Photos and video

For the love of boxing

Cooks, correctional officers and teachers battle it out

Story and photos by Richard W. Dionne Jr. rdionne@eastbaynewspapers.com
Posted 4/1/18

BRISTOL: Haymakers were flying at the Icon Boxing Club’s 33rd annual ‘Fight Night’ in Bristol on Friday. A standing room only crowd of 150 fight fans got an up close and personal …

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Photos and video

For the love of boxing

Cooks, correctional officers and teachers battle it out

Posted

BRISTOL: Haymakers were flying at the Icon Boxing Club’s 33rd annual ‘Fight Night’ in Bristol on Friday. A standing room only crowd of 150 fight fans got an up close and personal look at boxers standing toe to toe and heaving punches in a regulation size ring at the boxing club on Gooding Avenue. Icon boxers with names like “Hitman,” “All Business” and “The Doberman” fought fighters from Grundy’s Gym in Central Falls with names like “Lionheart,” “RCIII” and “The Mantis.” Except these men are not professional fighters, they are teachers, correction officers and cooks. Men finding a new way to stay in shape and get in the ring on a Friday night.

“The Hitman”
“I was looking for a way to stay active and stay fit and unleash all of the frustrations that I go through in my life like any other adult in the real world,” said 36 year-old Chad “The Hitman” Hart who trains at the Icon Boxing Club in Bristol.
Hart is a teacher’s aid and works with at risk youth. He has been working for a public school system for twelve years.
“This is nothing compared to what I have to deal with day in and day out,” he said. “The kids can be quite aggressive at times. I go through that every day. So being in the ring and getting beat up, It’s really not that bad.
“Boxing is a release for me. To me, this is the greatest sport in the world. It’s the greatest feeling in the world, being in the ring.”
Hart a Fall River native, started boxing at age 14.
“At the time we were watching a lot of boxing. And when I saw that, I was instantly hooked. At first it was just me training in my basement. My dad picked up a big heavy bag. One of the old-fashioned ones made of canvas. Every single day I would be down there hitting that heavy bag. Later we picked up a speed bag. I’d be doing that and jumping rope. I said, one day I am going to do that. And here we are all those years later,” Hart said during an interview after the fight.
Standing about 5’10” and a tad over his 165 pound fighting weight in his hey day, Hart fought a taller thinner slugger named Bobby “RCIII” Correia from Grundy’s Gym. The two traded power-packed punches for three three-minute rounds in front of jam packed audience. During the second round, Correia had Hart jammed in a corner. “RCIII” was hitting him with a barrage of punches. Until Hart shoved the fighter into the middle of the ring and launched punches of his own. Hart pursued the reeling fighter till he punched him threw the ropes. He leaned over and grabbed Correia before he fell out of the ring.
“We got a little tangled up. Momentum carried us over. Thankfully nobody got hurt. Everybody is safe. That’s really what it’s about here. We want to test ourselves,” Hart said.
“Chad Hart is a tough competitor. He showed a lot of grit taking this bout on three days notice,” said Icon Boxing Club owner Jesse Amarelo.
The fighter’s family isn’t a big fan of him fighting. As far as they are concerned, he’s fighting an uphill battle.
“They don’t know anything and I don’t tell them. My brother and sister-in-law support it completely. Everyone else in my family is disappointing. I’d be better off telling them I deal drugs or rob banks. But this is what keeps me out of trouble and I’ll be doing this until I’m no longer capable of doing it.”


“All Business”
Corey “All Business” Ferreira, 30, of Bristol, had a huge crowd routing for him during his fight against Dior “The Mantis” Andrade. Ferreira, a corrections officer at the Massachusetts Treatment Center in Bridgewater, trains at Icon Boxing Club. Many of his fellow officers came to cheer him on.
A fellow officer and friend, Chad Rebello, has been working with Ferreira for ten years.
“Corey has been a fighter for many years. I think that he’s going to start a movement for himself and maybe make a run and be a pro. He has a lot of skill. You have someone here in your town that you don’t realize. He comes from Fall River. We breed fighters and he’s back. He has Portuguese DNA and that’s something that fuels this kid and fuels our community and makes fighters.”
Ferreira also fought up a height and weight during his bout against Andrade. Ferreira still got inside and was able to land Mike Tyson like punches to Andrade’s head.
“I like the taller opponents it kind of fits my style,” said Ferreira. “I apply constant pressure. Even if I have to take some punches to get in on a guy, to get my punches off. That’s been my style my whole life.”
Ferreira like Hart, started boxing at age 14. He began his career at the Fall River Police Athletic League.
“When I first started boxing, I wanted to build some muscle and strength. Especially in my left hand,” Ferreira said. “And I love fighting. I’ve always been fascinated with fighting. And every time I think that I am done with the sport I always come back. It’s like an addiction.” he said.
Ferreira fought in Eastern Regionals for the junior olympics in Lake Placid. He won the New England boxing title when he was fifteen years old and won the golden glove championship in 2009.
“This is my return to boxing. Jesse convinced me to fight in this. It was sort of last minute and I’m not in the best (fighting) shape, but I did the best I could,” Ferreira said.
“Corey is a local legend in the amateur boxing scene. He has had close to 20 bouts,” Amarelo said.
Ferreira began his career as a corrections officer at age 19. He feels that working at the prison is a good career and has provided him with a good life. But he still wonders about returning to the ring as a pro.
“If I could find the right trainer and the right support around me. I would love to return to boxing. It’s a sport that I can’t get away from,” said Ferreira.


“The Doberman”
Eric “The Doberman DeLima,” 23, of East Providence works as a cook for Destiny’s Hometown Diner in Bristol and after work he trains at the Icon Boxing Club.
“It’s right across the street,” he said.
An East Providence High School grad, DeLima was a two sport athlete, participating in wrestling and football.
“I’ve always wanted to be a boxer. But I struggled financially. So when I got a full time job, I joined Icon and started boxing. I definitely want to do this in the future. I want to see if I can take this somewhere and eventually turn pro,” DeLima said.
The lightning quick fighter hit his opponent with some good shots early in the first round, but DeLima popped his shoulder out of it’s socket when he landed a right hook to the head of “Lionheart” Luis Rodriguez of Grundy’s Gym. The cook winced and held his arm and referee Jesse Amarelo immediately stopped the fight. DeLima told the ref that he could no longer go on as they conferred in the fighter’s corner.
“Icon trainer Bernie Kelley and I were working with the mitts before the fight and I felt it slip out,” said DeLima. “I figured if I could tighten up a bit I could still go on. I didn’t want to tell them because I wanted to fight. But when I climbed into the right, all I could think about was my shoulder. It popped out when we were in a clinch. I stepped in and threw a right hook and I dislocated my shoulder,” DeLima said.
DeLima who was supposed to box twice on Friday, felt terrible for letting down his fans.
“I was excited,” he said. “After it popped out, I felt bummed. In a way I let people down. I went there to give people a show. Plus, I wanted to get the experience of the fight and experience my opponents fighting style.”
Amarelo had this to say about the young boxer.
“Eric has a lot of ability and more importantly he’s a very hard worker. Unfortunately he’s had some injuries that set him back. Hopefully he can move past them and see his true potential.”
DeLima still wants to pursue his fighting career, but it will have to wait.
“I’m going to have to get surgery on my shoulder. And then hopefully once I return from surgery, I can get back to training and use my arm to the fullest,” he said.

Next Fight Night:
Icon Boxing Club will hold another Fight Night on Friday, April 13 at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m.

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