Bryan Vera at the “Crossroads”
QUINCY, Mass. (March 18, 2021) – Veteran Texas fighter Bryan “The
Warrior” Vera is in a win-or-retire fight April 17th versus former New
England middleweight champion Kendrick “Peppa” Ball in the 8-round main
event for the vacant World Boxing Council USNBC (U.S.) Silver super
middleweight title at New England Sports Center in Derry, New Hampshire.
Fighting out of Austin, the 39-year-old Vera has rejuvenated his career by
winning his last two fights, both at New England Sports Center, his last
this past November. Vera burst upon the boxing scene 16 years ago in the
first season of The Contender, Reality Television series. He went on to
defeat a trio of world champions – Andy Lee, Sergio Mora (twice) and Serhiy
Dzinziruk – capturing five regional titles including the NABO middleweight
crown.
Eleven years Vera’s junior is Ball (15-1-2, 11 KOs), the winner of his last
six fights, the most recent last August at New England Sports Center. The
6’ 2” Ball, fighting out of Worcester, MA, will have a 3-inch height
advantage in the ring.
Ball vs. Vera, the evening headliner of the day-night doubleheader
(separate admissions), is co-promoted by Ball’s promoter, Classic
Entertainment and Sports (CES).
“For me,” Vera said, “I feel like I have another chance, and opportunity,
to prove I’m not done yet. I started boxing late at 19. I’m coming into my
own with a new trainer and I have one more good run in me. I’ve had two
first-round knockouts in my last two fight to put me in this position.”
“For Bryan,” Granite Chin’s Chris Traietti said,” this fight is
realistically it. He has worked hard for a chance to show that he still has
another run in him, and he is going to get that opportunity April 17th. He
has had plenty of time to get ready. He is mentally in a good place, the
stage is set for him and if he falls short, then we need to really sit down
and talk about whether he should continue fighting. But I have a good
feeling about this one, I genuinely do. I do believe he has anther run in
him for 2021. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have put this fight
together. Kendrick is a solid prospect and he come from a great gym, but
the reality is, for Byran to even sniff the kinds of fights he used to get,
he needs beat Kendrick Ball. So, hopefully this fight goes the way we want
and then we can sit down and have a much more pleasant conversation about
who we go after next.”
The most significant difference between Vera (28-16, 18 KOs) today compared
to his earlier years is, of course, invaluable experience, but also much
more.
“I was just tough guy,” Vera explained. “I’m still mentally tough, but I’m
picking my shots much better now. I’m done if I don’t win this fight. I
can’t afford another loss. I’m preparing for this fight like it was for a
world title. I’m in top shape because I changed my lifestyle and don’t put
on a lot of pounds between fights.”
Ball is a younger, hungrier fighter who would like nothing better than to
add Vera’s name to his victim’s list, although he has never been in against
anybody, qualify-wide, like Vera. Vera has fought 271 rounds as a pro,
including seven fights (4-3) against world champions, compared to Ball’s
64, largely versus journeymen.
“I don’t know too much about him (Ball) other than he fought on the same
card as me (Aug. 29, 2020),” Vera remarked. “I’m preparing for this fight
like it was for a world title because I can’t afford to lose. He’s had
softer fights than me and it looks like he wants to box and be fancy. I’ll
have a perfect opportunity to break him down. I’m 100-percent serious about
this fight. I feel like I’m the stronger fighter. I’m going to get inside
and make him work. He’s never fought anybody as strong as me. I think I can
overwhelm with my strength and experience.”
Vera believes that an impressive victory over Ball will reposition him for
a lucrative fight, possibly against a former world champion he has lost a
pair of decisions to in 2013 and 2014.
“I think I can be back in line for a real good fight,” Vera concluded. “I
think another fight against Julio Cesar, Jr. I think it makes sense for
both of us and a chance to make some real money.”
For Bryan “The Warrior” Vera, the “Crossroads” is more like his personal
last call, naturally, pending the final outcome.
Tickets are priced at $35.00 (Day Show) / $45.00 (Night Show) for general
seating (unassigned) and $220.00 (Day Show) / $300.00 (Night Show) for
ringside tables (assigned and seats 4) and available to purchase online at
www.ticketriver.com
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(Search: crossroads).
Doors open at 12:15 p.m. ET and 7:15 p.m. ET (night) with the first bouts,
respectively, at 12:30 p.m. ET and 7 p.m. ET.
