Kings Promotions (Marshall Kauffman & David Feldman) ran their second show in Trenton since 2006 with the other one in December 2015. Both shows were at the Sun National Bank Center via ESPN.
Super featherweight Mario “Golden Boy” Barrios 16-0 (8), San Antonio, TX, had the easiest win of his career defeating former European champion Devis “Boom Boom” Boschiero 39-5-1 (21), Correzzola, Italy, over 12 rounds in a #2 IBF Elimination main event.
Barrios in a not so impressive win scored one knockdown in the twelfth and final round against a defensive minded Boschiero who never threw a punch in the first round. They say Willie Pep won a round without throwing a punch but Boschiero is no Pep.
All 3 judges Joe Pasquale, Kason Cheeks and Eugene Grant all scored it 120-107 as did this writer. The referee was Allan Huggins.
In the co-main event super lightweight Eddie Ramirez, 14-0 (9), Aurora, IL, won what was judged a lopsided fight win over Jesse “Incredible” Roman, 20-3 (9), Santa Ada, CA, over 10 rounds. Ramirez had an effective jab while Roman threw left hook after left hook.
Roman rocked Ramirez in the first round and in an active second round seemed to take that round too. The next seven rounds were all Ramirez with the third round one of the better rounds when both mixed it up as Ramirez won the round. In the eighth round Ramirez had Roman reeling enough he spit out his mouthpiece to stop the onslaught. Ramirez used very effective right uppercuts throughout the match. It seemed Roman took the final round in a good round.
Judges Lynne Carter had it 98-92 while both James Kinney and Debra Barnes had it 99-91. This writer was more in line at 97-94. The referee was David Fields.
In the opening bout welterweight Zhankhozh Turarv, 19-0 (13), KAZ and Pahokee, FL, was very impressive defeating Daniel Souza Santos, 15-11 (12), Sao Polo, BRZ, over 8 rounds.
In the third round Turarv was right in front of Santos with his arms to his side but Santos could not hit him. In the eighth and final round Turarv dropped Santos to a knee receiving the 8 count from Fields.
All 3 judges had it 80-71 while this writer scored it 79-72.
Super middleweight Christopher “Ice Cold” Brooker, 10-1 (5), Philadelphia, seemed to break the nose of southpaw Gabriel “GP Ham” Pham, 6-1 (2), Atlantic City, NJ, in the second round and went onto win an 8 round decision.
The taller southpaw Pham seemed to have his way until the injury. His trainer Charles Mooney from the 1976 USA Olympic team tried to encourage him to go out and throw punches but it was to no avail. Brooker suffered a minor cut alongside of his left eye in the third round but it was never a problem the rest of the way.
It seemed Pham just couldn’t let his hands go being in his first fight in some 2 1/2 years and it showed. Judges Debra Barnes and Jim Kinney had it 79-73 while Lynne Carter had it 78-74 as did this writer. The referee was Eric Dali.
Middleweight Darryl Bunting, 2-0-1 (1) had his way in stopping MMA boxer Kyle Kurtz, 0-1 (0), of St. Louis at 1:05 of the second round. It was a wise stoppage by referee Fields and Kurtz should go back to MMA before he really gets hurt.
In the swing bout, Philadelphia junior welterweight Tyrone Crawley, 6-0 (0), easily defeated southpaw Alexander Charneco, 4-3 (4), of San Juan, PR, over 6 entertaining rounds. Both boxers had many fans cheering. Scores were 60-51 twice and 60-53 as did this writer have it. The referee was Dali.
In a super featherweight match Titus “God Gifted” Williams, 6-0 (2), of Elmont, won an easy majority decision over Jovany Fuentes, 7-8 (6), Bayamon, PR, over 6 rounds.
After dropping the first round Williams found his mark the rest of the way. Fuentes was warned several times by referee Dali for using his hitting on the break.
“He had a shorter reach and a little bit of power for a short guy. I couldn’t believe one of the judges had it even,” said Williams. He had and effective jab from the second round on. He used a good jab in keeping Fuentes off balance though he had some overhand rights that were on the mark.
Judge Kinney had it 57-57 while both Carter and Barnes scored it 59-55 as did this writer. Dali was the referee.