TONY PENECALE’S BLUE HORIZON POST FIGHT REPORT

It was billed as “Night of the Undefeated” as three local prospects were taking their perfect record into bouts at the Legendary Blue Horizon, in the heart of North Philadelphia. And when the smoke cleared, the 0s of Chazz Witherspoon, Max Alexander, and Charles “Chucky” Cavallo were intact.

In the main event, Chazz “The Gentleman” Witherspoon, 231, Philadelphia, methodically took apart Charles Davis, 204, Tucson AZ, dropping him twice for a TKO in the seventh round. Witherspoon, who is a normally a slow starter, was cautious early as he tried to figure out his opponent’s southpaw stance. Witherspoon used his jab well in the second and third rounds, backing Davis to the ropes, and looking to unleash the overhand right, which had served his famous uncle, “Terrible” Tim Witherspoon, so well during his championship career.

Witherspoon broke through and hurt Davis in the fourth round but the courageous Arizona fighter fought back with straight lefts, a few which knocked the sweat flying from Witherspoon’s head. Late in the fourth stanza, Witherspoon landed a hard right while their legs were tangled and sent Davis sprawling to the canvas for a knockdown.

The tempo slowed a bit in the fifth but Witherspoon electrified the crowd in the sixth round, landing a series of uppercuts that hurt Davis, and then floored him with a follow up barrage. Davis barely beat the count and was rescued by the bell. Witherspoon picked up where he left off in the seventh, landing another uppercut seconds into the stanza, which forced Davis to a knee, where the bout was halted by referee Steve Smoger.

Witherspoon’s perfect record now stands at 17-0 (11) while the veteran Davis falls to 17-13-1 (4).

Camden’s Max Alexander was looking to build on his impressive February win over Marty Linquist, when he dazzled the crowd with a blend of speed and power, dropping Linquist four times for a decision win. Alexander was pitted against Detroit’s tough and experienced Demetrius Jenkins, who has been in with a resume of opponents that included several world titlists or world title challengers.

Unfortunately for Alexander, 179, his hopes for a breakthrough performance were quickly dashed when he re-injured his right hand only seconds into the bout. He was forced to switch his tactic to a “matador” style, keeping Jenkins at bay, avoiding his wild rushes, and picking his shots to win the rounds.

Alexander’s style not only frustrated Jenkins who several times fell to the canvas after missing wild shots, but also frustrated the fans, who voiced their displeasure as early as the second round. By the sixth rounds, Jenkins was so frustrated; he started walking around the ring and straight to Alexander with his hands at his sides, hoping to draw Alexander into a slugfest. The unanimous decision went to Alexander by scores of 59-55 and 60-54 twice, and was met by loud boos from the displeased audience. The most entertaining moment came after the bout when Alexander and Jenkin’s trainer had a brief verbal altercation in mid ring.

With the win, Alexander ups his record to 14-0-1 (2) while Jenkins now slips to 21-15-1 (16). It is anticipated the Alexander will have to take time off to recuperate his injured hand.

The third member of the undefeated trio was Trenton’s Chucky Cavallo, who immediately endeared himself to the Philadelphia faithful by wearing an Eagles hat and Jeff Garcia shirt to the ring. Cavallo, 179, was originally slated to face Marty Linquist, but Linquist was literally knocked out of the bout by Mike Word, who parlayed the victory into this opportunity.

Cavallo, a tall and lanky boxer, took the fight right to Word, 180, Milwaukee WI, a much shorter and powerfully compact opponent. While the decision to fight Word in close looked dangerous, Cavallo made the best of it, landing jabs and strong right hands on the way in and uppercuts and body shots on the inside. Word remained dangerous through the first few rounds, but as the third round started, he was visibly tired and bleeding from the nose.

Cavallo took full advantage in the fourth round, snapping Word’s head back with a series of punches. Word was so battered and spent, that he did a 360 turn and stagger after missing a haymaker right hand. Cavallo punished Word as the round ended, where on the advice of the ringside physician; Word’s corner stopped the bout.

Cavallo improves to 14-0 (5) while Word drops to 4-8-3 (4). Cavallo returns to the ring on May 4.

In other bouts:

Elad “The Kosher Pit Bull” Shmouel was victorious by unanimous decision over the tall and slippery Jason Jordon. Shmouel, 140, Tel Aviv Israel, took the fight straight to Jordan with his trademark aggressive body attack. Jordan, 140, Akron OH, was content to move around the ring and frustrate Shmouel with a passive and unorthodox style.

Shmouel easily won the first 5 rounds before coasting in the sixth and final round, smiling and taunting Jordan, which elicited jeers from the crowd. Jordan landed his best punch of the fight, a straight right hand the knocked Shmouel’s mouthpiece to the canvas in the final seconds. For Jordan, it was too little too late, and Shmouel took home the decision by scores of 58-56 and 59-55 (twice).

With the win, Shmouel improves to 17-1 (8) while Jordan slips to 3-7-1.

In the bout dubbed “What Can Brown Do For You?” it was Salem NJ’s Mark “Oak Tree” Brown with an exciting and impressive third round KO over “Sgt” Sam Brown. M. Brown, a lean 225, brought the heat to S. Brown, 230, Ft. Campbell KY, in the first round and muscled him on the inside. The body attack by M. Brown paid dividends in the second round as S. Brown was visibly worn, leaving him open to a booming right in the third which dropped him hard. S. Brown rose on unsteady legs and was met by a furious barrage of punches before being hammered to the canvas again, where referee Steve Smoger waved the bout off.

Mark Brown improves his record to 9-1 (4). Sam Brown sees his record fall to 3-2. M. Brown was not only entertaining in the ring, but also afterwards as he greeted fans in the crowd, tipping his hat and dancing around to the chants of “Oak Tree.”

The opening bout of the evening saw “Slick” Simon O’Donnell punish tough veteran Joe Christy over four rounds. O’Donnell, 161, Galway Ireland, who now fights out of West Philadelphia, took the fight to Christy, 159, Philadelphia, throughout the entire contest, forcing Christy to retreat early. O’Donnell, a straight up technical boxer, landed good right hands and hooks to the body, but didn’t have enough power to seriously hurt Christy. All three judges scored the bout 40-36 in favor of the Irish fighter.

O’Donnell improves to 4-0 (2) while Christy drops to 7-11-1 (2).

Several boxing personalities were in attendance including former heavyweight contender and movie star Randall “Tex” Cobb, cruiserweight Steve “USS” Cunningham, who is preparing for a title rematch in Poland later this month, former super middleweight champion Charles “The Hatchet” Brewer, popular junior middle weight “Lightning” Harry Joe Yorgey, and the popular and always entertaining Simon “One Punch” Carr who greeted fans as they left the area promoting his upcoming bout on April 26 at the Klein Jewish Center.

The next card at the Blue Horizon is scheduled for Friday June 1.