FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW ENGLAND TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
71st annual Lowell Sun Charities Golden Gloves Championship
                 Open Class Semifinals results from Lowell
OPEN CLASS FINALS TONIGHT
LOWELL, Mass. (March 2, 2017) - An appreciative crowd enjoyed 11 action-packed matches last night in the open class semifinals of the New England Tournament of Champions, part of the 71st annual Lowell Sun Charities Golden Gloves Championship, at historic Lowell Memorial Auditorium.
 
The finals of the New England Tournament of Champions will be held tonight (Thursday, Mar. 2) at Lowell Memorial Auditorium to crown the 2017 N.E. champions, who will represent Team New England at the National Golden Gloves Championships for men in Lafayette, Louisiana (May) and women in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida (July).
Team Central edged Team West for the most wins last night, 4-3, followed by Team North and Team South with two victories apiece.
 
To purchase individual tickets, starting at $16.00 ($7.00 for students), call the Lowell Memorial Auditorium box office at 1.866.722.8881 or order online at www.LowellMemorialAuditorium.com .
 
Proceeds from the Lowell Sun Charities Golden Gloves Championship go towards sending the New England Golden Gloves champions to the National Golden Gloves Championship (2017 in Lafayette, Louisiana), in addition to supporting local athletes and area gyms, the Boys & Girls Club, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, cancer funds, scholarships and many other great charitable causes.
 
N.E. semifinals results below:
 
 
OFFICIAL RESULTS
(winners listed first)
 
Central N.E. (CNE), Northern N.E. (NNE), Southern N.E. (SNE), Western NE (WNE)
 
Open Division
MEN
 
FLYWEIGHTS (114 lbs.)
Jose Ferrer, Jr. (New Bedford, MA / SNE)
WPTS3 (5-0)
Shin Merinda (Haverhill, MA / CNE)
 
BANTAMWEIGHTS (123 lbs.)
Joseph Valdez (West Roxbury, MA / CNE)
WPTS3 (3-2)
Gabriel "Tito" Morales (Portland, ME / NNE)
 
Nathan Martinez (New Britain, CT / WNE)
WPTS (4-1)
Christian Figueroa (Central Falls, RI / SNE)
 
LIGHTWEIGHTS (132 lbs.)
Dayshon Smith (West Haven, CT / WNE)
WPTS3 (5-0)
Michael Valentin (Providence, RI / SNE)
 
LIGHT WELTERWEIGHTS (141 LBS.)
Efrain Nieves (New Haven, CT / WNE)
WPTS3 (5-0)
Marcelino DeBarros (Pawtucket, RI / SNE)
 
WELTERWEIGHTS (152 lbs.)
Josnell Castro (Portland, ME / NNE)
WPTS3 (4-1)
Michael Ohan (Holbrook, MA / SNE)
 
Xavier Vega (Lawrence, MA / CNE)
WPTS3 (5-0)
Jeffrey Gonzalez (New Haven, CT / WNE)
 
MIDDLEWEIGHTS (165 lbs.)
Yarmarco Guzman (Methuen, MA / CNE)
WPTS3 (3-2)
Trevor Lattimore (Bridgeport, CT / WNE)
 
HEAVYWEIGHTS (201+ lbs.)
Tim Hatfield (Providence, RI / SNE)
WPTS3 (4-1)
Zack Calmus (Gloucester, MA / CNE)
 
WOMEN
FLYWEIGHTS (112 lbs.)
 
Jennifer Amato (Keene, NH / NNE)
WPTS4 (5-0)
Marisa Belenchi (New Haven, CT / WNE)
 
 
LIGHT WELTERWEIGHTS - (141 lbs.)
Rashida Ellis (Lynn, MA / CNE)
WPTS4 (3-2)
Elizabeth Humphries (Agawam, MA / WNE)
 
 
71st annual Lowell Sun Charities Golden Gloves Championship Schedule
 
(Lowell Memorial Auditorium - 6:30 p.m. doors open, 7:30 p.m. first bout)
 
New England Tournament of Champions
 
Open Class Championship Finals - Thursday, Mar. 2
 
Information:
 
New England Golden Gloves Executive Director: Bobby Russo
Director of Contestants: Art Ramalho
Chief of Officials:  Laurie Purcell
Ring Announcer:  John Vena
 
Venue:  Lowell Memorial Auditorium, 50 Merrimack St., Lowell, MA
 
Twitter:  @LowellGloves
ABOUT LOWELL SUN CHARITIES: Established in 1947, Lowell Sun Charities is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to enrich the quality of life for children, families, and the community, offering programs that promote respect and dignity.  Rooted in a tradition of care and compassion, Lowell Sun Charities was originally founded to respond to the ever-increasing challenges of the community.  2017 marks the 71st year the Golden Gloves have been held in the great city of Lowell, Massachusetts.
 
Lowell Sun Charities is a community program that not only makes champions in the ring but also makes champions in life.  Every year these young athletes devote themselves to a sport which teaches discipline, respect, and clean lifestyle for a chance to win a prestigious Golden Gloves Championship.
CONTACT:  Bob Trieger, Full Court PRESS, 978.590.0470, [email protected] , @FightPublicist