by Ken Hissner
This was one fight that lived up to the hype as Omar “Super O” Douglas and Frank Santos DeAlba went back and forth who got the better round after round. Can I hear the word “rematch?”
At the Sands Casino in Bethlehem, PA, Tuesday, Kings Promotions and Premier Boxing Champions over Fox Sports 1.
WBA No. 10 Super featherweight Omar “Super O” Douglas, 15-0 (11), of Wilmington, DE southpaw Frank Santos DeAlba, 17-1-2 (6), out of Reading, PA
In a close opening round DeAlba seemed to have a slight edge. In round two a Douglas short left uppercut to the chin hurt DeAlba who immediately tied Douglas up. It was another good round of action with Douglas having the edge. In the third round a short straight left by DeAlba to the chin of Douglas got his attention. DeAlba seems to have more accuracy then Douglas at this stage of the fight. In the fourth round DeAlba seemed to land first as Douglas would do much better near the end. In the fifth round Douglas had DeAlba hurt and on the run though still dangerous. Both fighters are very tough and very determined. It was a big round for Douglas. DeAlba has swelling on the left side of his face.
In the sixth round DeAlba came back nice. He scored well while Douglas knocked him off balance at the bell. In the seventh round for the first time in the fight DeAlba had Douglas backing up. In a very good round DeAlba was on top. In the eighth round DeAlba seemed to be doing well until Douglas hurt him in backing him toward the ropes. Douglas tried jumping on him but DeAlba held tough right to the bell.
In the ninth round Douglas landed a 3-punch combination followed by a right to the head of DeAlba. Later in the round DeAlba came back with a combination getting the attention of Douglas. This fight has lived up to the hype. In the tenth and final round both fighters let it all hand out right up to the bell with Douglas having a slight edge.
Judge Steve Weisfeld 96-94, Ron McNair 97-93 and Bernard Bruni 95-95 as did DHB. Gary Rosato was the referee.
Welterweight Miguel Cruz, 12-0 (11), of Lake Mary, FL, stopped Virgil Green, 11-4 (4), of Vancouver, WA, at 1:36 of the seventh round.
In the opening round Cruz landed the best punch a short right to the chin of Green but otherwise Green held his own. In the fourth round a Cruz left hook had Green holding on just before the bell. In the fifth round a Cruz right to the chin had Green wobbling but quickly tied Cruz up. The ring physician checked on Green who was spitting out blood in between rounds.
In the sixth round a combination by Cruz to the chin of Green had him holding on. Green has shown a lot of heart. In the seventh round a Cruz right hand had Green out on his feet and should have been stopped then. Cruz continued to pummel Green dropping him with a right to the chin. Upon rising Green was hit several times before referee Esteves, Jr. went to stop it and Cruz took a cheap shot to the head of Green.
Middleweight Kyrone “Shut It Down” Davis”, 10-0 (4), of Wilmington, DE, won a six round decision over Andrew “Hurricane” Hernandez, 10-3-1 (2), of Phoenix, AZ.
In the first three rounds it was give and take with Davis holding an edge. In the fourth round Davis countered well after a Hernandez miss. Both landed rights at the same time.
In the fifth round at the midway point Davis landed a combination to the chin of Hernandez getting his attention. Just before the bell Davis landed a solid left hook to the chin of Hernandez. In the sixth and final round Davis landed a solid counter left hook to the chin of Hernandez. Hernandez came back with a solid right to the head. At the bell both were exchanging punches.
Scores were 60-54 and two at 59-55 as did DHB have it. Rosato was the referee.
19 year-old Welterweight Milton “El Santo” Santiago, 13-0 (3), of Philadelphia won a majority eight round decision over Angel Hernandez, 9-6-1 (5), of McAllen, TX, in a good hard fight for both. The crowd was not happy with the decision.
Santiago landed some excellent combinations and showed good defensive skills as the aggressor Hernandez kept coming forward thru the first three rounds. Santiago switching back and forth to southpaw and spending too much time on the ropes making Hernandez missed quote a bit but getting in several shots.
In the fifth round Hernandez was getting in some good head shots and turned southpaw for the first time. In the sixth round Santiago was landing good combinations until a Hernandez right to the mid-section got his attention. Later in the round Hernandez landed a good uppercut to the chin. Best round up until now. In the sixth round Santiago turned his back against Hernandez and was hit from behind with a solid right to the chin that drew a warning from referee Esteves, Jr. to both fighters. Santiago was spending too much time on the ropes while Hernandez lands four straight body shots. In the seventh round Santiago seems to be tiring while Hernandez motions to him to come in and fight. In the eighth and final round Santiago started off throwing punches but by the end of the round he was again on the ropes taking body punches.
Judge Weisfeld 78-74, Bruni 77-75 and Somma 76-76 as did DHB.
Light heavyweight Leo “Young BAM” Hall, 8-1 (7), of Detroit, MI, was upset by Christopher “Ice Cold” Brooker, 7-1 (5), of Philadelphia, who fought a well planned fight over 8 rounds. The fans went nuts with the win for Brooker!
In the opening round it was all Brooker staying on top of Hall. In the second round it was much closer as the taller Hall was able to get his uppercuts in while against the ropes. In the third round Brooker continued to smother Hall who was landing some good uppercuts to the body. In the fourth round it was more of the same. Hall is waiting for Brooker to punch himself out and losing all four rounds. More of the same in the fourth round as Brooker outworks Hall looking for an upset.
In the fifth round Brooker continued to frustrate Hall landing some nice right hands to the head while applying the pressure. In the seventh round Hall landed his best punch a short right to the chin of Brooker. A right hand by Brooker to the chin of Hall rocked him. In the eight and final round with blood coming from outside his left eye Brooker was waving to the crowd while it was the best round for Hall but a little much too late. Hall came in heavy at 179.
Judge Bruni 80-72 and Weisfeld, Somma had it 79-73 as did DHB.
Light heavyweight Earl “Flash” Newman, 8-0 (6), of Brooklyn, NY, won an easy four round decision over African Victor (Iora) Kpadenou, 10-9 (5), out of Cotonou, Benin. It was cut from a six due to TV.
In a lopsided fight Newman pitched a shut out over the much shorter Kpadenou who tried his best.
All three judges and DHB had it 40-36. Rosato was the referee.
Super welterweight southpaw Olympian Junior Castillo, 9-0 (9), of Higuey, PR, now out of Reading, PA, stopped Eduardo “El Cheito” Flores, 23-19-3 (5), of Quito, ECU, at the end of the fifth.
It was a lopsided fight with Castillo easily winning but received several warnings from referee Rosato for low blows. It didn’t stop Castillo from going to the belt line. Looks like Castillo has plenty of potential.
In the final bout of the night featherweight Stephen “Cool Boy” Fulton, 7-0 (3), of Philadelphia Joshua Greer, Jr., 3-0-1 (2), Chicago, IL
Super middleweight southpaw Denis “Momma’s Boy” Douglin, 20-4 (13), of Marlboro, NJ, stopped late substitute Marcus Upshaw, 18-16-4 (9), of Miami, FL, at 1:53 of the eighth and final round.
Douglin scored knockdowns in the first two rounds over Upshaw. From the third on it was all Douglin though Upshaw a late sub did his best up until the stoppage by referee Esteves, Jr.
Super lightweight southpaw Jerome Conquest, 4-1 (1), of Philadelphia, won by DQ at 0:30 of round two over southpaw Christian Molina, 4-2 (3), of Allentown, PA. Conquest went down face first hitting hi head on the canvas being wrestled down. He had to be carried out on a stretcher but seemed alert.
In the opening bout featherweight Chris “B-Hop” Colbert, 4-0 (2), of Brooklyn, NY, came in with a Mexican hat and won a hard fought decision over Derrick Bivins, 2-4-2 (1), of Philadelphia over six rounds.
In the opening round Bivins seemed to have an edge. In the second round Colbert landed a strong combination from the southpaw stance knocking Bivins back. Bivins is holding his own thru three rounds. Bivins is the aggressor and Colbert the showboat with Bivins busier but Colbert gets the heavier punches in but only on occasion.
In rounds four thru six Colbert’s movement seemed to bother Bivins who came out in the sixth looking for a needed knockout but couldn’t pull it off. Benjy Esteves, Jr. was the referee.
Judges Somma and Bruni 59-55 with Weisfeld 60-54. DHB 58-56.