In the year it’s been open, the Space at Westbury has been host to musicians, comedians, dancers and last week, the venue opend its doors for world class boxers and their loyal fans. One of the headliners was Richie “Brazil” Neves, from New Hyde Park.
Winner Takes All Productions and Greg Cohen Promotions brought a night of boxing to the Space on Thursday, Nov. 13. While boxing events have come to Long Island before, this was the first of its kind to come to The Space.
“We chose The Space because we believe it is a beautiful venue that is perfect for a great boxing event. Boxing fans will enjoy this refurbished and updated theater and the boxers will love being part of a show held there,” said David Shuster from Winner Take All Productions.
And while the event drew boxers from all over the world, many of them also train on Long Island. Along with Neves, boxers Tommy “The Razor” Rainone (from Plainview) and Dave Meloni (from Westbury) all trained a few blocks away from The Space at Westbury Boxing, a non-profit gym run on donations that is located in the basement of the Village of
Westbury Recreation Department building.
“I’m so excited that they finally have an event like this in Westbury,” said Kevin Collins, one of the co-owners of Westbury Boxing. “We’re excited to have our own fighters fighting right down the block,” Collins said. “We’re hoping this is the start of many great fights at The Space.”
He says the three local fighters that are all very talented and train every night.
The main event saw Plainview’s Rainone facing off against Chicago’s Carl “The Assassin” McNickles in a 10-round battle for the USBO (United States Boxing Organization) Welterweight title.
A popular “all heart” warrior who doubles as an actor outside the ring, Rainone is riding a five-fight unbeaten streak, McNickles provided him a good test, as he has been in with several world-ranked contenders.
In the main supporting bout, Ireland’s “Hurricane” Dennis Hogan faced Venezuela’s Jose “Bam Bam” Rodriguez-Berrio in a junior middleweight eight-rounder. Hogan is known in the boxing world as a star in the making and the fight against Rodriguez-Berrio was his first outside his adopted homeland of Australia.
In a very special six-round, non-title women’s super-fight between reigning champions, Brooklyn’s WBO World Female Lightweight Champion, Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano took on
Cleveland’s WIBA World Featherweight champion Carla Torres.
On the undercard, Neves fought Philadelphia’s Maurice Amaro in a middleweight four; Meloni battled Felip Nazario of the Bronx in a super featherweight four; undefeated heavyweight
KO artist Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller battled Rodricka Ray in a heavyweight six-rounder; Eduardo Martinez of Illinois went up against Millville, New Jersey’s Joshua Reyes in a featherweight six.
Philadelphia lightweight Samuel Teah toiled against Brooklyn’s Ian James and junior middleweight Peter Dobson fought Anton Williamson of New Rochelle in a four-rounder.
