PHILADELPHIA BOXING REPORT
Posted on | August 27, 2007 | 2 Comments
Philadelphia Boxing Results – 8/24/07
Alphonso Williams Shocks Derek Ennis in 3rd Round
By Tony Penecale (Ringside)
The seven-bout card at South Philadelphia’s New Alhambra featured a variety of twists and turns including a local prospect suffering a vicious knockout loss, two grudge matches that left scores unsettled, a knockout-of-the-year candidate, and a disappointing Philadelphia debut for a one-time “Contender”.
In the main event, Derek “Pooh” Ennis, 157, Philadelphia, was shocked by Alphonso “Soldier” Williams, 157, Pittsburgh PA, and knocked out when it seemed that he was in control. Ennis opened by boxing and giving angles to the physically stronger Williams. Williams stalked throughout the 1st round, walking into several Ennis counters, before landing a hard right hand at the bell.
Ennis seemed to find his grove in the 2nd round, landing crisp single punches to control the round. Ennis kept the momentum going in the 3rd round, sharpshooting Williams, who was showing signs of slowing down, along with serious swelling under his right eye. As the round was winding down, Ennis made the mistake of standing in front of Williams and exchanging left hooks. Williams uncorked a massive hook that landed a split second before Ennis landed his. The force of the blow spun Ennis around and deposited him on the canvas where he valiantly tried to regain his feet. Ennis was able to rise unsteadily, at the count of nine, which prompted referee Shawn Clark to halt the bout.
Williams improves his record to 10-2 (8) while Ennis, who was on the comeback trail, sees his two-fight knockout-win streak end, falls to 12-2-1 (9).
In the co-feature, Jonathan “Reid Dawg” Reid, widely known for being a contestant in the first season of the TV reality show “The Contender” was hoping to make his Philadelphia debut a memorable one. Dhafir “No Fear” Smith stepped in to spoil that debut.
Reid, 165, Nashville TN, who dedicating the bout to the late Najai Turpin, his contender alum and Philadelphia native who had taken his own life in 2005, was unable to unleash his slick offense against Smith, 167, Philadelphia, who boxed cautiously in winning a split decision.
Reid, who has an uncanny resemblance to great Chicago Bears linebacker Mike Singletary, came out with an intense focus in the 1st round, boxing behind his jab and looking to cut the ring off against Smith, who was tentative from the start. Reid started to find his range in the 2nd round and was able to land a series of right hands, while Smith was content to keep the pace slow with his jab.
Smith’s plan started to take effect in the 3rd round as Reid started to become frustrated and focused more on movement and angles than punching. The trend continued in the 4th round with Smith using primarily his long jab and tight defense to keep Reid at bay, which annoyed the crowd with the lack of action.
Reid tried to pick up the pace and draw Smith into exchanging over the final two rounds with moderate success. Like a smart coach would negate Singletary’s intensity by running away from him, Smith negated Reid’s intensity and offense by boxing at long range, in what was ultimately a dull affair.
One judge favored Reid by the score of 58-56 but was outvoted by the other two judges who favored Smith by scores of 59-55 and 58-56. This reporter had the bout even at 57-57. Smith improves his record to 18-13 (5) while Reid, who is scheduled to return to the New Alhambra on September 21, falls to 34-7 (19).
In other bouts:
In a highly-anticipated rubber match, Clarence “Sonny Bono” Taylor and Joe “Kid Vicious” Christy engaged in a controversial slugfest that opens the door for a fourth bout between them.
The pair first met in April ’02 with Christy prevailing by unanimous decision. In the rematch, held in September ’05, it was Taylor who prevailed by split decision. Both men vowed to break the tie going into this bout.
It was Christy, 158, Philadelphia, a hard-luck Philadelphia pug that never backs down and wades through punishment resembles a real-life “Rocky”, who started the action by backing Taylor to the ropes and firing with a series of body punches and wild right hands.
The action resumed in the 2nd round, with Christy staying on top of Taylor and forcing the action against the ropes. Taylor was able to find some success with counter punches but was overall being outworked throughout the round. Taylor’s counters finally hit home in the 3rd round as he was able to spring off the ropes and land hard punches, which had Christy staggering around the ring.
The action slowed a bit in the 4th round with Taylor giving Christy angles and trying to slow the pace while Christy took the lead and landed several punches. The tempo picked back up in the 5th round, with both boxers exchanging punches, with Taylor more effective in the center of the ring and Christy scoring when he was able to pin Taylor against the ropes. Going into the 6th round, the bout was up for grabs and it appeared that Taylor grabbed it, landing some big punches punctuated by a searing right hand at the bell.
After tallying the cards, it was Christy that emerged victor by split decision, winning by the scores of 58-56 on two judge’s cards; while the third judge favored Taylor by the score of 58-56, as did this reporter.
Taylor immediately showed his frustration with the decision, picking up the house microphone and challenging Christy to a fourth encounter. He even agreed to put the WBC USNBA junior middleweight title that he had won in his previous bout on the line. Wit the victory, Christy ups his record to 8-11-3 (2) while Taylor evens up at 12-12-2 (6).
In another grudge match, popular Philadelphia fighter Simon “One Punch” Carr was looking to avenge his lone defeat against Andre “Da Heat” Hemphill. The bad blood between these two fighters was evident at the pre-fight press conference as words were exchanged and the combatants were nose-to-nose.
Carr, 182, Philadelphia, who entered the ring in a mask ala Bernard Hopkins, started the bout more like a prime Mike Tyson, charging Hemphill, 183, Woodbridge VA, fighting inside and firing hard body shots. Hemphill responded with body shots of his own and several from each boxer strayed low, which intensified the fire between them. An exchange at the bell ended with both fighters bumping each other on the way back to the corner.
Carr pressed the action again in the 2nd round but it was Hemphill who got the better of the exchanges, landing some good body shots and short uppercuts. Hemphill found more success in the 3rd round, landing good uppercuts and a hard left hook that had Carr reeling around the ring.
Sensing he was behind on the scorecards, Carr attacked relentlessly in the 4th and final round, throwing wild punches. Hemphill spent most of the round coasting and the clinches seemed a welcome respite for both weary warriors.
One judge favored Hemphill by score of 39-37 but was outvoted by the other two judges who turned in cards of 38-38, ruling this bout a draw. This reporter also scored the bout 38-38.
A third bout would be welcomed by both boxers, as well as the fans. Hemphill is now 6-6-2 (3) and Carr is 4-1-1 (3).
Popular Heavyweight Anthony Gatt was combing back from a three-year hiatus as he took on Raymere Palmer, making his pro debut.
Gatt, 208, West Chester PA, made his first night back in the ring a short one, as he blasted Palmer, 189, Northampton PA, in less than a minute. Gatt opened firing right hands and Palmer walked right into the onslaught, going down from a flush right hand only seconds into the bout. After seeing Palmer rise on unsteady legs, Gatt immediately went for the kill, landing several flush shots that sent Palmer reeling before he eventually collapsed, forcing Shawn Clark to stop the contest 47 seconds into the opening round.
Gatt keeps his perfect record intact at 5-0 (4), while Palmer loses his pro debut and now resides at 0-1.
In a light-heavyweight bout, Reuel Williams, 172, Wilmington DE, won a unanimous decision over Rey Ruiz, 174, Philadelphia.
Williams boxed well while Ruiz was tentative, and biting on every feint. Williams started setting up his punches in the 2nd round, rocking Ruiz, with a series of left hook-right hand combinations. Ruiz finally started to pick up the pace and unleash his offense in the 3rd round, while Williams countered with short uppercuts. Needing to win the 4th and final round to salvage a draw, Ruiz threw few punches and let Williams control the pace with his jab and left hook.
Williams was awarded the decision on all cards by the scores of 39-37 (twice) and 40-35. Williams now stands at 5-1 and Ruiz falls to 8-4-3 (4).
The opening bout of the evening saw a devastating knockout with Stephan Alexander sending a hush silence over the crowd with a frightening knockout of Moises Calderon.
Calderon, 134, Philadelphia punched wildly from the start, while the southpaw Alexander, 133, Norfolk VA, displayed some slick moves, in slipping and sliding away from Calderon’s offensive outbursts and returning fire with effective counter punches. Alexander was in control for most of the first round before being staggered by a monster Calderon left hook. Alexander was able to regroup and hold on until the bell.
Calderon, inspired by his success late in the previous round, continued his attack. Both boxers stood toe-to-toe for an exchange which Alexander connected first and better, leveling Calderon with a brutal combination. Alexander first landed a straight left which short-circuited Calderon and started his slow descent to the canvas, during which Alexander landed two more bombs, before Calderon finally hit the canvas unconscious, where Shawn Clark immediately waved the bout off and signaled for medical attention.
Calderon was on the canvas for several minutes but was quickly attended to and administered oxygen. He was finally able to stand, albeit wobbly, and leave the ring under his own power.
Alexander, a veteran of an extensive amateur career of over 100 bouts, had managers and promoters wooing him after the bout. He wins his pro debut and is now 1-0 (1) while Calderon falls to 0-1.
The next scheduled card at the New Alhambra in South Philadelphia is Friday, September 21 at 7:30 pm.