FAIRFAX, VA (October 9, 2006) — Needing a strong performance to get back on the winning track, popular Northern Virginia middleweight contender Jimmy Lange didn’t disappoint the 3,614 boisterous fans Saturday night at the Patriot Center, using an impressive surge late in the fight to record a ten-round technical knockout (2:45) over tough veteran Tommy Wilt in the Main Event. Lange of Great Falls, VA, improved to 27-3-1, 19 KOs, while Wilt from Altoona, PA, dropped to 20-6, 4 KOs.
Due to a schedule conflict, Lange’s head trainer Buddy McGirt was unable to work Saturday’s fight, so Lange’s camp enlisted the legendary International Boxing Hall of Famer Angelo Dundee and the highly-regarded Tommy Gallagher to serve as his corner men. Both seemed to provide the necessary motivation and support for the season-one Contender star who was looking to bounce back after suffering a disappointing loss last February.
In the co-Main Event bouts, Dorin “The Pride of Portsmouth” Spivey (34-4, 28 KOs) earned a well-fought, eight-round unanimous decision (80-72, 79-73, 78-74) against Mexico’s Roberto Valenzuela (37-26, 33 KOs), and Newark, DE’s Larry “The Laser” Marks (29-8, 16 KOs) defeated Washington, DC’s Purcell “Hard Rock” Miller (22-5-1, 18 KOs) with a commanding eight-round unanimous decision (80-71, 79-72, 79-72).
Lange’s Contender co-star Anthony “The Bullet” Bonsante (27-8-3, 16 KOs) of Shakopee, MN, delivered a strong performance by knocking out Larry “The Gladiator” Brothers (6-20, 4 KOs) of Washington, DC at 2:34 in the fourth round of a scheduled six-rout tilt. Dumfries, VA’s Derek Amos (14-23, 9 KOs) and Juan Carlos Robles (4-0, 2 KOs) of Waynesboro, VA, got the evening started with a competitive heavyweight slugfest with undefeated Robles emerging victorious with a four-round unanimous decision.
Jed Phipps (17-5, 10 K0s) of Baltimore, MD failed his physical, canceling his heavyweight showdown against Washington, DC’s Rohan “The Buffalo Soldier” Wallace (6-4, 4 KOs). Time limitations imposed by the venue prevented two other swing bouts featuring “Money” Mike Sawyer (2-1, 2 KOs) of Falls Church, VA vs. Sault St. Marie, MI’s Randy McRorie (0-1) and Riverdale, MD’s Horace “The Reason” Grant (1-0, 1 KO) vs. Jonathon Felton (2-4, 2 KOs) of Woodbridge, VA, from taking place.
Among the notable dignitaries attending the fight were undefeated welterweight contender Paul “The Punisher” Williams, former middleweight champion William Joppy, former world champion Pernell “Sweat Pea” Whitaker (who served as Spivey’s trainer), “First Lady of Boxing” and Contender star Jackie Kallen, popular George Mason University men’s basketball head coach Jim Larranaga and former Washington Redskins star Brian Mitchell.
Joe Hensley of Major League Boxing (www.majorleagueboxing.com) was the promoter of record and Nick Tiberi served as matchmaker.