On Aug. 16, Officer Jonathan Rivera, a 13-year veteran of the Lowell Police Department, captured the 155-pound Combat Zone amateur championship with a unanimous decision victory over Damien Galotti before a crowd in Manchester, N.H.
Rivera, who now holds a 4-2 record, trains out of Karasu Tengu Academy in Nashua, NH.
Combat Zone, New England’s longest-running MMA promotion, is owned by current UFC featherweight contender Calvin Kattar and hosts events at the Southern New Hampshire University Arena. Rivera’s first title defense is already on the calendar for Nov. 1.
This wasn’t Rivera’s only highlight of 2025. On May 3, he stepped into the boxing ring in Fairhaven for an event organized by the Massachusetts State Police Boxing Team. Rivera earned a split-decision victory over State Trooper C. Loftus, who entered the bout with a 2-1 record. The performance also earned Rivera the Fight of the Night award.
Jonathan Rivera recently captured the 155-pound Combat Zone amateur championship in Manchester, N.H. He’s a Lowell police officer. (Courtesy photo)
Balancing his career in law enforcement with his passion for combat sports, Officer Rivera continues to make his mark in the New England fight scene — both in the cage and in the ring.
College soccer
UML in action: The UMass Lowell men will host Long Island University on Sunday (1 p.m.) at Cushing Field.
The River Hawks are coming off a season-opening 2-1 home victory over Saint Peter’s on Thursday. Redshirt sophomore Justin Pham (Liverpool, N.Y.) scored in the first two minutes to get the River Hawks off and running.
Junior Linus Musielak (Dortmund, Germany) found the back of the net to give UML a 2-0 lead at halftime. Both teams finished with seven shots on goal. The River Hawks feature a whopping 17 newcomers, nine transfer students and eight true freshmen.
Golf
Two qualify: A pair of local golfers have qualified to compete in the 42nd Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship. They won’t have to travel far.
Andover Country Club will host the tournament, Sept. 8-10. Qualifying were Andrew Mierzwa of Mt. Pleasant Golf Club in Lowell. Mierzwa shot a 1-over par 72 at Sterling National Golf Club. He’ll be joined in the field by Zachary Miller of Butter Brook Golf Club in Westford.
Miller carded a 1-under 71 at Olde Scotland Links. The winner of the tournament will receive the Ted Bishop Cup.
The tournament will feature 18-hole rounds on Monday and Tuesday. The low 30 scorers and ties after 36 holes will advance to play at the historic club on Wednesday.
Auto racing
Rollins races: The Milton CAT American-Canadian Tour began day one of the first doubleheader weekend for the international touring series in some time at the famed Oxford Plains Speedway as part of the 52nd annual All That’s Metal Oxford 250 weekend.
Gabe Brown of Center Conway, N.H., drove to victory. The runner-up was Derek Gluchacki of Dartmouth, while Jimmy Renfrew Jr. of Candia, N.H., drove to third. Locally, Groton resident Geoff Rollins raced to 24th in the competitive field.
Originally Published: August 23, 2025 at 3:10 PM EDT