CES Boxing returns Feb. 23

Now that Super Bowl LII is in the books, let’s get back to some boxing!

Our next event is Feb. 23rd at Twin River Casino. In our six events last year, we featured only two headliners — KHIARY GRAY of Worcester and JIMMY WILLIAMS of New Haven.

The 2018 season is going to be exciting because some of the up-and-coming prospects we’ve been building and developing for the past two years are now ready to make that leap to main event status.

RAY OLIVEIRA JR. of New Bedford fits that mold. While most boxing fans in this community know his father, “SUCRA” RAY OLIVEIRA, few know what Jr. has accomplished in his young career. He’s now 9-1 coming off a big win in September and will headline our Feb. 23rd event — his first fight as the main event — against Connecticut junior middleweight EDWIN SOTO of New Haven.

This is a rivalry that’s been brewing for quite some time. Soto got his start with CES and enjoyed a nice run of success early in his career. He is now 11-2-2 following a win last year in what was his first fight since 2015. This is easily Jr.’s toughest test to date.

Oliveira Sr. built a legacy headlining many events in New England, including CES’ first-ever event in 1992, so it’s only fitting his son gets that opportunity for the same promoter who launched his career a quarter century ago. It’s a great story not only in terms of the Oliveira bloodline, but for JIMMY BURCHFIELD and his longevity in this business. I can’t imagine many promoters who’ve been around long enough to develop the careers of a successful father / son duo — not in this sport’s current climate.

TOMORROW NIGHT we are hosting a small pep rally / press conference between 5 and 8 p.m. at Euphoria Lounge located at 289 Acushnet Lounge in New Bedford, Mass. Both Oliveira Sr. and Jr. will be in attendance. This would be a great opportunity to get a jump in this story with both of them in the same room at the same time, which isn’t easy to secure.

We hope to see you there!

In addition to Oliveira Jr., Providence’s ANTHONY MARSELLA JR. will be featured on the card in a special junior welterweight attraction along with Taunton vet MARQUS BATES, the older brother of New England Patriots practice squad linebacker Trevor Bates.