Rich Gingras certainly wasn’t expecting the phone call earlier this week, but he was more than ready to accept the challenge. Such is the unpredictable nature of professional boxing.
Working full-time as the owner and head trainer at the Fight 2 Fitness gym in Pawtucket, R.I., the former “The Contender” reality television star hasn’t slowed down since his last fight on May 24th, which is why he willingly answered the bell when promoter Jimmy Burchfield Sr. offered to add him to the “Built To Last” card Thursday, July 19th, 2012 at the Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, R.I.
“That’s the way boxing is,” said Gingras, who lost to Terrance Smith in May when the ringside doctor stopped the fight after the second round due to a cut over Gingras’ eye. “The last thing I wanted to do was wait another two months before my next fight.”
Four days after the fight, Gingras (11-3, 7 KOs) moved his gym from the second floor to the bottom level, expanding from just under 5,000 square feet to 8,500, a space that now includes 33 heavy bags, six speed bags, seven spin bikes, full locker rooms and showers, and a regulation-sized boxing ring.
Needless to say, Gingras has kept in shape since the end of May; he weighed 183 pounds the night of his fight and has been walking around comfortably at 178 for the past six weeks, so he’ll be ready to fight at the light heavyweight limit of 175 when he returns to the ring next Thursday in a six-round special attraction.
“The longer you’re away from the gym, the harder it is to get back in shape,” he said, “so that’s why I went back in right after the last fight. I’m constantly working out, running everyday, and when I’m not working out myself, I’m training someone else, so I’m still burning calories.
“Eating food has become a whole other job just so I can keep up on my calories.”
Gingras recently signed a promotional agreement with Classic Entertainment & Sports, which will promote the July 19th show, and debuted with the company in May. His goal at the time was to stay as busy as possible, and that hasn’t changed despite his recent setback. The fight on the 19th will be his third since March, and he’s already looking forward to stepping back into the ring in October when CES’ Thursday Night Fight Series continues at Twin River.
“I want to get right back on that horse,” Gingras said. “When you live healthy, you heal fast, and I’m a fast healer. I take pride in staying in shape.”
Tickets for “Built To Last” are $40.00, $75.00 and $125.00 (VIP) and can be purchased by calling CES at 401.724.2253/2254, online at www.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, at the Players Club booth at Twin River, or through any TicketMaster location. Doors open 6 p.m. with the first bout scheduled for 7.
Providence native and reigning New England super middleweight champion Vladine Biosse (13-1-1, 6 KOs) will star in the eight-round main event while Providence’s Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey (20-3, 10 KOs) will face veteran Jesse Oltmans (10-3, 7 KOs) of Bartonsville, Pa., in the six-round co-feature. Super middleweights Keith Kozlin (6-3-1, 4 KOs) of West Warwick, R.I., and Reynaldo Rodriguez (6-4-1, 3 KOs) of Woonsocket, R.I., will look to settle the score in a rematch from their fight last July, which ended in a draw.
Also on the undercard, light heavyweight Kevin Cobbs (4-0, 1 KO) of Burlington, Vt., will battle Queens’ native Donte Wiggins (1-0, 1 KO) in a four-round bout and Pawtucket, R.I., middleweight Thomas Falowo (6-1, 4 KOs) will look to bounce back from his first loss in May when he faces Rahman Yusebov (8-8, 6 KOs) of Dallas in a six-round bout. Benny Costantino (7-1, 4 KOs) of Warwick, R.I., will face Dennis Ogboo (6-5, 5 KOs) of Lexington, Ky., in a four-round middleweight bout, and lightweight Zack Ramsey (1-0, 1 KO) of Springfield, Mass., and welterweight newcomer Jansy Rivera of Providence (San Juan, Puerto Rico) will be featured in separate four-round bouts. All fights and fighters are subject to change.
