Medford boxer Bono returns home for Glove at First Fight

MEDFORD - Instead of breaking hearts this Valentine’s Day, Greg Bono plans on breaking some heads.

The Medford fighter is part of a dozen scheduled bouts, as Nolan Bros Boxing Promotions presents Glove at First Fight, Saturday, Feb. 14, at The Great American Beer Hall in Medford.

Following a string of successful sold-out shows across Massachusetts, including the first fight night at Fenway Park in 69 years, the Nolan Bros plan to leave their mark in Medford, with a festive, high-energy night of world-class boxing.

A hard-throwing right-hander, Bono is looking forward to the historic homecoming.

“This is the place I grew up dreaming of the fighter I’d become today,” said Bono, 36. “Now I get to come home and put on a show in front of my own city for the first time in over 100 years. It’s an incredible opportunity at a fantastic venue, I couldn’t be more excited to be fighting on this show.”

Standing in at a compact 5-foot-6 and 160-pounds, Bono enters the ring sporting a 7-2-1 record with four knockouts.

Normally a junior middleweight (154), Bono bulked up for this bout against a familiar foe. He’ll square off with Seattle’s Izaiah Vargas (1-17) in a middleweight rematch.

Bono won the first encounter, a four-round unanimous decision back in January 2024 in Dorchester. It was just the third fight of his pro career. Saturday’s rematch is slated for six rounds.

“I beat him a couple years ago, and he thought he did better than he did,” said Bono. “He wanted to try it again, so the Nolan brothers called asking if I could give him another shot. I’ll oblige him and knock his ass out this time.”

The pair are part of a star-studded fight card that features top talent from throughout New England and beyond. Ross Rodriguez (7-2) squares off with Steven Kirkwood (5-2, 5 KO) in a super middleweight battle. Undefeated lightweight Shea Willcox (5-0) goes toe-to-toe against Angel Varela Urena (11-8). Light heavyweight Sheniell Rodriguez (4-0-1) will dance with Edgar Valenzuela (7-3). “The Haitian King” Harold Roy (6-2-1) also headlines the heavyweight division against Felipe Soares de Silva (1-3), among others.

Bono won’t feel like a stranger returning to his old stomping grounds of Medford. He was introduced to the sweet science living with his grandparents in their Riverside Avenue neighborhood. Bono’s grandfather, Anthony Michael Bono, gave the youngster a crash course in boxing101.

“We’d spend our Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and sometimes even our Mondays, watching fights,” said Bono, who just turned 36. “My grandmother worked for Time Warner Cable in Malden, so we got all the fights for free. My uncle would come over, and we’d watch all the Mike Tyson and Vinny Pazienza fights.”

“My grandfather was an encyclopedia of boxing knowledge,” he added. “He could tell you about a fight from 30 years ago, the two guys that fought, the year it happened and the round it ended. He’d even tell you how the guy lost. He was something else.”

Bono’s pugnacious nature followed him around the mean streets of Medford, which ultimately forced him to attend Lowell High School years later.

“Every school in Medford that I went to I ended up getting into a fight and kicked out,” Bono admitted. “By third grade, I was out of the Medford school system. That was it for me there.”

However, his love of boxing remained. Bono joined the amateur ranks in 2005. He swept through the local circuit, trading hands at the Lowell Golden Gloves, the Rocky Marciano Tournament, and the King of the Ring, among others.

After losing his 2019 pro debut by unanimous decision, Bono bounced back with a flurry, flooring Robert Bricks in a third-round technical knockout in 2020. The TKO quickly led to his first encounter with Vargas.

Bono’s fight card has remained full in recent years, with five bouts in 2024 and two more in last year. He’s looking to bounce back from his last fight, losing to Ross Rodriguez (159) by majority decision at Fenway Park on June 7, 2025.

Saturday’s showdown will be just another test, as he continues to run the boxing gauntlet. His next scheduled fight is slated six weeks later at Foxwoods, after signing a four-fight deal with BKB of the Bareknuckle League.

“It’s awesome, especially since there hasn’t been a fight here in so long,” said Bono. “A long time ago in the 80s, the Gagliardi’s from Medford promoted a lot of boxing shows in the area, but never had one here, which surprised me. I think it’s great that I’m coming home to do it.”

Bono looks forward to seeing a few familiar faces at ringside, including his grandmother, his wife, and two sons.

“It is Valentine’s Day, but my wife is taking it well,” said Bono. “She wants to see me win. It’s not going to be a very romantic night, but we’re going to have some fun.”

Glove at First Fight will be held Saturday, Feb. 14, at The Great American Beer Hall in Medford at 5 p.m. Opening bell is at 5:30 p.m. For tickets visit: Eventbrite.com.