Kings Promotion (Marshall Kauffman and David Feldman) presented a return to Santander Arena in Reading, PA, Saturday! It was a Premier Boxing Champions show on ESPN.
In the main event super lightweight southpaw 2016 Olympian James “Semper Fi” Herring, 15-1 (8), Cinn., OH, received his first and took a beating from southpaw Denis Shafikov, 37-2-1 (9), Russia, scoring a stoppage at 0:36 of the tenth and final round until his corner stopped the fight. Shafikov is ranked No. 9 in the IBF.
In the opening round the shorter Shafikov chased Herring landing right hooks while Herring countered with jabs. In the second round the fans were not happy with the style of Herring while Shafikov continued to make the fight. With half a minute to go Shafikov landed a right hook to the head of Herring knocking him into the ropes preventing a knockdown causing an 8 count by referee Rosato. In the third round Shafikov finally made Herring fight but referee Rosato warned Shafikov of hitting behind the head and Herring with continual low blows. In the fourth round it was more of Shafikov backing Herring up landing with both hands. Herring has the reach but can’t fight on the inside. In the fifth round Shafikov landed half a dozen unanswered punches driving Herring into the ropes. Herring came back. It seems he has to get hit before hitting back.
In the sixth round Shafikov had Herring holding on twice in the round. Herring has a bloody bottom lip. In the seventh round Herring’s suffered a cut by his right eye as Shafikov continues to pound on him. Twide referee Rosato gave warnings for low blows by Herring but still doesn’t take any points away from him. In the eighth round Herring tried getting busier but Shafikov doesn’t know the word stop punching. At the bell both fighters landed left hands to the chin. In the ninth round Shafikov had Herring out on his feet several times. Rosato usually has a quick stoppage in the past but hasn’t looked like he’s about to stop the beating Herring is taken. The ring physician is in Herrings corner before the start of the tenth and final round. In the tenth and final round Shafikov rocked Herring with a left to the side of his head. Badly hurt Herrings corner waved it off causing Boxing Director Greg Sirb to jump up on the ring apron waving to referee Gary Rosato to stop the fight when Herrings corner waved it off.
At the time of stoppage Tony Lundy had it 88-82, Steve Weisfeld 87-83 and Alan Rubenstein 88-81. This writer had it 100-89.
“Tough opponent but when I came back to my corner after the ninth round they wanted a knockout in fear of a hometown decision. I want another title shot,” said Shafikov. He looked like a champion tonight. “I fought his fight but couldn’t make the adjustments. I didn’t want it stopped,” said Herring.
In the co-feature middleweight Patryk Szymanski, 16-0 (9), of Poland, defeated Haitian Wilky Campfort, 21-3 (12), Ft. Lauderdale, FL, in an entertaining second half of the 10 rounder.
In the opening round Szymanski was stalking Campfort with an effective jab. Szymanski ended the round with a right to the chin of Campfort. The Polish fans had their flags flying and encouraging Szymanski. In the second round Szymanski’s jab was hard enough to draw blood from the nose of Campfort. In the third round Szymanski landed 3 straight left hooks but with little power behind them. Campfort landed a good right to the head of Szymanski with about 10 seconds to go in the round. In the fourth round Szymanski landed a dozen unanswered punches having Camport hurt. Just before the end of the round Camport landed a solid right to the head of Szymanski. In the fifth round Campfort got a good right in on Szymanski who returned the favor shortly afterward. Campfort hurt Szymanski with about a minute to go with a lead right to the head. It was a big round for Campfort who put his hands in the air after the bell to the applause of the fans.
In the sixth round Szymanski landed 5 punches without return before Campfort came back with double left hooks to the body of Szymanski. The fans really got into it when either fighter scored well. In the seventh round Szymanski would stick and move well landing jabs, uppercuts and rights to the head though getting warned twice for low blows. As usual Campfort ended the round landing the last punch. In the eighth round it was all Szymanski landing jab after jab with follow-up rights.
In the tenth and final round Pzymanski hurt Campfort but several punches went low again as referee Benjy Esteves, Jr., stepped in and Campfort went to a knee and took several minutes rest. The fans were not happy with Szymanski. After the bell Szymanski came over to Campfort’s corner and tapped him on the side of his head and Campfort didn’t take it well and pushed him away. The fans let it be known when Pzymanski’s hand was raised by referee Esteves they were not happy with him. “He was an experience guy but it was a tough test. I took some good punches but was never hurt,” said Pzymanski.
Judge Steve Weisfeld had it 99-92 while Bernard Bruni and Tony Lundy had it 99-91 as did this writer.
Super featherweight southpaw Frank De Alba, 19-2-2 (8), of Reading, PA, stopped Jonathan “Popeye” Perez, 35-15 (10), COL, at 1:50 of the third round.
It was all DeAlba through the first two rounds. In the third round a DeAlba right hook dropped Perez. Upon rising referee Esteves wisely put a stop to it. Perez had enough.
Former IBF welterweight world champion Kermit “El Asesino” Cintron, 37-5-2 (28), of Reading, PA, continued his comeback after a 2 year lay-off easily defeating Carlos Garcia, 10-16-1 (7), Agusda, PR, over 8 rounds for his second straight win.
In the opening round it was a feeling out one with Cintron holding the edge. In the second round it was more Cintron. In the third and fourth rounds Cintron continued to out punch Garcia. In the fourth it was both fighters throwing bombs with Cintron hurting Garcia putting him against the ropes.
In the fifth round Cintron rocked Garcia with a right to the chin hurting him. It was a war in this round. In the sixth round it wasn’t the war like the previous round. It was more of the same in the seventh round. In the eighth and final round Perez got Cintron’s attention with a left hook to the chin to start the round off. Cintron rocked Perez with a left hook hurting him near the end of the round. “I felt I improved from my last fight. In the past when I hurt an opponent I’d go in for the knockout but now I’ve learned to be patient. I need to keep busy with more fights,” said Cintron. In his corner were trainer Joe Pastore and legionary trainer and cut-man and Rich Ormsbee who is one of the nicest guys in the business working as a cut-man
Judges Friscia had it 80-72 while judges Bruni and Weisfeld had it 79-73. This writer had it 80-72.
In a swing bout super featherweight Stephen “Scooter” Fulton 10-0 (5), Philadelphia, was very impressive stopping Cristian Renteria, 5-3 (4), Tijuana, MEX, at 1:38 of the third round.
It was all Fulton the first 2 rounds scoring a knockdown in the second round. In the third Fulton dropped Renteria again and that was all Renteria wanted when referee Rosato called a halt.
In another swing bout super welterweight southpaw Erik Spring, 7-1-1 (1), of Reading, PA, and James Robinson, 3-4-3 (1), York, PA, fought to a 6 round draw.
In the opening round Spring used his jab taking an edge. Robinson landed a straight lead right knocking Spring off balance. In the second round it was more of the same. In the third round Robinson had Spring on the ropes landing a flurry of punches.
In the fourth Robinson took another close round. In the fifth both fighters were throwing punches in a close round. In the sixth and final round the fans got their monies work especially when Spring landed.
Scores were Weisfeld 58-56 for Spring and 59-55 for Robinson by Rubenstein while Bruni called it 57-57 as did this writer.
Super flyweight Christian Carto, 1-0 (1), South Philadelphia, won his debut, stopping Rahkeam Parker, 0-3 (0), Laurel, MS, when Parker didn’t come out for the fourth and final round. “I was trying for an early knockout but learned from this fight,” said Carto.
Carto was an outstanding amateur winning the 2013 Ringside National, 2013 National PAL, 2014 National Golden Gloves and a Bronze Medalist in the 2016 Olympic trials. Former PA GG champion Mickey Rosato was Carto’s trainer.
In the opening round Parker used his jab while Carto nailed him several times with left hooks and hurt Parker who was holding at the bell in a close round. In the second round Parker did quite a bit of holding every time Carto started first. Carto hurt Parker several times with left hooks. It was all Carto in this round. In the third round Carto continued the chasing and rocking Parker who continued to hold. In this round Carto landed a 3-punch combination and pushed him off when Parker went to hold. Parker did not come out of the corner in the corner. He did well while it lasted.
Super welterweight Miguel Ramirez, 1-0 (0), Reading, PA, made his debut defeating southpaw Antonio Allen, 0-2 (0), Philadelphia, over 4 rounds.
In the opening round it was Ramirez the aggressor winning a close round. In the second round the taller Allen got the better of Ramirez by boxing him. In the third round Ramirez put the pressure on Allen and Hurt him several times. Allen was warned twice about low blows by referee Rosato. In the fourth and final round Ramirez continued to put pressure on Allen mostly to the body.
All 3 judges had it 40-36. This writer had it 39-37.
In the opening bout of the night super lightweight southpaw Kashon Hutchinson, 1-0 (1), stopped Robert Ramos, 1-5-1 (0), Allentown, PA, at 2:44 of the second round.
In the first round Hutchinson picked Ramos apart. In the second round a right by Hutchinson dropped Ramos. Upon rising Hutchinson was all over Ramos almost dropping him again when the referee Dali wisely stepped in. Ramos was no match for Hutchinson.
All in all it was a good show. Kings Promotion will be in Trenton, NJ, on July the 9th.