Once considered a can't miss prospect in the heavyweight ranks, Hot Springs, AR native Dominick has fallen on hard times as of late.  

Despite losing six of his last 11 fights - including his last two bouts by wide margins in decision losses - Guinn (28-6-1, 19 KOs) still commands respect within the division.  

Guinn lives and trains in Houston. He has an opportunity to return to the division's elite Friday night (Oct. 24) when he meets Montreal, Canada's Jean Francois Bergeron (27-1, 19 KOs) in a 10-rounder at Montreal's Bell Centre.  

The Guinn-Bergeron bout is one of the support bouts to the main event, which has Montreal's Lucian Bute (22-0, 18 KOs) defending his IBF Super Middleweight belt against Librado Andrade (27-1, 21 KOs). The tops bouts will be shown on Showtime.

In his last bout, Guinn dropped a decision last December to Philadelphia's Robert Hawkins (23-12, 7 KOs). Before that, Guinn was beaten by Philadelphia's Eddie Chambers (32-1, 18 KOs). Guinn has also lost decisions to the likes of Tony Thompson (31-2, 19 KOs), James Toney (70-6-3, 43 KOs), Serguei Lyakhovich (23-3, 14 KOs) and Monte Barrett (34-6, 20 KOs). 

Bergeron enters the fight off a 12-round unanimous decision loss to Nikolay Valuev (49-1, 34 KOs) in a bout for the NABA Heavyweight title. Previous to the match with Bergeron, Valuev lost his WBA Heavyweight belt to Ruslan Chagaev. Valuev has since regained his title.

Ganaway, Henderson Earn Shutout Wins
From Staff Reports 

Two Deep South boxers won their respective matches over the weekend and remained undefeated. 

Both Little Rock lightweight Rashad Ganaway (5-0, 4 KOs) and Donaldsonville, LA cruiserweight Hasan Henderson (5-0, 4 KOs) won four-rounders by unanimous decision in fights at Harlingen, Texas and Houston, respectively. 

At Harllingen's Casa De Amistad, Ganaway won 40-36 on all cards over San Antonio's Ramiro Torres. It was the first decision win for Ganaway.  

At Houston's Kicks Gym, the 30-year-old Henderson also won 40-36 on all cards over Austin's Matthew Thompson (2-2-1, 1 KO). Henderson weighed 203 pounds, while Thompson came in at just over 198 pounds.  

Oct. 24 Card In Columbia (TN) Cancelled
From Staff Reports 

The professional boxing card scheduled for Oct. 24 at the National Guard Armory in Columbia, TN has been cancelled because of a conflict with the state, according to promoter Tim Gibson, of Unopposed Promotions.  

"I had to cancel the show due to the state of Tennessee not getting its ducks in a row," Gibson said. "There's the new rules it's going by." 

The state of Tennessee is having growing pains as it attempts to develop a boxing commission, that was recently approved by state government. Reportedly, the state has yet to name an executive director. The August card at Nashville's Sommet Center was supervised by the Louisiana State Athletic Commission. 

The Columbia card was to feature two Southern Championship Boxing Council (SCBC) fight featuring Jacksboro, TN middleweight Ben Foust (11-0, 10 KOs), and local light middleweight Sammy Sparkman (20-17-1, 9 KOs).

Opponents for the two fighters had not been named. Columbia super featherweight Jerome Pillow (14-0, 10 KOs) was also set to return after over 30 months away from the ring.

Dunworth Makes Short Work Of Johnson
BY DENNIS McCASLIN
DSB Correspondent 

PARIS, AR - The final "Slugout Autism Night" for 2008 was Saturday (Oct. 18) at Paris Middle School gym. It featured a 12-fight card with several making their debut and the continued saga of Australian cruiserweight Dexter "The Dingo" Dunworth. 

Dunworth moved to 9-1 overall with a fourth-round stoppage of vet Ron Johnson and earned the Mid-South Cruiserweight title in the eight-round main event. 

At 52, Dunworth is the oldest active prizefighter in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. He stalked grizzled Ron Johnson (22-27) for three rounds before delivering a flurry of punches that sent Johnson  to one knee at the 1:22 mark of the fourth round. 

A native of Sydney, Australia, Dunworth fought his ninth bout under the Slugout umbrella since he started his career in June 2007 at the age of 51. Dunworth was also the center of attention during the week leading up to the fight as part of a documentary being filmed on older fighters and their motivation to keep climbing into the ring. 

In the four-round co-feature, hometown slugger Matt "Rock Hard" McCartney ran his record to 4-0, 4 KOs in the cruiserweight class with a TKO at 1:55 of newcomer Rusty Rimes. McCartney over-powered Rimes from the outset and brought the fight to a close with a crushing body blow that took all the fight out of Rimes, who also hails from Paris. 

Ozark cruiser Jared Holt (2-0, 2 KOs) with a first-round TKO over debuting June Brown. Ft. Smith super middleweight Terrance Wilson was technically superior in a found-round unanimous decision win over 17-fight veteran Dominique Azeez, of Pine Bluff.

Russellville female lightweight Kerri "The Rage" Hill got just her second win in 14 tries when she out-pointed Kristi Lee Novak (0-2), of Fayetteville, in a four-round slugfest. 

David "Irish Bulldog" Dumas (2-0, 2 KOs) successfully defended his "Arkansas Trailer Park" welterweight title when debuting Brian Strege, of Washington state, failed to answer the bell after the first round. 

Another newcomer, Paris welterweight Ryan Summers, notched the first win of his career with a second-round TKO over debuter John Barnes. Marcus Brown KO'd Michael Dick at 1:58 of the first round to kick start his career. 

Lee Bagan had a successful debut. He stopped Mark Bier (0-4) at the 1:42 mark of the opening round, and Lamar's Jessie Porter,moved to 2-3 by beating the will out of Fort Smith heavyweight Ron Collins (2-16), at the 2:03 mark of the second frame. 

Brad "The Firecracker:Hill moved to 9-11 overall with an opening-round stoppage of David Molton (0-13) in a super middleweight showdown. 

In the opener, Delray "Rainmaker" Raines, of Paris moved to 14-4, 9 KOs with a strategic found-round unanimous decision over a game Mike Terry (1-5). 

Proceeds from card went to benefit autism research in Arkansas.

Popular Dunworth On Main Stage Saturday
From Staff Reports 

PHILADELPHIA - Two undefeated super flyweights, Prize Fight Boxing's Victor Proa, of Monterrey, Mexico and San Antonio's Raul Martinez meet in the scheduled 10-round main event Friday evening, Nov. 14 at the New Alhambra in South Philadelphia. 

The The Martinez-Proa contest, as well as the 10-round welterweight semifinal between Alex Camacho, of Austin, TX, and Brazil's Edvan Barros will be televised live by Telefutura/Univision as part of a two-hour Solo Boxeo broadcast beginning at 7 p.m. CT.  

Proa, 23, is on the verge of a world ranking, boasting a 26-0-2 record with 19 KOs. 

In his last fight, on Sept. 25, in Monterrey, Proa earned a repeat win over Tampico, Mexico's Arturo Estrada via a 10-round decision. Proa signed with Prize Fight Boxing just before his fight in May against Culiacan, Mexico's Valentin Leon, at Fitzgerald's Casino and Hotel, in Tunica, MS. In a bout scheduled for 10 rounds, Proa knocked out Leon in three. 

Martinez, 26, is ranked among the best super flyweights (115 pounds) in the world by all major sanctioning organizations. He is 23-0, 13 KOs.

Releford Wins At Texarkana By TKO (4)
From Staff Reports

TEXARKANA, AR - Heavyweight Kendrick "The Apostle" Releford snapped a three-bout losing streak by stopping Michael Hamilton by fourth-round TKO on Saturday (Oct. 11) in Bad Boy Promotions' "Rumble on the Line" card at Four States Fairgrounds. 

Releford (16-12-2, 7 KOs) caught Hamilton (3-4-1, 2 KOs) with a left-right combination while Hamilton had his back to the ropes, according to promoter Brandon Foster. After Hamilton rose after the knockdown, the fight was stopped. The fight was scheduled for eight rounds. 

The 210-pound Releford hails from Fort Worth, TX, while Hamilton lives in Tyer, TX. 

The six-round super middleweight co-feature saw Charleston, AR resident Justin Flanagan win his fifth straight via a unanimous decision over Oklahoma City's Tremayne Hines. 

"It was a slow, methodical win for Flanagan (9-1, 5 KOs)," Foster said. Hines dropped to 3-13-2. 

A four-round heavyweight clash had Texan Scott Rossum win by KO at 1:47 of the opening round over local fighter Sergio Platt, who was making his pro debut. Rossum (14-2, 12 KOs) caught Platt with a right hand to the temple, according to Foster. 

"The fight of the night," according to Foster, was a four-round heavyweight match between Crossett's Kevin Stroud and Rozell Taylor, of Texarkana, TX. Stroud (6-0, 5 KOs) won a split decision. He and Taylor (1-5) continued to throw punches after the final bell, according to Foster. 

Results of the other four-round bouts are below: 

Eugene Hill (14-0, 12 KOs) won TKO 2 over Joe Fuller (0-1), heavyweights; 

Nagy Aguilera (10-0, 6 KOs) won UD 4 over Douglas Robertson, heavyweights; 

Mike Martinez (8-2, 4 KOs) won KO 2 over Larry Upchurch (0-1), junior middleweights; 

Lisa Lamb (4-1, 1 KO) won UD 4 over Amanda Grim (0-1), female featherweights; 

Chris Abercrombie (1-0, 1 KO) won TKO over Carl Pierce (2-6-1, 1 KO), cruiserweights.
 

Phillip Hammac, left, absorbs a right from Aaron Norwood during a six-round light heavyweight bout on Friday in Columbus. Norwood won a unanimous decision. (Photo credit: Gail Janotta)
                  
After Victory, Norwood Eyes Return To 168
BY RANDY HAMMONS
Editor at ringside 

COLUMBUS, MS - Aaron Norwood is just trying to find a home where he can make the biggest impact. 

Norwood began his professional boxing career in 1996 fighting at 168 pounds. But over the last two years, Norwood has tested the waters up at 175 pounds with mixed results, going 5-4 with three knockouts. However, three of those four defeats during that stretch as a light heavyweight were by stoppage. 

The 41-year-old Norwood, a Hattiesburg native, declared himself finished fighting at light heavyweight after his six-round unanimous decision victory over Mobile, AL veteran Phillip Hammac Friday night (Oct. 10) at the Trotter Convention Center, Norwood (26-10-2, 13 KOs) dominated from start to finish against the defensive-minded Hammac (4-22, 1 KO). Norwood easily won on the official scorecards 59-55 X 2 and 60-54. 

The eight-bout card was promoted by O-1 Productions and honored the late Henry Armstrong, a Columbus native and former three-division world champion. Armstrong, who fashioned a 151-29-9, 101 KOs record during his career, died in 1988 at the age of 72. A number of Armstrong's relatives were in attendance, along with 2008 Summer Olympic Games Bronze Medalist in Boxing, Deontay Wilder, of nearby Tuscaloosa, AL. 

The City of Columbus has other activities planned to honor Armstrong's memory on Monday (Oct. 13). 

Before Friday night, Norwood was last seen in action losing by TKO (2) to Minnesota's Zach Walters (23-3, 18 KOs), in June at Superior, WI. 

"I was in top shape for that last fight," Norwood said. "And then I get hit low. I'm fixing to get down to 168 or 165 pounds. I'm going to run through the super middleweight division. You get tired of all the politics. It's a recession and my little kids have got to eat. (Walters loss) brought out the bad in me." 

Hammac didn't exactly bring out the monster in Norwood. Norwood moved forward throughout the bout and scored with his ever-present jab and solid body work. However, it appeared Norwood declined to try for the knockout, but was content to get in the rounds. The fight pretty much duplicated Norwood's six-round unanimous decision victory over Hammac in March, at Hattiesburg. 

Norwood most often started off round flicking two jabs that was followed by a right hook. Norwood often scored with three- and four-punch combinations as Hammac retreated. 

By the fourth round, Hammac was on his bicycle and had his hands down by his side, offering Norwood a clear shot to his head, which Norwood most often took advantage.  

By the sixth round, Hammac was on his motorcycle. Norwood scored with some body shots. Hammac did connect against Norwood with a counter right hook, his best punch of the fight. 

"I was just trying to get some rust off," Norwood said. "I want something big. I'm fixing to shock everybody."

White Proves To Be Lethal Against Burden
BY RANDY HAMMONS
Editor at ringside 

COLUMBUS, MS - Sharp-punching heavyweight "Lethal" Johnnie White doesn't waste any time once he steps into the ring. His sole intention is to make short work of whomever stands in front of him. 

White collected his 12th opening-round knockout Friday night (Oct. 10). After some punishing body shots, White unleashed a stiff right hand that found a home on the chin of Timothy Burden in a six-round bout at the Trotter Convention Center. The punch caused a delayed reaction from Burden, who then fell. Burden beat referee Larry Ingle's count, but the fight was waved off at the 1:09 mark. 

With White standing just over 6-foot-1 and weighing 235 pounds, the final result appeared to be a mere formality against the 5-foot-5, 230-pound Burden, a Hattiesburg resident. But Burden came out willing to trade with White (20-0, 17 KOs), which proved to be Burden's undoing. But Burden (2-2, 1 KO) landed some early shots before White uncorked his right hook. 

"It was short and sweet and I did what I had to do," said White, who hails from St. Martinville, LA. "I wanted to go out there and box and use my reach because he was shorter than me." 

"I thought Johnnie really fought a perfect fight," said Phil Daley, White's trainer. "I thought (Burden) was going to be more of a boxer, but he was really aggressive. I knew he couldn't take those kinds of body shots, though." 

"When I throw combinations, I can't tell you what I throw; it just comes naturally," White said. 

Daley said he is working on some options for White's next fight. He said he is pointing to a Dec. 13 fight in California and televised on the Versus Network or a fight on ShoBox or ESPN in Lafayette, LA. 

The eight-bout card was in honor of former Columbus resident and three-time world champion Henry Armstrong. Armstrong died in 1988 at the age of 72. Armstrong held the world featherweight, lightweight and welterweight championships at the same time.  

Results of the remaining four-rounders are below.  

KING STOPS OUTLEY:
Tuscaloosa, AL welterweight Gundrick King stopped 45-year-old Billy Outley by TKO at 2:49 of the second round. For Outley (14-50-2, 11 KOs), it was his 40th defeat by stoppage.  

King (5-3, 5 KOs) worked the body of Outley in the opening round. At the start of the second round, a left uppercut put Outley on the mat. He rose sporting a welt under his right eye. A flurry from King then forced referee Larry Ingle to issue a standing eight-count.  

After another left uppercut and a left to the body following from King a clinch, Ingle came in and waved off the fight. Outley, from Shreveport, LA< weighed 153 pounds. 

DOWDY SHOCKS CUNNINGHAM:
Light-hitting Memphis super middleweight Tyrone Dowdy uncorked the perfect right hook and knocked out local favorite Billy Cunningham at 2:39 of the third round. Dowdy (4-15, 3 KOs) was clearly behind after the first two rounds on the cards as Cunningham (3-1, 3 KOs) worked his jab against Dowdy, who was off-balance much of the time. 

Cunningham used an effective left hook, along with a strong left hand during the first two rounds to pile up points. It appeared Cunningham was going to stop Dowdy with counter right hands, but Dowdy weathered the storm. 

After a left kook in the third knocked Dowdy back into the ropes, he uncorked the right hand that caught Cunningham flush on the chin. Cunningham's knees buckled, and then fell on his back. 

LEATHERWOOD TKOs FORET:
Birmingham, AL super middleweight prospect Keondre Leatherwood has yet to fight anyone who can test him or make it out of the first round. 

Needless to say, Paul Foret, of Bay St. Louis, didn't provide much opposition. A left-right combinations from Leatherwood quickly put Foret down. Referee Larry Ingle waved off the bout at 40 seconds of the round. 

Leatherwood improved to 3-0, 3 KOs, while Foret fell to 1-12, 1 KO. 

DUKES CLIPS COLLETT:

Cruiserweight Leon Dukes spoiled the pro debut of Heath Collett, stopping Collett by TKO at 1:28 of the opening round.

 

Dukes (4-0, 2 KOs) floored Collett twice. The first knockdown was a result of a left hook. The second came from a right hand. Referee Larry Ingle waved off the bout after the second knockdown.
 

DOUGHTY WINS BIG:

Tuscaloosa cruiserweight Anthony Doughty made short work of Bay St. Louis veteran Ernest Parfait, stopping Parfait by TKO at 1:43 of the opening round.

 

Doughty (2-0, 2 KOs) floored Parfait (2-19) twice, both from overhand rights. Ingle waved off the bout after the second knockdown.

 

NICHOLS DUMPS MILTON:

In a bout between 300-plus pound heavyweights, popular Columbus 360-pound Dustin "Worm" Nichols won by TKO at 50 seconds of the opening round against 325-pound Demarcus "Bull" Milton, of Winona.

 

A right hand to Milton's body put Milton down on face first. Ingle waved off the bout. Milton was making his professional debut.

Guerrero Dominates Watson In Victory
From Staff Reports 

SALISBURY, MD - With the hometown crowd cheering his every punch, undefeated middleweight Fernando Guerrero gave his fans plenty to cheer about Friday night (Oct. 3). 

Guerrero dominated Pennsylvania's Tim Watson from start to finish on the way to an unanimous decision victory at the Wicomico Civic Center and televised on ShoBox: "The New Generation." Watson appeared hurt in several instances, but was never in danger of visiting the mat. The official scorecards reflected Guererro's utter dominance; 80-72 X 2 and 80-71. 

For Guerrero (10-0, 9 KOs), it was his first eight-rounder. He is a member of the Prize Fight Boxing stable and maintained pressure throughout. Watson (7-1, 3 KOs) had no answer for Guerrero's solid left hooks and straight-ahead style. 

A southpaw, Guerrero scored at will with the left hook to the head and body. As was often the case, Guerrero punched and took a short step back to reload and went at Watson again. Watson often absorbed seven- and eight-punch combinations and offered nothing in return. 

To his credit, Watson did land with the occasional right hand. But they were few and far between. By the end of the fight, Guerrero walked through them. 

Guerrero moved to Salisbury from his native Dominican Republic when he was eight years old. It was his first fight in his adopted hometown.  

Prize Fight's Guerrero On ShoBox Friday
From Rachel Charles Media

MEMPHIS, TN - September 30 - They say it takes a village to raise a child, in this case it's a whole town, and on Friday, October 3, Salisbury, MD will see the results of the dedication and support it put behind its favorite son, Fernando Guerrero.

The undefeated middleweight prospect is a member of the Prize Fight Boxing stable. Guerrero (9-0, (9 KOs) opens up a Prize Fight-Duva Boxing co-promoted ShoBox: "The New Generation" card at the Wicomico Civic Center in Salisbury.
 

Guerrero takes on undefeated Tyrone Watson (7-0, 3 KOs) out of Pittsburgh, PA, in a scheduled eight-round middleweight bout. This is a big step up in Guerrero's already impressive professional career. The 21-year-old Dominican-born fighter has quickly made a name for himself by taking out all of his opponents with his devastating powerful knock out punch. With the hometown crowd behind him, one can expect Guerrero to pull out all the stops on Friday night. Ticket sales have gone through the roof with well over 3,000 sold already.
 

Fight fans in the Mid-South have long known of the young phenom being that he has fought on a number of the successful Prize Fight promoted "Fights At The Fitz" in Tunica, MS. Now Guerrero takes his show on the road making his second appearance in front of a nationally televised audience, and his chance to box in the footsteps of fighters that have gone on to become icons in the sport.
 

"I am thrilled to be fighting on ShoBox. It's an honor for me to be able to showcase my talents on a network that prides itself on showcasing young prospects," Guerrero said. "It's also a dream come true to be fighting in front of my hometown crowd. Words can't express how I feel right now."
 

"Team Guerrero would not be where we are today if not for the support of Salisbury. It's an honor and a privilege to be fighting in our hometown," said Guerrero's manager, Hal Chernoff.

Howard Overcomes Adversity For Victory
BY RANDY HAMMONS
Editor

TUNICA, MS - The big test of any professional boxer comes when they must deal with adversity. 

Lightweight Chris "Hurricane" Howard passed the test on Saturday after he suffered a number of low blows and punches after the bell during his eight-round slugfest Saturday against wily veteran Derrick Moon at Fitzgerald's Hotel & Casino. 

Howard, from Crossville, TN, pounded out a unanimous decision victory over Moon in the main event on a five-bout card that was promoted by Prize Fight Promotions. Howard won on all three official scorecards, 77-75. He entered the fight looking to shut out Moon (12-23-1, 2 KOs) on all three cards. 

"He hit me low several times and he hit me after the bell," Howard said. "In the sixth, he hit me super late with body shots. It was almost a fight-changing blow, but I kept myself together and came back out and did what I had to do. He was frustrated for not being able to get to me. He even fought a little dirtier than I expected." 

Howard said he followed the gameplan to win the fight. 

"I just kept a hard, stiff jab going. Every time he stepped in, I made him pay," Howard said. "We'd be in the center of the ring, and he'd come in and I'd let my punches go. I'd step and make him turn, and he'd have to start all over again. I just stayed outside and waited on him. When he came in, I cracked him." 

Howard and his team formulated their gameplan after observing the tape of Moon's eight-round bout in May against fellow Prize Fight light welterweight Mark Davis. Davis won that fight by unanimous decision by scores of 78-74 and 77-75 x 2. Moon appeared to mix it up a little more against Howard. 

"My conditioning was awesome," Howard said. "If I wasn't in as good a shape as I was, those body shots would have been detrimental. We didn't win by the margin we wanted, but a victory is a victory and we're set to move on to bigger and better things."  

Howard said Prize Fight's Brian Young is negotiating to add Howard to the Nov. 15 card in Nashville that is headlined by super middleweights Jermain Taylor, of Little Rock, and Jeff Lacy. The venue is vanderbilt University's Memorial Gymnasium. 

DAVIS EARNS TKO: A fierce right hand from Prize Fight light welterweight Mark Davis all but put the lights out on Gulfport's Carl McNickols. McNickols managed to get up after the punch, but his corner threw in the towel. The end of the fight came at 2:15 of the round.

Davis began putting the pressure on starting the second round i the bout that was scheduled for six rounds. Davis improved to 9-0, 4 KOs, while McNickols fell to 5-2, 5 KOs. 

WOODS WHIPS TODD: Female welterweight Nicole Woods was too much for Fort Smith, AR opponent Mandy Todd. Woods was all over Todd from the start enroute to stopping Todd at 40 seconds of the third round for her first victory by stoppage. The fight was scheduled for six rounds. 

A Stone Mountain, GA resident, Woods improved to 6-3 overall. Todd, who received a standing eight-count at the end of the second round, dropped to 2-1, 2 KOs. 

FLORES DECISIONS GRAVES: Houston, TX heavyweight Ray Flores was a four-round unanimous decision winner over Gulfport's Darius Graves, who was making his pro debut. Flores (1-1). Both fighters weighed 220 pounds. 

PETERSON BELTS CLAYTON: Nineteen-year-old Chattanooga, TN heavyweight Jesse Peterson took out Meridian's Ricardo Clayton at 22 seconds of the second round. The bout was scheduled for four. Peterson improved to 2-0, 1 KO, while Clayton fell to 0-2, both by stoppage. Peterson weighed 260 pounds; Clayton 288. 

Smith, Raines Lose In Regional Title Bouts
From Staff Reports 

Four Deep South boxers lost decisions over the past weekend, including two fights with regional championships at stake. 

Fighting for the IBF Pan Pacific and WBO Oriental heavyweight titles on Saturday (Sept. 27) at Christchurch Town Hall, Little Rock's Terry Smith dropped a 12-round unanimous decision to defending champion Shane Cameron, of New Zealand. Cameron (22-1, 19 KOs) won on the official cards by scores of 119-108 and 117-110 X 2, according to the New Zealand Press. 

Cameron put Smith (30-6-1, 18 KOs) down in both the seventh and 10 rounds. For Smith, it was his fourth straight loss, all by decision. 

At Harbour Yard, in Bridgeport, CT, super middleweight Delray Raines, of Paris, AR, stepped in as a late replacement for Robert "Popup" Frazier, and lost a 10-round unanimous decision to Norwalk, CT's Tarvis Simms.  

The fight had the WBF All Americas championship at stake. Simms (23-0-1, 11 KOs) won on all three cards 100-90, according to the Connecticut Post. Raines dropped to 14-4, 9 KOs. 

Fights at the Mahi Shrine Temple Auditorium in Miami on Friday saw Miami middleweight Tony Roman improve to 7-0, 4 KOs with an eight-round unanimous decision victory over Savannah, TN's Jessie Davis (10-11, 7 KOs). And Clarksdale, MS heavyweight Willie Perryman (10-16, 7 KOs) lost a six-round majority decision to Miami's Henry Fuentes (7-0, 4 KOs).

Howard Plans To Leave It All In Ring

BY RANDY HAMMONS

Editor

 

Undefeated Tennessee lightweight Chris "Hurricane" Howard has reached the point in his career where each fight carries a little more significance than the previous bout.

 

Four months ago, in only his eighth fight, the 19-year-old Howard (8-0, 4 KOs) dominated 55-fight veteran John Trigg enroute to winning a six-round unanimous decision. Howard won by a shutout on two official cards, and lost but one round on the third card.

 

A resident of Crossville, TN, Howard said he plans on performing on an even higher plain Saturday (Sept. 27) when he meets another rugged veteran in Texan Derrick Moon (12-22-1, 2 KOs) at Fitzgeralds Hotel & Casino in Tunica, MS and promoted by Prize Fight Boxing. The eight-round bout is the main event and is Howard's first eight rounder.

 

Moon also fought on the Prize Fight card in May, losing a close, but unanimous decision, to Mark Davis in an eight-rounder. Howard said he gleaned a lot of useful information from that fight.

 

"Trigg is a little more technically sound than Moon, but Moon has better footwork and faster hands," Howard said. "Maybe Mark wasn't in that great of shape, or for whatever reason, Mark really didn't press the fight like I'm going to. The only difference is against me, (Moon) will be having punches in his face. When he comes in, he better be careful because I do have knockout power in my hands."

 

Since losing to Davis, Moon has lost two more by decision, including a majority decision earlier this month to fellow Texan Curtis Meeks (9-1-2, 3 KOs).

 

"His hands are slow," Howard said about Moon. "He switches right in front of you which puts him off balance. That's when I plan to make him pay for his mistakes.

 

"I'm not looking for a knockout," Howard added. "But if it comes, it comes. My main goal for this fight is to win 80-72 across the board. I don't want to lose a round."

 

Howard said he has brushed up on his defense since Trigg did catch him with more than just a few telling hooks.

 

"Of course, every fight is a learning experience," Howard said. "Trigg got me a lot because my hands were down too low. I've been working on keeping my hands higher and staying behind my shoulder and keeping my chin down. I don't want to get caught with anything stupid. I just want to let him take his beating."

 

Howard proclaimed himself to be in the best shape of his life. Howard said he has trained seven weeks for this fight.

 

"I'm trying to average 100 punches per round. I want to make him get tired," Howard said. "I've never been in this kind of physical condition. He is expecting me to not come in not prepared. I'm confident from all the work I've put in. I'm very prepared."

 

"He is punching harder with his new strength," said Eric Howard, Chris' trainer and father. "I think he is going to impress a lot of folks Saturday night."  

 

Chris Howard said he more than comfortable in the ring.

 

"I can't express how important this fight is for me," Howard said. "This is my job and what I was born to do. It being my first eight-rounder makes me feel like I'm stepping up to the championship rounds and becoming a real, legitimate pro. I've got to be ready. The only way he's going to take my undefeated record from ne is to kill me." 


Edner Cherry, left, connects with a left jab against Timothy Bradley Saturday. Bradley won a unanimous decision to retain his WBC Super Lightweight title. (Photo credit: Gail Janotta) 

Bradley Adjusts To Keep 140-Pound Title
BY RANDY HAMMONS
Editor at ringside

BILOXI, MS - Boxing champions have the unique ability to adjust during the course of a bout. 

Count Timothy "Desert Storm" Bradley in that group. 

Bradley elected to mix it up with Edner Cherry early on in the WBC Super Lightweight championship Saturday (Sept. 13) at the Beau Rivage Hotel & Casino Theatre. Bradley then changed tactics and maintained space midway through the bout that was on Showtime.

Bradley won a lopsided unanimous decision in the first defense of his title he won in his previous fight via a split decision victory over Junior Witter. A Palm Springs, CA resident, Bradley (23-0, 11 KOs) knocked down Cherry in the eighth and went on to win on the official scorecards by scores of 119-109, 118-109 and 117-110. 

Bradley had his jab working from the beginning. Cherry (24-6-2, 12 KOs) managed some solid shots of his own, but often found himself lunging in. 

Bradley eventually caught Cherry with a counter right in the eighth that put Cherry down. Bradley then displayed some bravado by walking in with his hands low. But Cherry survived the round and did get in a nice right hand at the end of the round. 

"The key was my jab and movement," Bradley said. "When I stayed in front of him that gave him an opportunity. But once I got on my toes counter-punching, It was a lot easier for me. He was strong on the inside. It was too dangerous for me on the inside. In the eighth round, I got back to boxing using my jab." 

Bradley said the knockdown was the result of good defense. Just before the knockdown, Cherry connected with nice right hand of his own that knocked Bradley backward. 

"I got him with a James Toney right hand in the eighth," Bradley said. "I rolled my left shoulder and came back with a right hand. If I had caught him with the extension, he would have been out cold." 

Near the end of the 11th round, Cherry connected with a solid right hook that appeared to shake up Bradley, who chose to retreat. Cherry tried to follow up on the big punch but was wide with a lot of punches. 

"Edner Cherry is a dangerous puncher," Bradley said. "I know about the 'Cherry Bomb,' I was trying to stay away from (the hook) and not get caught. I got careless in the 11th and got too comfortable. He caught me with some good punches." 

Cherry was fighting for his first world title. He took the loss in stride. 

"I take my hat off to Tim Bradley," Cherry said. "I missed a lot of punches. I was head-hunting a lot and missing because of his bobbing and weaving." 

Cherry came up to challenge Bradley. Cherry usually fights at lightweight. 

"I'll go back down to 135. This was an opportunity to fight for a title at 140 that I couldn't pass up. I'll be back."

Main Championship Implodes At 11th Hour   
BY RANDY HAMMONS
Editor at ringside 

BILOXI, MS - It's always a happening whenever legendary boxing promoter Don King makes his grand entrance into the arena sometime before the main event. 

King arrived at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino's Theatre on Saturday (Sept. 13) sometime during the WBC Featherweight eliminator between No. 1 contender and No. 2 Elio Rojas. In tow, was Mississippi Governor the Hon. Haley Barbour and their separate security detail. In addition, many of boxing's most colorful personalities were already in the house awaiting the bout to be televised live by Showtime. 

The only thing missing turned out to be the main event. 

Tampa's Nate "The Galaxxy Warrior" Campbell (39-5-1, 25 KOs) was scheduled to defend his IBF/WBO/WBA lightweight championships against the Dominican Republic's Joan "The Sycuan Warrior" Guzman (28-0, 17 KOs). Guzman vacated a world championship in a lighter weight class to challenge Campbell. 

But Guzman never made the division's 135-pound weight limit. He weighed 3.5 pounds over the limit after Friday's official weigh-in. He didn't attempt to make weight by weighing in a second time. Guzman decided to fight anyway, but he could not win Campbell's championships, and Campbell could not lose the belts if Guzman won the bout. 

Campbell said he learned Guzman was not going to go through with the fight shortly after entering the arena at 6 p.m.. Guzman's team cited dehydration as the cause for Guzman to back out. 

"It's just crazy," an obviously disgusted Campbell said as he sat behind the press table in street clothes. "I've been training hard and showed up to fight. Aren't we all sick about fighters who are just worried about themselves and not doing what they're supposed to do? He's an undisciplined fighter. All he had to do was make the weight." 

Campbell said eight weeks of preparation and personal expense were wasted. He hired personal trainer James Montanocordoba from Hampton, GA to work with him. 

"I have incurred a lot of expense to get ready for this fight," Campbell said. "This puts me in a financial bind. I did my job. I came down here to defend my titles.  

"It hurts," Campbell added. "I left my wife and kids to get ready for this fight. But it's just one of those things. I'm going to stay in shape. I trained for this fight like I did when I was an up and coming fighter." 

The Mississippi Athletic Commission has the option to fine Guzman and/or suspend him for a year. 

Sycuan Ringside Promotions president Scott Woodworth said Guzman was advised not to fight by hospital physicians because of dehydration. 

"(Guzman) was at weight last week at this time. He feels like he let this entire card down," Woodworth said. "The entire Dominican Republic was here. He would have fought, but at 6 p.m., when he stood up, he fell back in the chair. The weight wasn't coming off because dehydration has set in." 

What was scheduled to be a feature bout turned out to be the night's main event. Palm Springs, CA's Timothy "Desert Storm" Bradley successfully defended his WBC Super Lightweight title with a 12-round unanimous decisioin victory over Wauchula, FL's Edner "Cherry Bomb" Cherry. It was the first defense for Bradley (24-0, 11 KOs), who knocked down Cherry (24-6-2, 12 KOs) with a right counter in the eighth round.  



Hector Velazquez, left, absorbs a right hook from Elio Rojas Saturday at Beau Rivage in Biloxi. Rojas won a unanimous decision in the WBC Featherweight eliminator. (Photo credit: Gail Janotta)

Rojas Picks Velazquez Apart In Eliminator
BY RANDY HAMMONS
Editor at ringside 

BILOXI, MS - For all intents and purposes, it was pretty much target practice as far as No. 2 contender Elio Rojas was concerned in his WBC featherweight eliminator against top contender Hector Velazquez. 

Rojas was simply the quicker of the two and the more accurate with his punches. Velazquez pressed the action for the most part, but all the Mexican's aggressiveness got him was a right or left hook bouncing off the side of his head. 

A native of the the Dominican Republic who currently lives in Brooklyn, NY, Rojas dominated throughout and won a one-sided unanimous decision and assured himself a shot at WBC Featherweight champion Oscar Larios, of Mexico. Rojas (20-1, 13 KOs) won on the official scorecards Saturday (Sept. 13) by scores of 119-109 X 2 and 120-108 at the Beau Rivage Hotel and Casino. The one-dimensional Velazquez fell to 50-12-2, 35 KOs. 

There were no knockdowns in the fight, but Velasquez took some mighty shots that probably would have floored most fighters. Rojas set the tone for the fight early. With Velazquez pressing forward, Rojas landed three consecutive booming left hooks to the head of Velazquez after he took a short step back to get himself in position. 

"I tried to knock him down, but every hook and uppercut I landed he just took it," Rojas said through an interpreter. "We trained to go 12 rounds. He was coming in with his head and trying to butt me." 

The right hand was the punch of choice for Rojas in the fifth, sixth and seventh rounds. By the eighth, right-left combinations from Rojas drew blood from a cut on the forehead of Velazquez. The remainder of the fight had Rojas scoring with mostly his right hand as Velazquez came in.



Jackson, TN super welterweight Anthony Bowman, left, winds up to throw a right against Italy's Luca Messi Saturday in Biloxi. Bowman lost a disputed eight-round decision. (Photo credit: Gail Janotta)

Bowman Loses Disputed Decision To Messi
BY RANDY HAMMONS
Editor at ringside 

BILOXI, MS - Italy's Luca Messi fought for the WBA Light Middleweight title three years ago.

 

At about the same time, Jackson, TN's Anthony Bowman was in the midst of an 18-bout losing skid.

 

Their paths crossed Saturday night (Sept. 13) on the undercard of Don King's "Nowhere To Run" show at the Beau Rivage Hotel & Casino. The final outcome hardly mirrored the action in the ring.

 

Bowman probably fought the best fight of his career and constantly out-punched Messi. But Messi somehow won an eight-round unanimous decision by scores of 77-75 X 2 and 78-74, much to the dismay of many in attendance. Deep South Boxing saw Bowman winning the super welterweight scrap 78-74,

 

Bowman (10-31-2, 3 KOs) has now lost 22 of his last 24 bouts. Bowman has made a living getting calls on short notice. And that usually results in losses be cause of a lack of conditioning.

 

But not on Saturday. Bowman took it to Messi and delivered digging shots to the body throughout the bout. Messi (33-7-1, 11 KOs) appeared unable to catch up to Bowman for that one big shot for which he was waiting.

 

Bowman fired off three- and four-punch combos in the early going. In the later rounds, Bowman used his jab to keep Messi at bay and also went effectively to the body. For his part, Messi threw single punches with the right hook being his most effective weapon.

 

"it was one of those cased where you're on the road and know you've got to knock him out to win. This was a perfect example of that," Bowman's trainer Malcolm Terry said. "We kept encouraging Anthony to go to the body and throw the uppercut. He did what we asked him to do. He just didn't get his hand raised at the end of the fight."

 

LINARES EARNS TKO:

In an eight-round welterweight bout, Venezuela's Nelson Linares, the WBA's No. 3 contender, won by TKO in the fourth over Knoxville's Thomas Davis. The end came at 1:47 of the fourth.

 

Linares (16-0-1, 9 KOs) floored Davis three times in the bout, including twice in the fourth round from right hooks. Linar4es flattened Davis in the third round from a jab followed by a left hook to the head.

 

The loss was the third straight for Davis (12-9-2, 7 KOs) and sixth out of his last seven.  

 

CARL DAVIS IMPRESSES:

Heavyweight Carl "Iron Fist" Davis proved to be just that as he knocked out Tuscaloosa, AL trialhorse Wade "Rock" Lewis at 1:00 of the sixth round in a fight scheduled for eight.

 

The fight was competitive from the start, with Davis scoring with left hooks and uppercuts. Lewis fired off combinations and right hooks.

 

Momentum swung toward Davis in the fourth as he landed solid right hands. His stiff jab caused Lewis problems.

 

Davis caught Lewis flush with a right uppercut in the sixth that caused Lewis to drop in sections. Referee Bill Clancy reached the count of eight before he waved off the bout.

 

"A lot of people say I have a nice uppercut. That's something we were working on in this camp," Davis said. "He tool some right hands pretty nice. He was stronger than I thought he was.  

 

A resident of Evanston, IL, the victory was the fifth straight for the lean 6-foot-5, 230-pound Davis (12-2, 9 KOs). His losses are a six--round decision loss to NABF champion Travis Walker (28-1-1, 22 KOs), who is rated No. 10 by the WBC, and a TKO (2) loss to Lamar Stephens (7-2-1, 3 KOs). 

 

Lewis fell to 14-20-1, 12 KOs. 

 

ADJAHO STOPS PEREZ:

With respected trainer John David Jackson in  his corner, Benin, Africa's Anges Adjaho forced Colombia's Jesus Perez to retire after the fifth round of a super featherweight scrap, which was set for eight. 

 

Adjaho (24-1, 14 KOs) was the smoother boxer and had too many weapons for Perez (25-21-3, 14 KOs) from the start. Adjaho scored with crisp left counters, while his right hook caused damage as well. 

 

HERNANDEZ STAYS UNBEATEN:

Smooth Miami welterweight Joey "Twinkle Fingers" Hernandez moved to 13-0, 4 KOs with a second-round TKO victory over out-gunned Rodney Freeman, of Covington, TN.

 

Hernandez put Freeman (5-10, 3 KOs) down three times in the fight, all by left hands. Freeman was down twice in the first round. Shortly after the knockdown in the second round, a left hook to the head forced referee Gary Ritter to step in and wave off the bout at the 54-second mark of the round.

 

Freeman had been out of the ring for two years before getting in the ring against Hernandez.

 

DE MORI SLAMS KOOSER:

Despite giving up 67 pounds in weight, Australia's Mark De Mori blasted out 294-pound Texan Robert Kooser by knockout at 2:47 of the opening round. The fight was scheduled for eight.

 

De Mori (14-1-2, 12 KOs) landed a thudding right h