Page 8 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, MArCH 13, 2026 Saugus graduate Sam LoRusso captures All-New England Golden Gloves boxing championship By Dom Nicastro T he noise inside a boxing arena can build slowly, round by round, until the entire crowd is on its feet. For Saugus’ Sam LoRusso, that moment came at exactly the right time. Just one year after stepping into the ring for his first boxing match, the 2024 Saugus High School graduate captured the All-New England Golden Gloves championship, earning a 4-1 split decision over Samuel Mbemba of the Portland Boxing Club in a bout that had fans roaring from start to finish. LoRusso became the 165-pound middleweight novice champion and was named outstanding novice. According to coach Mike Penta, the fight delivered exactly the kind of energy that has quickly come to define LoRusso’s style. “Anyone who has ever seen Sam compete in anything — whether it’s wrestling, boxing or even just his strength and conditioning — knows he’s anything but boring,” Penta said. “This match was no different. All gas, no brakes the whole time, constant forward pressure. I don’t think Sam ever took a step backwards the whole fight.” The championship bout capped a remarkable run through both the Central New England Golden Gloves and All-New England Golden Gloves tournaments. LoRusso first captured the Central New England title, defeating Steven Hernandez of Lawtown Boxing Gym by unanimous decision in the has moved at a stunning pace. Exactly one year earlier — on March 8, 2025 — he stepped into the ring for the first time at Peter Welch’s St. Patrick’s Day Tournament. Since then, his rise has been steady and relentless. “It was a really fun fight and a great win against a good opponent,” LoRusso said. “I definitely had time to train and executed my game plan like I wanted to.” Training remains the foundation of his rapid progress. “Doing skills and drills religiously every day followed up with pad work, bag work and some conditioning,” LoRusso said. For those familiar with LoCHAMP CELEBRATES: Pictured from left to right, Coach Travis Gamberdella, Sam LoRusso and Coach Mike Penta. semifinals before earning another unanimous decision victory over John Maher of Haverhill Downtown Boxing in the finals. Advancing to the New England stage, LoRusso continued his run with a unanimous decision win over Curt Cormier of Bernando’s Boxing in the semifinals. That set up the title bout with Mbemba — a matchup that quickly became one of the night’s most talked-about fights. “Sam came out hot and got the action started early,” Penta said. “Both fighters showed a ton of heart and will to win, but Sam just wanted it more.” Penta said preparation played a key role in the outcome. After watching Mbemba’s semifinal fight, he and felTOWN MEETING | FROM PAGE 3 an urgent issue shaping our town’s future. Leonard Ferrari, Jr.: The biggest concern for me at Town Meeting is ensuring that all departments are properly low coach Travis Gamberdella developed a strategy designed to exploit opportunities they saw in the matchup. “We started putting together a game plan of how we thought we should approach him,” Penta said. “We drilled things over and over again in the gym, and when it came time to perform Sam was able to put everything together, and things went as close to perfect as they could.” The result was a fight that kept the audience engaged from the opening bell. “The whole match had everyone on their feet screaming,” Penta said. “At least a dozen people said it was the best fight of the night.” For LoRusso, the win represents the biggest milestone yet in a boxing journey that funded while also maintaining accountability for how those funds are spent. It is important that the residents of the Town understand the budget proRusso’s athletic background, the transition to boxing may not be surprising. Before he ever pulled on boxing gloves, LoRusso made his name on the wrestling mat. Competing for the Saugus– Peabody cooperative wrestling program at the Division 1 level, he went unbeaten in dual meets during his final two seasons and placed fourth at both the Division 1 State Championships and AllStates at 157 pounds. At AllStates, he defeated Division 3 state champion Adrian Guzman of Ashland. That wrestling foundation is also where his relationship with Penta began. “When Sam was 15, I started doing his strength and conditioning for wrestling,” Penta said. “That led to being one of his offseason wrestling coaches before becoming an assistant coach for Saugus/ Peabody wrestling. We went to countless tournaments all cess, including how funding decisions are made and where taxpayer money is being allocated. I believe stronger communication is needed between around New England — sectionals, states, All-States and New Englands.” In the summer and fall of 2024, that relationship shifted from wrestling mats to boxing rings. Penta and Gamberdella quickly realized that the qualities LoRusso developed in wrestling — conditioning, toughness and relentless pace — could translate well in the ring. Their instincts proved correct. “To become an All-New England Golden Gloves champion in a year of fighting is remarkable,” Penta said. “It further solidifies his legacy of athletics in Saugus. It might just make him the most decorated athlete to come out of the town.” LoRusso, however, remains focused on the road ahead rather than looking back. “This is definitely my biggest fight so far,” he said, “but I still have a lot more I want to accomplish.” His next goals already stretch beyond the regional level. “To just keep going and try to get into some national tournaments — maybe even international,” LoRusso said. For now, though, his name is etched into another chapter of New England boxing history — one that began only a year ago with a first fight and a willingness to step into the ring. And if his pace so far is any indication, LoRusso’s story in the sport may just be getting started. Town officials and residents so that people know who to contact when they have quesTOWN MEETING | SEE PAGE 11
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