(April 8th) Last night the “Where Music Meets Boxing” returned to Nashville on Tuesday night as Jimmy Adams Promotions staged another installment of its Country Box series at Plaza Mariachi. Blending live entertainment with professional boxing, the April 7, 2026 card showcased a mix of veteran fighters, emerging prospects and local talent, highlighted by a middleweight main event featuring one of the sport’s most unusual active competitors.

In the eight-round main event, 52-year-old New Yorker Bryant Pappas delivered another gritty performance, outpointing Argentina’s Diego Vicente Perez by unanimous decision in a middleweight bout. Pappas, who entered with a remarkable 23 knockouts on his ledger, relied on a disciplined jab, reach advantage and patient pressure to control the action from distance. Perez, a durable road veteran, attempted to close the gap and trade inside but struggled to consistently penetrate Pappas’ guard. The judges’ scorecards reflected the steady command of the Mahopac-area veteran, who prevailed by margins of 80-72, 79-73 and 79-73, improving his record to 24-2-1 while demonstrating that ring craft and conditioning can still offset age at the club-fight level.

The heavyweight co-feature showcased undefeated New York prospect Josh Popper against battle-tested veteran Rydell Booker. Popper entered the bout with a perfect knockout record and applied consistent forward pressure from the opening bell. Booker, a 45-year-old former contender known for his toughness and ring savvy, attempted to neutralize the younger fighter with clinches and counter shots, but Popper’s work rate and physicality dictated the tempo. After six rounds, Popper secured a clear unanimous decision (60-54, 60-54, 59-55), preserving his unbeaten record and gaining valuable rounds against an experienced opponent.

Women’s featherweight action saw Brooklyn’s Chiara Dituri put on a polished display against Brazil’s seasoned campaigner Simone da Silva. Dituri’s nickname “Speedy” proved fitting as she controlled the bout with quick combinations, lateral movement and sharp counters over six two-minute rounds. Da Silva’s experience allowed her to remain competitive in spurts, but Dituri’s higher punch volume and accuracy carried every frame. The judges were unanimous in their verdict, awarding Dituri the bout 60-54 on all three cards, a performance that continues to build momentum in her professional campaign.

One of the loudest reactions of the evening came for 19-year-old Nashville lightweight Jordy Suarez Gonzalez, who represented the local contingent against Cincinnati’s Rensley Washington III. Suarez Gonzalez displayed patience early before gradually asserting control with his jab and body work. In the third round he landed a perfectly timed counter left hook that ended matters emphatically, scoring a third-round knockout and sending the hometown crowd into celebration while moving his young career forward.

Earlier in the card, middleweight puncher Austin Cassese rebounded impressively with a quick stoppage of North Carolina’s Jarrell Hargrove. Cassese’s power was evident from the opening bell as he scored two knockdowns before the referee halted the bout in the first round, awarding him a TKO victory in Round 1. The evening opened with a competitive four-round super-flyweight contest in which Orlando-based Venezuelan Francisco Nunez edged California’s Richard Archuleta by majority decision (40-36, 39-37, 38-38), thanks largely to effective body punching during the middle rounds.

Adding to the event’s unique “Where Music Meets Boxing” concept, the evening was also highlighted by a live musical performance from Nashville recording artist Kish Moody, who delivered a high-energy set that blended Southern rock intensity with classic country storytelling. Moody’s performance served as the entertainment centerpiece of the show, reinforcing the promotion’s goal of merging Nashville’s music culture with professional boxing.

The musical highlight of the night came with the live debut of Moody’s new single “Southern Girls Strut.” Designed as a high-energy anthem for live crowds and dance floors, the song was introduced during a featured segment of the show and quickly turned the venue into what organizers described as a “Southern dance floor takeover.” The track’s driving rhythm and crowd-interactive chorus fit seamlessly into the festive atmosphere surrounding the boxing action.

In addition to premiering the new single, Moody performed several fan-favorite songs from his catalog, including “Whiskey Train,” “Dancing in the Dust,” and “When You Were Mine.” Backed by a full live band, the Nashville artist delivered a set that carried the same punchy energy as the fights themselves, keeping the crowd engaged between bouts.

Moody’s performance style leaned heavily on arena-ready country rock, drawing comparisons to the big-stage sounds associated with artists such as Morgan Wallen and Garth Brooks. The blend of live music and competitive boxing once again underscored the appeal of the Country Box series, where fight fans and country music followers alike can experience two of Nashville’s most celebrated forms of entertainment in one eventful night.

Overall, the Nashville card reinforced the appeal of the Country Box concept—grassroots professional fights delivered in an entertainment-driven atmosphere. The event blended seasoned veterans like Pappas and Booker with developing fighters such as Popper, Dituri and Suarez Gonzalez, providing both competitive bouts and a platform for emerging prospects. For local fight fans, the April 7 show once again demonstrated how regional promotions can combine community energy, live music and boxing to produce an engaging night of action inside the ring.

Jimmy Adams, founder of Jimmy Adams Promotions and the architect behind the Country Box entertainment series, is a veteran force in American boxing with more than forty years of experience. A former member of Don King’s management team, Adams has worked with some of the sport’s most recognizable names, including Earnie Shavers, Oliver McCall, Greg Page, Tony Tucker, Robert Daniels, Steve Cunningham, Bert Cooper, and Sharmba Mitchell. His promotional output is equally notable: in 1997 he staged forty‑seven events in Tennessee, a state record that helped elevate Tennessee to the No. 2 boxing market in the nation that year.

In 2022, Adams launched his signature project — Country Box: “Where Music Meets Boxing.” The Nashville‑based series blends live country‑music performances with professional fight cards, staged monthly at Plaza Mariachi and The Troubadour Nashville. The hybrid format has become one of the region’s most distinctive entertainment offerings, drawing both boxing fans and country‑music audiences.

Jimmy Adams Promotions is also a family‑run operation. Adams’ wife, Ashley, handles event operations and is a licensed cornerman. His daughters, Masey and Adaley, contribute to fighter support, social media, and ceremonial duties, while his son, Jimmy Jr., is training toward his professional debut. The family’s involvement is central to the brand’s identity and to the atmosphere of each show.

Beyond boxing, Adams is an established country‑music manager and producer, working with artists such as Leon Everette and Little David Wilkins. This dual background in combat sports and music enables the seamless integration of live performances into Country Box events, reinforcing the promotion’s unique entertainment model.

Adams’ guiding philosophy — “Turning today’s nobodies into tomorrow’s somebodies” — reflects his commitment to developing new talent, whether in the ring or on the stage. Through CountryBox247.com and Jimmy Adams Media, he continues to expand the promotion’s digital reach, having embraced full‑event streaming long before it became industry standard.