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 On the non-televised undercard of the Hitz Boxing in Association with Banner Promotions’ Fight Night at the Horseshoe ESPN Friday Night Fights event on Friday, August 19 at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana, former world champion Montell “Ice” Griffin (50-8-1, 30 KOs) of Chicago notched his landmark 50th professional victory with a hard-fought unanimous decision over former world title challenger Deandrey Abron (15-10, 10 KOs) of Youngstown, Ohio. The two light heavyweights traded bombs throughout, but Griffin had the faster, more accurate hands. The scores were 80-72 x 3.
Secret Service agent and undefeated super middleweight Mike “Cujo” Kurzeja (5-0-1, 4 KOs) of Chicago fought his usual back-and-forth war on his way to a highly entertaining unanimous decision (40-36 x 3) over Sydney Ohio’s Jeremy Wood (1-4, 1 KO). Kurzeja’s aggressive style always makes for a good tussle and give respect to Wood, who clearly showed up with winning on his mind.
Russian prospect Evgeny Gradovich (11-0, 6 KOs), of Arapahoe, North Carolina via Igrim, Russia, outworked Providence, Rhode Island veteran Robert “Don’t  Lose” DaLuz, (13-39-3, 9 KOs) in a solid eight-round featherweight contest. Gradovich mixed his shots well to the head and body and won by shutout scores of 80-72 x 3.
Lafayette, Louisiana’s Chris Singleton (3-0, 2 KOs) dropped Toledo’s Gabriel Morris, (4-12-2) in the first round of their junior welterweight four rounder, but had to work hard the rest of the way to score a unanimous decision, as the capable Morris made it a fight. The scores were 39-36, 38-37 and 40-35.
Indianapolis featherweight Dwayne “The Ghost” Wisdom was impressive in his pro debut, as he stopped Chicago’s formerly undefeated Paulie Settepani (1-1, 1 KO) at 1:13 of round three. Awkward and powerful, Wisdom moved in and out firing haymakers and hitting pay dirt often enough to leave the unsuspecting Settepani out on his feet.
Rockford, Illinois junior middleweight “Bazooka” Joe Linenfelser (10-1-1, 6 KOs) outworked shopworn veteran Ruben “Modern Day Warrior” Galvan (27-18-4, 10 KOs) en-route to a four-round unanimous decision. The scores were 39-37, 39-37 and 40-36. |
