Sports

BOXING

Pocono native tops local boxing card

By Dave Rosengrant drosengrant@timesleader.com
Sports Reporter

As a professional boxer, Jason Gavern travels all over the world to get in a ring and take on opponents.

He has fought in arenas from California to Germany and Florida to Las Vegas.

But he enjoys competing in NEPA more than any other site.

Gavern, 32, is a native of NEPA growing up in the Poconos and now resides in Kissimmee, Fla.

He returns to the area Saturday night for the second time in as many months as a main event attraction at the Woodlands Inn and Resort in Plains Township. It will be just the fifth time in 26 bouts the former Scranton police officer will fight near his hometown.

“I love fighting here and my family is here and I get to showcase to them how much I’ve learned in the last 10 years,” Gavern said in between conditioning workouts at his parent’s home. “And I get to taste grandma’s spaghetti and that’s the best.”

Gavern, a 6-foot-2, 223-pounder with a record of 17-5-3 with eight knockouts, will take on Willie Perryman (10-19) in the last of six bouts on Saturday’s card with action beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Despite his record, the 6-foot-1 Perryman is a stiff competitor. In his last four matches, his opponents have a combined record of 69-1 with 5 knockouts. He also comes along with an iron fist having broken the orbital bone of John Poore (20-3, 18 knockouts) in a near upset.

Gavern normally doesn’t study his opponents before a fight and all he knows about Saturday’s opponent is what he gathered by looking at Perryman’s record and opponents.

He said that he can find out everything he needs about an opponent in the match’s first 30 seconds.

“I’m not taking it lightly but at the same time he’s not going to be the toughest guy I fought,” Gavern said. “But in heavyweight you can’t take anything light because we all punch hard and one punch you can be down and out.”

Gavern isn’t the only NEPA native on the card.

In the super featherweight bout, Anthony Cusumano (3-2-1) from Old Forge will fight Nathan Francis (2-5 1KO). Cusumano, 30, also walked in the ring at the Woodlands last month during an event and via TKO over Emmanuel Roses. He is also riding a two-match win streak and has won three of his last four.

In a pair of lightweight matches on the card, Cuban sensation Tony “The Tiger” Espinozoa (10-0 1KO) will go up against Ron “Teflon” Boyd (6-6). Boyd is a two-time Maryland state champion.

Another lightweight bout, Clinton “Pretty Boy” Douglas (2-3-2) returns to the Woodlands for the second time to go up against Jean Ramos (0-2).

April Richards (0-1) competing for the first time dropped a match last month at the Woodlands. She returns to Plains, Township to fight Natoya Ervin (0-3).

Also set to see action is undefeated super middleweight Isaac Rodrigues (13-0) against an opponent yet to be determined.

Boxing at the Woodlands

When: Saturday

Time: Doors open at 7 p.m., fighting starts at 7:30 p.m.

Admission: $40 general admission; $50 reserve; $100 VIP

Bouts: Six bouts consisting of six rounds each

Main Event: Heavyweight bout Jason Gavern (17-5-3 8 KO) vs. Willie Perryman (10-19 7KO)

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