‘Speedy’ Rashidi Ellis Dominates in WBC Title Fight

UNCASVILLE, CT – The Mohegan Sun Arena was electric last night, as CES Boxing presented a stacked ‘Love and War’ card broadcast live globally on DAZN.

The card had something for every boxing fan, including 3 title bouts, a fight of the year contender, a heavyweight slugfest, and the rise of a female star.

In the main event, “Speedy” Rashidi Ellis (26-1, 17 KOs) continued to show why he is one of the most avoided welterweights in the world, stopping former Ecuadorian champion Jose Angulo (16-10, 9 KOs) to win the vacant WBC US Silver Welterweight title. 

Ellis immediately imposed his superior speed and technique in rounds 1 and 2, repeatedly snapping Angulo’s head back behind stinging jabs and sharp right hands.  The 28-year-old Ecuadorian began tentatively, covering up and shaking his head whenever Rashidi landed. 

“The Savage with a Smile” picked up the pace in round 3, throwing dazzling combinations and counter right hands that befuddled Angulo.  Urged by his corner to let his hands go, the Ecuadorian finally began countering in round 4, attempting to back Ellis into the ropes.  Unfortunately for Angulo, Rashidi boxed as effectively on the backfoot as he did going forward, peppering Angulo with quick flurries in rounds 5 and 6. 

The Lynn, MA native began putting more sting in his punches in round 7, landing heavy shots to the head that rattled Angulo and causing him to cover up again.  After the round, Angulo’s corner decided that the Ecuadorian had enough, citing a perforated eardrum.

With the win, Rashidi believes that he is knocking on the door of a world title opportunity.

“I want Brian Norman, Jr., Mario Barrios, or the winner of Ennis vs. Stanionis,” said Ellis after the win.  “Any of the champions.  I’ve been ready for my shot.”

Carlos Gonzalez and Alex Espinoza battle to a 10-round Draw

In the co-main event, Carlos “El Gallo” Gonzalez (14-0-1, 13 KOs) retained his NABA Featherweight Championship with a 10-round draw against tough Nicaraguan Alex “Supernova” Espinoza (23-6-3, 8 KOs).

Gonzalez, of Springfield, MA, first walked into a boxing gym 2 and a half years ago.  The 27-year-old is a quick study, however, winning 14 bouts in 2 years while winning the NABA title by knocking out fellow prospect Duke Micah in the process.

Espinoza, a former WBC International Silver champion, was riding a two-fight win streak going into the bout. The fight began with Gonzalez pressuring Espinoza in rounds 1 and 2 behind hard hooks and right hands.  The more experienced Espinoza upped the pace beginning in round 3, focusing on Gonzalez’s body and engaging the Puerto Rican in spots.

The Nicaraguan was able to force Gonzalez to box on the back foot in round 4, and the Springfield native responded with effective counters in rounds 5 and 6. Despite being outgunned by the more powerful Gonzalez, Espinoza was able to set a fast pace that visibly tired the less experienced champion by round 7. 

Gonzalez appeared to get his second wind in round 8, determined to press the action behind stiff jabs and right hands.  Espinoza came roaring back mid round, landing left and right uppercuts that pushed Gonzalez back.  A right hand from Gonzalez knocked Espinoza’s mouthpiece out, but the tough Nicaraguan again dug deep. 

The fighters left nothing to chance in the 10th and final round, trading shots in close until the final bell. After 10 nip and tuck rounds, the judges scored the bout a draw with scores of 97-93 for Gonzalez, 96-94 for Espinoza, and 95-95.

‘King’ Kevin Walsh ruthlessly dethrones Ricky de los Santos

In a highly anticipated bout, ‘King’ Kevin Walsh (16-0, 9 KOs) won a war of attrition against New England rival Ricky de los Santos (12-2, 3 KOs) to win the WBC US Silver Featherweight Championship.

It was a dramatic back and forth bout between two men who were coming off the biggest wins of their careers: de los Santos by defeating Nathan Martinez last February to win the WBC title, and Walsh via a fourth round TKO of Irvin Gonzalez last November for the New England Super Featherweight title.

Prior to the fight, each man claimed he was going to win emphatically, with Walsh guaranteeing a knockout while de los Santos promising to ‘dog-walk’ the Brockton native.  De los Santos drew his confidence from a 4 round sparring session the pair had 2 years prior, which Walsh dismissed as irrelevant.

The first few rounds favored de los Santos’ slicker boxing, as the Pawtucket resident came forward behind a lead left hook while avoiding most of Walsh’s incoming.  The tide turned in round 3, however, when Walsh landed a counter right hand to the temple that stunned de los Santos.  Walsh immediately went on the offensive, landing a series of rights and lefts, some of which landed after the bell as neither the fighters nor referee Arthur Mercante Jr. could hear it over the loud chants of the boisterous crowd.

Walsh continued his offensive in round 4, but de los Santos regained enough of his composure to box effectively again mid round and into round 5.  After a back and forth round 6, Walsh launched a counter right hand in round 7 that dropped de los Santos face first to the canvas.  Somehow, the Pawtucket native was able to beat the count. Walsh landed another right hand that caused de los Santos to stumble into the ropes. Mercante Jr. stepped in, causing Walsh to believe the fight was over. However, after taking a close look at de los Santos, Mercante decided to let the bout continue.  The 20 second respite allowed Ricky to survive the round, but the end was near.  Walsh landed two consecutive right hands early in round 8 that caused Mercante to immediately waive off the bout.

Undercard Action

Mike Fontanez (11-0, 7 KOs) kept his undefeated record intact, stopping ‘Prince’ Ray Oliveira Jr. (10-4, 2 KOs) in round 6 of their jr. middleweight contest.  ‘The Blessed Southpaw’ was too fast and accurate for Oliveira, controlling the distance with his jab and landing stinging counters. 

With his father announcing from ringside, Oliveira Jr. tried his best to force the Nashua, NH native into a slugfest.  Fontanez began to push the pace in round 4, landing a series of combinations for every one shot thrown by Oliveira.  Oliveira bounced back well in round 5, but Fontanez’s furious counter left hands in the 6th and final round convinced referee Arthur Mercante, Jr. to halt the contest at 0:47 of the round to prevent Oliveira from taking further punishment. 

When heavyweight prospect Ali Feliz (5-0, 4 KOs) faced Robinson Perez (3-3, 1 KO) in July 2024, the 2 big men traded leather for 4 rounds.  Less than a year later, the Danbury, CT native destroyed ‘The Wolf’ in just 1:39 of the first stanza.  Feliz rocked Perez from the start, landing long right hands from a distance and short hooks when in close.  A huge right hand caused Perez to stumble to the ropes, causing referee Eric Dali to wave off the contest.

Amelia Moore (2-0, 1 KO) made short work of the normally durable Michelle Cook (3-6-2), stopping the New York-based Canadian in the 2nd round of their jr. welterweight bout.  Moore, the Team Combat League’s 2024 Rookie of the Year, set a frenetic pace from the opening bell, pressuring Cook behind volume punching.  The Colorado resident, a decorated amateur who is ranked #5 with the WBA after just one pro bout, trapped Cook in the corner in round 2 and launched a brutal attack that culminated with 2 powerful left hooks to the stomach that dropped Cook for the 10-count. 

18-year-old phenom Joseph “J-Elite” Chisholm (4-0, 4 KOs) continued his assault on the Super Bantamweight division, scoring his 4th straight first round knockout in as many fights against Texan Bryan Cox (0-4).  After assessing what his opponent had to offer, the Stratford, CT native trapped Cox in the corner and fired off 23 unanswered punches punctuated by a pair of powerful left uppercuts that crumbled the Texan to the canvas.

Anthony “The Enforcer” Nieves made his pro debut a successful one, winning a 4-round war against Brazilian Joseph Almeida (0-1) in a Super Middleweight contest.  It was a competitive fight all the way through, but Hamden’s Nieves took control of the fight from round 3 on to win a decision by scores of 39-37 (3x).

Carlos Perez (3-0) made an impressive return to the ring after a 4-year absence, winning a shutout decision over tough Guatemalan Edgar Sagui (1-2) in a jr. welterweight bout. “Carlito’s Way,” a Puerto Rican by way of New Haven, CT, used his superior reach to control the stocky Sagui with right jabs and long left hands.  The 30-year-old was also able to hurt Segui on a few occasions with right hooks to the body and uppercuts to the head.    

In the opening bout of the evening, Johnston, RI’s Kevin Mojica (1-0, 1 KO) won his pro debut against Edelmiro Morales (0-1), stopping the Groton, CT native in round 3 of a welterweight contest.

Roberto Villa is the CEO, Founder, Executive Writer, Senior Editor of FightBook MMA. Has a passion for Combat Sports and also a podcast host for Sitting Ringside. He’s also a former MMA fighter and Kickboxer.

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