On Friday night at Robin Park Centre in Wigan, England, Lee Haskins, 18-2 (9), overcame stiff resistance to take the British super flyweight title from reigning champ Andy Bell, 11-4 (3), by decision after twelve rounds of combat on a Frank Maloney promotion. The early rounds were disjointed as cagey southpaw Haskins proved to be an elusive target for Bell and the frequent clinches led to several instances of the two men tumbling to the canvas in locked embrace. Haskins was the first to find his rhythm as the Bristol man zeroed in a sharp right jab while Bell continued to wait for an opening..
After the midway point, Bell began to close distance and landed with increasing frequency but the footwork and harrying offense of Haskins didn’t allow the champion to mount anything resembling a sustained attack and soon the clinches and wrestling falls to the canvas began again in earnest.
The last couple of rounds saw each man score with hard single shots but the end of the 12th frame brought closure to an awkward affair as Haskins took all three cards by scores of 116-113 twice and 115-114, winning the British title at 115 pounds.
On the undercard, featherweight Akaash Bhatia, 13-0 (4), crushed Marc Callaghan, 19-15-1 (4), via second round KO to win the vacant Southern Area belt. The London prospect was simply too fresh for former title challenger Callaghan, who was dropped in the first from a lightning left hook to the temple.
Bhatia launched a brutal body assault in the second and brought the tight guard of Callaghan down enough to score with another big left hook that forced the veteran to a knee and he was counted out.
Welter Mark Thompson, 18-1 (11), stopped Craig Dickson, 15-6-1 (8), in the seventh round after a fiery battle of wills. The prospect dropped Dickson in the second but the gritty Scot came back to give Thompson difficulty in the sixth frame.
Dickson’s brave effort was put down in the seventh when Thompson strung together a sustained shelling that brought an end to the thrilling two way contest.
Light middle Thomas McDonagh, 33-1-3 (6), outpointed Michael Monaghan, 17-24 (2), after six rounds and English Super Bantam titlist Mark Moran, 11-0-1 (3), picked up a good win against spoiler Youssef Al Hamidi, 4-12-1 (1), after a six round non-title clash at super feather.
Light heavy Tony Quigley, 12-1 (5), showed superb boxing skills while producing a fifth round cuts stoppage of opponent Nathan King, 12-12 (1). Promising featherweight Scott Quigg, 10-0 (6), stopped Sumaila Badu, 4-13 (1), in the first round.
Bantamweight Paul Edwards, 2-0 (0), posted a four round verdict over Delroy Spencer, 10-75-3 (1), and Peter Jones, 1-0 (0), came away with the win after four against Johnny Greaves, 1-19 (1), at light welter.
Cruiserweight John Lewis Dickinson, 1-0 (0), defeated Paul Bonson, 20-103-8 (1), on points after four rounds as did light welter Karl Place, 2-0 (1), against Carl Allen, 18-73-7 (5).
BASTIE “THE BEAST” SAMIR UNLEASHED IN PRO DEBUT SCORES FIRST ROUND KNOCKOUT IN YORK , PA
YORK, PA (November 10, 2008) Middleweight Bastie “THE BEAST” Samir was unleashed on Saturday night making his pro debut with a devastating first round of Jamaica’s Marvin Blair at the Valencia Ballroom in York, PA.
The 2008 captain of the Ghanan Olympic Team patiently stalked Blair from the opening bell as he measured his punches including two crippling left hooks to the body. Sticking him with a bazooka like left jab, Samir dropped Blair in the neutral corner after the two minute mark.
Although Blair was able to beat the count, Samir flooded him with power shots forcing the referee’s stoppage at the 2:55 mark. The loss evened Blair’s record to 2-2-1.
“I was a little nervous as this was my pro debut but once the bell rang it was just another boxing match. I’m looking forward to fighting often in the coming months” said the soft spoken 22 year old Samir.
The plan laid out by Chet Koerner of TKO BOXING Promotions and manager Cameron Dunkin is for Samir to stay very active in the next year with a planned return to the ring to be announced very shortly.
Said Koerner, “The jab he dropped him with was similar to the way Ike Quartey used to throw it, like a bazooka. He’s a hard hitting middleweight and very solid technically. No question he’s got the skills to be a world class fighter.”
Further information on TKO BOXING Promotions can be obtained at their website, www.tkoboxingpromotions.com
“Double Down” Undercard at Horseshoe Casino Includes Miami’s Joey Hernandez,
Hopkins Sparring Partner & ’08 Haitian Olympian Elie Augustam, Two Italians Make Their US Debuts
Plus Chicagoans Carl “Iron Fist” Davis & Cedric “23” Agnew
Nov. 11 (CHICAGO, IL)- Richie Parrillo Jr. has released further details regarding “Double Down,” an evening of championship boxing including three titles up for grabs on Friday, November 21st at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond. Special guest, boxing legend Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, will be ringside as Parrillo presents the10-bout card with a portion of the event ticket sales benefiting the area Boys & Girls Clubs.
In addition to Eric Mitchell (22-4-1, 11 KOs) vs. Danny Perez (33-5, 17 KOs) for the USBA and NABO junior middleweight titles and Aaron Mitchell (26-1-1, 21 KOs) vs. Delray Raines (14-4, 9 KOs) for the NABO middleweight strap, “Double Down” features an action packed undercard of undefeated contenders and rising prospects including Joey “Twinkle Fingers” Hernandez (13-0, 6 KOs), an undefeated junior middleweight prospect from Miami.
Possessing talent, good looks and an enviable lifestyle, 24-year-old Joey Hernandez Jr. has a tremendous fan following among the young and beautiful in south Florida. He also has a lot of “haters.” The son of one of south Florida’s most successful contractors, Hernandez grew up in a privileged household.
“Since I didn’t grow up poor in the ghetto, a lot of people think I can’t possibly have that hunger to win,” Hernandez said. “I’m going to prove to all the ‘haters’ who want to see me get knocked out that I have just as much desire to be a champion as anyone else.”
“ My dad is the American Dream,” Joey continued. “He came here from Cuba with absolutely nothing and built a big, successful business. I have my own dreams and they include a world championship.”
In 2002, after beating Rock Allen at a national amateur tournament, Joey seemed to have an immediate future as a professional boxer. Instead, he became distracted and began running the streets and getting in trouble.
It seems that rich boys rebel too.
In 2006, he grew up, got it together and made his professional debut before a huge crowd of fans at Miccosukee Resort in Miami.
Since then, he’s built a perfect record of 13-0 with 6 knock outs and has grown a south Florida fan base to
rival many young athletes in Miami. Popular with the area’s young media and welcomed as a VIP in the hottest clubs on South Beach, Joey just might be the boxer you love to hate.
Hernandez faces Jessie Davis (10-11, 7 KOs) over 8 rounds.
Just two weeks ago, Elie Augustam, a 2008 Olympian from Haiti, won his professional debut by knock out. Living and training in Miami, Augustam recently got the educational opportunity of a lifetime when he served as a sparring partner for living legend Bernard Hopkins as The Executioner was preparing for his recent spectacular drubbing of Kelly Pavlik.
Elie faces Tyrone Dowdy (4-16, 3 KOs) in a 4-round middleweight bout.
Don King promoted heavyweight Carl “ Iron Fist” Davis (12-2, 9) of Chicago aims to impress his hometown crowd on November 21. On September 13, Davis scored a sixth round knock out on King’s card in Biloxi.
At 6’ 4” and 235 pounds of solid muscle, Davis, a former Canadian Football League (CFL) player, possesses the kind of big punching knock out power that fight fans love. With a victory on November 21, Davis should have enough wins on record to break into the heavyweight rankings, thus leading to bigger opportunities.
One of Chicagoland’s hottest prospects, Cedric “23” Agnew, faces Chris Ray (7-2, 7 KOs) in a 6-round light heavyweight bout. After an extensive amateur career that included winning the Junior Olympic World Championship at the age of 17 and two Chicago Golden Gloves titles, Agnew scored a spectacular second round knock out in his pro debut in January of 2007.
Still just 21-years-old, Agnew hopes to be a champion by the time he is 23. He counts Chicago’s great “23s”, Michael Jordan and Devin Hester, among his heroes.
Two European prospects from Avezzano, Italy, make their American debuts at Horseshoe Casino. Don King promoted, Ivan Fiorletta (22-4-2, 7) faces Donnell Logan (10-17-2, 5 KOs) in a 6-round lightweight bout. Fiorletta’s countryman, Gianapiero Contestable (11-0, 6), a sensation in Italy, puts his perfect record on the line in a 6-round featherweight bout.
Rounding out the card, welterweight Chris Rudd (5-0, 3 KOs), lightweight Ira Terry (20-1, 11 KOs), and junior middleweight Johnny Suarez (2-1-2, 1 KO) all see action in separate bouts.
Tickets are available for $200 VIP Ringside, $150 Ringside, $80 Main Floor and $40 Mezzanine from any Ticket Master location or from The Venue’s box office at 219/473-6060.
Horseshoe Casino Hammond is conveniently located just 20 minutes from Chicago. From the Skyway, simply exit at Indianapolis Blvd.