In what can only be described as a surreal turn of events, Worcester-born Kendrick “Peppa” Ball, Jr. (20-1-3, 12 KOs), will be the headliner for the inaugural boxing event at Polar Park, a venue he helped construct. The event, “Punch-Out at Polar Park” Pro-Am card, will take place on August 4th (with August 5 as a rain date) and is being presented by Shearns Boxing Promotions (SBP) in association with Kenrick Ball’s Camp Get Right Boxing, in Worcester, Massachusetts.
In 2020, Ball’s first union job was as a construction worker building Polar Park, the home ground of the Boston Red Sox Triple-A affiliate Worcester Red Sox (WooSox). This venue was recently voted the best minor league baseball park in America. A portion of the event’s proceeds will be donated to local charities.
Describing his experience, Ball, Jr. said, “When I first started working at Polar Park, it was just a dirt field. I saw the blueprint and it looked cool, but I couldn’t imagine it would look like it does today. Two years later, my dad (head trainer Kendrick Ball, Sr.) is promoting the first boxing show there with Chuck (Shearns). I’ve thrown out the (ceremonial) first pitch three times at Polar Park and now I’m headlining the first boxing show there. Life is weird sometimes.”
He is set to face Mexican opponent Oscar “Moustro” Riojas (28-16-3, 16 KOs) in the eight-round main event. Riojas has earned a reputation as a gatekeeper, having fought notable opponents like Carlos Gongora, Joseph Ward, Diego Pacheco, Vladimir Shiskin, and Vyacheslav Shabranskyy.
The co-featured event pits “Don’t Play” Sean Bey (7-0, 7 KOs), a four-time New England Golden Gloves Champion, Northeast PAL Regional titlist, and Ringside World silver medalist, against Pittsfield’s heavyweight Quintin Sumpter (6-1, 4 KOs) in a thrilling eight-round bout. Bey is a cancer survivor, while Sumpter, a former football player, developed quickly into a New England Golden Gloves (Novice) Champion after starting boxing relatively late.
Other bouts include Brockton super featherweight “King” Kevin Walsh (9-0, 4 KOs) against local favourite, Philip Davis (3-5-2, 0 KOs), and Four-time National Golden Gloves Champion Melanie “Pitbull” Costa (1-0, 1 KO) taking on Brazilian super bantamweight Kalinda Walkiria De Carvalho Faria (1-0). Puerto Rican welterweight Josniel “TG” Castro (9-1, 7 KOs) is also scheduled to face Argentinian opponent, Jorge “Tomatito” Martin Garcia (13-11-1, 3 KOs).
Also on the undercard, fighting in four-round bouts, are Robert Degaetano making his pro-debut against Michael “Titan” Taylor (1-5), Worcester police officer Neal Sullivan (0-0-1) squaring off against Brazilian welterweight Michael Medeiros (0-4), and Tevin “The Hitman” Regis in his pro-debut against Joshua Zimmerman (0-10). James Maner (3-0, 2 KOs) will also step into the ring against Saul “The Spider” Almeida (1-17-4, 1 KO).
The event will commence with the inaugural Carlos Garcia Tournament, showcasing the talents of amateur boxers from across New England.