ROBINSON WINS FIRST MAIN EVENT

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

In the main event at the 2300 Arena in South Philly, Upper Darby super middleweight Brandon Robinson, 10-1, 7 KOs, pounded out an eight round unanimous decision over Mexican southpaw Oscar Riojas, 16-9-1, 5 KOs. This was Robinson's first time as a headliner.

Robinson floored Riojas in the first round, but never came as close to ending the fight again. However, the final result was never in doubt. Round after round, most of the action belonged to Robinson, while Riojas followed him around and took punches.

Once in a while, the Mexican did try some offense. However, every time he got brave and showed signs of life, Robinson snuffed the surge with a volley of punches. This was Robinson’s first main event, and his performance was solid and workmanlike, if not spectacular.

After the full eight rounds the judges scored the one-sided fight for Robinson. George Hill scored the bout 80-71, while Steve Weisfeld and John Poturaj had it 79-72. My score mirrored Hill’s, with Robinson winning every round.

ALEEM BETTERS BATES
In the co-feature, Vegas junior featherweight Raeese Aleem remained undefeated (11-0, 5 KOs) with an eight round unanimous decision win over DC’s Marcus Bates, 8-1-1, 7 KOs. Aleem floored Bates with a right hand in the first round and edged him in most of the other rounds.

Yet Bates stayed competitive in the fight. However, Aleem was just too sharp and consistent, and a bit further along in his development. So Bates appeared a bit over his head on this night. After eight quality rounds Aleem won by scores of 80-71 (John Poturaj) and 79-72 twice (Steve Weisfeld and Lindsey Page).  

HEAVYWEIGHT DRAW
In a sloppy heavyweight bout, Colby Madison, Owings, MD, 6-0-2, 4 KOs, and Texas-based Mexican Guillermo De Rio, 2-2-1, 2 KOs, fought to a six round majority draw.  Despite having all the physical advantages (more than 49 pounds and what looked like about a foot in height) Madison fought passively.  He won the first two rounds on my card, but only by a hair. De Rio started getting feisty in the third, chasing Madison and disregarding their size difference.

De Rio hustled the third and fourth rounds on my card, and won the crowd with his plucky attitude. By round five Madison was breathing heavily, but De Rio looked defeated and was no longer taking chances. Madison coasted through the final two rounds, winning them on my card.  

Judge Lindsey Page scored the fight 5856 (same as me), but Weisfeld and Hill overruled with their 57-57 even scores. So, the fight wound up a draw. 

KNIGHT IMPRESSIVE AGAINST FLOYD
In an exciting all-Philly brawl, welterweight Poindexter Knight, 3-0, 2 KOs, dropped Vincent Floyd in round one and went on to win a lopsided unanimous decision by three scores of 40-35. Despite the wide scores, the fight was an entertaining scuffle, especially in the first two rounds. Floyd jumped out and stung Knight early, but Poindexter responded moments later with the left-right that knocked him down. They went back and forth, several times.  Often Floyd would attack first, but Knight always answered back. It was a two-way battle, but Knight kept the edge, landing sharper shots more often and with better power. But Floyd gave him a very good fight.  

OKOTH EDGES JOHNSON
In a welterweight four rounder, Kenyan Denis Okoth, 2–0-1, 1 KO, topped Rasheed Johnson of Willow Grove, 3-2, 1 KO, by split decision. Johnson started sooner and took the first two rounds on my card. In round three, the momentum shifted Okoth’s way and he swept the last two rounds from my perspective.  

After four, I had the fight deadlocked, two rounds apiece. However, the official judges scored it differently. Lindsey Page gave the fight to Johnson 39-37. Steve Weisfeld surprisingly saw the bout a 40-36 shutout for Okoth. John Poturaj had it a point closer for Okoth, 39-37.


ORTIZ SHUTS OUT METHENOV
In a four round junior lightweight fight, Reading’s Joshafat Ortiz, 3-0, 1 KO, blanked Maryland-based Bulgarian Evgueny Metchenov, 0-2, winning by three scores of 40-36 (Page, Hill & Poturaj).  

CANNIDA TOPS VILLANUEVA
In the opening fight of the night, Philly light heavyweight Kendall Cannida, 2-0, defeated debuting Carlos Villanueva, also from Philadelphia, 0-1, by unanimous decision after four rounds. Villanueva won the first round, but Cannida took over in the second.

They fought closely in the last three, but Cannida gained the lead. Near the bell ending the final round, Cannida caught Villanueva with a left hook that bounced him off the bottom rope, and referee Eric Dali correctly called it a knockdown. This added some breathing room to Cannida’s margin, and he went on to win by three scores of 39-36 (Page, Hill & Poturaj).  

The seven bout, knockout-less show was promoted by Marshall Kauffman’s Kings Promotions and attracted about 900 spectators. 

John DiSanto - South Philly - April 06, 2018
 

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