Granite Chin Promotions has announced the signings of light heavyweights Barrett Hanlon and Mohammad “Lightning” Alyazouri to exclusive promotional contracts. Both fighters turned in memorable professional debuts on August 29th on the “Boston Harbor Fight Night 2” card, presented by Granite Chin Promotions and CES Boxing at Encore Boston Harbor Casino in Everett, Massachusetts. They are tentatively scheduled to return to the ring at Encore on November 7th in separate bouts. A two-time Central New England Golden Gloves Champion, Hanlon (1-0, 1 KO) destroyed Ratavious Thrasher, flooring him three times in the opening round, the last knockdown by way of an overhand right for a technical knockout victory. “It was great,” Hanlon spoke about his pro debut, “especially making my pro debut at Encore in front of all my friends and most of my family. That was all I could ask for in my pro debut. I wish the fight had lasted a little longer so I could have gotten in a few more punches, but it was a good experience."

 

Hanlon continued, “the biggest difference between amateur and pro boxing, for me, was the weight-in and having a full day to hydrate and eat. I was a lot fresher. I had learned how to cut weight in the amateurs, so this was a piece of cake, and I thank my old coaches for teaching me how to do that the right way.”

 

The 32-year old Hanlon is a native of Hopkinton, Massachusetts, who played college basketball at Bentley University for one season, followed by three at Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island. Hanlon’s abbreviated amateur boxing experience consisted of fifteen matches, including fights in the Golden Gloves and Rocky Marciano Tournament. He primarily trains at Everybody Fights in Boston’s Seaport district.

 

Hanlon is a special needs teacher in Boston’s North End, where he also resides, working with  students from kindergarten through the sixth grade. “I signed with Chris for two years and I look forward to fighting again at Encore in November,” Hanlon added. “I’m so lucky to fight there. I am going to take it one fight at a time and see what happens after two years. I’ll continue to work as hard as I can. This was my first time working with the Everybody Fights coaches and I thank them. Waymaker (Boxing gym) is in Dorchester and I go there on weekends to train with Marc DeLuca. I’ve sparred there with (Frank) Hogan and ‘Tonka’ (Gilbert Kabamba). 

 

“I am thrilled to welcome Barrett and Mohammad to the Granite Chin family,” Granite Chin Promotions President Chris Traietti commented. “I had a blast working with them on their debuts and was impressed with how they conducted themselves both in the ring and out of it. In the ring, they are aggressive and explosive, out of the ring, they are gentlemen. It is a great combination. Their pro journey has just begun, we have a lot of work to do, but November 7th back at Encore is the next step.”

 

“Chris is a good guy and he’s well intended for me. He wants to see me become the best I can be and fighting at Encore is exciting. I’m on the right path and fighting on the best stage, Encore. Those are some of the reasons I signed with Granite Chin.”