22.07.06 – By Travis Marks: Last night during the Lou Dibiella and Damon Dash promoted Broadway Boxing series at the Manhattan Center in New York City a shocking development occurred. Curtis Stevens who when teamed with super middleweight Jaidon Codrington form the duo known as the “chin checkers”, was stopped by grizzled veteran Marcos Primera. The end of the bout came at 1:24 of the eighth and very last round. Stevens was comfortably ahead on the scorecards at the time of the stoppage..
The bout began like most of Stevens’ fights. In the first round after a series of punches that were thrown with vicious intent, Stevens’ opened up a cut under the left eye of his opponent. The assault on Primera left his face bloody and swollen as he returned to his corner after the first round. Stevens’ looked to be on his way to a one of his trademark wins.
The second round opened up with Primera coming out in a very aggressive manner. He jabbed his way and landed a few body shots on his opponent. Stevens handled everything that Primera threw very well and looked very controlled in the ring. He was thinking his way through and out boxing his more experienced foe.
A pattern developed for the next three rounds. Primera pressured Stevens and had him backing up. Stevens landed some crowd pleasing shots and even did a little “shoe-shining” displaying his hand speed to the crowd. More and more in looked everything of a unanimous decision as Primera was getting hit but he was handling the punches well.
This fight against Primera was a big one for Stevens’. Even though Primera sported a record of 19-15 (12 KO’s) he has been there with many of prospects. To earn their stripes many have had to go through Primera who is a rough and tough customer. Some have been able to win ala Jermain Taylor, Luis Collazo, Joshua Clottey, Kingsley Ikeke and Kofi Jantuah, whereas some have not fallen. The list includes former Olympian Dante Craig, up and coming prospect Carlos De Leon Jr., and now unfortunately Curtis Stevens.
Entering the sixth round, although being tested, Stevens was winning every round. However a short right by Primera sent Stevens staggering into the ropes. It was not obvious how hurt he was, but after a few follow up punches from Primera, Stevens retaliated with a vicious low blow.
The low blow that Stevens’ threw was a desperate act from a young man who had become a main attraction at all of the Broadway Boxing shows. Primera crumbled to the ground in excruciating pain and for a moment it looked like he couldn’t continue. But the warrior in Primera wouldn’t allow him to stop.
In the very last round Stevens was stunned again this time by an uppercut that sent him falling into Primera who was against the ropes. Referee Randy Neuman started the mandatory eight count as the pro-Stevens crowd began panicking at the thought that their man was about to lose. Stevens jumped up and down to clear his head. When action ensued Primera and Stevens went toe to toe with Stevens getting the worst of it. Neuman concerned for Stevens’ health, hesitantly halted action thus signaling the end of Stevens’ undefeated campaign. Some in audience threw their drinks into the ring in disgust.
The post fight reaction had many debating if the referee stopped the bout too early. But Stevens was badly hurt and he was taking multiple shots to the head as Primera employed dirty tactics by holding a hitting. Stevens can live to fight another day. He is not the first fighter to be knocked out and certainly won’t be the last. There is talk about a rematch in October. Stevens should take this loss and a learning lesson and come back strong. He is a talented boxer; now let’s see how he deals with his first moments of adversity.
The main event of the evening saw welterweight prospect Dmitriy Salita continuing his winning ways when referee Pete Santiago waived his bout off with Shad Howard 1:42 into the sixth round. Howard took too many punches to the body and he could not hold up under the pressure. Howard should be given credit for literally coming to fight Salita about an hour after exiting an airplane. The loss sent Howard to a 12-8-3 (6 KO’s) record while Salita maintains his undefeated record at 25-0-1 (15 KO’s). Salita needs to seriously step up his competition or else he will become a joke.
In other action Maureen Shea fought to a spirited unanimous six round decision victory over Olga Heron. Scores were 60-54 twice and 59-55. Shea remains undefeated at 6-0 (3 KO’s) and Heron now falls to 4-6 (1 KO).
Derrick Rossy improved his record to 12-0 (7 KO’s) with a unanimous decision over Demetrice King who is now 9-14 (7 KO’s) 59-55 and 58-56 twice.
In other results Prenice Brewer and Roberto Acevedo fought a very exciting bout ended in a draw; they were both making their pro debut. In the opening bout of the evening junior middleweight Jamelle Hamilton stopped Delbert Sommerville at 2:25 in the first round. Hamilton is now 2-0 ( 2 KO’s) and Sommerville is now 1-1 (0 KO’s).