RINGSIDE REPORT FOR PETER VS. MCCLINE CARD
Posted on | October 8, 2007 | No Comments
Peter Decisions Mccline, Retains WBC Belt!
By Matt Yanofsky {ringside}
WBC Interim Heavyweight king “The Nigerian Nightmare” Samuel Peter 29-1 {22 KO’s} needed a much harder than expected decision to defeat late replacement Jameel Mccline 38-8-3 {23 KO’s}. After a close first round, Mccline landed a quick right hand, scoring flash knockdown of Peter at the bell of the second. Peter, who was regarded as having an excellent chin, was shockingly dropped twice more in round three. To his credit, Peter was able to survive on wobbly legs due to a lot of clinching.
Peter was able to recover in round four, mostly due to the fact that Mccline strangely elected to not let his hands go and attempt to finish the Nigerian slugger off. Peter regained his legs and his confidence while boxing for most of the contest while using a strong jab and showing a good work rate on the inside. During the final round, Peter stunned Mccline who was able to hang on for the final bell in a mysterious performance during the final nine rounds by the four time world title challenger. Mccline unacceptably let the fight slip away after the knockdowns. Scores were 115-110, 115-111, and 113-112 for Peter. UnlimitedFightNews.Com also scored the fight 115-111 for Peter who was able to effectively box while winning just about every round following the third.
The victory forces regular champion Oleg Masakev, who pulled out of the fight with back and knee injuries to face Peter immediately or forfeit his champion status.
Former world champion Daniel Santos 39-4-1 {25 KO’s} was able to shake off a long period of inactivity and score a well calculated 8th round stoppage over Jose Rivera 30-4-1 {23 KO’s} in a WBA Junior Middleweight eliminator. Santos used his southpaw jab and straight left hand to keep Rivera away for the most part. Rivera attempted to move in toward Santos but was mostly ineffective in landing shots. Santos stuck to the jab and appeared en route to an easy decision when he was able to finally hurt Rivera and dropped him in the 8th. Santos then went for the Kill and put the bloodied Rivera down again before trainer John Scully threw in the towel.
“This was the first time I threw in the towel” said Scully, a former world title challenger. “Jose was upset with me after the fight but I felt it was the right decision to stop the fight. Santos had an adrenaline rush after the knockdowns and I decided to protect my fighter”.
Rivera, who ironically suffered his second straight setback against a former southpaw world champion coming off a long layoff, announced this will be his last bout. Santos, who fought only one round since 12/3/2005 is now the mandatory challenger to champion Joachim Alcine.
Former world title challenger Andrew Golota 40-5-1 {33 KO’s} scored an exciting 6th round stoppage over former Mike Tyson conqueror Kevin McBride 34-6-1 {29 KO’s}. The 288 lb McBride was able to badly stun Golota in the first round during a two way brawl. Golota came back in the second landing many flurries to McBride’s massive midsection but took some shots back from the Ireland native. Both men continued to brawl in a toe to toe battle until the 6th when McBride became exhausted and started absorbing some major shots. A big right hand put McBride’s back against the ropes while opening up a bad cut over his left eye. After Golota landed a few more shots, referee Arthur Mercante Jr elected to stop the contest rather quickly 2:42 into round 6. This sent most of the crowd, who was there to see Golota into frenzy.
Former World title challenger Kali Meehan 33-3 {27 KO’s} scored a much needed knockout over Davarryl “Touch Of Sleep” Williamson 24-5 {20 KO’s}. In an extremely slow paced and uneventful first five rounds, Meehan was able to land a few right hands while using John Ruiz like holding tactics. Williamson was able to bang away at Meehan’s body but his punches did not seem to have their normal impact. In round 6, Meehan landed a huge right hand seconds before the bell and Williamson appeared to be out. Williamson was able to get up at the count of 9 and wobbled back to his corner barely making it to his stool. This was until Dr. Barry Jordan ruled the still badly hurt Williamson unfit to continue. The victory earns Meehan the NABO Heavyweight Title.
Heavyweight prospect Bermane Stiverne 13-1 {13 KO’s} scored an impressive first round demolition over veteran Ed Gutierrez 15-5-1 {6 KO’s}. Stiverne, who was coming off a controversial stoppage loss against Demitrice King in July showed why he is still one to watch. Stiverne put Gutierrez down 3 times in just 2:58 of the first round with the final knockdown sending Gutierrez through the ropes ala Hasim Rahman against Oleg Maskaev. After the fight, Stiverne exclaimed he wants a rematch with King. “I felt good tonight, but I want a rematch with Demitrice King in my next fight since we have unfinished business” said the former Canadian amateur standout.
Super Middleweight Jameson Bostic 12-3 {7 KO’s} scored an uneventful six round unanimous decision over Marcus Upshaw 7-1 {2 KO’s}. Upshaw, who had a striking resemblance to middleweight prospect Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillan rarely threw a punch over the first three rounds while allowing the southpaw Bostic to land some jabs and straight left hands but was never hurt. Upshaw had some success during the 4th and 5th rounds slightly outworking Bostic before dropping a unanimous decision to the tone of 59-55 and 58-56 twice