Amateur boxing to return to Winchester on Nov. 9 | Winchester

WINCHESTER – Amateur boxing will return to Winchester, in the town hall auditorium on Nov. 9 (two days before Veterans Day), to raise money for several charities, among them the First Responders Fund.

Thanks to the dedication of Paul Goodrich, Vice-President of the Winchester Sports Foundation, and Al Falenti, who helped put on a previous boxing match through his connections with USA Boxing (which oversees all amateur boxing in the country), the fights will showcase “great amateur boxing,” according to Falenti.

The previous boxing card, featuring fighters from West Point Academy, helped raise money for the Winchester Field Development Council. President Paul Manganaro approached Falenti about helping put the show together. There, Goodrich said he met with Manganaro and was inspired to put on a “duplicate event.”

Following that, he met with people and received a vote of confidence the event could go forward. Goodrich decided it would make sense to bring military academies to town on Veterans Day weekend (and he expects West Point graduates to attend, as well).

“This will be an unbelievable boost to the local economy and the First Responders Fund,” Goodrich noted, adding how other charitable organizations would benefit, as well.

Falenti said the last event was primarily attended by Winchester residents, yet they still managed to raise enough money to benefit the field development council and local projects.

Falenti brings the license and makes sure the event is well run and properly policed. He called the previous event sensational and expects the next one on Nov. 9 to be, as well. He referred to it as a “community event.”

“We’ll try and incorporate everyone in town,” Goodrich said, adding he expects 400 people to attend.

This will be a pre-sold event, Falenti noted, meaning no one will sell tickets at the door.

Select Board Chair Rich Mucci said he attended the last event, then asked if Falenti needed a special license. Falenti answered he only needed the most recent occupant permit for the auditorium.

Goodrich said they expect to have a pre-fight dinner, as not a lot of food will be available at the event.

Select Board member Michael Bettencourt said he also attended the last event, called the fights “awesome” and said it raised a ton of money. He then asked if the group could add another organization to the fundraising pot, namely A Better Chance (ABC).

Goodrich said they could absolutely do that.