On May 15th Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing presented a thrilling five bout card at The Concert Venue at Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City, NJ. The card was broadcast live on the always exciting ESPN2 “Friday Night Fights”.
KINGPIN CEMENTS POSITION AS TOP AMERICAN HEAVY
The main event bout of the evening carried heavy implications for boxing, especially heavyweight boxing, as two of America’s best heavyweight prospects Kevin “Kingpin Johnson (21-0-1, 8KO) and “Devastatin” Devin Vargas (17-0, 7KO) put their undefeated records on the line to stake their claim as the number one American heavyweight in the world.
Round one started out with Vargas looking to get inside and land combinations against Johnson as Johnson looked to measure Vargas from the outside with his jab. Early on it was clear Johnson had the quicker hands but the smaller Vargas was outworking the bigger Johnson.
Round two began with both fighters trading heavy shots. Johnson began unleashing a lethal left hook but Vargas would respond well as he continued to press forward and land shots to both the body and head while on the inside.
Vargas landed thunderous blows to start the third while Johnson laid on the ropes shaking his head as if the punches had no affect. With thirty seconds left in the round Johnson landed three vicious left hooks that stunned Vargas. With Vargas against the ropes Johnson began unloading heavy shots. Right as the ten second bell sounded Vargas took a knee to avoid further punishment.
In the fifth round Johnson forced Vargas to take another knee. Just as Vargas seemed ready to go he landed a huge right hand and left hook that seemed to get Johnson’s attention. The fighters closed the round exchanging blows.
In the sixth round Johnson began showing he was just too fast and too strong for Vargas as he began landing at will. With Vargas taking punishment against the ropes his corner threw in the towel, giving Johnson the TKO victory.
It was a very entertaining fight and the biggest win in Johnson’s career. Johnson improved his record to 22-0-1, 9KO’s as he scored his third consecutive knockout in a row, this time against highly regarded, undefeated 2004 Olympic team captain Devin Vargas. With the loss Vargas’s record falls to (17-1, 7KO’s).
TERON WINS STAR BOXING DEBUT
In the co-feature bout of the evening Jorge “The Truth” Teron (23-1-1, 15KO) made his Star Boxing debut a successful one and avenged the only loss of his career when he defeated the always tough and game Aldo Valtierra (25-11, 13KO) in a ten round lightweight affair.
From the opening bell Teron showed he was much quicker and much shaper then the Mexican Valtierra. Valtierra hung tough but the longer Teron continuously peppered him with crisp combinations to both the body and head from the outside while Valtierra kept coming forward looking to score on the inside.
Valtierra gave a very spirited effort, but in the end Teron was busier and more accurate with his punches, earning him a clear cut ten round unanimous decision.
Undercard Results:
Bruce Seldon TKO 5 Gabe Brown
Chuck Mussachio W6 Carl Daniels
John Lennox W4 Robert Brown