Peabody’s Kimber, Lynn’s Perkins part of stacked boxing card

QUINCY — Undefeated Irish boxer Thomas “The Kid” O’Toole (9-0, 6 KOs) will take on dangerous Russell Kimber (2-1, KO) in a six-round bout on May 4 for the vacant Massachusetts Light Heavyweight title as part of a stacked “Rumble At The Rink” regional card, presented by Granite Chin Promotions (GCP), at Quincy Youth Arena.

“What a compliment this fight is to our inaugural ‘Granite Chin Box Off,’” GCP President Chris Traietti said. “The plan with this show – from the start – was to stack it from the opening fight to the final of the tournament with fighters people want to see in fights people want to see them in, and this fight is the epitome of that. Thomas has been a fixture the last few years in the local boxing scene, and he is taking on a guy in Kimber who is no slouch. Kimber is the type of guy that if you take him lightly, you are in for a bad night. Thomas comes from a solid amateur background and a great gym, so I don’t think he is going to make that error, but everyone in the building would be foolish to sleep on Russell Kimber.”

Now fighting out of Braintree, the 26-year-old native of Galway (IRE) has been fighting in his second home of Boston for the past year, capturing the USBF Atlantic Light Heavyweight title last August, also in Quincy on a GCP card, with an opening-round stoppage of Scott Lampert.

“I want to add this Massachusetts title and keep pushing,” stylish southpaw O’Toole said. “The plan is to have two big fights after this fight. He (Kimber) doesn’t have too many fights, but he has sparred with some of my mates. He’s pretty game and will fight coming forward, and that’s good for me.”

Kimber (2-1, KO), fighting out of Peabody, has fighting in his blood. His father, Dick, and uncle, Tommy, respectively, were three- and five-time world kickboxing champions. Russell owns Kimber Fitness, which was in Peabody and is relocating soon to nearby Salem.

He made his pro debut in 2017, taking a decision from Nathan Schulte, but he’s only fought twice since then, due to COVID-19 restrictions and several fights that failed to materialize.

“I’m always training, but I couldn’t get any fights,” Kimber said. “I kept my weight down and took a fight last April in Florida against an undefeated local fighter (3-0 Mike Misa). After the fight, my opponent even said that the fight shouldn’t have been stopped, because I was blocking his punches. I really shouldn’t have lost that fight, but it was in Florida against a local fighter.”

“Fighting for the Massachusetts title is great. I don’t think he (O’Toole) fully understands what’s coming. I think a win will open up doors for me because I’ll be 3-1 and have a title. I’ve seen a few Granite Chin fighters with only six or seven fights getting the opportunity to fight at places like Madison Square Garden. I took this fight, and we’ll see what happens.”

The headliner is an innovative one-night tournament, “Granite Chin Box Off,” featuring a quartet of New England super middleweight fighters, including Lynn’s James “Pitbull” Perkins (13-1-1, 9 KOs).

Perkins is the pre-tournament favorite based on his pro record and quality of opposition. A gravedigger during the day, Perkins suffered his lone loss last August to Steve Sumpter (9-0, 7 KOs), losing an eight-round majority decision for the vacant IBA America Super Middleweight Championship.

“I’m really looking forward to this event. I’ve always wanted to fight in a tournament because I never fought in the Golden Gloves or any amateur tournaments. I decided to turn pro after my sixth amateur fight. It’s even better that the event is being held at a hockey rink because I grew up my whole life playing hockey. I started skating at 2 years old and played all the way through high school (St. Mary’s of Lynn)… I’m prepared to deal with whatever comes at me. I know who all the fighters are.”

The other three fighters are Swansea’s Anthony “The Gentle Savage” Andreozzi (5-3, 2 KOs), Dorchester’s Bernard Joseph (6-1, 4 KOs), and Barrington’s (ME) Ryan Clark (4-5, 2 KOs).

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