|
SOUTHPAWS READY FOR CHESS MATCH |
||||
|
On Saturday night, southpaws "The New" Ray Robinson and Terrance "The Heat" Cauthen are scheduled to face off in a 10-round chess match at the Newtown Athletic Center (NAC) in the second boxing show staged by Brittany Rogers' BAM Boxing Promotions. The fight pits the younger and fresher Robinson against the older but more experienced Cauthen. The winner of the fight becomes the Pennsylvania state welterweight champion. Both fighters are slicksters, better known for slipping punches than landing them. So what will happen when they go in against each other? Will even a single punch hit the mark on Saturday night? The bout does have the makings of a "purist's delight" - a careful, scientific debate, rather than a toe-to-toe war. "I don't know what to expect," said Cauthen, 36, when asked if he thought the fight would be a counter-punching chess match. "That's what people say, but I won't know until May 12th. He's a good young prospect," Cauthen said of Robinson. "I expect him to bring everything. And adjustments will be made during the fight." Robinson can see himself doing a fair amount of fencing against Cauthen at the NAC. "I like playing tag," Robinson said. "Making someone miss is like performing a magic trick. A science." But before blood-thirsty fight fans could take a pass on the fight, Robinson clarified his position about the match. "Don't get me wrong," he said. "I can adapt to anything. I know how to stick my feet in the mud and go to war. I'll do anything; this is about my urgency to win."
The 26 year old Robinson, 13-2 with 5 KOs, looks to extend his win streak to three in a row against the sly Cauthen. Recently he carefully out boxed Doel Carrasquillo, a dangerous sleeping dog who loves to surprise young fighters who take his losing record for granted. Robinson took an 8-round unanimous decision over the "Amish Assassin" in January. Prior to that, he headlined the first BAM Boxing show in September, and joined an elite group of boxers who actually managed to stop grizzled vet Manuel Guzman. Robinson halted him in seven. His two decision losses came in back to back nationally televised bouts against prospects Shawn Porter (2010) and Brad Solomon (2009), who both were just a bit ahead Robinson on the development curve at the time. A win over Cauthen should be another good lesson on the job for Ray.
Cauthen, a subtle stylist who has not quite lived up to expectations as a professional, comes in with a solid 36-7, 9 KO record. He was a member of the star-studded 1996 US Olympic Team, and brought home a bronze medal from the Atlanta Games. He turned professional that same year and rattled off 26 wins in his first 27 bouts. Along the way, he picked up the NABF and NABA regional belts, but losses to Paul Williams, Sechew Powell and Shamone Alvarez have helped to keep him out of the world title hunt. In his last outing, Cauthen beat Philly's Phillip McCants by unanimous decision. At 36 years of age, Terrance needs to beat Robinson Saturday night to keep his career afloat. "No complaints," Cauthen said about his career. "It's not over yet. I'm expecting a good night. We have a couple things left." One thing is for sure, Robinson won't catch the seasoned Cauthen sleeping. The vet knows he has to be sharp against a guy like Robinson. "You have to watch these guys. They're hungry. You have to fight them off. You're the target. You're like bait!" Given the stakes, this chess match just might turn out to be a fight after all. Both guys need to win this crossroads fight. Robinson needs the win to keep moving forward, and Cauthen needs it to stop moving backwards. Usually that means we'll get a fight. Five more bouts round out the card. DeCarlo Perez tries to bounce back in a 6-round welterweight bout with Lenwood Dozier. Tough Tevin Farmer takes on Kareem Cooley in 6-round lightweight battle. In the third 6-rounder, junior middleweight Grayson Blake faces Djolevi Ballogou. The two 4 rounders feature a scrap between light heavyweights Amir Shabazz and Ken Rosser, and junior welterweight Hasan Young makes his pro debut against Cassius Clay (not that Cassius Clay). The show begins at 7:30 pm. |
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
