Boxer Justin Laporte
Boxer Justin Laporte talks about his fight in Polar Park
WORCESTER – The sequel surpasses the original.
Perfect summer weather, a clear victory for the four local heroes and an enthusiastic crowd made Punch-Out at Polar Park II a resounding success on Saturday evening, one day after it had to be postponed due to rain.
“The scene is electric and everyone is in a good mood,” said Justin Laporte after he, Dan Docimo and Jhon Devers Rodriguez each recorded first-round victories in their professional debuts, while Keno Luna remained undefeated by unanimous decision.
The nine-fight program, presented by Shearns Boxing Promotions – run by Leicester-based Chuck Shearns and his family – in association with Camp Get Right owner Kendrick Ball Sr., featured boxers from seven states, as well as fighters with ties to Brazil, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Slovakia/Hungary.
Docimo, who quickly became known as “Grafton Hill’s favorite son,” entered the ring to thunderous applause from his more than 200 fans who had come to see him make his professional debut at the age of 36 in the third fight of the evening.
“I can’t wait to thank them all for their support,” said Docimo, a 2007 North High School graduate who celebrated his last birthday on Aug. 4. “Have you seen them all? This is my family, this is my neighborhood.”
Docimo was aggressive from the start and despite an early slip, knocked down Tracey Coppedge (0-4) of Wilson, North Carolina twice in the first round, with the second time resulting in a technical knockout 84 seconds after the opening bell in this welterweight clash.
“New fighting style, with a lot of momentum,” Docimo said as trainer Owen Minor looked on. “He snapped his (expletive) head back. That’s it. There’s no turning back here. Camp Get Right.”
Devers Rodriguez remained loose in the visitors’ dugout while a ring issue was resolved before he made his entrance, while rappers Ray Diamond and Kapuchino led the way, rhyming “See Me Win” in Spanish.
And the 2020 Doherty High School graduate, who turned 24 on July 27, won.
The 6-foot-2 Devers Rodriguez, a two-time New England Golden Gloves winner, had a tremendous size advantage and made the most of it.
“D-Wave” knocked out Igor Santos of Woburn in the first round of their junior middleweight duel by a Brazilian KO in 2:02 minutes
“Yeah, it was a big crowd,” said Devers Rodriguez. “My hometown. We got it done. We wanted a few more rounds, but at least we got it done in the first round.”
“I wasn’t hoping for the KO. I practiced my jab and placed my punches well, and then it came.”
And what’s next for Devers Rodriguez, who is trained by Michael Ramos: “Just keep climbing up the rankings, fighting and staying diligent.”
Luna, a four-time New England Golden Gloves winner, improved his professional record to 3-0 after going the full distance for the first time in this four-round match.
The 2021 North High School graduate landed plenty of punches – and took a few good ones along the way – but was unable to defeat fellow Seattle middleweight Izaiah Vargas, who fell to 1-11 but was knocked out just once.
“It wasn’t a knockout, but it is what it is,” said Luna, 22. “Before the fight, I looked at him and said, ‘You’re going down.’ After the fight, he said, ‘You told me I was going down, so I have to stay up. As much as I wanted to go down, you told me I was going down, so I didn’t want to go down for that reason.’
“It is what it is. Back in the lab, I’ve done the work and can move on to the next one. It’s a success.”
Luna fought for the Boston Butchers in the Team Combat League this spring and is trained by Christian Cuadrado, Lester Diaz and Juan Rivera, and his many supporters were extremely vocal from start to finish.
However, Luna could only hear the voice of one person, his mother, Ruthy Jimenez.
Laporte, a 2018 Shepherd Hill graduate who hails from Worcester and lives in Millbury, knocked out Tymar Miles (0-3) of Poughkeepsie, New York, with a devastating body shot 62 seconds into their junior middleweight bout
“It feels good; I’ve worked hard,” said Laporte, the 24-year-old former Marine and current Dean’s List student at Nichols College who is trained by Sean Fitzgerald. “He was a great opponent — I respect any opponent that steps in the ring — and I want to thank God very much. Without him, I wouldn’t be here.”
“And a big thank you to all my sponsors, my team, my family and everyone who has continued to support me.”
And if you’re wondering if Punch-Out at Polar Park will become a trilogy next summer, the answer is yes.
“We had a good, decent crowd,” Ball said. “I’m happy with the way it turned out. Every year we’re going to do something different to change it up and make it better every year. Of course (we’ll come back).”
—Contact Rich Garven at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @RichGarvenTG.
