In front of a sold-out crowd at the Connecticut Convention Center, CES Boxing delivered one of its most memorable nights in recent history with The Riverside Rumble, a 10-bout card that featured two championship fights, the return of a hometown hero, a Connecticut light heavyweight showdown, and the kind of unpredictable drama that defines the sport.
Sanchez shocks Marrero in Dramatic Main Event
The main event between Bridgeport’s Jacob “Lefty” Marrero (11-1, 8 KOs) and Venezuela’s Rowin Sanchez (7-2-3, 5 KOs) had all the makings of a classic — two young, hungry southpaws fighting for their first professional title.
Bridgeport’s Marrero, 26, made his pro debut in 2018 and won his first four bouts before legal troubles in 2019 sidelined him for almost five years. Returning in 2024, ‘Lefty’ has been on a mission to redeem himself and fulfill the potential so many see in him.
Sanchez’s story is just as compelling. The 29-year-old also turned pro in 2018 and had nine fights in two years. However, due to the political climate in Venezuela, he had an almost six-year gap in his career. Looking to escape the turmoil surrounding his country, Sanchez traveled through six countries to settle in the United States so that he could continue his career.
The bout was fought at a fast pace from the opening bell, as Marrero mixed offense with defense and Sanchez looked to match his tempo. It looked like the bout might end early when Sanchez missed a right hook and Marrero countered with a left hand to the head that dropped the Venezuelan. Referee Johnny Callas ruled that the shot was behind the head, and the fight resumed.
Marrero continued to be successful in round two, mixing quick shots with responsible defense to the crowd’s delight.
But everything changed at the end of round three.
During a furious exchange, a sudden right hook from Sanchez landed flush, dropping Marrero hard to the canvas. Referee Johnny Callas stopped counting as it was clear that Lefty would not beat the count. Time was 2:54 of the round.
In a tense and emotional scene, medical personnel entered the ring and transported Marrero out on a stretcher. Encouragingly, he was responsive and moving as he was taken for further evaluation.
With the win, Sanchez captured the WBC FECARBOX Lightweight Championship, but the result was secondary in a moment that brought the entire arena to a standstill.
Iman Lee Claims First Pro Title in Co-Main Event
In the co-main event, Yonkers’ Iman Lee (15-0-1, 8 KOs) delivered the most complete performance of his career, capturing the vacant NABF Super Featherweight Championship with a hard-earned decision over Jose Nunez Sosa (8-3, 6 KOs).
Lee, 26, was fresh off a successful run in the WBC Grand Prix Featherweight Tournament, where he went 2-0-1 against top prospects from all over the world in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
That experience served Lee well against Sosa, a tough-as-nails boxer from the Dominican Republic who gave Kevin Walsh all he could handle in November.
Lee came out aggressively in round one, looking to back Sosa up with his sharp jab and long right hand. Undeterred, Sosa was happy to meet Lee in the center of the ring and go blow for blow.
The fight continued at a frenetic pace throughout, with the taller, rangier Lee applying steady pressure behind solid jabs, vicious left hooks and right hands, and the equally fast but shorter Sosa responding with explosive left hooks and right hands.
What began as a high-speed chess match evolved into a test of will. The fighters weren’t taking turns as much as they were firing feverish combinations at the same time. Lee’s superior conditioning and composure gradually took control beginning in round six as Sosa’s output slowed.
By the championship rounds, Lee was pressing forward with authority, closing the show strong to secure scores of 78-74, 78-74, and 77-75.
Rivera stuns Bohdziewicz in Light Heavyweight Showdown
In a Connecticut light heavyweight showdown, Manchester’s Jose Carlos “Rated R” Rivera (10-4-1, 5 KOs) handed Stamford’s Slawomir “Heavy Hitter” Bohdziewicz (7-1, 6 KOs) the first loss of his career in a back-and-forth war.
Bohdziewicz looked to take control of the fight early on, plodding forward behind a stiff jab, while smaller but faster Rivera circled the ring and looked for opportunities to counter.
Rivera didn’t have to wait long. Just as Bohdziewicz threw a right hand, Rivera launched a looping left counter in round one that dropped Slaw on the seat of his pants for a flash knockdown.
Bohdziewicz looked to even the score in round two, applying non-stop pressure to trap Rivera in the corner where he could land his vaunted body assault. However, once in the corner, the experienced Rivera used his superior speed to land an overhand left, right and looping left that dropped Bohdziewicz hard and nearly sent the Polish fighter out of the ring.
Bohdziewicz again beat the count and came out in round three determined to turn the tide. With Rivera tiring in round four and the Polish fans roaring him on, the fight began to take the pattern of Slaw pressuring with activity and Rivera circling and looking to land something big.
At the end of eight rounds, Rivera won a majority decision by scores of 59-53, 57-55 and 56-56.
It was a gritty, high-level fight that showcased both fighters’ toughness and likely set the stage for a rematch.
Williams Delivers Explosive Homecoming
Hartford’s own Mykquan Williams (24-1-2, 12 KOs) made his long-awaited return home count in emphatic fashion.
Fighting in front of his hometown crowd for the first time in four years, the super lightweight contender needed less than two minutes to remind everyone exactly who he is — detonating a thunderous overhand right that flattened Argentina’s Guillermo Crocco (20-7-1, 6 KOs) for a first-round knockout.
It was the kind of performance that brings a crowd to its feet and puts a division on notice.
Other Action
Fighting for the second time in as many month’s Stamford’s Douglas “El Uno” Marroquin (10-0, 6 KOs) continued his impressive rise, breaking down New York’s Victor Vasquez (11-6, 5 KOs) with relentless pressure before the fight was stopped after three rounds of a middleweight bout.
In front of a raucous crowd, Meriden’s Carlos Perez (5-0, 1 KO) scored his first knockout with a crushing body shot that ended his bout against Deonta Williamson (3-8, 3 KOs) in the opening round of a super lightweight match.
Blue-chip super bantamweight prospect Joseph “J-Elite” Chisholm improved to 7-1 (6 KOs) and showed a different facet of his game. Known for a string of first-round knockouts, Chisholm used superior hand speed, movement and defense to earn a unanimous decision over Bosnia’s Anel Dudo (4-8-1, 1 KO). Scores were 58-56 (2x) and 59-55 for the Stratford native.
Ireland’s Conor O’Donovan (2-0, 2 KOs) wasted little time in his second pro bout, stopping Michael Douglas (0-2) with a perfectly timed check right hand just 31 seconds into the first round of a lightweight contest.
New Haven welterweight Kevante “The Key” Wineglass (4-0, 3 KOs) kept his perfect record intact, overwhelming St. Louis’ Anthony Jones (0-2) with a sharp combination en route to a first-round stoppage. Time was 1:13 of the round.
Kicking off the card, super welterweight Victor Guerra Vargas (2-0, 2 KOs) made it two straight stoppages to begin his career, overwhelming debuting Jean Estiverne (0-1) with sustained pressure before a crushing right hand forced a fourth-round stoppage. It was a tough but game debut for Estiverne, who showed heart under heavy fire, but Vargas’ power ultimately proved too much.
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