Matt Remillard Facing Prison for Assault

New England featherweight Matthew “Sharpshooter” Remillard pleaded no contest on Tuesday to charges he fractured a man’s skull, hand, and eye socket with a baseball bat last January. Remillard, 25, is expected to get five years in prison when sentenced for first-degree assault on Nov. 29.

As is often the case in such matters, the root of the matter was a dispute between Remillard and victim Jordan Evans over a woman, Danielle Napolitano. Evans followed Remillard to the home of Napolitano, whom both had dated, where the two engaged in fisticuffs before Evans eventually left. On his way home he got a text from Napolitano telling him she was all alone and to come back.

The rest of the gory details, via the Hartford Courant: 

Evans turned around and drove back to the house. When he arrived, Danielle Napolitano was waiting at the door. He walked in behind her and noticed the lights were off.

“Evans stated that when he turned the corner he saw a baseball bat hitting him in the face,” the warrant states. He turned around and “Remillard swung the baseball bat at him again and again, hitting him in the arm and the hand.”

Adam Napolitano and Richard Napolitano then punched him in the face, he told the state police.

Evans left the house and ran to his car, where Remillard hit him two more times with the bat, and the Napolitanos again punched him, the warrant states. Once he got into his car, Remillard started smashing the windshield and sun roof, saying he was going to kill him and his family, it states.

Remillard told state police he didn’t use a bat but rather hit Evans with his hand, noting “that he is a professional boxer that he has a solid punch.” His longtime trainer Paul Cichon expressed said Remillard may not be innocent, but he seriously doubts that he’s guilty of the crime he has been charged with. According to one of his attorneys the co-defendants, the three Napolitanos, cooperated with the State’s attorney, lessening his chances of winning a trial.

Remillard was considered one of New England’s top prospects before he was exposed and dismantled by Mikey Garcia in March. He hasn’t fought since and sadly it appears that may be his only taste of the limelight before spending a considerable amount locked up. Cichon promised to stand by his longtime protege, citing Mike Tyson as evidence boxers can continue after serving their time. Hopefully this is not the end of Remillard’s story, but it is certainly a dark turn for a young man whose future seemed bright just eight months ago.