Thursday, March 7, 2024 | Sony Hall, New York, NY
Broadcast: BoxingInsider.com YouTube (streamed live and free)
Promoter: Larry Goldberg, Boxing Insider Promotions
Boxing Insider Promotions opened 2024 with a stacked six-fight card at Sony Hall — its ninth event at the venue — featuring a thunderous main event knockout, an Olympic light heavyweight making his U.S. debut, an upset in the female co-feature, and two pro debuts.
MAIN EVENT
Ariel “El Kuman” Lopez (21-1-1, 12 KOs) def. Gregorio “Piche Malo” Lebron (24-7, 18 KOs)
Super Bantamweight — 8 Rounds (WBC Latin Continental Title)
Result: KO Round 1 (body shot)
Frighteningly impressive. Lopez defended his WBC Latin Continental title with one punch — a single left to the body that sent Lebron down and out in the first round. Lebron, a former WBC world flyweight title challenger who had traveled to Kiev to face Artem Dalakian in 2018, fought tight early. It looked like it might be an interesting battle. Then it happened. The Gleason’s Gym product from Brooklyn made a statement that echoed through the super bantamweight division. It took Lebron some time to get back to his feet after the count.
CO-FEATURE
Jaica Pavilus (4-6-1) def. Chiara “Speedy” Dituri (7-1)
Featherweight — 6 Rounds
Result: Majority Decision (upset)
The upset of the night. Pavilus, the rough-and-tumble southpaw from Harlem who had faced her sixth undefeated opponent in a seven-bout stretch, looked sharp from the opening bell, firing well and keeping the previously unbeaten Dituri off her game. Dituri had a better third round, but Pavilus landed a powerful right in the fourth that appeared to hurt the Brooklyn fighter. Fighting behind an impressive jab, Pavilus controlled the fifth before both women gave it everything in the sixth. Pavilus walked out of the ring with the upset victory — a real New York City fight.
Emmet Brennan (3-0) def. Devaun Lee (11-11-1)
Light Heavyweight — 8 Rounds
Result: Majority Decision (U.S. debut)
Brennan, the Irish Olympian who represented Ireland at light heavyweight in the Tokyo Games and a former Celtic Champion, made his U.S. debut at Sony Hall. The Dubliner, managed by former fighter Darren Barker, got the majority nod over Queens’ Devaun Lee in a competitive eight-rounder.
Pryce Taylor (3-0) def. Antonio Torres (4-2)
Heavyweight — 4 Rounds
Result: Unanimous Decision
Brooklyn’s Taylor, a two-time finalist in the U.S. Championships as an amateur and nine-time Team Combat League competitor, stayed unbeaten with a four-round decision over Torres in front of his hometown fans.
Beni Beguy (1-1) def. Kijonti Davis (1-3)
Result: Split Decision
Beguy earned his first professional win with a split decision over Davis, bouncing back from his loss on the Holiday Fight Night 2 card.
Jason Castanon (1-0, 1 KO) def. Luis A. Rivera-Reyes (L)
Result: TKO (pro debut)
Castanon made a successful professional debut, stopping Rivera-Reyes to open the card.
Boxing Insider Fight Night 9 continued the promotion’s run at Sony Hall — nine events in their first 17 months at the venue. For more results and upcoming events, visit Boxing Insider Promotions.
