World-ranked female featherweight Maureen Shea (14-2, 8 KOs) will face rugged veteran Liliana Martinez (8-10, 4 KOs) in a six-round feature fight with regional title implications July 30th at the Saratoga Springs City Center.

The fight, sanctioned by the NABF for a regional 126-lb title, will be featured on Pugnacious Promotions annual "Night of Future Champions" summer fight card during the beginning of racing at the historic Saratoga thoroughbred horse track. Doors to this year’s boxing event will open earlier to showcase some of the area’s best amateur boxers in preliminary bouts supporting the pro fight card.

Shea, 29, first gained notoriety as Hillary Swank’s training partner as the Oscar-winning actress prepared for her role in Clint Eastwood’s “Million Dollar Baby” with trainer Hector Roca at Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn. Swank not only trained and sparred regularly with Shea, but attended the Bronx native’s amateur bouts in the New York area. A NY fight attraction since that time, Shea is now world-ranked by three championship sanctioning bodies. In her last fight at the Paradise Theater in the Bronx, she defeated overmatched Norma Faris (3-2, 1 KO), Puerto Rico, by third-round TKO.

Martinez, 26, is a native of Dominican Republic and a 10-year veteran of the ring. She has faced a number of world-class women – including world champion Alesia Graf (24-1, 9 KOs), top-ranked Jenna Shiver (11-4, 2 KOs) and Dominican prospect Katy Penelope Hernandez (12-0, 8 KOs) – and challenged Magdelena Dahlen (10-2, 3 KOs) for a European title in November, 2009.

"I am so pleased to finally have Maureen on our card," said Lisa Elovich. “Her reputation precedes her as the ‘real million dollar baby.’ She’s a great addition to our card featuring young local prospects.”

Guilderland lightweight prospect Mike Faragon (11-0, 5 KOs) will face RI’s Eddie Soto (12-1, 4 KOs) in the eight-round main event. Also appearing on the card are Troy light heavyweight and former All-American Shawn Miller (2-1, 1 KO), Delmar lightweight Zach Smith (3-1) and other fighters to be announced. Amateur boxers include Saratoga Springs junior Mike Barcia and super heavyweight Josh Dulmer, plus the rematch of the region’s amateur welterweight bout of the year between Albany’s Amir Iman and Troy’s Ray Velez.

Tickets and VIP tables, including dinner by Brindisi's Restaurant and table service throughout the evening, are available from Pugnacious Promotions at 518-527-0160 or www.pugnaciouspromotions.com.

New York State Heavyweight Champion Darrel Madison (13-1, 3 KOs), Central Islip, will defend his title against Newburgh’s Nagy Aguilera (13-1, 8 KOs) in one of the feature fights of Pugnacious Promotions’ annual “Night of Future Champions” summer boxing event at the Saratoga Springs City Center on Friday, July 31st.

The fight will be featured on the annual card showcasing exciting, young boxing prospects during the first weekend of world-class thoroughbred racing at Saratoga Springs’ historic track.

Also appearing are Guilderland lightweight prospect Mike Faragon (6-0, 2 KOs), Troy heavyweight Shannon Miller (16-4, 9 KOs), Schenectady light welterweight Brian Miller (3-0-3, 1 KO) and, in his pro debut, light heavyweight amateur standout and Shannon’s younger brother, Shawn Miller.

“I am so happy to host a NYS Heavyweight Championship fight on our annual Saratoga card,” said promoter Lisa Elovich. “The fans will be chomping at the bit to see all of the exciting local prospects, too. This is a card that no one will want to miss!”

Madison won the title in May 2008 from veteran Zuri Lawrence and has defeated three opponents since, including veteran gatekeepers Jermell Barnes and Dominic Jenkins. His only defeat came in his second fight, a disputed DQ loss to Brooklyn’s Jamel Perry, who couldn’t recover following an unintentional rabbit punch.

Aguilera has earned a shot at the regional title in his steady ascent to becoming one of the best young heavyweights in New York. His recent wins include Jermell Barnes and Saratoga’s own Gary Wilcox, whom he defeated on last year’s “Night of Future Champions” card in Saratoga. Aguilera’s only loss came in a foul-filled DQ loss to 7-foot Marcellus Brown late last year.

Tickets and more information are available from Pugnacious Promotions, www.pugnaciouspromotions.com or 518-527-0160. Reserved tickets are $125 for Golden Ringside and $75 for Ringside. General Admission open seats are $40. VIP tables, including dinner catered by Brindisi’s and table service throughout the evening, also are available.

Aside from the normal sports coverage The Saratogian's Sports Department provides (high school and college basketball, swimming, hockey, etc.), we also take pride in the other wide array of sports we are able to cover in the Spa City.

Which brings me to my next big assignment, the 5th Annual Golden Gloves boxing matches at the Holiday Inn on Broadway, presented by Saratoga Youth Boxing. Now in their 33rd year, SYB has been working extremely hard to promote the sport and its program, and deserves credit for it. Moreso, the SYB deserves our community's support as they help keep youths off the streets while using their energy in a positive way, all while promoting physical fitness.

Next week (Feb. 1 through Feb. 6) I will be writing a series of articles on some of the boxers taking part in the event, the history of SYB and the Golden Gloves event itself, and other important information for all the boxing buffs out there. Keep an eye out for stories on: up-and-coming 12-year-old Nacoda Meredith as he readies for his first amateur bout in the ring; undefeated Shawn Miller (20-0), brother of local boxing icon Shannon Miller, as he looks to keep his record one-sided; and Greenwich native Josh Dulmer, who wowed the crowd at last year's tournament, as he defends the coveted John Morrissey Saratoga Championship Heavyweight Title in the headlining bout.

The 12 brutal boxing matches take place Friday, Feb. 6, at 7:30 p.m. and admission is only $10 in advance ($15 at the door). Advanced tickets can be bought at Mohr's West Avenue Mobil (80 West Av.) and Mohr's Service Center (239 Washington St.). We hope to see you at the Holiday Inn on Friday, but if we don't, check out our coverage of the boxing card in Saturday morning's Saratogian.

— Sam Hollingsworth