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Story
by John DiSanto |
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In the nationally televised main event at South Philly’s 2300 Arena, Las Vegas lightweight Devin Haney, 19-0, 13 KOs, won the vacant USBA title by overwhelming Mason Menard of Rayne, LA, 33-3, 24 KOs, scoring a TKO after the ninth round of their scheduled 10-rounder. Haney methodically dominated every round of the fight, banking round after round on the scorecards.
There were no knockdowns during the contest, and Haney never went for the kill. He just circled and threw blizzards of punches at his over-matched foe, seemingly content to go the distance, win a decision, and collect his belt. However, after nine
full rounds of this monotonous beat-down, Menard’s corner
decided that enough was enough and asked referee Gary Rosato
to stop the fight. It was a merciful ending for all of us.
Haney is abundantly skilled and very well may be a star of
the future, but he is not yet an entertainer in the ring.
The TKO came at 3:00 of round nine, and with it Haney added the USBA belt to his collection, which already includes the WBC youth world title strap.
In the early going, Dezurn was the aggressor and seemed to have the power and work rate to eventually get the win. Greer appeared happy to just follow and smile while Dezurn gained control. However, toward the end of the second round, Greer rallied just before the bell.
In the third, a right uppercut by Greer hurt Dezurn and drove him across the ring. Yet, it was Dezurn who came back in the fourth to win the round. But Greer began working hard to the body and it had an effect on Dezurn by the end of the fight. Greer won the fifth and sixth with sharp rights, both straight and uppercuts, but the fight was still a competitive two-way. Dezurn took the seventh round on my card and went into the eighth with a slight lead. However, things were about to change for good.
In the eighth, Greer landed a pair of right hands that put Dezurn down. Slightly fading, but still full of fight, Dezurn got up and continued. However Greer resumed the attack and pinned his damaged opponent on the ropes. There he fired away until referee Benjy Esteves stopped it. Still full of fire, Dezurn threw one more punch as Esteves pulled Greer away, but it was too late. The time was 1:47 of the eighth round. Greer improved to 17-1-1, 9 KOs. Dezurn slipped to 9-2-1, 6 KOs.
Foster edged the close first round, but looked bigger and meaner than Varmall. However, in the second Varmall turned up the heat and suddenly he looked destined to be the knockout winner. The fighters swapped like this for the first four or five rounds. The fight was like a nasty tennis match. However, beginning in the sixth, the intensity sapped a bit and Foster took control down the stretch. He was winning, but now the prospect of a KO looked seemed to be fading. They went the full eight rounds and Foster, with his better work rate took the decision by scores of 78-74 (Pierre Benoist) and 79-73 (Dana DePaolo) and 77-75 (Steve Weisfeld). My score was also 78-74 for Foster.
DUNCAN KNOCKS OUT
MURRAY
Murray remained on the canvas for several scary minutes while the emergency medical crew attended to him. Luckily he left the ring on his own power and his stay at the hospital was reportedly brief. Murray is a good man and a decent fighter, but this nightmare looked like a possible career ender.
The eight bout card was promoted by Hard Hitting Promotions, Greg Cohen Promotions, and Devin Haney Promotions. Showtime televised the final four fights. Approximately 900-1000 fans attended. |
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Murray
is no stranger to taking big shots and finding himself on
the canvas. Several of his previous bouts have included
downward trips for Murray. However, he usually somehow
manages to climb to his feet and pull off a miracle
comeback. Not this time however. The knockout punch was so
devastating and his fall to the floor so heavy that there
was no way he could have continued. 