(AUG 7) QUINCY, Mass. – Five-time national amateur champion Melanie “The Pitbull” Costa (3-1, 1 KO) returns to the ring on August 29th for the first in a year and a half, in a 4-round bantamweight match against Brittany Dukes on the “Boston Harbor Fight Night 2” card, presented by Granite Chin Promotions and CES Boxing, at Encore Boston Harbor Casino in Everett, Massachusetts.

The 33-year-old Costa is a full-time police officer in her hometown of Norton (MA), who learned invaluable lessons in her 4-round, split-decision loss to Shannel Butler (1-0), who now sports an 8-0 record, in her last fight on February 22, 2025.

“Losses are lessons,” Costa explained. “Mentally, I wasn’t there. I didn’t fight my fight and let my opponent fight her fight. I took the loss hard, but I thought about what I had to do, got back in the gym, and improved physically and mentally.”

Losing that fight isn’t why Costa has been inactive in so long.

“Family always comes first and my father was diagnosed with stomach cancer,” Costa revealed. “I kept training in the gym but I put boxing on the back burner. I wasn’t in fighting shape. My father has always been in my corner. He will be walking me out to the ring with my coaches and he will be in my corner for the fight at Encore.”

Unlike many boxers who played different sports in high school, Costa found boxing at the age of 12. She had tried karate, but that wasn’t intense enough for her, which led her into boxing.

“I’ve always liked combat sports but boxing was and is my sport,” Costa said. “As I got a little older, I wanted to fight. I went to the gym to train in fighting, even took a class to try it, and have stuck with it my entire adult life.

“I’m an action-packed fighter; aggressive and I keep coming forward. I’m a 5-foot brawler, apply pressure, and I’m going to stay on my opponent. And I’m very entertaining.”

As an amateur boxer, Costa competed twice in the U.S. Olympic Trials in two different weight classes, but she fell short of earning a spot on the U.S. Boxing Olympic Boxing Team and subsequently turned pro in 2023.

Costa can’t wait to get back in the ring, especially at Encore, where her legion of faithful fans will be heard.

“My crowd goes where I fight,” Costa concluded. “Hopefully, fighting at Encore will bring out new fans because it seems closer to my home. I’m so happy to receive the support of my family, friends and fans.”

Whether she’s patrolling Norton roads in a police cruiser, training at Big Six Academy or earning her Bachelor’s Degree online, Melanie Costa is the total package in and out of the ring.

‘Frank The Tank’ Hogan new headliner

Undefeated Weymouth middleweight Francis “Frank The Tank” Hogan (22-0, 17 KOs), the reigning North American Boxing Federation (NABF) Champion, is the new headliner in the 8-round main event against Ricardo “Bebo” Ruben Villalba (20-12-1, 8 KOs), of Argentina.

Scituate heavyweight Kevin “Big Gulp” Nagle (11-8, 8 KOs), the former WBC USA Silver and Massachusetts Heavyweight Champion, faces Misfits Heavyweight title-holder Chase “Mr. Belt To Ass” Demoor (6-2-1, 6 KOs) in an 8-rounder.

Former Massachusetts Middleweight Champion Anthony “The Gentle Savage” Andreozzi (7-6-1, 3 KOs), fighting out of Swansea, MA, takes on New Hampshire rival Ryan Clark (5-8-1, 2 KOs) in a 6-rounder. In 2024, Andreozzi won a 3-round split decision over Clark in a Granite Chin tournament.

Milton bantamweight Jenn Perella (5-1, 1 KO), former 2024 National Golden Gloves finalist and 2-time New England Golden Gloves Champion, is dropping down one weight class for her 6-round match versus Chantal Sumrall.

Dorchester junior welterweight Jonathan de Pina (15-2, 7 KOs), a 2018 New England Golden Gloves Champion, meets Anthony “Toro Rojo” Mora (7-9-1, 4 KOs) in an another 6-rounder.

Providence junior middleweight Victor Reynoso (12-0, 7 KOs), a 2016 New England Golden Gloves Champion, throws down in a 6-round bout with 47-fight veteran Daniel “The Hudson Valley Kid” Sostre.

Undefeated junior middleweight Jaydell The Pazmanian Devil” Pazmino (9-0, 8 KOs), fighting out Londonderry, New Hampshire, who was a 2020 New England Golden Gloves Champion, fights upset-minded Alfred Raymond, of Warwick, Rhode Island, in a 6-rounder.

Revere light heavyweight Leonardo Ladeira (8-11-1, 7 KOs) will fight an opponent to be determined in a 6-round fight.

Former college basketball player Barrett Hanlon, of Hopkinton (MA), will make his pro debut versus Ratavious Thrasher in a 4-round light heavyweight match.

 

 

 

 

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