Boxing returns to the Sony Hall in Times Square on March 7 after Larry Goldberg committed himself to providing a launching pad for the next generation of local fighters in a city that is famous for its boxing.
He is keeping boxing alive in Manhattan.
The bouts included are Gleason’s Gym standout, featherweight Ariel Lopez (20-1-1) fights Gregorio Lebron (24-6) in an eight-round main event.
Lopez, originally from Mexico and now fighting out of Brooklyn, won the WBC Latino title at 122 pounds in February 2022, winning a decision over Wilner Soto.
Lebron, a native of the Dominican Republic, fought for the WBC world flyweight crown in 2018, traveling to Kiev (Ukraine) in an unsuccessful attempt against Artem Dalakian.
In a highly anticipated female co-feature, Brooklyn featherweight Chiara “Speedy” Dituri (7-0), who also trains at Gleason’s, takes on Jaica Pavilus (3-6-1) of Harlem.
The well-traveled Pavilus, a rough-and-tumble southpaw, and she will be facing her sixth undefeated opponent in a seven-bout stretch. It should be noted that she has two wins and a draw against those unbeaten foes, so Dituri is in for a battle.
Light heavyweight Emmet Brennan (2-0) hails from Dublin, where he represented Ireland in the Tokyo Olympics as a light heavyweight and former Celtic Champion, makes his US debut against Devaun Lee (11-10-1) of Queens in an eight round match.
Heavyweight Pryce Taylor (2-0) of Brooklyn, a two-time finalist in the US Championships as an amateur who has fought nine times in The Combat League, will compete in front of hometown fans in a four-rounder.