It was a Kings Promotion at the 2300 Arena in South Philadelphia Friday night before a well-attended crowd. The co-promoters are Marshall Kauffman and David Feldman.
In the main event Christopher “Ice Cold” Brooker, 9-1 (5), Philadelphia won a hard fought decision after scoring a knockdown over Antowyan “Ice Man” Aikens, 10-2-1 (1), Atlantic City, NJ, over 8 rounds.
For the first two rounds it went back and forth with Aikens boxing and Brooker coming forward receiving a cut in the second round by his left eye. Cut-man Moe Morales would keep it in tact the remainder of the bout. In the third round Brooker was finally getting through the defense of Aikens and dropped him with a right to the chin. In the fourth round Aikens continued to box Brooker not allowing him to get the big punch in again.
In the fifth round Brooker came back taking a close round being on the offense throughout. In the sixth round Aikens buckled the knees of Brooker with a short right to the chin. For the first time in the fight Brooker wasn’t coming forth. In the seventh and eighth rounds Brooker seemed to pull it out.
Judge Rose Vargas had it 80-71, Larry Hazzard, Jr. 79-72 and Bernard Bruni 79-73. This writer had it 77-74. Shawn Clark was the referee.
Former world champion Kermit “El Asesino” Cintron, 36-5-2 (28) returned to the ring after 26 months of inactivity.
In the opening round Cintron’s trainer Joe Pastore, Jr. had him fight southpaw easily taking the round. In the second round Cintron went back to his normal orthodox and did some good body work which continued through the fifth round hurting Flores on several occasions. Flores was fighting to survive at this point. In the sixth and last round Cintron was going for the knockout but Flores would tie him up. It was a good fight to get the rust out after being off over two years for Cintron. He is expected to be back in the ring in July.
All 3 judges and this writer scored it 60-54. Referee was Talmadge. “We will continue to work hard and improve with each fight,” said Pastore, Jr. Also in the corner was one of the nicest men in boxing Rich Ormsbee. He was returning to the corner after a long absence.
Super lightweight Naim Nelson, 13-1 (1), scored a shutout over Carlos Velasquez, 24-24-2 (14), Managua, NIC, over 6 rounds.
In the past orthodox boxer Nelson takes the first two rounds fighting southpaw. In the third round Nelson landed half a dozen punches to the face of Velasquez who was smiling until about the fifth punch. In the fourth round it was the best round for Velasquez but not good enough to overcome Nelson’s body work.
In the fifth round Nelson continued winning each round going non-stop. Nelson came out for the sixth and final round to his natural orthodox style but went back to southpaw halfway through the round and landed some good shots. Nelson finished the round in good fashion landing four punches as the bell sounded ending the bout.
All 3 judges Hazzard, Jr., Vargas and Braslow along with this writer had it 60-54. Clark was the referee.
Super lightweight “Irish” Scott Kelleher, 5-0 (3), Philadelphia, scored a third round stoppage at 2:33 of the round over Terrell James, 1-4-1, Philadelphia, in a scheduled 4.
Kelleher used his height and reach through the first 2 rounds to his advantage in trying to corner James. In the third round Kelleher landed ten unanswered punches having James on the ropes. James came back with a left hook rocking Kelleher who came right back with a flurry of punches to the body and the head before referee Talmadge wisely stepped in and waved it off.
“I did what I had to do. I know fighting a Philly fighter they are always tough. I got hit in the third round and it woke me up. I hadn’t been hit like that before. My fans (many of them) keep me going during a fight,” said Kelleher.
Super welterweight southpaw Erik “Abnormall” Spring, 7-1 (1), Reading, PA, won a hard fought 6 round split decision over Justin “Baby Boy” Johnson, 6-12-4, Pittsburgh.
In the first round Johnson worked the body with right hands. It took Spring through the first 2 minutes of the round to get untracked. In the second round both fighters had their moments with Spring taking the round. In the third round both fighters got their licks in through the first half of the round. Spring hurt Johnson putting him against the ropes with a flurry of punches. The much taller Spring was starting to find the range but there is no quit in Johnson whose record is very misleading.
In the fifth round Johnson landed a good shot to the chin of Spring but it didn’t seem to bother him. Near the end of the round Spring landed several power punches to the chin backing Johnson up. In the sixth and final round both boxers did their best but both seemed to tire by the end of the bout.
Judge Vargas had it 59-55 Johnson. Judge Hazzard had it 59-55 and Bruni 60-54 for Spring. This writer had it 59-55 Spring.
Ryan “The Fighting Writer” Bivins, 0-2-1 (0), Philadelphia came off the canvas once and took a standing count in losing to Aaron Brooks, 1-0 (0), Philadelphia over 4 rounds.
The first two rounds were very unispiring. In the third Brooks got Bivins attention with a straight right to the chin backing Bivens against the ropes. Another right to the head of Bivens had him on shaky legs. Just prior to the bell Brooks administered a standing 8 count by referee Talmadge. In the fourth and final round Bivens landed a solid right uppercut to the chin of Brooks. A short right to the chin by Brooks made Bivins take a knee. Referee Talmadge gave him the 8 count. Bivens was having his best round up until then.
Judges Braslow and Bruni had it 40-34 as did this writer. Judge Hazzard scored it 39-36.
Super featherweight Thomas “TJ” Velasquez, 5-0 (4), of Philadelphia scored a second round knockout at 1:39 of the round over Liberian Grashino Yancy, 1-1 (0), Staten Island, in a scheduled 4.
In the first round Velasquez used an effective jab followed by a straight right hand. Just prior to the bell, Velasquez landed five unanswered punches without return. In the second round Velasquez hurt Yancy with a left hook followed by a hard right to the chin knocking him to the canvas. Referee Clark counted Yancy out before he got to his feet. Velasquez is out of the WBC welterweight champion Danny “Swift” Garcia’s camp. Garcia was at ringside cheering him on.
Returning after a 35 month of inactivity lightweight Tyrone “The New Butterfly” Crawley, 5-0 (0), Philadelphia won a lackluster decision over Korey Sloane, 2-9-2 (0), Philadelphia over 4 rounds.
In the first round southpaw Crawley rocked Sloan with a straight left to the chin. Sloan came back with a stiff jab of his own. Crawley, son of Tyrone “Butterfly” Crawley who worked the corner out boxed Sloan the remainder of the round. In the second round Sloan was holding too much. In the third round Sloan became more aggressive and landed his best punch a left hook to the chin of Crawley seconds before the bell sounded. In the fourth it became very sloppy and a close round.
All 3 judges Bruni, Braslow and Vargas had it 40-36. This writer had it 39-37. Clark was the referee.
BANTOMWEIGHT MANNY “MAJOR PAIN AKA MEAK” FOLLY, 7-0 (5), PHILADELPHIA WON AT THE END OF THE FIRST ROUND DUE TO AN INJURED RIGHT HAND OF BRYAN PEREZ NEVAREZ, 2-4-1 (1), CAROLINA, PR.
IN THE OPENING ROUND FOLLY CHASED SOUTHPAW NEVAREZ UNTIL HE GOT TAKEN DOWN BY A TACKLE BANGING HIS HEAD HARD ON THE CANVAS. FOLLY GOT A 5 MINUTE REST BY REFEREE CLARK. HE WENT AFTER NEVAREZ WHO HAD BEEN SHAKING HIS RIGHT HAND AS IF SOMETHING WAS WRONG. FOLLY HAD HIM HURT IN THE CORNER JUST PRIOR TO THE BELL. NEVAREZ’S CORNER HALTED THE FIGHT AT THE END OF THE FIRST DUE TO AN INJURED RIGHT HAND TO THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF FOLLY’S FOLLOWERS.
IN THE OPENING BOUT LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT AMIR “SHARPSHOOTER” SHABAZZ, 4-0 (1), PHILADELPHIA SCORED A KNOCKDOWN IN DEFEATING TAHIK TAYLOR, 1-4 (0), FREEPORT, NY, OVER A SPIRITED 4 ROUNDS. TALMADGE WAS THE REFEREE.
IN THE FIRST ROUND SHABAZZ DROPPED TAYLOR WITH A SHORT RIGHT TO CHIN IN THE THIRD ROUND TAYLOR TWICE HURT SHABAZZ. IN THE FOURTH AND FINAL ROUND SHABZZ LANDED FIVE PUNCHES WITHOUT RETURN. TAYLOR MAY HAVE RAN OUT OF GAS. SHABAZZ’S ROUND.
ALL 3 JUDGES HAD IT 39-36 AS DID THIS WRITER. EXCEPT FOR A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR DELAY DUE TO THE AMBULANCE BEING LATE OVERALL IT WAS A GOOD SHOW.