|
|
||||
|
COY EVANS IS A KNOCKOUT
The overall card was maimed by a number of late cancellations. Earlier in the week, Olivia Fonseca's four-round bout was cancelled when, after a difficult contract negotiation, her opponent decided not to fight, leaving Philly's favorite female fighter - and promoter Greg Robinson - in the lurch. Another fight was cancelled earlier on Friday due to a failed medical exam. The scheduled semi-windup, a six-rounder which was to feature Derrick Webster, was also scratched on Friday, when his opponent was a "no show". The aftermath of all this scratching left the card with just four matches - three four rounders and the main event (scheduled for eight).
The arena was about half full for the show. Despite the abbreviated lineup, the crowd seemed satisfied, especially with the sudden and thrilling end to Coy Evans' fight. Nothing leaves the fans buzzing like a big knockout. And Evans probably saved his first headlining show with his explosive finish. ______________________________________________________________
Estimated attendance:
about 800 |
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
"Pretty Boy" Coy Evans won his first-ever main event Friday
night with a thudding knockout at the South Philly Arena.
The Philadelphia featherweight improved his professional
slate (now 8-0-1) by blasting out Morris Chule, a 22-fight
vet from Florida (by way of Kenya). The fireworks started early when Evans
dropped his foe twice in round two. Had it not been for the
bell ending the second, it is doubtful Chule would have made
it out of the round. Every shot Evans landed hurt the
experienced Floridian. Evans picked things right up the
third. After maneuvering Chule to the ropes, Evans landed a
pipe bomb
of a right hand that ended the night. Chule
went down hard, with his head slamming loudly on the canvas.
Everyone nervously held their breath, fearing serious injury
to the fallen fighter. But in the end, he was okay and left
the ring on his own power. The time of the KO was 1:21 of
the third. The referee was Benjy Esteves. Coy's performance
was impressive and turned out to the perfect showcase for
his first main event.
The
night got underway with the second pro fight of amateur star
Kareem Cooley. Kareem had made his successful debut
professional debut in the same arena back in February. This
time out, he was matched with Puro Pairol of Cuba, who came
in with a 0-0-1 record. Pairol tried to ruffle Cooley's
feathers with some roughhouse tactics through out the fight.
But it was his better work rate and constant aggression that
guided him through the fight. He
landed
solidly many times, and got on a roll beginning in round
two. The round ended wildly with both fighters swinging
freely. Midway through the last round, it looked like Cooley
might get his man. He launched a volley that wobbled Pairol.
But the Cuban kept up the pressure and resumed landing his
own shots. The window closed for Cooley, and it turned out
to be his only shot in the fight. All three judges scored it
the same: 39-37 all for Pairol. The win lifted his record to
1-0-1. The lauded Cooley evened out at 1-1, and goes back to
the drawing board scratching his head. The loss was a big
surprise for sure. The referee was Hurley McCall.
Next
up, Ridley Park light-heavyweight Joe McKenzie made his
debut in a four round bout against South Philly's Maurice
Amaro, a two-fight vet without a win. In this fight however,
things finally went right for him. He swept through the
rounds winning them all, using hard right hands as his
primary weapon. McKenzie stayed in there and swung away.
Most of the rounds were close, and McKenzie came close to
pulling out the final round. But Amaro hustled in the final
minute to secure the shutout victory. All three judges
agreed, scoring it 40-36. The referee was Benjy Esteves.
In
the final prelim, Philly junior lightweight "Killa" Keenan
Smith pitched his own shutout against North Philly's Luis
Esquilin, who was fighting on his second consecutive Friday
night. He lost a dead even fight last week at the Blue
Horizon. But on this night, the debuting Smith had too much
artillery. The second was "Smurf" Esquilin's best round, but
he only landed well twice in response to Smith's constant
assault. In the fourth, Smith nearly floored Esquilin but
the North Philadelphian stayed on his feet to meet the final
bell. Once again the three judges all agreed with scores of
40-36 for Smith. Keenan Smith walked away with his first pro
win. Esquilin fell to 1-4-1. The referee was Hurley McCall.
Promoter:
Greg Robinson