LOWELL, Massachusetts — Christian Schurko is looking to shine for Central New England at the 77th Lowell Golden Gloves on Thursday at Lowell Memorial Auditorium.
The nine-week event rolls into week seven with 14 scheduled fights, including five novice and nine open division bouts comprising the All New England Open and Novice quarterfinals.
A Medford resident and one of fraternal twins competing, Schurko will look to follow in his brother's footsteps this week. The 20-year-old squares off with Northern New England's Xavier Diaz of Portland, Maine in a 125-pound battle.
Christian and brother Anthony Schurko have taken the tournament by storm, racking up several unanimous decisions. Last week, Anthony, 20, the older brother by a minute, bested Somerset's Mike Alves by unanimous decision in a 132-pound novice division bout. This week, Christian will take center stage against Diaz, a formidable Portland Boxing Gym product.
A pair of Golden Glove veterans, both Revere Boxing brothers competed last year before bowing out in the finals.
A pair of novice division women's bouts open the card. Framingham's Jennifer Truong takes on South Kingston, R.I.'s Anne Riecke in a 110-pound match, while Coventry, R.I.'s Julie van Amersfoort (125) will meet Larissa Hacket of Lyndonville, Vt.
In the men's bracket, Southbridge slugger Nathaniel Torres (125) tests Warwick, R.I.'s Brandon Kingsford. Fairhaven heavyweight Joshua Parker (203+) headlines the card against Manchester, N.H.'s Jassiah Francis.
In open action, Everett's Shea Wilcox (147), who scored one of the first knockouts of the tournament, looks to advance against Windsor, Conn.'s OJ Coley. Wilcox floored Michael Rivera of Nonantum Boxing Club just 1:46 into the first round back in week 4.
Walpole's Aidan Feeney (139) faces Fairfield, Conn., scrapper Christopher Veliz. Ricardo Nuñez (139) of Providence, R.I., tangles with Tristan Harvie of Essex Junction, Vt. Fall River's Axel Lopez (147) goes toe-to-toe against Lewiston, Maine's Hunter Dickenson. Gloucester's Jason McLaughlin (156) will fight Ryan Antonavich of Perkinsville, Vt.
Ashland's Christopher Rivera (146) sizes up Golden Gloves vet Lisandro Maysonet of New Britain, Conn. Methuen's Giovanni Daley (165) will meet West Haven, Conn., battler Carlos Lopez. Lynnfield light heavyweight Rob Debonis (176) draws Mohammad Alyazouri of Burlington, Vt., while Woonsocket, R.I., scrapper Anthony Rodriguez (176) challenges East Hartford, Conn.'s Isiah Brazeal.