By M. Mann
Marshall Kauffman’s Kings Promotions returned to South Philly’s 2300 Arena Friday night. In the main event Philly Super Welterweight Tyrone Brunson racked up another knockout stopping Manny Woods, of St. Petersburg, FL, at the end of eight in a scheduled ten for the vacant UBF International title.
Surprisingly Boxing Director Greg Sirb allowed twelve bouts where he usually tries to limit it to seven bouts. I guess Al Haymon had something to do with it. Even though Sirb allowed another event in Philly the same night both events sold out.
Brunson, 26-6-2 (24), didn’t seem to turn up the heat until the seventh and eighth rounds pounding on Woods, 16-7-1 (6). Late in the eighth round Brunson hurt Woods badly. His corner didn’t allow him to come out for the ninth round.
In another UBF vacant bout Super Middleweight Brandon Robinson, 8-1 (6), of Upper Darby, PA, defeated Christopher “Ice” Brooker, 12-5 (5), of Philly, in the “fight of the night”, over 8 rounds. Judges scores were 80-72, 79-73 and 78-74.
Lightweight Omar “Super O” Douglas, 18-2 (13), of Wilmington, DE, ended his two bout losing streak scored a pair of knockdowns stopping Martin Gonzalez, 22-10 (14), of Tucson, AZ, at 1:52 in the first round. Gonzalez was out after the second knockout as he was counted out by referee Benjy Esteves, Jr.
Philly’s most outstanding prospect Welterweight Jaron “Boots” Ennis, 17-0 (15), continued his winning streak putting it up to 17 in just 20 months of activity stopping George Sosa, 15-11-1 (15), of Reading, PA, at 1:09 of the second round. This is the best prospect out of Philly since 1984 when Meldrick Taylor won an Olympic Gold Medal. Blair Talmadge was the referee.
Newark, NJ, heavyweight Joe Hanks, 22-2 (14), had more trouble then expected in defeating Joel Caudle, 7-1-1, over 6 rounds. Scores were 60-54 twice and 58-56. In another heavyweight bout Baltimore’s Colby Madison, 5-0-1 (4), came off the canvas in the first round to stop Sunbury, PA’s Randy Easton, 4-10-2 (4), at 2:44 of the second round though he beat the count of referee Esteves, Jr. he was in no condition to continue.
Another Wilmington, DE, boxer middleweight Kyrone “Shut Em Down” Davis, 14-1 (5), won all 8 rounds defeating Jaime Barboza, 19-13 (9), of CR. Davis trains out of the James Shuler Gym, in West Philly. Super bantamweight Marcus Bates, 8-0-1 (7), of DC, knocked out Antonio Rodriguez, 11-20-1 (5), of MEX, with a body shot at 2:37 of the sixth and final round. Referee was Talmadge.
Lightweight Mexican Gerardo Tiburcio Martinez, 2-0 (1), of Coatesville, PA, won a split decision over Christopher Burgos, 0-2, of Philly, in four rounds. All 3 judges scored it 39-37. Welterweight Rasheed Johnson, of Willow Grove, PA, 3-1 (1), defeated southpaw Kashon Hutchinson, 3-4-1 (1), of Reading, PA, over four rounds. Scores were 40-36 twice and 39-37.
Super Bantamweight Romuel Cruz, 1-0 (1), made his debut a good one in stopping Rondarrius Hunter, of Atlanta, GA, 1-2 (1), at 2:35 of the third round. He beat the count but referee Talmadge waved it off. In a super lightweight bout Shamsuddeen Justice, 2-0 (2), stopped Jack Grady, 0-7, at 2:07 of the first round.