Boxing will have a prominent role in New England Fights’ next promotion, NEF 24, scheduled for June 18 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston as three of the state’s top professional pugilists will appear at the combined boxing-MMA show.
Russell “The Haitian Sensation” Lamour and Casey Kramlich, both from the Portland Boxing Club, and Brandon “The Cannon” Berry of West Forks all will be featured in separate bouts.
Lamour (13-2) will make his NEF debut in a middleweight bout against Mexican veteran Roberto “El Viejo” Valenzuela (69-71-2, 56 KOs).
A Brooklyn, New York, native and graduate of Deering High School in Portland, Lamour compiled a 79-16 amateur boxing record — a run that included five New England Golden Gloves championships. He also competed in the semi-pro World Series of Boxing where he was the top-ranked middleweight in the Americas.
Lamour then won his first 11 professional bouts as well as capturing the vacant USA New England middleweight title and competing on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights before a national audience.
Lamour last fought a month ago, winning by technical knockout over Borngod Washington in Salem, New Hampshire.
Kramlich (4-0-1) will battle Zenon Herrera (0-1) in a four-round super welterweight contest.
Earlier this spring, Kramlich handed Boston’s Jason Kelly (5-1) his first pro loss in Salem, New Hampshire. He dominated the first two rounds before Kelly was unable to answer the bell for round three.
Berry (11-1-1) will put his Northeast junior welterweight title on the line in a rematch against James Lester (10-9-1) of Detroit, Michigan.
Berry and Lester met earlier this year at NEF 22 in Lewiston, but the six-round bout was judged a majority draw.
This time, a seventh round has been added to help determine a clear winner.
Berry won his Northeast title in October 2014 against West Virginia Toughman champion Eric Palmer (4-3-3), and the draw with Lester ended a three-fight win streak that included a unanimous decision over Valenzuela.
Lester comes from the world-famous Kronk Gym in Detroit.
Area fighters set for regional, national tests
One reason NEF may be gearing its June show toward boxing is because several MMA fighters with Maine ties will be busy competing on regional and national cards elsewhere this month.
Ryan Sanders (10-7) of Young’s MMA in Bangor will challenge Luis Felix (14-9) for the CES MMA lightweight championship as the main event of CES 36 on June 10 at the Twin River Casino in Lincoln, Rhode Island.
Sanders stopped Felix in the second round of their non-title catchweight fight earlier this year after Felix reportedly suffered a knee injury, and their rematch will be broadcast nationally by AXS-TV.
Also at CES 36 will be Jon Lemke (5-4) of Team Irish MMA Fitness Academy in Brewer, who will face Josh LaBerge (10-5) of Fall River, Massachusetts, in a lightweight test.
The following weekend, former NEF lightweight champion Bruce Boyington of Young’s MMA and Boyington’s Taekwondo Academy will be among three fighters with Maine connections on the undercard of the June 17 World Series of Fighting show at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut.
Boyington (13-8) will attempt to score his second straight win under the WSOF banner when he battles Boston’s Saul Almeida (18-6) in a lightweight clash.
Also at WSOF 31 will be two current NEF champions, heavyweight Tyler King of North Attleboro, Massachusetts, and lightweight Devin Powell of South Berwick.
King (10-4) will face Lorenzo Hood (9-3), and Powell (6-1) will put his four-fight winning streak on the line against Tommy Marcellino (7-4).
