The Bay State Makes a Historic Move for Women in Professional Sports

New Bedford, Massachusetts [November 3, 2016] – For the first time in Massachusetts boxing history, and likely the first time in American and world boxing history, three female judges will be the official ringside scorers for an entire professional boxing event.  The fight card is scheduled for Saturday, November 12, 2016 in New Bedford, MA, and it will be promoted by Boston Boxing Promotions.

“We know this is the first time this has ever been done in Massachusetts,” said Boston Boxing Promotions matchmaker Peter Czymbor, “but we think this might be the first time it’s been done ever. We can’t find any examples of this ever having been done before in the United States, and we think it’s likely it hasn’t been done in the world before. It couldn’t be more fitting for a week when the United States will possibly elect its first woman president that we have a boxing event of historical proportions as well.”

Earlier this week, the Massachusetts State Athletic Commission assigned officials for the November 12 event, and the three judges will be the very-experienced Martha Tremblay of South Easton, MA, Lucy Miller of Boston, MA and Melissa Kelly of Everett, MA.

“We have the utmost confidence in these three women to provide objective and professional scoring for the boxing event on November 12th,” said  Guy Licciardi, Director of Administrative Services and Regulated Activities for the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety, which oversees the Massachusetts State Athletic Commission.

“They’ve all been licensed as professional boxing judges in Massachusetts for years now and have worked many events regularly, but never all three at the same time. It’s great that this all worked out for a historic moment in our state, and maybe beyond, for what is expected to be an evening of competitive boxing in New Bedford.”

“Boxing has been a male-dominated sport since its inception, but we’ve certainly noticed the influx of female talent in and out of the ring in recent years,” said Czymbor.  “Locally, Connecticut’s Shelly Vincent, Marshfield’s Aleksandra Magdziak Lopes and Providence’s Kali Reis are amongst the top fighters in their weight divisions in the world, and immensely popular at that. I think three women judges working an entire professional show is just another reflection of that movement.”

Martha Tremblay has been recorded judging 47 professional boxing matches in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine since 2014. She has even judged some nationally-televised bouts on Fox Sports 1. Tremblay has an extensive background as an amateur boxing judge, being an official ringside scorer for thousands of bouts all over New England.

Lucy Miller is both a licensed judge and referee at the amateur level and is recorded as a judge of 24 professional fights according to online databases. She is a veteran of the New England Golden Gloves on the amateur level.

Melissa Kelly was a standout amateur boxer who competed in the Olympic trials. As a judge, she has worked as a professional in Massachusetts and Maine, and has worked as an amateur judge all over New England.

Rounding out the assigned officials for the event are referees Mike Marvell and Jackie Morrell – both of whom have decades of experience as officials.

Marvel has been a professional referee in Massachusetts since 2004.

Morrell is a long-reigning, distinguished boxing referee as well. Prior to becoming a referee, he was a fighter, having fought the legendary welterweight champion Marlon Starling three times between the amateur and professional ranks. He finished with a pro boxing record of 12-13-1, with 8 KO’s from 1979 – 1984.

Tickets for the November 12 All-Pro Boxing event at New Bedford High School are on sale now at www.BostonBoxingPromotions.com.

Boston Boxing Promotions is dedicated to the resurgence of professional boxing at the regional level, particularly in the New England area. To learn more about the promotion, you can follow them on Twitter @BostonProBoxing, join the promotion’s official Facebook page “Boston Boxing Promotions,” and visit the promotion’s website  www.BostonBoxingPromotions.com.