::DEEP SOUTH BOXING::

Kassi Says He Was Prepared For Fight Against Droz

From Staff Reports

BAY ST. LOUIS, MS - Little did "Big" Fred Kassi realize before Saturday's fight against Moises Droz that the very things he had worked on in the gym prior to the fight would come into play during the bout.

Kassi knocked out Droz at 2:45 of the third round Saturday night (Jan. 23) in the 8-round heavyweight main event at Hollywood Casino. With Droz on a knee, referee Keith Hughes counted out Droz.

The card was promoted by Les Bonano's "Brawlin' In N'Awlins."

"I caught him with a body shot with the left hand followed by a good left hook. That good left hook was what knocked him down," said Kassi, a native of Cameroon, Africa, who currently lives in New Orleans. "I was working on good defense and the left hook in the gym. I didn't know too much about him, but I knew it was an important fight for me."

Kassi said he felt out Droz early.

"I took my time to see what he had," Kassi said. "Then I went to work and looked for an opening. I came on strong in the third round.

"Droz is a good fighter," Kassi said. "I was just prepared for what was coming. He tried to catch me with uppercuts and jabs and hooks. He never hurt me."

With the victory, Kassi (15-1, 8 KOs) won his third straight since he lost a 6-round split decision to New Orleans' Lionel Butler last year in Highland, CA. Before meeting Butler, Kassi was out of the ring for 25 months.

"Lionel Butler gave me a hard time," Kassi said. "I had ring rust. Now I'm looking to step up. I'm ready."

Both fighters weighed 245 pounds. Droz, from Tampa, dropped his fourth straight and moved to 13-9, 8 KOs. He has been stopped six times.

The 30-year-old Kassi is promoted by Bonano. He said it's up to Bonano when he returns to the ring.

"I'm just going to leave it up to my promoter," Kassi said. "I'm ready to make my step up. It's time to shine."

In the heavyweight co-feature that was scheduled for 6 rounds, Mobile, AL's Bobby O'Bannon didn't allow Wes Taylor to get out of the opening round as he scored a TKO at 1:20.

The out-gunned Taylor was given a standing 8-count moments before O'Bannon closed the show.

O'Bannon won his fifth straight by knockout and improved to 8-2, 8 KOs. Taylor, from Milledgeville, GA, lost his third straight and fell to 7-15-1, 7 KOs.

O'Bannon weighed 254, while Taylor weighed in at 225 pounds.

New Orleans middleweight Marcus McDaniel won by unanimous decision over 4 rounds against Courtland, AL's Cleoney Fuqua. McDaniel (2-0) won 40-36 on all three cards against Fuqua (1-1 1 KO). McDaniel weighed 163, while Fuqua weighed 161.

Biloxi's Bobby Hill won his first fight after three previous losses as he won a 4-round majority decision over Pensacola, FL's David Hill, who was making his pro debut.

Bobby Hill was floored in the final round. He won 38-37 on two cards. The third card had it 38-38.

Bobby Hill weighed 139.5, while David Hill weighed 135.

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