barnburner in December, and everyone wants the rematch. The fighters want it, the NABF wants it, and the fans want it. So, we are going to give it to them. As great as the December 19th show was, it was missing something, a solid co-feature, so we remedied that by putting Denzel’s older brother in with one of the top junior welterweights in New England, ‘The Bad Man.” The plan is to make every show at the Palladium better than the last. This might be the Number 3 Pandemonium at the Palladium thus far, but it will be Number 1 in quality.”
Additional bouts will soon be announced. Card subject to change.
Tickets are priced at $50.00 (balcony), $90.00 (mezzanine), $125.00 (floor) and $650.00 (booth of 4) and available for purchase online at www.ThePalladium.net.