IRVINGTON, NJ — Amateur boxing star Jean-Pierre Valencia will make his professional debut on Saturday, June 8, when he takes on Patrick Bernard Harris in a four-round junior middleweight bout at Bally's Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City.
The 24-year-old Irvington resident has won numerous championships in the 165-pound weight class as an amateur, including a 2023 National Golden Gloves bronze medal, a New Jersey Golden Gloves title, two New Jersey Diamond Gloves titles and a New York Boxing Tournament title. He was also ranked No. 1 in the U.S. by Boxrec in his weight category.
Born in Esmeraldas, Ecuador, and raised in Barcelona, Spain, Valencia came to the United States two years ago with dreams of becoming a professional boxer, and now that moment has finally come.
“I'm so excited,” Valencia said. “I can't stop thinking about this moment. I keep thinking about how I want to win this fight and make an impact on the boxing world. This is the birth of something great.”
Valencia is co-managed by former professional boxers Chris Murphy and Ryan Songaria, who also serves as Valencia's head trainer alongside conditioning coach Aaron Watson.
His opponent, Harris (26, of Coppers Cove, Texas), has a record of 1-4 (1 knockout) and is coming off a second-round knockout win in April. Harris has only been knocked out once in his professional career, proving to be a tenacious and competitive opponent.
Valencia Harris will take part in a card promoted by Main Events headlined by a WBA middleweight gold title fight between Thomas “Cornflakes” Lamanna and Juan Carlos Abreu, which also features bouts such as Gabriel Helena vs. Lyle McFarlane, Carlos Rosario vs. Terrell Bostic, Saleh Ali vs. Michael Lewis and Chiara DiTurri vs. Perla Lomeli.
Anyone interested in purchasing tickets to the event through Valencia can call or text 973-723-7036. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the first game scheduled for 7 p.m. Bally's Atlantic City is located at 1900 Pacific Ave. in Atlantic City.
Photo: Carlo Estenaktock
