Friday GH3 Promotions – Vito Mielnicki, King’s Promotions – Marshall Kauffman and in Association with Banner Promotions – Artie Peullo over ShoBox presented in the Main Event WBO Inter-Continental Lightweight champion Thomas “Gunna Man” Mattice, of Cleveland, OH, losing by majority decision to Isaac “Pit Bull” Cruz, of Mexico City, MEX, in a 10 round bout.
Main Event featured Lightweight Thomas “Gunna Man” Mattice, 15-2-1 (11), #133 1/2, of Cleveland, OH, losing by majority decision to Isaac “Pit Bull” Cruz, 18-1-1 (14), #135, of Mexico City, MEX, over 10 rounds.
In the first round it was all Cruz driving past the jab of the taller Mattice with a vicious body attack throughout. In the second round it continued as it did in the first round with both fighters warned for using their heads by Referee Eric Dali. In the third round Mattice was warned for pushing down the head of the oncoming Cruz who continued with his body work. Mattice in the middle of the round opened up on Cruz driving him against the ropes up until the bell.
In the fourth round Cruz kept coming forward walking into the punches of Mattice for half a round. Then Cruz started getting through the defense of the back tracking Mattice the rest of the way. In the fifth round Mattice started using a good quick double jab as Cruz kept coming forward. In a clinch Cruz slapped Mattice with his left hand to the chin several times. Cruz kept Mattice on the defense throughout.
In the sixth round Cruz had Mattice in the corner with body and head shots. Mattice didn’t seem to be able to hold off the on rushing Cruz who got inside with body shots and looping punches to the chin of Mattice. In the seventh round Mattice was using right uppercuts but had no answer for Cruz rushing in with body punches and occasional head shots. At the midway of the round Cruz hurt Mattice with a left hook to the chin driving him several steps across the ring. In the final seconds a right from Cruz on the chin had Mattice hurt but he managed to hold until the bell.
In the eighth round Cruz drove Mattice with body shots into the ropes with little resistance. Cruz was going more to the head in the round. Cruz warned for using his head by Referee Eric Dali. Mattice simply had no answer to keeping Cruz off of him. In the ninth round Mattice jabbed and when Cruz rushes in he grabbed him. Cruz landed a solid left hook to the chin of Mattice halfway through the round but got warned again about using his head. In the final minute Mattice landed good body shots with uppercuts but Cruz continued to outwork him.
In the tenth and final round Mattice landed a double left hook to the body of Cruz but was countered with a Cruz left hook to the body. Halfway through the round Mattice rallied with a flurry of punches. In the final minute Mattice had Cruz against the ropes with body and head shots, but too little and too late for Mattice.
Judges Dave Braslow 95-95 Adam Frisca and Steve Weisfeld 96-94 with this writer 98-92. Referee was Eric Dali.
Super Lightweight southpaw Montana “Too Pretty” Love, 13-0-1 (6), #139 3/4, of Cleveland, OH, won a hard fought decision over Jerrico “Hands of Stone” Walton, 16-1 (7), #140, of Houston, TX, over 8 rounds.
In the first round southpaw Love countered Walton continuously with lead lefts to the body and chin. Love had Walton missing more than landing. In the second round Love started off with a double left followed by a right hook to the chin of Walton. Seconds later a right hook from Love on the chin almost floored Walton who grabbed Love trying to recover. Referee Ricky Gonzalez had trouble seperating due to Walton’s holding. Walton walked into lead left’s from southpaw Love the entire round.
In the third round Walton landed his best punch of the fight a lead right on the chin of Love stopping him in his tracks. Love got back control with lead lefts on the chin of Walton. Love’s hand speed and evading wild rights from Walton won him the round. Walton was warned for charging in with his head by Referee Gonzalez. In the fourth round Walton bulled in with good body work throughout the round. Love did too little countering.
In the fifth round Walton charged in landing a solid left hook to the body driving Love against the ropes. Walton continued driving Love against the ropes until a counter right from Love on the chin backed Walton up. Love could not keep the on rushing Walton off of him.
In the sixth round Walton let Love back into the fight staying in the middle of the ring allowing Love to use his hand speed landing to the body and chin. In the seventh round a right hook from Love on the chin had Walton in trouble holding and again bullying Love to the ropes, but landing little when he got him there. Love twice landed lefts to the chin of Walton stopping him in his tracks forcing Love into a clinch the entire round.
In the eighth and final round Walton bulled Love to the ropes landing to the body. Loose tape from Love’s glove stopped the action for repair in his corner. In the middle of the ring it’s all Love but he allowed Walton to push him to the ropes and landing body shots when he got him there. Both fighters looked tired at the end of the fight.
Judges Dewey LaRosa 78-74 Al Lundy & David Braslow 77-75 as did this writer. Referee was Ricky Gonzalez.
Super Bantamweight Raeese “The Beast” Aleem, 16-0 (10), #122 ¾, of Las Vegas, NV, impressed in easily stopping Adam “Mantequilla” Lopez, 19-4-2 (9), #123, of San Antonio TX, at 1:31 of the fourth round in a scheduled 8 rounds.
In the first round Aleem landed to the body of Lopez throughout the round but couldn’t get through the defense of Lopez to land to the chin. Lopez used his experience backing up for the most part but not doing enough offense. In the second round Aleem continued using his hand and foot speed to dominate Lopez with body shots with occasional head shots. Lopez continued to back up with little resistance. In the final ten seconds Lopez missed a wild left hook and went to the canvas.
In the third round Aleem continued to back up Lopez with a good body attack. Lopez was on the defense the entire round showing his frustration going back to his corner at the end of the round. In the fourth round after thirty seconds a solid left hook on the chin from Aleem rocked Lopez bloodying his nose badly. Shortly afterwards the corner of Lopez waved the fight off forcing Referee Gary Rosato to wave it off.
Super Welterweight Derrick “D-Man” Colemon, Jr., 11-1 (8), #154 ¾, of Detroit, MI, lost a lopsided decision to Joseph “Action” Jackson, 16-0 (12), #153 ¼, of Greensboro, NC, over 8 rounds.
In the first round near the end of the first minute Jackson landed a solid right to the body of Colemon. Colemon kept coming forward but little happened in the round. In the second round the action started as Jackson’s right lead to the body was countered by a Colemon left hook to the chin early in the first minute. At the midway point Colemon rocked Jackson with a left hook to the chin. Jackson came back with a left hook to the head and body. Referee Dali warned Jackson with the body shot going a bit low.
In the third round Colemon followed Jackson around the ring as Jackson countered him well to the body. Colemon’s jabs fell short. His left hook landed to the body but not often enough to Jackson’s counters to the body. In the fourth round Jackson’s hands were a bit too quick for Colemon inside. Colemon shook his hands loose. He looked tight and was more muscular but had trouble figuring out the movement of Jackson. In the final minute Jackson landed a 3-punch combination to the head and body. In the closing seconds Colemon landed his best punch of the fight a left hook on the chin of Jackson.
In the fifth round Colemon continued to follow Jackson around the ring until Jackson stopped and landed a combination to the mid-section. Seconds later Colemon ran into a counter right on the chin. Both fighters almost fell through the ropes at the midway point. Colemon landed a left hook to the chin but was countered by a Jackson right on the chin in the final minute of the round. He repeated this in the final seconds of the round.
In the sixth round Referee Dali warned a frustrated Colemon about pushing down the head of Jackson after the latter’s combination to the body. A right from Jackson on the chin of Colemon almost had him on the canvas in the final thirty seconds of the round. Jackson was too quick a foot and hands.
In the seventh round Jackson was landing quite a bit when Colemon was warned for a low blow by Referee Dali. Jackson had Colemon against the ropes with a vicious body attack ending with left uppercuts and rights to the chin having Colemon in trouble. In the final minute Jackson landed a double left hook to the body of Colemon putting him against the ropes. Colemon had his hands held high with little if any offense the entire round. It was a big round for Jackson.
In the eighth and final round Colemon needing a knockout kept following Jackson who countered him well every time he stopped moving. Colemon missed a right that ended on the top rope. Jackson’s fans were quite excited with his showing. In the final seconds of the fight Jackson worked Colemon into a corner with his hands too quick for Colemon to counter.
Judges Dewey LaRosa 78-74 Weisfeld 77-75 & Alan Rubenstein 80-72 as did this writer. Referee Eric Dali.
Welterweight Rasheed “Sugar Sheen” Johnson, 7-3 (3), #146.5, of Willow Grove, PA, knocked out Omar “Power” Garcia, 6-11 (1), #143.1, at 2:42 of the second round of a scheduled 6 rounds.
In the first round the taller Johnson landed numerous chopping rights to the head of Garcia seconds into the round to the delight of his fans. Garcia managed to get through the round. In the second round Johnson opened up again with chopping rights to the head of Garcia. On three different times Garcia forced Johnson to the ropes. Johnson ended the round continuing to use his reach taking a close round.
In the third round Johnson warned by Referee Dali for landing kidney punches while in a clinch. Garcia had Johnson on the ropes on several times. Johnson ended the round with a right on the chin. Garcia may have won the round. In the fourth round it was close when Johnson threw a left hook to the liver being counted out by Referee Dali.
Super Welterweight James “No Pain’s” Martin, 6-1 (0), #148.6, of Philadelphia, scored a knockdown defeating southpaw Vinnie Floyd, 4-9-1 (2), #148.7, of Philadelphia, over 6 rounds.
In the first round Martin floored the taller southpaw Floyd with a lead right on the chin into the lower ropes. Referee Gonzalez gave him the 8-count. In the second round Martin controlled the first half of the round with inside body work and lead rights to the chin from the outside. In the final minute Floyd came to life landing flurries. With fifteen seconds left in the round Martin landed a solid right on the chin to edge out the round.
In the third round it was all Martin landing a double right on the chin rocking Floyd. Martin used his right to perfection while the taller Floyd stayed to the body. In the fourth round Floyd stood toe to toe with Martin as they exchanged head shots with Martin rocking Floyd in the final minute only to have Floyd battling back. Martin landed a right uppercut to the chin of Floyd in the final seconds of the round.
In the fifth round Martin knocked out the mouthpiece of Floyd for the second time in the fight landing a right on the chin. In the final thirty seconds Floyd flurried having Martin against the ropes in a close round. In the sixth and final round after a minute gone Martin suddenly switched to southpaw landing lead lefts and right hooks to the chin of Floyd. Martin switched back to orthodox in the final minute of the fight landing lead right counters to the chin of an oncoming Floyd.
Martin is the son of former light heavyweight contender Jerry “The Bull” Martin who was in attendance.
Ring Announcer Thomas Trieber announced the induction of the events co-promoter Marshall Kauffman into the PAB HOF in 2020.
Judges Page 59-54 Weisfeld & LaRosa 60-53 as did this writer 60-53. Referee Ricky Gonzalez.
Heavyweight Norman Neely, 6-0 (5), #235.7, of Paterson, NJ, struggle to defeat southpaw Jamaican Nicoy Clarke, 2-6 (0), #213.1, of Jersey City, NJ, in a close 4 rounds of action.
In the first round Neely pressed forward and got hit with a lead left on the chin by Clarke at the end of the first minute of the round. Clarke continued outworking Neely into the final minute when Neely landed a right to the mid-section followed by a left hook on the chin. In the second round Neely came storming out with a flurry of punches driving Clarke back several steps against the ropes. At the midway point while inside it was Clarke landing several left uppercuts on the chin of Neely. In the final thirty seconds of the round Clarke continued landing right uppercuts on the chin with Neely landing punches just before and after the bell until Referee Rosato stepped in.
In the third round Clarke continued going to the body driving Neely against the ropes in a neutral corner until they exchanged uppercuts on the chin. Clarke kept smothering Neely until the bell when again Neely tried landing a punch after the bell while Referee Rosato had to step in. In the fourth and final round at the midway point Neely suddenly flurried punch after punch with Referee Rosato looking to possibly step in. Clarke managed to get through the round having Neely go the distance for the first time in his six fights.
Judges Alan Frisca & Al Lundy 60-54 & Lindsay Page 39-37 while this writer had it 38-38. .
Super Bantamweight Eduardo Diogo, 2-0 (1), #115.8, Sao Paulo, BRZ, defeated Jerrod “Golden Nuggett” Miner, 1-10-2 (23), #112, Philadelphia, PA, over 4 rounds.
In the first two rounds it was back and forth with Diogo holding a slight edge. In the third a right from Diogo on the chin rocked Miner at the halfway point of the round. In the fourth and final round Diogo and Miner slugged it out for the most part with Miner landing the last three punches just prior to the bell to take the round.
Judges Page & Lundy 39-37 Rubenstein 40-36 and this writer 39-37.