Friday, November 10, 2006

Full Report from Glen Burnie!

For those who can't get the audio post-fight show from Michael's Eighth Avenue, here is a written report of the action.

Undefeated Baltimore, MD welterweight Tim Coleman probably didn’t think he would be in this position after having only five pro fights. But there he was in a main event bout in front of his hometown crowd during Ballroom Boxing at Michael’s Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, MD.

The welterweight prospect didn’t even spend time enjoying the experience as he stopped Houston, TX’s John “The Quiet Storm” Campbell at 2:06 of the first round. Coleman came out from the opening bell and just landed rights and lefts repeatedly at the overwhelmed Campbell. Coleman followed Campbell across the ring as Campbell was unable to put up a sufficient defense. Campbell was never knocked down in the bout, but Referee Kenny Chevalier ruled that Campbell was not defending himself sufficiently and stopped the contest.

“He was a pretty game guy, he came to fight,” said Coleman after the bout. “But after the first couple of shots, I knew he wasn’t going to last.”

This was Coleman’s first bout since June 15 and he was coming off a shoulder injury. Coleman said there was a little rust in his performance.

“I saw a lot of flaws in my performance,” Coleman said. I’m just coming back and I really want to get a fight in because I’ve been off for so long.”

Coleman added that there wasn’t any real pressure fighting in a main event this early in his career.

“There’s always pressure fighting in front of your home crowd, but I just come in and do what I do,” Coleman said. “We work hard in the gym and we apply it here.”

With the victory, Coleman raises his record to 6-0, two KO’s. Campbell falls to 1-2, one KO.

The co-feature bout was a battle of two Oklahoma heavyweight prospects. However, undefeated Eric “Danger” Fields of Ardmore turned his battle with Tulsa’s Donald Jones into a very short skirmish.

Fields landed the first punch he threw on top of Jones’s head and sent Jones to his knees. Jones had no opportunity to return punches and suffered two more knockdowns before referee John Gradowski stopped the bout at 2:23 of the first round.

Fields is now 4-0, four KO’s while Jones is now 4-5, one KO.


In other bouts on the card, undefeated lightweight Jorge “The General” Lara of Brooklyn, NY battled Newport News, VA’s James Franks to a tough four-round draw.

Lara, fighting for the first time in more than a year, salvaged a draw by overcoming a nasty cut near the center of his face caused by an accidental headbutt in the third round. Franks used solid body work throughout the contest, but was unable to do enough to get him the victory. Judge Gradowski saw the bout 39-37 for Lara. Judge Don Risher scored the bout for Franks, 39-37 while Judge Malik Waleed saw the draw at 38-38. I also scored the bout a draw.

Lara’s record is now 2-0-1 while Franks is 2-2-1, two KO’s.

In a four-round cruiserweight battle, Reuel Williams of Wilmington, DE spoiled the pro debut of Samir Mohammad of Lexington, KY.

Williams showed solid ring generalship in this bout. Although he was giving ground to his opponent, Williams was still able to beat Mohammad to the punch, landing solid jabs throughout the contest. Williams was able to use this strategy to earn a unanimous decision. Judges Chevalier and Waleed scored the bout 39-37, as I did. Judge Risher gave Williams a shutout at 40-36.

Williams’s record is now 2-1.

In the most interesting bout of the night, undefeated Brooklyn, NY welterweight prospect Martin “Mardi Gras” Wright stopped the debuting Antwon “Supreme” Barrett of Chesapeake, VA in the third round.

Wright managed to stop his opponent despite suffering a very strange knockdown in the first round. As the two boxers came in towards each other, their heads seemed to clash, sending Wright to the canvas. Referee Malik Waleed ruled a knockdown in favor of Barrett. Wright got up quickly and finished the round in good fashion.

By the third round, Wright was in complete control of the bout, using solid body shots and right hands, eventually sending Barrett to his knees. At the 2:47 mark of the third, Waleed asked Barrett if he wanted to continue. Barrett shook his head and Waleed stopped the bout.

Wright’s record is now 2-0-1, two KO’s.

In the opening contest, 42-year-old James “The Mighty Burner” Shedrick of Philadelphia, PA won an easy six-round unanimous decision over 42-year-old Larry “The Gladiator” Brothers of DC. Shedrick landed his right jab early and often, never giving Brothers a good chance to really get into the fight. All three judges (Risher, Gradowski and Chevalier) said Shedrick pitched a shutout, 60-54. I had Shedrick winning 59-55.

With the win, Shedrick is now 4-6, two KO’s while Brothers is 6-21-3, four KO’s.

Scott Wagner served as promoter of the Ballroom Boxing card. The matchmaker was Chris Middendorf.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

What happened to Da Heat?

Gary Digital Williams said...

Hemphill came in too heavy for his bout with Mike Gutrick. He weighed in at 178 while Gutrick came in at 171.

Gutrick's trainer (Vincent Pettway) did not want to fight with that weight difference and the bout was scratched.

Anonymous said...

Bum! It is horrible when fighters do this!

Anonymous said...

the place was empty; the card was terrible. local ticket sellers are badly needed. what happenend to the screens good fights and good food of yesteryear at michaels

Anonymous said...

Wagner runied his own show and Middendorf did not help it either. Bring back Josh Hall.

Anonymous said...

I thought James Franks won the fight easy. What fight was the judges looking at. I would like to see the reamatch between Boyd and Franks

Gary Digital Williams said...

I thought the Franks-Lara fight could have gone either way. Lara came forward throughout and Franks did land body shots. No man had a clear advantage in my opinion.

Anonymous said...

Gary I thought Franks won but that just my opionion. I think Frank will beat Boyd in the rematch. What you think. And is boyd still trained buy TooSharp

Gary Digital Williams said...

Yes, Boyd is still with Mark. I didn't see the first bout between the two because it was in Dover, DE. Boyd's a very deceptive fighter.

I heard the bout in Dover was somewhat controversial in the stoppage but I like Boyd in a rematch, based on what I've seen of both guys.