(JUNE 1) WORCESTER, Mass. -
Popular heavyweight Sonya "The Scholar" Lamonakis takes on Laura
"Lady Ram" Ramsey for the vacant Universal Boxing Federation (UBF)
World title, on Saturday night, June 10, in the ten-round "New
England's Future 3" co-feature at the DCU Center (Exhibition
Hall) in Worcester, Massachusetts.
"New England's Future 3" is presented by Rivera Promotions
Entertainment (RPE), which is owned and operated by retired
three-time, two division world champion Jose Antonio Rivera and
his son, Anthonee (A.J.) Rivera.
Undefeated prospect Irvin Gonzalez (6-0, 6 KOs), 21, headlines
at home in his first scheduled eight-round bout, versus Raul
Lopez (10-2-1, 5 KOs), of Bronx (NY), for the vacant UBF
All-American super featherweight championship.
"I am excited to be able to have our first world championship
boxing match on our 'New England's 3' boxing event," promoter
Jose Rivera commented. "It's special because it's a women's
World Heavyweight title fight with veterans like Sonya and
Laura, who also have some hostilities towards one another.
They've both earned this opportunity to fight for the UBF
Women's World Heavyweight Championship. I expect fireworks and
know fans will be in for a treat."
Pro boxing returns to the DCU Center for the first time in 11
years, when promoter Jose Antonio Rivera defeated Alejandro
Garcia, by way of a 12-round unanimous decision, for the World
Boxing Association (WBA) World super welterweight title.
Born in Greece, Lamonakis (10-2-2, 1 KO), who grew-up in Turners
Falls (MA), is a teacher in New York City. She is a Springfield
College graduate and has two Master's Degrees. "I'm honored to
be fighting in the first world title fight in Worcester since
Jose Rivera," Lamonakis said. "I'm from Massachusetts and I
fought twice at Mechanics Hall (in Worcester, including her pro
debut in 2010). I heard Jose was promoting shows in Worcester,
so I called to say I'd like to fight for a world title on one of
his cards. I think he saw me fight before and he quickly agreed.
"This is still a make-dominates sport. I tell young girls to box
as a side job. I have two Master's Degrees and I'm a full-time
teacher in New York. Boxing is my hobby. Very few women can make
enough money boxing to make a good living. I don't know if it's
because I was born in Greece and boxing is in my blood, but I
love this sport and that's what keeps me going. I guess I was
born to fight. I enjoy getting in the ring. I've gotten a lot
from boxing and now I'm giving back to amateurs in New York City
as president of a youth organization."
Lamonakis; is a former International Boxing Organization World
and New York State female heavyweight champion. Her opponent,
Ramsey (10-7, KOs), as a two-time world title challenger is
hoping the third time is the charm for her. They have history
together and this fight nearly happened a few years ago.
"I beat her daughter (Alysia Williams-Stevenson) in my second
pro fight," Lamonakis explained. "She said she's see me and now,
seven years later, we're fighting. She's a little older than me
and I needed more fights before I fought her. We were supposed
to fight a few years ago in Aruba but a hurricane cancelled the
show."
In an eight-round Special Cruiserweight Attraction, Pembroke
(MA) fan favorite Vinnie "American Nightmare" Carita (16-1-1, 15
KOs) meets Brazilian knockout specialist Marcelo Leonardo "Queizada"
Da Silva (22-4, 17 KOs).
Fighting on the undercard, all in four-round bouts, are
Worcester welterweight Andy Gonzalez (6-1, 5 KOs) vs. TBA,
Lawrence (MA) junior welterweight Adrian "Tonka" Sosa (2-0, 2
KOs) vs. Buffalo's Jack Grady (0-5-1), Worcester featherweight
Ranse Andino (1-0) vs. Woburn (MA) Gilvan Santos (0-3),
Springfield (MA) junior middleweight Derrick "Double Impact"
Whitley (1-0) vs. Norwalk (CT) veteran Shaka Moore (12-22-3, 2
KOs), Worcester's pro-debuting Bobby Harris III vs. Woburn (MA)
super middleweight Rodrigo Almeida (1-6), Southbridge (MA)
junior welterweight Wilfredo "El Sucaro" Pagan (1-0) vs.
Lawrence's Anthony Everett (1-5), Worcester's Bryan Daniels
(4-0, 2 KOs) vs. Florida's Christopher "The Archbishop" Boykins
(1-8) at a 205-pound catchweight, Hartford's (CT) Richie "Popeye
The Sailor Man" Rivera (1-0, 1 KO) vs. Brazilian Nathan Schulte
(0-2) at a 180-pound catchweight, and Worcester's pro-debuting
Neal Sullivan vs. Framingham (MA) super middleweight Saul
Almeida (0-8).
All fights and fighters are subject to change.
Tickets, priced at $75.00 (ringside) and $45.00 (general
admission), are on sale and available to purchase at the DCU
Center box office, www.dcu.centerworcester.com, by contacting
Jose Rivera (elgallojar@gmail.com/508.864.6954), AJ Rivera
(anthoneerivera@gmail.com/774.272.2269) or any of the fighters
Doors open at 6 p.m., first bout 7 p.m. ET.
