At the Dort Federal Event Center, in Flint, MI, Friday night it was the return of former WBC Super middleweight champion Anthony Dirrell over USA Fox S1. The top three bouts were very competitive.

In the main event Super middleweight former WBC champion Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell, 31-1-1 (24), of Flint, MI, won a close decision when the bout was stopped in the sixth round due to a clash of heads with Dirrell suffering a bad cut. Southpaw Denis “Momma’s Boy” Douglin, 20-6 (12), of Marlboro, NJ, was understandably unhappy with the decision. It was scheduled for ten rounds.

In the first round Douglin had the edge through the first half of the round with left uppercuts while Dirrell’s timing seemed off. With a minute to go Dirrell was back into the fight. With the round coming near an end Dirrell landed a big right to the chin of Douglin who was holding on just trying to get through the round. In the second round the taller Dirrell is throwing wild rights while Douglin is landing well inside. With half a minute left in the round Dirrell landed a long hard right to the chin of Douglin.

In the third round Dirrell is loading up for one big punch while being outworked inside by Douglin. Against the ropes Douglin did well punching his way out against Dirrell. In the fourth round Dirrell landed a big right to the chin of Douglin. Referee Frank Garza is having a problem keeping these two apart. There is bad blood between the two. Another big right hand by Dirrell to the chin of Douglin had him rocked. On the inside it’s all Douglin but Dirrell has that big right being thrown at all times. Dirrell landed a solid right uppercut to the chin of Douglin.

In the fifth round Douglin opens up with combinations to the head of Dirrell who is loading up for that one shot. Douglin pinned Dirrell into a corner landing half a dozen punches. Dirrell had Douglin on the ropes but was on the receiving end for the most part. In the sixth round Douglin pushed Dirrell into the ropes and down. Referee Garza needlessly took a point from Douglin. Dirrell had a cut on his left eye brow from an accidental head butt. It was Dirrell causing the cut. Between the referee and the ring physician the bout was halted and going to the scorecards.

Douglin’s trainer, his mother, got into a skirmish at ringside. Dirrell came over calling her into the ring to avoid her getting in a fight. She hugged him appreciating his sportsmanship.

Judge’s scores were 49-46, 48-47 twice. This writer had it 47-47.

In the co-feature Super welterweight southpaw Jamontay Clark, 13-0 (7), of Cinn., OH, won a hard fought majority decision over Dominique Dolton, 19-2-1 (10), of Detroit, MI, over 8 rounds.

In the first round the taller Clark is using an effective jab while Dolton does his best to get inside of it. Clark ended the round with a straight left to the chin of Dolton who hasn’t figured how to get inside the reach of Clark. In the second round Dolton got inside landing a hard short right to the chin of Clark. Dolton is trained by Jonathan Banks of Kronk. Clark kept using the jab but Dolton seems to have figured out how to get inside of it landing his share of punches.

In round three both boxers landed uppercuts inside. Dolton closed the distance and mixed it up with the taller Clark who ended the round with a straight left to the chin of Dolton. In round four Clark landed a solid left to the head of Dolton. A clash of heads opened up a cut on Clark’s right eye brow. Clark caused the clash coming in with his head. Referee Mike Griffin brought in the ring physician. Dolton landed a pair of right’s to the head of Clark. The blood started bothering Clark’s vision.

In the fifth round Clark puts on the pressure knowing the cut is a factor at this point. Dolton got inside landing a short right to the head of Clark. It turned into a war with both landing well. Dolton continued to come forward with hands down but walking into punches from Clark who came back well in the round. In the sixth round Dolton was landing one punch at a time trying to work on Clark’s cut but Clark is landing at a much better rate than Dolton. Dolton landed a solid left hook to the head of Clark making him hold on with a minute left in the round.

In the seventh round Dolton worked his way inside with right uppercuts to the mid-section of Clark. Dolton is landing wildly missing a combination while Clark lands jab’s and right hooks to the head. In the eighth and final round Clark went back to the jab against a desperate Dolton. A big right hand by Dolton to the head of Clark got his attention. Clark landed a lead left to the head of Dolton and then ties up Dolton. Dolton is doing the chasing as Clark is countering and using the ring to his advantage. Clark ended the round with another lead straight left to the oncoming Dolton. Clark’s corner cut-man did a good job in keeping the cut from being a factor.

The judges scored it 76-76, 78-74 and 77-75 as did this writer.

Welterweight Ryan “Cowboy” Karl, 15-1 (9), of Milano, TX, won a hard fought decision win over a bloody Kareem “Remo” Martin, 9-2-1 (3), of D.C., over 8 rounds.

In the first round Martin rocked Karl with a lead right to the head and follow-up left partially blocked by Karl. Karl would come back with a right of his own to the head of Martin. There is no feeling out in this bout. Karl landed a 3-punch combination starting with a right uppercut to the chin of Martin. In the second round Martin went to the body of Martin. Martin landed a left hook bringing blood from the nose of Karl. Karl came back with a chopping right opening up a cut on the forehead of Martin. Both boxers let it all hang out in an exciting mixture of punches.

In the third round Martin landed three left hooks to the head of Karl. A big right hand followed by a left hook to the head of Martin rocked him. Karl continued using his longer reach. It was a big round for Karl. In the fourth round a hard right hand by Karl to the head of Martin had the latter holding on. Karl started using his jab to set-up Martin who seemed to be slowing down. Martin’s trainer is Barry Hunter. Karl’s trainer is Ronnie Shields.

In round number five both boxers started going to each other’s body. Karl used left hooks to the body of Martin setting him up for the straight right to the head. It was another big round for Karl whose body attack has slowed Martin down to a craw. In the sixth round Martin landed a 3-punch combination. Karl continues to use his jab on the forehead of Martin making the blood from a previous cut run down his face. The much taller Karl continues to work with his jab while Martin keeps coming forward. The referee is Mike Griffin.

In the seventh round Martin rushes out landing a straight right to the head of Karl. Martin knows he is behind and may need a knockout to pull the victory out. Karl landed a solid uppercut to the head of a ducking Martin. Karl landed a 3-punch combination to the head of Martin. Karl hurt Martin with a straight right to the head with ten seconds to go in the round. In the eighth and final round Martin comes out swinging for a knockout while Karl mixes it up with him. A tired Martin is holding Karl who does his best to land punches. A right hand to the temple of Martin has him wobbling with half a minute left in the fight. Martin is holding on just trying to get through the round.

Judge’s scores were 78-74 twice and 77-75. This writer had it 78-74.