Featherweight Contender Remillard Wins Connecticut Boxing Award

Undefeated, 24-year-old NABF and NABO champion Matt “Sharp Shooter” Remillard, arguably the leading American featherweight, will be honored Saturday night as the Connecticut Boxer of the Year for the second year in a row at the 6th annual Conn. Boxing Hall of Fame induction dinner at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Manchester resident Remillard joins former world light heavyweight champion “Bad” Chad Dawson, of New Haven, as the only two-time winners. Hartford light heavyweight Eric Harding is the other Conn. Boxer of the Year winner.

“This is quite an achievement because boxing is what I do for a living and to have people stick by my side and acknowledge me as a great fighter is more than enough for me,” Remillard said. “Just to be part of the Connecticut Hall of Fame induction dinner is an honor. I think winning again this year means more to me because I’ve stepped-up in class, fighting better opponents and achieving more.

“I’ve been fighting 10-11 years and it’s great to see some of the people I’ve watched and met being recognized for their achievements and inducted into the Hall of Fame. It’s a great organization and the induction dinner is held at a beautiful place, Mohegan Sun. Someday, I hope to be inducted into the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame.”

Remillard (22-0, 13 KOs), who won both of his 2010 fights, is rated No. 5 by the WBO as well as No. 6 by the WBC and WBA. Last January, Matt stopped Rafael Lora in the third round in his NABF title defense and in May, “Sharp Shooter” registered a win by fourth-round technical knockout versus Carlos Rivera, capturing the NABO featherweight crown and successfully defending his MANF belt.

Conn. Hall of Fame inductees this year include “Irish” Micky Ward, Troy Dorsey, F. Mac Buckley, Desi Clark, Sean Malone Sr., Bob Steele and Joe Tessitore.