LUNDY TOPS CORLEY
KEEPS CHASING TITLE

Story by John DiSanto
Photos by Darryl Cobb Jr. / dcobbjr.com
 

In the main event of a six-bout card at the 2300 Arena in South Philly, local lightweight Hammerin’ Hank Lundy, 29-6-1, 14 KOs, won an eight-round unanimous decision over ancient, but still-dangerous, former world champ DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley, 50-29-1, 28 KOs, of DC. The fight featured consistent action, but it was Lundy who did most of the chopping on this night.

Leading into the fight, the match up had the feel of an important test for Lundy, who has been in the chase for a world title for a long time now. He made it to a world title fight once (2016), was ranked as the #1 contender in 2012, won a handful of serious regional titles, performed on national television several times, and has remained an ongoing player at 135 and 140 pounds. However, his unlucky streak in his most important bouts has cast him as an entertaining contender who can’t seem to win the big one.

However, a fighter like Lundy is always on the cusp, thus keeping his and his fans’ hopes alive. But beating former world champion DeMarcus Corley was a must-win assignment, if those title hopes were to continue. On Saturday night, Lundy delivered, and kept his quest on track.   

After Lundy and Corley split the first two rounds, Hammerin’ Hank went on a roll, and started banking rounds. He mostly fought from a southpaw stance, like his experienced opponent, but he also occasionally switched to the other side. This helped Lundy land a few extra shots and forced Corley to adjust, but Hank’s switch-hitting was more flash and swagger than anything else.

One of the biggest concerns for Lundy fans in this fight was his ability to handle Corley’s power. Hank has shown a touchy chin at times, and Corley has always been able to punch with authority. However, it was Lundy who managed to score a knockdown, in round four, and the Philadelphian seemed to have no trouble withstanding the incoming punches.   

The knockdown just added space to Lundy’s lead, and after eight full rounds, Lundy took the decision by comfortable scores of 78-73 and 79-72 twice. My scorecard also read 79-72.

After the fight, the usually trash-talking Lundy took the classy approach by praising Corley and even thanking him for both the opportunity and for the competitive contest. This was Corley’s 80th professional contest. Lundy moves on, still in the hunt for a chance to become champ.   

WEBSTER ROUTS CORDERO
In the super middleweight co-feature, southpaw Derrick Webster, 25-1, 13 KOs, pitched a virtual shutout over Colombian Francisco Cordero, 38-10, 29 KOs, over eight rounds. I had the Glassboro, NJ boxer sweeping every round on my scorecard. He dominated the action throughout the bout and the final result was never in doubt.

Call me a tough critic, but still I wanted more from Webster. His opponent had been knocked out by nearly every decent fighter he had faced up to that point. So, I expected Webster to do the same. True, Derrick hadn’t fought in six months, but he held every possible advantage over Cordero. Webster didn’t look sluggish physically, but he didn’t fight with any urgency. This let Cordero off the hook. Two of the three judges, John Poturaj and Alan Rubenstein, gave Webster every round (80-72), while James Kinney had the fight 7-1 in rounds (79-73). Kinney likely gave Cordero round five, the best frame of the fight. Other than those three minutes, it was all Webster.

BAUMGARDNER BEATS FELICIANO
In a female junior lightweight 8-rounder, Alycia Baumgardner, Fremont, OH, 5-0, 4 KOs, pounded out a one-sided unanimous decision over Nydia Feliciano, Bronx, NY, 9-10-3, to win the WBC International female 130-pound title belt. The scores were 80-72 and 79-73 twice. My score was also an 80-72 shutout.

CUEVAS STOPS FOWLER
In a scheduled 6-round lightweight bout, Philly’s Jeremy Cuevas, 7-0, 6 KOs, stopped Milwaukee’s Mike Fowler, 6-13, 2 KOs, after the fourth round. Cuevas dropped his opponent once in the first and again in the second, before Fowler quit on his stool before round five. The fight goes into the books as a TKO at 3:00 of round four. Cuevas continues to develop – and impress. He is one of the brightest young fighters in Philly.

RAHMAN JR. WINS
Baltimore heavyweight Hasim Rahman Jr., 4-0, 3 KOs, the son of the former heavyweight champ, won an unpopular 4-round majority decision over Texan Ronny Hale, 3-11, 3 KOs. Rahman won the first and fourth rounds on my card, while Hale took the two middle rounds. The third was the closest round of the contest, and probably swung the decision. I gave the third to Hale, so my score was a 38-38 deadlock. The official scores were an even 38-38 (Lindsey Page), 39-37 (Alan Rubenstein) and 40-36 (James Kinney) – both for Rahman. When the verdict was announced, the crowd booed like crazy.

CRAIN EDGES KASPRZAK
In the opening bout of the night, junior middleweight Michael Crain, Smyrna, DE, 1-1, spoiled the pro debut of Philadelphian Dillon Kasprzak, 0-1, by taking their entertaining 4-round fight by split decision. Kasprzak rallied in the final round to score a knockdown, but it wasn’t enough to sway two of the three judges. Both Alan Rubenstein and John Poturaj favored Crain with scores of 38-37. Lindsey Page scored the bout for Kasprzak. My score also favored Kasprzak, 38-37.  

At first the crowd looked light on this rainy Saturday night. However, before long the 2300 Arena was packed, and the attendance was announced as a sellout. I estimate the crowd was about 900 strong. Hard Hitting Promotions returns to action on March 30th with a show at The Fillmore.

John DiSanto - South Philly - February 10, 2018
 

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