New England Chatta

New England Chatta - June 13, 2000

JD Vena

    April's showis brought May's flowis, but many are probably wondering what brought about a numba of televised and non-televised boxing cahds around Boston and throughout the New England area this summah. The action packed summer might be a sign of things to come and it might have to do with a dedicated group of boxing enthusiasts. Ring 4 (faw), The Veteran's Boxing Association is a band comprised of 50 or so members from the New England area. Most of its members are either local fight managers, promoters, local boxing scribes (such as yours truly) and former fighters such as the club's president, Reynaldo Oliveira, also a brother of jr. welterweight contender Ray Oliveira.

One of its distinguished members, Hall of Fame writer Charlie Ross was the longtime boxing scribe who wrote a letter of recommendation to the Massachusetts State Boxing Commission to appoint Nick Manzello, another
established media man as Chairman of the commission. "Writing the letter was simple," said Ross. "In my opinion, it's long overdue". Indeed, Manzello has won an infinite number of media awards and has covered over 17-world title fights. Manzello is the state's first Chairman since the resignation of former U.S. 1960 Olympic Gold medallist, Wilbert "Skeeter" McClure four years ago. Since he has been ordained, Manzello has resurrected state rankings (which you can check out in our Boxing Rankings section) a move that local promoters and matchmakers hope will bring about local battles for young up and comers as they build their resumes. The CBZ would like to congratulate Nick and wish him and the Mass State Commission the best of luck!

    Whether you believe it or not, it's boxing season here in New England. Cappiello & Pendarvis Promotion kicks off its second show this month with a June 17 card at the Leominster National Guard Armory. Headlining the card will be "Hurricane" Peter McNeeley. McNeeley (46-5) of Medfield, Mass will be facing his first ever undefeated opponent, Leominster, Mass police officer, Joe Siciliano (1-0). Though Siciliano is relatively (to say the least) inexperienced, he carries years of amateur experience and a truckload of bulk. Let's just say he makes Frankie Swindell look like a Tae Bo instructor. Also featured on the card will be a pair of unbeatens. Comebacking Danny Phippen (20-0) will continue to work off his ring rust against a TBA opponent while Southie (South Boston) hopeful Bubba Conway (3-0) is slated for a four round bout. His brother Dan, the Massachusetts heavyweight champion is also expected to appear on the card. The show begins at 7:30 PM and is expected to get over by the time de la Hoya and "Sugah" Shane Mosley get it on for welterweight supremacy. For more information, call Cappiello & Pendarvis Promotions at (888) 491-2900.

    At month's end (that's June 30th folks), one of New England's best, New Bedford, Mass jr. welterweight, "Sucra" Ray Oliveira returns to ESPN2's Friday Night Fights for the first time since his catapulting win over former unbeaten prospect, "Vicious" Vivian Harris this past February. Oliveira (39-7-1), rated 9th by the CBZ and 11th by the IBF will battle tough Mexican, Isaac Cruz (16-9) rated 16th by the WBC at the glamorous Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet in Cranston, RI.

    In the co-feature, Oliveira's stable mate and friend, Scott "The Sandman" Pemberton will face his toughest test to date when he meets Glenwood "The
Real Beast" Brown. Like Oliveira, Pemberton (20-2, 16 KO's) is ranked within the top 15 at super-middleweight by both the WBA and IBF. Brown (48-11, 29 KOs) is notoriously known for giving New Englanders fits. The top of his skull is what caused "Dangerous" Dana Rosenblatt's right hand to shatter in going 10 rounds. Brown was also credited with a knockdown over Vinny Pazienza in another 10-round thriller.

    Scheduled on the undercard will be the rematch between Southie's Tommy Attardo (9-2-1, 2 KO's) and fellow jr. middleweight, Brian Dumas (7-1-3, 4 KO's) of Cumberland, RI. The two battled to a crowd pleasing, 6-round draw a year ago at Foxwoods Casino in Ledyard, Connecticut. Once beaten, Providence prospect, Anthony "Candyman" Chase (9-1, 3 KO's) meets undefeated Hartford native Charles Wade. Can't miss prospects, Taunton, Mass novice Melvin Cumba (4-0, 2 KO's) and Liz Mueller (3-0, 2 KO's) will appear in separate bouts as will Arthur "The Armenian Assassin" Saribekian (20-4-1, 15 KO's). For more information about this card, please call Jimmy Birchfield's Classic Entertainment & Sports at (410) 724-2253 or visit their web site at www.cesboxing.com.

    The following Friday, ESPN2 returns to New England with a card promoted by accomplished attorney, Anthony Cardinale and returning promoter, Dino Duva. The Cardinale/Duva card is their third annual Hyannis (Cape Cod) card at the Melody Tent. The card is headlined by Hartford, CT's featherweight phenom, Angel Vasquez in a ten round main event. Vasquez (20-0, 17 KO's) arguably one of the world's best featherweight has been preparing with another local featherweight, Bobby Tomasello of Saugus, MA who is also unbeaten in his first 12 fights. On the same card, Tomasello will face tough Dominican, Paulo Rouse (10-6-2, 7 KO's) in an 8-rounder. "We really like how (Tomasello) is coming around," said Tomasello's chief trainer, Bobby Covino. "He's been getting great sparring in with Angel. You can't get much better sparring than with Angel."

Vasquez, who is rated 8th by the CBZ was being mentioned as a possible challenger for Prince Naseem Hamed's WBO title until Hamed's team settled on
Augie Sanchez. The clown Prince, rated the best feather by the CBZ brings his circus to New England for the first time ever making his defense of Sanchez, his 14th consecutive at Foxwoods Casino on August 19th. That bout will be the main event in an HBO double header that is sure to quench your boxing thirst. For if the Hamed-Sanchez fight doesn't, the Antonio Diaz-"Irish" Micky Ward battle will. Despite holding lightly regarded world jr. welterweight titles (Diaz holding the IBA and Ward holding the WBU), the two are among the most popular and exciting boxers in their division if not the game.

Ward (35-9, 26 KO's) ranked 5th by the CBZ and the pride of Lowell, MA, is coming off one of his most triumphant victories of his career, an 8th round KO over former unbeaten Shea Neary. "You have to be ready against Diaz and I will be," said Ward. "He's a good fighter; a straight-ahead banger, just like me. I can't wait to fight on HBO again and it's an honor being on the Prince's card for the second time in a row."

Like Ward, Diaz, ranked 1st by the CBZ is coming off an impressive HBO performance (an 11th round TKO of Ivan Robinson) and will need another one just like it if he is to emerge victorious. He has defeated a long list of quality opponents in compiling a 33-2 record with 2 NC and 22 KO's. It's too bad that someone has to lose this fight, but you can bet your cable bill (even yours Joe Bruno) that the real winners will be boxing fans.

Prior to scheduling his bout with Diaz, Ward was to be the main event on yet another ESPN2 summer show at the Hampton Beach Casino in Hampton, NH on July 14th (the third consecutive ESPN2 show in New England). At the time of this writing, a replacement to the card's main event has yet to be announced. Check the CBZ fight schedule in a week for more information.

The co-feature of that card is an interesting cruiserweight match-up between Everett, MA, contender/actor/model Richie "The Mountain" LaMontange (23-3-1) and Saratoga, NY, prospect Gary Wilcox (13-0). If I were Wilcox, I'd bring one of Saratoga's race horses with him. LaMontange is the only fighter to extend IBF Cruiserweight Champion Vasilly Jirov the 12 round limit and did so while chasing the "Tiger" throughout the fight.

LaMontange is not only world class boxing material, he's one of the sport's many unheralded good guys. This past May, he and his girlfriend, Ann Marie Lafauci kicked off their second Knockout Autism Benefit Show at the Avalon. The show featured popular clothe and bag designs by Maverick House of Design, Shaunt Sarian and Lafauci. The foundations aim; to raise money for autistic children. Those in attendence were members of this year's World Series contenders, the Boston Red Sox. If you'd like to help fight autism, contact Ann Marie or Richie toll free at 877-728-8476 (877-7AUTISM).

The CBZ would like to express its condolences to the friends and family of former New England amateur boxing star, Frank Shea Jr.. Shea, 26 was struck and killed by a tractor trailer truck this past Wednesday while working on Boston's Big Dig construction project. Frank is survived by his twin brother Derek, also an accomplished amateur star, his son Jacob, his parents, Frank Sr. and Dorothy Shea and another brother Lance.

R.I.P. Frank