|
|
||||
|
The brand new Live! Casino in South Philadelphia held their first-ever boxing event Thursday night with a six-bout show promoted by Joe Hand Promotions in association with BAM Boxing and Peltz Boxing. Popular local rising heavyweight prospect Sonny Conto was featured in the main event. Thanks to Conto's ravenous fan base, the show was completely sold out with about 1,100 in attendance. To their delight, Conto did not disappoint his loyal followers. Conto scored a hard-earned third round TKO over Joel Caudle of Raleigh, NC to improve his spotless record to 8-0 with 7 KOs. Although he had scored seven previous victories, this battle, scheduled for six rounds, was the first to really test him. Caudle appeared present and ready to fight, albeit somewhat heavy for the challenge (257.1 pounds at 5 feet ten inches). By comparison, Conto was a physical specimen at six-feet five inches and 220.2 pounds. After dancing his way to the ring before an adoring crowd, Conto stepped out in the first round and began pushing out his jab. He established control and used his right uppercut on his shorter foe, who pressed him from the opening bell. However, the action heated up toward the end of the round and the fight became a two-way conflict. Caudle was making his move, but Conto had built a lead and won the round. The second was similar, although Caudle started sooner and kept the pressure on Sonny. Conto backed up most of the round and took a few punches in the scuffle. However, Sonny kept spearing Caudle with his shots and again used his uppercut to jar his opponent. Conto was winning, but for the first time in his career he was working for it. The third round followed a similar pattern, but suddenly concluded when Conto trapped Caudle on the ropes and landed a combination of shots - highlighted by a left hook - that staggered Joel and sent him to the canvas. Caudle made it to his feet, but referee Benjy Esteves Jr. stopped the fight just before the bell. Announcer Alex Barbosa said the fight came to an end "at the end of round three". So the presumption here was that the time was 3:00, although no bell sounded. When the fight was stopped the crowd, most of which was there to see Conto, exploded with joy.
The victory made Conto 8-0, 7 KOs, and kept his heavyweight campaign moving forward. More importantly, he was truly tested for the first time and although his performance was not flawless, he undoubtedly passed his toughest test to date. Young fighters need tough fights to make them better, and this one will certainly help in Conto's development. Caudle, who fought in Philly three times prior (0-2-1) proved a good measuring stick for Conto and left 8-6-2, 5 KOs.
The fight itself was a scorching battle. From the opening bell, the fighters traded blows. Both men landed in a great first round. Martinez edged it on my card, but it was close. The back and forth combat continued in the second and although Burgos came away with a bloody eye, he took the round with his harder punches. The pattern continued as the fight progressed. I had the fighters splitting the next two rounds, but the fourth was extremely close. At one point in the round, referee Shawn Clark had the doctor look at Burgos' cut eye. Luckily the fight continued. The scare appeared to motivate Burgos. He picked up his pace and landed a bit more freely. He won the fifth and sixth more clearly, but still this was a two-way war throughout.
Martinez had not fought in two years and Burgos only once in the same period. The inactivity appeared to affect Martinez more, as he faded slightly down the stretch. However, this was a very good fight. In fact, although it was only a six-rounder, the fight is a potential candidate for the "Philly Fight of the Year."
All three judges gave the fight to Burgos. Steve Weisfeld and Dewey LaRosa had it 59-55, while Marc Werlinsky scored it 58-56. My score was also 58-56 for Burgos. The win upped the record of Burgos to 3-4-1, 1 KO, while Martinez slid to 5-2, 1 KO.
In the second, Butt looked better. Wise still proved a problem, but Butt had a slight edge. That edge was widened when once again Wise lost another point for a similar infraction. Suddenly, after two good rounds for the considerable underdog, Wise was in a hole on the scorecards. Finally in the third round, Wise fired another rabbit punch and instead of taking a third point, Esteves called a halt to the fight and awarded Butt a win by disqualification. It was truly a frustrating performance by Wise, who was coming off a 2019 upset of Vinnie Denierio. Wise certainly had his chances in the fight, but instead worsened his record to 4-8, 1 KO. This was his first loss by DQ. Butt improved to 9-1, 4 KOs, and won by DQ for the first time.
However, Quintyne wasn't going for a draw. He pressed the action in the fourth, trying to hurt Burke again. Bilal landed a number of shots, including a left hook that had Burke in trouble. Moments later a flurry of shots floored Burke. The Philadelphian got up and survived the round. However, the knockdown gave Quintyne an extra point and pushed him one point past Burke on my tally. Two of the judges, Steve Weisfeld and John Poturaj, agreed. They scored the bout 38-37 for Qunityne. The third judge Dewey LaRosa saw the fight even, 38-38. Quintyne improved to 2-0, while Burke evened out at 1-1.
Joe Hand Promotions will return to the Live! Casino in 2022. |
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
