Philippines, 19 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Gray: "I will be reborn on Oct. 21st!"

PhilBoxing.com




Three months since suffering first career loss, humbled Gray looks forward to long-awaited return

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Oct. 7th, 2016) -- The glitz and glamour of professional boxing in its purest form is a small, all-encompassing snapshot of the sport at its best, the aura of invincibility only a small percentage of fighters are fortunate enough to experience.
What most people don't see is what happens when a fighter at the top of the game suffers an unexpected loss, the physical and emotional stress that comes with defeat, and the inevitable fallout when friends -- and sometimes family -- hop off the bandwagon.

Worcester, Mass., junior middleweight Khiary Gray never knew what losing felt like at the professional level until he suffered his first career defeat in mid-July to Ian Green on national television, nor did he anticipate the sudden aftermath, an emotional nightmare that almost drove him away from the sport.

"After that fight, I really just wanted to quit boxing," Gray said.

"We lost some fans and lost some friends over it," added Gray's trainer, Kendrick Ball Sr. "You have some people who say they're with you when you're riding high, but when things change, they're not there."

What kept Gray (13-1, 10 KOs) motivated to silence his critics and get right back on the horse was the support from those who stuck by his side, all the encouraging messages, texts and phone calls. When it came time to decide on his next opponent, he wanted nothing but the best, no shortcuts or "tune-up" fights, just a real test against another fighter with just as much to lose or gain once that bell rings.

He'll get his wish Friday, Oct. 21st, 2016 at Twin River Casino when he defends his Universal Boxing Federation (UBF) International and Northeast Junior Middleweight Titles against Chicago's Chris Chatman (14-5-1, 5 KOs) in the eight-round main event of CES Boxing's 2016 Twin River Fight Series season finale.

"This is a big fight for us. He's a well-known fighter, a real tough fighter who always brings it," Ball Sr. said. "I feel we're going to beat him. I think we can outbox him for eight rounds. Khiary has to stick to the game plan. If he sticks to the game plan, I feel no one can beat us."

Though Gray might've strayed off the path during his fight against Green, a fight he dominated through the first round and a half until Green scored an unexpected knockout, he learned a lesson, albeit a tough one to learn, Ball Sr. said, on national television.

Nonetheless, he now knows there are highs and lows in this sport. He's experienced them both and, at the same time, he's learned who's really in his corner regardless of whether or not he wins or loses. It's a lesson all young fighters must learn at some point, even if the learning curve can be rather painful.

This is no easy task for Gray, who acknowledges Chatman is a major step up in competition. The Chicago native is a familiar face in Rhode Island, where he's fought seven times since 2009, and has already guaranteed another victory against a hometown fighter on the 21st. Nicknamed "Last Chapter," Chatman has promised to close the book on Gray as a top contender in the 154-pound division.

"I'm ready to get back in there and show Chris Chatman he's not going to end my title reign," Gray said. "He said this will be my last chapter as champion. He's not writing my story. I'm writing my own story. On Oct. 21st, you're going to see the rebirth of Khiary 'Too Sharp' Gray."

Tickets for Oct. 21st are priced at $47.00, $67.00, $102.00 and $152.00 (VIP) and can be purchased online at www.cesboxing.com, www.twinriver.com or www.ticketmaster.com, by phone at 401-724-2253/2254 or at the Twin River Casino Players Club. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

The Chatman-Gray main event is one of nine fights on the card. Undefeated Worcester, Mass., junior welterweight Jamaine Ortiz (2-0, 2 KOs) puts his perfect record on the line in a four-round bout against Durham, N.C., vet Isaiah Robinson (3-3, 2 KOs) and fellow Worcester native Kendrick Ball Jr. (3-0-1, 3 KOs) aims for his fourth win in his fifth pro fight in a four-round bout against Oregon middleweight Rafael Valencia (3-4-1, 2 KOs).

Also fighting out of Worcester, Irvin Gonzalez Jr. (3-0, 3 KOs) returns to face Providence, R.I., native Cido Hoff (1-0-1) in a four-round featherweight bout and Worcester super middleweight Ben Peak makes his professional debut in a four-round bout against Jose Rivera (1-0, 1 KO) of Hartford, Conn.

Unbeaten junior middleweights Ray Oliveira Jr. (5-0, 1 KO) of New Bedford, Mass., and Gerald Schifone (3-0-1, 1 KO) of Brockton, Mass., tangle in the six-round co-feature and former amateur standout Anthony Marsella Jr. (1-0) of Providence makes his Rhode Island debut against Philadelphia's Bardraiel Smith (0-1) in a four-round junior welterweight bout.

New London, Conn., junior welterweight Cristobal Marrero (1-0, 1 KO) takes on Woburn, Mass., vet Bruno Dias (0-1) and junior welterweight Jonathan Figueroa (1-0, 1 KO) of Hartford, Conn., faces Florida's Irvin Veloz, both in four-round bouts.

Visit www.cesboxing.com, www.twitter.com/cesboxing or www.facebook.com/cesboxing for more information, follow CES Boxing on Instagram at @CESBOXING and use the hashtag #ChatmanGray to join the conversation.




Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • “Bambol” Tolentino in Las Vegas: Supporting Filipino Athletes and Pacquiao
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Unstoppable: Team Philippines Storms Into Davis Cup Finals After Qatar Sweep
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Blu Girls Stumble Against Taipei, Look to Regroup vs. Hong Kong
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Fighting for clean sweep
    By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • WBA No. 2 Heavyweight Contender Michael Hunter Is Ready to Take on World Champion Kubrat Pulev; All Systems Go for Purse Bid Winner Don King
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Weights from Panama City; WBA Women's Interim Superfly Title at Stake
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated prospect Pryce Taylor Working hard to join Brooklyn’s Elite list of top heavyweight boxers
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Justin Goossen-Brown Set to Make DAZN Broadcasting Debut This Friday at Boxlab Promotions’ Night of Champions in Orlando
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Philippine Davis Cup Team Sweeps Kuwait to Stay Unbeaten in Group IV
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Pacquiao Promises Surprise Against Barrios
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • PACQUIAO VS. BARRIOS UNDERCARD MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Rosaupan rules Pasay rapid chess championship
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Blu Girls Fall to China in Nail-Biter, Slip to 5–2 in Asia Cup
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • The 19th Thousand Island Cup Philippine Xiangqi Open tournament on August 3
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Pacquiao’s Legacy in Motion: PacMan contra El Azteca
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Blu Girls Crush Singapore 13-0, Set Sights on China in Asia Cup Showdown
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Laylo, Dableo to play in Baguio Open
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Pacquiao Shines in Final Press Conference: Can The Pacman Defeat Father Time and Barrios? (Analysis & Prediction)
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • More lucrative fights await Manny Pacquiao
    By Leo Reyes, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Rumors about Pacquiao-Mayweather rematch
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Tapales, Laurente to help Inoue against MJ
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • AL BERNSTEIN, CHRISTY MARTIN AND ERIC BOTTJER TO SERVE AS ALL-STAR COMMENTARY TEAM FOR THIS FRIDAY’S ‘LOPEZ VS. VARGAS’ EVENT
    , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • SALITA PROMOTIONS CONGRATULATES SUBRIEL MATIAS ON BECOMING THE WBC SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION
    , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Gaisano Grand Cup Season 20 opens August 3
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • 3 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Shane Mosley Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
    , Thu, 17 Jul 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.