(JUN 13) Vista Del Mar Charity held a
most interesting boxing spectacle at the Beverly Hills Hilton on
Monday night. This was a Jackie Kallen promotion, with two cards
under the California Commission, and the third, well, something a
little different. Boxing greats Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns and
Mike Tyson, were just a few in attendance to raise the over $900,000
through the 60+ year old Robert Shapiro versus Danny Bonaduce
charity event.Other notables included Monty Hall, Jim Lampley, Joe
Goosen and honored as Man of the Year, Emanuel Steward.
Said Jackie Kallen of the event,"I'm excited about this fight! (Kat)
has been awaited by boxing fans to come into the {professional}
boxing arena, and Hailey, got into a gym and said,'That's it I want
to do it.' She's hungry. I'm not sure what the fight is going to
look like."
Judges scored the bout 39-37 Cruz, 39-37 Lanker, 38-38 to a split
decision draw. I saw the fight a little differently with Cruz having
the stronger more accurate punches, especially in the third and
fourth rounds. While speaking with Katarina's trainers, they were
confident in her ability and while her 2 amateur fights were not
true ring experience, her gym workouts were intense.
At the weigh-in, Cruz, a native LA-er, came in under her 118 lb
contract weight, and Lanker, from San Diego, over. This lead to some
shedding of pounds in the hotel's sauna, but all obviously worked
out in the end. Sadly, for her pro debut, she did not have the type
of support at the weigh-in that she should have had.
Both fighters were relaxed prior to their fight and very polite and
cordial to one another at weigh-in - posing as Charlie's Angels with
Jackie Kallen. But, by fight time it was all business and round one
saw both women trying to make a statement to the other. I gave round
1 to Lanker who was throwing more punches and landing more punches.
By round 2, Katarina was not to be outdone, and her corner told her
to pick up the pace and be first. Both women were able to land some
solid straight punches. This round would be much more difficult to
score and could have gone either way.
Round 3 and 4, were Kat's because the punches were stiff and solid,
and Hailey was bloody and beaten by the end of round 4.
A great fight overall by both beautiful combatants.
