(SEPT 13)  Albany, New York- Washington Avenue Armory: Sarah Janette Kuhn, 145 ½, Schoharie, NY the 2009 and 2010 New York State 152 lb. Golden Gloves Champion, made her professional debut a success by stopping Natoya Ervin, 144, Akron, Ohio in 56 seconds of the third round.

Kuhn, now 1-0, whose style appears better suited for the professional ranks, started fast by hitting Natoya Ervin, now 1-6 with five stoppage losses, with a right cross to the temple staggering her. Ervin mounted little resistance and appeared content to either clinch or back into the ropes and clinch.

Kuhn repeatedly landed the jab and right cross combination throughout the first two rounds and was on the verge of an early stoppage victory several times before the eventual Ervin clinch. The first two rounds were virtually identical in that Kuhn perused landing hard jabs, right crosses, and an occasional body punch that Ervin would absorb and offer little in return.

The end came at: 56 of the third round when the hometown fan favorite cornered the severely tired Ohioan and ended things with a volley of punches that required the referee to mercilessly step-in and call halt to the contest. Kuhn, who is trained by Rick Sweeney, displayed timing, a sense of range, and boxed at a professional pace which is a skill that you seldom notice in debuting professional boxers. She also possess a hard jab, a well timed right cross ,and occasionally throws a straight left after the right cross which is a weapon seldom utilized in today’s game. Sarah may be an up-and-comer in the welterweight division. She topped off the evening by autographing the pink top hats that she and her team wore during their ring walk and threw them into the crowd to lucky fans.

In attendance were 2008 US Olympic alternate at super heavyweight Kimbo Bethel Boykin, and former world champion, Leona Brown.

Mark A. Jones
New Hartford, NY