(November 2nd) Michael "The Blessed Southpaw" Fontanez (12-0-1, 8 KOs) spent much of the past year fighting battles that had nothing to do with the opponent across the ring.

An injury derailed his plans to headline a show in March. Without a fight on the horizon, financial pressures had him scrambling to make ends meet. Through it all, the unbeaten Nashua, New Hampshire middleweight kept training, determined to get back the momentum he had worked so hard to build.

On Saturday, November 7, Fontanez finally gets that opportunity when he faces 27-fight veteran Alfred Raymond at Encore Boston Harbor in Everett, MA. The matchup is part of Boston Harbor Fight Night 3, an action-packed card presented by CES Boxing and Granite Chin Promotions.

"It’s been a long year, but the light at the end of the tunnel is finally here," said Fontanez. "I’m ready to dominate and put on a show. I want to get back to my fundamentals and show why I’m on that level."

The return comes more than a year after Fontanez battled Esneiker Correa to an eight-round draw in September 2025. Seven months earlier, the southpaw scored the biggest victory of his career, stopping Ray Oliveira Jr. in the sixth round in February 2025.

The Correa fight provided a different kind of milestone. Faced with a late opponent change and a nasty cut during the contest, Fontanez discovered both the depth of his fighting spirit and the importance of sticking to his strengths.

"I started off well. I was boxing great," recalled Fontanez. "Then, once I got cut, I thought, ‘I’ve got to knock him out.’ Next thing you know, I’m fighting his fight. That’s something you can only learn through experience."

The unbeaten prospect fought through the adversity to preserve his undefeated record, but left knowing that his next performance would require a more disciplined approach.

"My heart got tested," said Fontanez. "Everybody knows me as the smiling pretty boy, but they saw that when it comes down to it, I’m willing to bang it out. I’m not afraid to go out on my shield."

Fontanez hoped to put those lessons into practice in March. Instead, a shoulder injury forced him to put his comeback on hold and confront the uncertainty of life away from the ring.

"I ended up doing DoorDash and Uber Eats in a sling, just trying to make ends meet while still running in the mornings and training with one arm," said Fontanez. "People don’t know that part. It was humbling. There were times I was sitting in my car almost in tears, thinking, ‘What am I doing? I was supposed to fight in a main event.’"

Rather than allow the setback to demoralize him, Fontanez focused on what he could control. He logged miles on the road, trained around his limitations and began firefighter school with support from sponsor FireMed.

He also assembled a new training team, working with lead trainer Gabe Galindo and  adding Marc Gargaro at Nonantum Boxing in Newton, Massachusetts. With work, school and training competing for his time, preparation has sometimes meant late-night gym sessions followed by a 4am wake-up call.

"You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do," said a resolute Fontanez. "It gives me a mental edge. I might be cranky, but it’s worth it."

Now comes the opportunity to show what that persistence has produced.

Standing in his way is Raymond, a 36-year-old Providence, Rhode Island veteran whose record tells only part of his story. Raymond has tested a number of New England’s top prospects, including CES fighters Jaydell Pazmino, Joe Bush and Douglas Marroquin. His experience and awkward style make him an opponent Fontanez refuses to overlook.

"People might judge him by his record, but look at everybody he’s fought. The guy’s a dog," said Fontanez. "This is boxing. One punch changes everything. On any given night, it can be anybody’s night. I have to beat the guy in front of me before I look for bigger fish."

For his first appearance at Encore Boston Harbor, Fontanez intends to pair the toughness he displayed against Correa with the boxing skills that carried him through his first 12 victories.

"I want to showcase my skills. I want to fight with my smarts instead of letting my heart take over," said Fontanez. "I’ve already shown that I have heart and that I can fight through adversity. Now it has to be a dominant performance. That’s what I’m expecting from myself."

A victory would put Fontanez in position to pursue the busy 2027 he envisions: four or five fights against increasingly demanding opposition, capping the year with a regional title. For now, however, his focus remains on Raymond and the supporters who have waited more than a year to see him back in action.

"Thank you to everyone who shows up and buys a ticket," said Fontanez. "I know it’s not cheap. Life is hard right now, and every dollar you spend supporting me means a lot. I’m grateful, and I can’t thank you enough."

About CES Boxing

CES Boxing is one of the top promotions on the East Coast.  Founded in 1992 by Jimmy Burchfield Sr., CES Boxing has promoted many world class fighters, including Jamaine Ortiz, Juiseppe Cusumano, Hank Lundy, Vinny Paz, Peter Manfredo, Mariusz Wach, Jason Estrada, Matt Godfrey, Chad Dawson and Ray Oliveira. CES Boxing has promoted such super fights as "The Thriller on Triller: Tyson v Jones Jr.", "Mayweather vs. Gotti III" and "The Contender: Manfredo v Pemberton".