A title combat between USBF Middleweight Champion Julien “Black Dragon” Baptiste (6-4, 3 KOs) and Ricky Ford (5-1-2, 3 KOs) may very nicely steal the present on Could eleventh as Granite Chin Promotions (GCP) presents “Rumble on the Rink” at Quincy Youth Area in Quincy, Massachusetts.
Baptiste vs. Ford has all of the makings for a possible “Combat of the Night time,” matching a pair of New England 160-pounders who promise to have followers standing and yelling from the opening bell till the eventual finish.
“What a combat that is going to be,” GCP president Chris Traietti predicted. “I knew all alongside I needed to get Julien on this present and after competing at Madison Sq. Backyard, I didn’t wish to take a step again and do a ‘fluff’ combat. I needed to problem Julien and see what he has realized from that have. I reached out to Ricky ,and he jumped on the possibility. Ricky appeared method higher than I anticipated again in February in Bridgewater, you possibly can inform whereas he might need been inactive competing, it was apparent he stayed within the fitness center. This combat alone shall be definitely worth the value of admission.”
Baptiste, preventing out of Woburn (MA), is coming off a strong combat at Madison Sq. Backyard Theater, by which he misplaced a six-round choice to undefeated Isaah Flaherty (7-0, 3 KOs).
“I realized that I had much more within the tank than I had thought,” Baptiste stated. “It was scheduled for eight rounds, nevertheless it was modified to 6, however I had skilled to combat eight. He received the combat inside the limits, credit score to Isaah. It was an awesome combat and I felt that I used to be turning issues round, however that’s been my Achilles heel, I didn’t let free till it was late.”
The reigning Massachusetts Middleweight Champion along with carrying the USBF crown, Baptiste respects Ford and is making ready for a memorable combat, which may catapult him into one other high-impact combat like he not too long ago had in MSG.
“It’s going to be a very good combat,” he predicted. “He’s a very good opponent. We each fought Ryan Clark within the amateurs, and every went 1-1. I wasn’t there dwell, however he fought Travis Gambardella to a draw once I was nonetheless an novice, and I watched it afterwards. I’m positive that he’s going to deliver it. He was out the previous few years, however I do respect him as a recreation fighter, and for stepping as much as combat me. He’s an awesome technical fighter who retains distance and is aware of find out how to field.”
Preventing out of Claremont (NH), Ford was a 2012 New England Golden Gloves silver medalist who was inactive from late 2019 to his ring return this previous February, when he knocked out Erick Matheus Alves in spherical three. After the combat, in the course of the ring, Clark dropped to at least one knee and proposed marriage to his longtime girlfriend, Katie, who additionally boxed. Ford was undecided when it comes to retiring or persevering with to combat, explaining on the time that he’d seemingly combat once more if the supply was ok.
“There was lots of emotion in my final combat, and I did look good,” Ford remembered. “Individuals thought I used to be away from boxing for years, however I used to be at all times within the fitness center, and I do love boxing. I took day without work as a result of I’ve a household with youngsters, and a very good job. I met Katie by way of boxing, and I assumed my final combat was the right method to suggest,
as a result of boxing is how it began for us. I used to be out of the ring 4 ½ years and I knew it wasn’t going to be straightforward shaking off the rust. No person has ever pushed me to achieve my full potential. I assumed my final combat was a great way to finish my profession, however Chris (Traietti) known as and requested if I’d combat Julien for his title. Let’s see the way it goes, If I win, I’ll defend my title, and if it ends in a draw, we’ll should do it once more. That is boxing and one punch can change all the things.”
Ford famous that he’s a comparatively small middleweight who ought to actually be preventing at junior middleweight and even welterweight. He’s excited to combat Baptiste and believes they might steal the present.
“It’s going to be a type of fights,” Ricky concluded. We now have two completely different types. He bins greater than me. I’ll give him that and in energy, however I’ve higher hand velocity. I’ve much more to point out to individuals who haven’t seen it in me, and loads have forgotten that I had lots of novice fights. I used to be a four-time Northern New England champion and runner-up on the 2015 Ringside Match in Kansas. I’ve seen Julien combat and I respect him. I took the combat and I’m stepping up. He’s the right man for me to combat as a result of we each come ahead. Proper now, I’m at my strongest level.”
In an equally compelling match. undefeated Irish boxer Thomas “The Child” O’Toole (9-0, 6 KOs) meets harmful Russell Kimber (2-1, 1 KO) in a six-round bout for the vacant Massachusetts Mild Heavyweight Championship.
The progressive one-night event, “Granite Chin Field Off,” is the occasion headliner that contains a quartet of New England tremendous middleweight fighters – Lynn’s (MA) James “Pitbull” Perkins (13-1-1, 9 KOs), Swansea’s (MA) Anthony “The Light Savage” Andreozzi (5-3, 2 KOs), Dorchester’s (MA) Bernard Joseph (6-1, 4 KOs), and Barrington’s (ME) Ryan Clark (4-5, 2 KOs) – who shall be matched (in a blind draw on the weigh in) in three-round bouts (4th spherical of sudden demise if wanted in case of a draw) early within the night with the 2 winners advancing to the five-round fundamental occasion (sixth spherical of sudden demise within the occasion of a draw) to find out the inaugural champion.
Extra matches will quickly be introduced.
Card topic to vary.
Tickets are on sale to buy at www.granite-chin-promotions.ticketleap.com.
Doorways open at 6:00 p.m. ET, first bout at 7 p.m. ET.
