'An absolute debacle': Boxers left unpaid, promoter suspended after disastrous Rochester show

Bryce Mills was feeling happy on Monday, April 27. The 24-year-old Syracuse-based junior welterweight had the largest check he ever had in his hands, which carried the sum of $30,000 on it for his stay-busy, third-round stoppage victory over Julio Rosa on April 25. Mills deposited the check with a bank teller that Monday morning, and after some debate with another teller, the check went through.

Two days later, Mills found out that the $30,000 was completely gone from his account. The check had bounced. Mills first called his father, Steve Mills, who told Bryce the other fighters from the eight-fight card also had their checks bounce.

Then, a call was made to Hall of Fame promoter J. Russell Peltz, who is Bryce’s adviser, who flew into a rage over the first time one of his fighters had been stiffed in more than seven decades in the boxing business. Many associated with this fight find it surprising that it is 2026 and that fighters on club shows are not only fighting in the ring, but fighting to receive their contracted pay day.

Savage Life Promotions’ Derick Gramling and Clay Harris openly admitted to Uncrowned that they miscalculated the promotion for the show, which was held at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, New York, under the billing “Boxing Extravaganza,” wrapped around their anti-violence message “Gloves Up, Guns Down. ” On Tuesday, May 5, the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) released a statement saying: “The New York State Athletic Commission is committed to ensuring the integrity of all contests. The Commission has suspended the promoter and is taking all appropriate actions to hold the promoter accountable in meeting their obligations to the athletes and participants.