WEEKEND ROUNDUP
IN AND AROUND PHILLY 

Story by John DiSanto
File Photo by Darryl Cobb Jr.
 

This past weekend was a busy boxing period that had local fans flipping channels on Friday night and choosing between competing local shows on Saturday night.

On Friday night three different networks presented three different televised bouts plus a little off-TV action all featuring local talent. 

ESPN2 - MOHEGAN SUN
Junior lightweight lefty Tevin Farmer rolled through eight easy rounds on ESPN2, with a landside points win over Angel Luna, 10-1-1, 6 KOs, at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, CT. The bout opened the Friday Night Fights broadcast, and was Farmer's 12th straight victory. Undefeated since 2013, the American Idol pushed his record to 19-4-1, 4 KOs. The decision was unanimous with two of the three judges giving Farmer every round.

On the same card, but off television, Philadelphian Anthony Burgin, 8-1, 1 KO, suffered his first professional defeat, falling to southpaw Amos Cowart, 11-0-1, 9 KOs, by 5th round TKO. It was Burgin's first fight in seven months, but the setback was a shocker. 

FOX SPORTS 1 - FOXWOODS RESORT
Fifteen miles away and a few clicks down the digital TV dial, welterweight Ray Robinson, 20-2, 9 KOs, extended his winning streak to nine straight with a unanimous 10-round decision over Sherzodbek Alimjanov, 22-3, 13 KOs at the Foxwoods Resort in Mashantucket, CT. Robinson dropped his foe in round four and cruised to a comfortable decision in defense of his NABO belt. The scores were 100-89, 99-90 and 98-91.

On the off-TV portion of this Fox Sports 1 card, South Philly's Ramon Ellis, 4-15-2, 2 KOs, dropped a 4-round decision to Toledo lightweight Sonny Fredrickson, 8-0, 5 KOs. The shutout unanimous decision loss was Ellis' 8th straight defeat.

Forked River, NJ junior middleweight, Nick Valliere won the fifth consecutive bout (5-0, 2 KOs) of his young career with a 4-round unanimous decision over Roberto Lopez (4-9-2, 1 KO) of Vineland, NJ.

CBS SPORTS -  GRAND CASINO (Hinckley, MN)
Philly junior middleweight Tyrone Brunson appeared to dominate his 10-rounder against Dennis Hogan in the nationally televised main event from the Grand Casino in Hinckley, MN. However, the three judges Tim Taggart, Sr., Dennis Nelson and John Mariano, somehow all scored the fight for Hogan, now 21-0-1, 7 KOs. The scores were 96-94, 98-92 and 97-93, respectively. The victory gave Hogan the vacant NABA junior middleweight belt.

Brunson, 22-5-1, 21 KOs, was in serious need of a win after losing two straight by TKO, and deserved a better shake on this night when he did everything right in the ring.

Twenty-four hours later, three different boxing shows, two pro and one amateur, crowded the calendar and created conflict for fans who had to choose from local options in Pennsauken, NJ, South Philadelphia, and King of Prussia, PA. 

GPG EVENTS CENTER - Pennsauken, NJ
Heavyweight Chazz Witherspoon, 33-3, 25 KOs, cut his night short by half when he halted Galen Brown, 43-30-1, 25 KOs, in round five of their scheduled 10-round main event.

The rest of the card was a set of five 4-rounders.

Promising junior featherweight Vidal Rivera, 2-0, 2 KOs, made short work of Tyron Stewart with a first round TKO. This was Rivera's second straight opening round knockout.

Junior welterweight Malik Hawkins also won by first round KO, improving his record to 3-0, 3 KOs. Hawkins' victim was debuting Darius Jackson. The fight lasted only 32 seconds.

Cruiserweight Antuwan Taylor won a 4-round unanimous decision over Andrew Puerifoy.

Obi Bakari made a successful pro debut with a 4-round unanimous decision over Andrew Osborne in a junior middleweight bout.

Rick Graham won over Erick Kitt by unanimous decision in a 4-round junior middleweight fight.

VALLEY FORGE CASINO - King of Prussia, PA
Darnell Boone, 21-21-4, 10 KOs, won his scheduled 8-rounder with Phillip Benson, 15-2, 14 KOS, with a 6th round TKO in their light heavyweight bout. The upset win for Boone was his second straight KO win.

Jamal James knocked out welterweight Daniel Sostre in round two of the 8-round co-feature bout.

Super middleweight Immanuwel Aleem stopped Emmanuel Sanchez at 2:14 of round two in another scheduled eight rounder. Aleem remained undefeated in his 12 bouts.

David Grayton won by unanimous decision after eight rounds against Grayson Blake in a welterweight fight.

Jarrett Hurd handled Philly's Eric Mitchell by third round TKO in a scheduled 8-round middleweight bout.

Streaking junior welterweight Milton Santiago improved to 10-0, 3 KOs, with a unanimous decision over Ray Velez after six rounds.

Middleweight Ivan Golub stopped Thomas Allen in round two of a scheduled six round contest.

Dennis Galarza won by 4th round TKO over Jesus Lule in a 4-round middleweight fight.

Kevin Garcia won by unanimous 4-round decision over Eric Hall in a junior welterweight bout.

2300 ARENA - South Philadelphia
The 2015 Pennsylvania Golden Gloves Regional Championships played out Saturday night at the 2300 Arena. Media reports and results from of the event were limited. However, one recap did make the Sunday Philadelphia Inquirer.

Christian Carto defeated Daniel Sandoz in the 114-pound Open Class Regional and State Championship bout and advanced to the National Golden Gloves tournament in Las Vegas.

John DiSanto - Philadelphia - April 20, 2015
 

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