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June 29, 2002 - Atlanta, Georgia
Chevelle Hallback TKO5 Brenda Bell-Drexel. News
sources said that Bell-Drexel was overmatched for Hallback, and
referred to Hallback as the "energized bunny." Hallback
improved her record to 9-3-1 (5KO). Drexel fell to 5-15-1.
June 29, 2002 –
Santa Cruz, Argentina
Featherweights Marcela Acuna defeated Carmen Montiel
on points in an eight-rounder. Acuna improved her record to9-2-1
(4KO). Montiel is now 0-2-0 (0KO).
June 28, 2002 - New Mexico
At the Santa Ana Star
Casino, on an ESPN2 (untelevised), Albuquerque’s Stephanie
Jaramillo, 141 ¾, a National amateur champ, and making her
pro debut stopped TKO3 her opponent Martha Flores, now winless at
0-6-0.
According to news sources, the crowd booed when the fight was
stopped, but they felt it was a matter of time that the fight would
have been stopped.
June 28, 2002 - Cairo,
Egypt - Amateur Results from Egypt
There was a new Amateur women’s boxing event that took place in
Cairo. The event featured both female boxing teams of France and
Egypt, with each team consisted of eight (8) boxer. The results of
that event are the following: Walaa Mohsen, Egypt defeated Auria
Mahmoud, France; Rana Reda, egypt, defeated Zahra Obali, France;
Nadia Okmi, France defeated Fathia Mahmoud, Egypt; Audrie Garcia,
France, defeated Amal Ibrahim, Egypt; Sabreen Helmi, Egypt, and
Ahlam Arslani, France fought to a draw; Meriam Shomaz and Hanan
Hussein fought to a draw, Meriam Lamaz, France TKO Heba Yehia,
Egypt, and Shaimaa Alaa Eldeen, Egypt, defeated Eather Duran,
France.
June 28, 2002, Roseland Ballroom, Taunton, MA
On a Pendarvis
Boxing Promotions, Chicago's Leticia Robinson stopped TKO3Norma
Galloway in a scheduled four rounder in the
super-middle division. Robinson is now 7-0-0 (6KO). Galloway has dropped
1-2-1.
June 28, 2002, Boston, Mass
In an action-packed six round bout, Jaime Clampitt cruised to a lopsided unanimous decision win over game
Connie Bechtel at the historic Castle at the Park Plaza Hotel in
Boston. Two judges scored the bout 60-54 and the third judge had it
59-55. "Connie is a tough girl," said the now 8-2-0
(2KO) Clampitt. "She took alot of hard punches and kept
coming forward. This was a good hard fight for me. I had alot of fun
and was able to work on a lot of things in there." Clampitt
averaged almost 100 punches thrown per round. No one was ever in
trouble, however a nasty head butt early on left both boxers with
marks. "I have never been butted before," said
Jaime. "Afterwards when I spoke with Connie, she said the same
thing and we both had marks from it. It hurt and dazed me a bit but
I could tell it dazed her too." "The headbutt
definitely hurt," said Bechtel, who fell to 2-8-3 (2KO). "I was stunned so even if Jaime had been hurt there
really was nothing I could do." Neither fighter
seemed affected by the butt after the initial pain and both fought a
great fight. In fact, the bout was voted "Fight of the
Night" and Clampitt received "Fighter of the Night"
honors. "She did a good job," said new
co-trainer Chuck Sullivan. "There are still some things we need
to work on and some things we need to polish, but she did alot of
the things we have been working on in the gym. She listens well. I
thought she fought a near perfect fight though and really controlled
the whole fight from bell to bell." "Jaime was
certainly the main highlight of the show," said her promoter
Jimmy Burchfield. "It was a pleasure watching her fight and
watch for Jaime because she will be a world champion in the very
near future." Clampitt, who now resides in the surfing
town of Narragansett, Rhode Island, is next scheduled to fight on
August 2nd at Foxwoods Resort Casino.
June 28, 2002 - Atlanta, Georgia-Boxing Rumble Forum report by Marc D.:
"Boxing is Back" proclaimed the marquee at the
Coca-Cola Roxy concert venue, and first-time fight promoter David
Oblas and his Undisputed Productions team delivered the good with an
outstanding fight card in the upscale mid-town Buckhead district of
Atlanta, Georgia, this evening of June 28, 2002. The card
featured consisted of five bouts, including two female fights.
The first female fight
(EXHIBITION) was between Trish Hall
(130
lbs) and Lakeisha Waters (131 lbs). Both fighters wore headgear, but this did
not hamper either fighter, although Hill quickly established at
steady right that peppered her opponent’s noggin. . Both fighters wore headgear, but this did
not hamper either fighter, although Hill quickly established at
steady right that peppered her opponent’s noggin. The
other fight was also a scheduled four-round bout between
Atlanta's own Sherri Thompson (138
lbs.) against Tamara Richardson (142 lb) of Winter Haven,
Florida, who was making her pro debut. Thompson evened her pro
record to 3-3- (1KO) by a UD over Richardson, who was a former
Florida State.
Tough Woman champ. Richardson was unable to use her height and reach
advantage effectively while her straight-up stance left her
vulnerable to straight rights to the head from Thompson that left
her reeling. Both fighters slugged it out in a real donnybrook, and
both showed a lot of heart and guts during the course of this match.
The local crowd enthusiastically embraced Thompson, chanting her
ring name repeatedly throughout the match. This just goes to show
that sometimes calling someone a bitch can be a positive thing.
June 28, 2002 - Cairo, Egypt - Amateurs
There was a new Amateur women’s boxing event that took place in
Cairo. The event featured both female boxing teams of France and
Egypt, with each team consisted of eight (8) boxer. The results of
that event are the following: Walaa Mohsen, Egypt defeated Auria
Mahmoud, France; Rana Reda, Egypt, defeated Zahra Obali, France;
Nadia Okmi, France defeated Fathia Mahmoud, Egypt; Audrie
Garcia,
France, defeated Amal Ibrahim, Egypt; Sabreen Helmi, Egypt, and
Ahlam Arslani, France fought to a draw; Meriam Shomaz and
Hanan
Hussein fought to a draw, Meriam Lamaz, France TKO Heba Yehia,
Egypt, and Shaimaa Alaa Eldeen, Egypt, defeated Eather
Duran,
France.
June 27, 2002 -
Inglewood, California
In front of a full house of boxing fans, at
the Hollywood Park Casino, in a six-rounder lightweights Cynthia
Prouder stopped Nadine Salim 1:38 of the second round.
Prouder improved her record to 8-9-1 (3KO), and Salim is now 3-3-1
(0KO).
June 27, 2002 – Cary, North
Carolina
On a Steve Simon Promotions, Gwen Smith, 157, TKO4, Linda Guedalia, 151, in a scheduled
four-rounder. According to WBAN’s insider, Guedalia of Pittsboro,
North Carolina, making her pro debut, against Smith 2-11 of
Charlotte, North Carolina, Guedalia went down in the first round
when a wide right by Smith caught Guedalia off balance. Guedalia
returned to her feet and continued with a vengeance and giving
boxing fans a toe-to-toe battle. In the fourth round, Smith sent
Guedalia to the canvas again with a left hook to the head. Guedalia
got up to early and was "wobbly" on her feet. The fight
was stopped and Smith won by TKO.
June 27, 2002 - New
Mexico
What was
considered one of the best fights on the card tonight at the Santa
Ana Casino in New Mexico, Robin Pinto, 118, defeated
newcomer Nicole Salazar, 116.5,
(pro debut) in a very competitive four
rounder. final scoring was 39-37, 39-38, 39-38. Pinto improved her
record to 2-3-0 (0KO), and Salazar is 0-1-0 (0KO).
June 26, 2002 – Salon 21, Mexico
City, Mexico
Ana Torres, of Mexico, and part of the Erik Morales camp won
a 10-round unanimous decision over Mariana Juarez, of the
Antonio Barrera camp. This was for the Mexican Bantamweight Title. This was their third fight with each other,
and according to news sources was an very exciting match.
Torres improved her record to 7-0-1 (4KO), and remains undefeated. Juarez fell to
7-2-1 (4KO).
June 22, 2002 - Emerald Queen
Casino, Tacoma, Washington
Heavyweights Martha Salazar, 240 lbs., won a four-round
unanimous decision over Carley Pesente, 215. WBAN's
Inside reporter said, "Salazar controlled the fight from the
start with a strong overhand right that kept Pesente off balance.
Pesente tried to come back in the later rounds, but was hard pressed
to overcome the younger Salazar's power. Both sides have
agreed to a rematch in August." Salazar improved
her record to2-0-0, and Pesente is now to 3-3-0 (3KO).
Final Judges scoring was 40-36, 40-36, and 39-37.
June 22, 2002 - Vienna,
Austria
Bettina Csabi TKO1 Nicoleta Lascu.
June 22, 2002 – Ft.
Smith, Arkansas
Stephanie Dobbs,
115, Moore, Oklahoma, fought to a four-round majority draw with
Hometown Nout Bradshaw,
115, of Ft. Smith. WBAN’s inside
reporter said that Dobbs had easily controlled the action, and that
Bradshaw had two points taken away for repeated holding. Dobbs is
now 0-2-1 (0KO), and Bradshaw is 0-1-1 (0KO). Also, Flyweights Melissa
Shaffer, Fort Smith won a four-round unanimous decision over Melanie
Lawson, Rowland, Oklahoma, and Cruiserweights Cassandra Giger,
Fayetteville, Arkansas, TKO1 Leslie Sherfield, Elkins,
Arkansas.
June 21, 2002 - Sky City
Casino, New Mexico
Holly Holm made it a VERY short night when she stopped Terrie
Carrillo 24 seconds, into the first round. Carillo was making
her pro debut.
June 21, 2002 - Waco Convention
Center, Waco, Texas - The "Texas Shootout II"
At the Waco Convention Center, with a near full capacity of the
arena, RPM Boxing put on their second All-women's boxing card, called the
"Texas Shootout II." The only words to describe this
nights action was "What a card!" FIRST
FIGHT OF THE NIGHT - Sheri "Lil
Doc" Duncan, 170 1/2, 0-1-0 vs. Pro Debuter
Penny Hood, 168,
Duncan TKO2 Hood. SECOND
FIGHT OF THE NIGHT - Yolanda
Gonzalez,
112 3/4 vs. Delia "Chiquita" Gonzalez, 111 3/4,
Delia Gonzalez won by a six- round unanimous decision; THIRD
FIGHT OF THE NIGHT -Melissa "Honey
Girl" Delvalle (Salamone), 120 3/4, vs. Ada "The Ace"
Velez, 121 1/2,
Delvalle won by a unanimous decision and won the 122 lb. World WIBA Title;
FOURTH
FIGHT OF THE NIGHT - Sumya "Island Girl"
Anani,
139 3/4, vs. Jane "Gypsy" Couch, 138 1/2,
WIBA Junior Welterweight World Championship
Anani won by TKO4 0:51 seconds; FIFTH
FIGHT OF THE NIGHT - Ann
"Brown Sugar" Wolfe, 162, vs. Marsha
Valley, 167 3/4,
10-round Super-Middleweight IFBA World Title
(168-lb)
Wolfe won by TKO6; SIXTH
FIGHT OF THE NIGHT- Karen "Thriller"
Martin, 125 lbs. vs. Patricia Acosta, 126 3/4,
Scheduled for a 126-lb Six Rounder
Martin KO2 Acosta; SEVENTH
AND LAST FIGHT OF THE NIGHT - Kelsey
Jeffries vs. Michele Nielsen,
Eight-round WIBA Intercontinental Junior Lightweight Title
Jeffries won by a unanimous decision.
June 21, 2002 - Hershey Center in
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Olga Heron, 126, Mississauga, won a controversial four-round
split decision over Heather Stevens, 125, Norfolk, Virginia.
Heron is now 2-0-0 (1KO) and Stevens is 0-2-0 (0K). Judges scoring
was 39-37, 39-37, 37-39. Heather's Team told WBAN, "We were
robbed and the whole Canadian crowd boo'ed at the decision and all
the male fighters and trainers that saw the fight told us we were
robbed..... Even Lisa Brown said we were robbed...."
Photojournalist Wambolt said, "This was a very evenly contested
match and definitely one I would like to see again. Those who I
spoke to around ringside after the fight, seemed evenly split as to
who they thought won. I spoke with Stevens afterward and due to the
car wreck she was involved in that sidelined this match up in April,
she was only able to train for this bout for 3 weeks.
I for one would like to
see a rematch." The Canadian Pro Boxing Scene website that had
coverage of this fight, also confirmed that they even felt that
Stevens had won the bout, and they also confirmed that the crowd.
They said the following: "However, the Virginia fighter came
out on the short end of a split decision that, when announced,
caused cat calls from the local fans, who were convinced the
Southern belle had won, to jeer loudly. Judges' scorecards: 37-39
39-37 39-37. We scored it for Stevens."
June 21, 2002 – Sunset
Station, San Antonio, Texas
In the co-main event, Jay Vega, Austin, Texas, won a
unanimous decision over Maribel Zurita, San Antonio. Zurita
was knocked down in the second round. In the second women’s
Yolanda Swindell stopped Maricela Gutierrez 46 seconds in the first
round. Swindell is now 3-0-0 (2KO), and Gutierrez is 0-1-0.
(Resource – John Whisler - MySanAntonio.com
June 18, 2002 - Del Mar, California
Juli Crockett fought
Christine Rodriguez, to a four-round unanimous decision. The fight
took place in Del Mar, California. Crockett was knocked to the
canvas in the first round. Crockett improves her record
to 2-0-0 (1KO), and Rodriguez is now 0-3-1.
June 15, 2002 - Miami, Florida
At the Miccosukee Hotel & Casino, Olga Vlasova,137 1/4, remained undefeated when she put away
Patricia Demick, 139.5, in the third round. Ryan Wissow said,
that Vlosova was the aggressor throughout the fight, pinning Demick
on the ropes, wearing her down with body shots and that the
ref stepped in and stopped the fight. Ryan commented,
"Vlasova looked like the real deal tonight." Vlasova
moves her record to a 6-0-0 (2KO), and Demick is now 7-4-1
(5KO).
June 15, 2002 - San Cristobal,
Dominican Republic
Angela Garcia, Dominican Republic, won a four-round decision
overWanda Ozuna, Dominican Republic, in a junior
featherweight bout. Garcia improved her record to 1-2-0 (0KO), and
Ozuna fell to 0-2-0.
June 15, 2002 - Ignacio,
Colorado
At the Sky Ute Casino, Vaia Zaganas became the new IFBA
Strawweight champion when her opponent, Sarah Goodson apparently stopped fighting in the eighth round. Zaganas is now
5-1-0 (3KO), and Goodson is now 4-12-0 (2KO).
June 15, 2002 – Mexico City,
Mexico
Light Flyweights, 103 lbs., Elizabeth Sanchez won a scheduled
six-round "technical" split decision over Andrea Benitez. Sanchez made a history first when she became the first
Mexican female champion. Final scoring: 50-45, 49-47 (Sanchez),
48-47 (Benitez). Ref stopped the fight when Benitez had a closed
left eye, and other facial injuries.
June 15, 2002 - Kandel,
Germany
Nadja Loritz, of Koblenz, Germany, KO'd Elena Miftode
in the first round. Loritz improved her record to 11-0-2
(8KO). Mitlode is 0-1-0 (0KO).
June 14, 2002 - Colombia
In Puerto Colombia, a town in the department of Atlántico,
Colombia, Darys Pardo won by eight-round unanimous decision
for the Colombian Lightweight title over Angie Rocha in a
rematch. Darys had defeated rocha on their first fight. In the third
round Pardo came close to winning by a KO, but the fight ended up
going the distance. WBAN’s Colombian correspondent said "The
bout had several interesting times; the technical quality is best
just now; the progress is evident; but, not a word class ..
yet."
June 14, 2002 -
Beaumont, Texas
Valerie Mahfood, from Beaumont, won a six-round
split decision over Mary Ann Almager. According to news sources, Mahfood was
busier throughout the six rounds throwing more combinations. Final
scoring by all three judges was 77-73, 78-72 (Mahfood), and 76-74 (Almager).
This was a rematch for the two, when Mahfood had stopped Almager in
their first meeting. Mahfood improved her record to 13-4-0 (7KO), and Almager is now
13-5-0 (9KO).
June 13, 2002 -
London
At the EQUINOX Night Club in Leicester Square, London, In a
action-packed 10-round vacant WBF WORLD Flyweight title fight
southpaw Alina Shaternikova, 25, from Kiev, Ukraine narrowly
outpointed Cathy Brown from Peckham,
England.
June 11,
2002 ESPN2, Ehester, West Virginia
Late
replacement Shadina Pennybaker, 155, 5-1-0 (2KO), fought to a four-round draw
with Nikki Eplio, 160, 1-0-0 (1KO).
June 9, 2002 - Karlsruhe,
Germany
Daniela Graff, Karlsruhe, Germany TKO3 Minai Zina,
Romania, in a bantamweight bout. Graff is now 2-2-1 (1KO). Also, Maja
Frentzel, 111, won a four-round unanimous decision over Debbie
Lohmaier, 110 ¼. Lohmeier of the Pateriók Stable lost
her first pro-fight against Halmich protege
Maja Frentzel of Karlsruhe. Although Lohmeier put up a good fight
against the taller opponent, the result was a clear points decision
for Frentzel. Lohmeier said that the first pro fight was
a good experience,
despite the defeat. Lohmaier is now 0-1-0 (0KO).
June 8,
2002 - Memphis, Tennessee
Corrine "Goose" Van ryck de Groot won a
six-round unanimous decision over Jo Jo Wyman Final Scoring
was 59-55, 58-56, and 60-54. The Goose improved her record to
10-0-0.
June 8, 2002 - Gießen, Germany
Junior Flyweight Nadja Loritz, 107, Koblenz, Germany KO2 Anca Moise, 117. Fight report translated to English from
German: In the junior flyweight division, Nadja Loritz knocked
out Anca Moise of Roumania 1:10 seconds into round two. After
an even first round, Loritz nailed Moise with a left to the body and
a right to the head and Moise which ended the fight. Nadja
Lorits repeated her challenge to fight Regina Halmich for the WIBF
title. Her husband Detlef Lortiz said: "We have already been
working on that for a year" and challenged the most famous
female boxer in Germany to meet his wife, who is unbeaten in 14
fights, in the ring. "Halmich should not keep ducking, but
prove she is the boxer, she claims to be."
Loritz moved her record to 10-0-2
(7KO), Moise is now
0-5-0.
June 7, 2002 - Scottsdale, Arizona -
ESPN2
Bantamweight
Elena "Babydoll" Reid, 114,won a four-round unanimous
decision over Tracy Moulton, 118, who was suffering from some ring rust after having
a long layoff. Moulton was knocked down in the first round.
Reid improved her record to 9-2-1 (3KO). Moulton now is 5-5-1
(2KO). Also, Sunshiine Fettkether won by first round KO over
Aimee Pollard of Oklahoma City, OK. Pollard was making her pro
debut. Sunshine and Aimee took the fight on a very short notice.
Sunshine improved her record to 3-2-2 (2KO). Pollard now is
0-1-0 (0KO).
June 7, 2002 - Turning Stone Casino,Verona,
New York
Amy "Red Dog" Burton, Syracuse, New York KO1 0:40 Leona
Tanner of Wierton, West Virginia in a welterweight bout.
Burton improved her record to 5-2-1 (3KO), and Tanner remains winless
a 0-3-0 (0KO).
June 7, 2002 - Southhaven,
Mississippi
In front of 3,200 boxing fans at the DeSota Civic Center, Laila
Ali, 164, won her eleventh bout by a six-round unanimous
decision when she defeated Shirvelle Williams, 159, of St. Petersburg, Florida. Williams
was a last-minute opponent, who drove an estimated 18 hours from
Florida to Mississippi for this matchup with Ali. According to
news sources, Ali was reported to have "battered" Williams
throughout the six rounds. At the post-fight press conference,
Ali said that she was not disappointed that she did not knock
Williams out, and said, "I liked beating her up even
more." Williams had her left eye completely swollen shut
by the end of the fight, and she said that even though she took the
fight on short notice, she thought that she did a "pretty good
job." In the second women's match that was the first
fight of the evening. WIBF super-middleweight World
champion Kendra Lenhart was fed an "easy fight" when she
took on once-under-Kemp boxer, Lisa McFarland of East Point,
Georgia. McFarland is the boxer who had talked about being in a
"fixed" fight some years ago against the infamous Tiffany
Payne. To read that article, Go
Here for Details on McFarland in the article "Seamy side of
women's boxing. Lenhart
TKO2 1:29 of the second round. Johnny McClain, the promoter of this
event, has Lenhart and Ali in his stable of women
boxers. Ali is now 11-0-0 (8KO) and Williams is 4-3-0
(4KO).
June 4, 2002 - Philadelphia, PA
Jacqui Frazier-Lyde's WIBF super-middleweight world title
fight against Erin Toughill was ruled a"
no-contest" when a cut from an accidental headbutt stopped the
bout. The Philadelphia Daily News is reporting that the
headbutt occurred near the end of the 2nd round of the scheduled
8-rounder and the referee stopped the fight at 1:17 of the
3rd. Toughill, whose background in mixed-martial arts and
No-Holds-Barred competitions sparked heated debate on the Boxing
Rumble Forum regarding her chances in a conventional boxing match,
posted a message after the match stating that she was dominating the
fight up to that point. The cut to her forehead required 10 stitches
and a trip to the emergency room to close. The Daily News
account described the early action as “sporadic at best.”
June 4, 2002 - Savannah, Georgia
Chevelle Hallback
now 8-3-1 (4KO) defeated last-minute replacement boxer Shakura
Witherspoon, now 9-28-1in a six-rounder on ESPN2.
Hallback won by a decision, but there are no details at this time
about this fight other than Hallback won.
June 2, 2002 - Miskolc, Hungary
Viktoria Milo, Budapest, Hungary, won a four-round decision over
Florina Platon, Cluj, Romania. Milo improved her record to
3-2-0 (1KO). Platon is now 0-3-0.
June 1-2, 2002 - Amateurs
Marinette,
Wisconsin
Report by Bill Harris: Nine women were named state amateur boxing
champions here over the weekend, June 1 and 2, but none threw a
punch. Fans of women's boxing, though, weren't totally disappointed
as three bouts saw the women in action during the two-day
tournament, sponsored by the nearby Peshtigo Boxing Club under the
direction of club director Willy Price. There were 15 bouts in all,
12 of them good quality and exciting men's contests.
June 1, 2002 -Houston,
Texas
Linda Tenberg,
Austin, Texas, fought Patricia Acosta in a six-round
featherweight bout. Tenberg lost by a decision...WBAN
was told that it was a tough six rounds that the two fought with
each other.
June 1, 2002 Muay Thai
event,
Santa Ana Casino, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Holly Holm TKO2 Valerie Antonson, both making their
pro debut; also, Jackie Nava won a unanimous decision over Angela
Rivera.
June 1, 2002 – Morgantown, West Virginia
Nikki Eplion won a four-round middleweight majority decision
over Christin Annie, Southpoint, Ohio. Final scoring was
38-38-, 39-38, 39-37. Eplion improved her record to 2-0-0 (1KO), and
Annie is now 2-1-0 (2KO).
June 1, 2002 -
Stratosphere Hotel,
Las Vegas, Nevada
Kathy Rivers, 189, defeated Marsha Valley, 178, in a controversial majority decision (58-58,
58-56, 58-56) at the Stratosphere Hotel in Las Vegas, in what
was described as the "fight of the night" and a true
slugfest. Craig Ogawa's Report: Stratosphere Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas Kathy Rivers made
a triumphant return Saturday night at the Stratosphere, defeating
Marsha Valley by a controversial majority decision after Valley was
penalized two points in a turbulent fight that resembled the thrills
and dangers of a whitewater rafting ride. Immediately after the 2nd
point deduction, an angry Valley walloped Rivers in a stunning
attempt to wrest the point right back. It was that kind of fight -
intense, rough, tough. The evenly-matched power of two formidable
women clearly impressed a gasping and cheering crowd as they took
turns dashing each other’s momentum against the rocks. The
interludes when the left-handed Rivers and right-handed Valley
measured each other at arm’s length with their gloves were like
the uneasy calm between rapids, quickly dissolving into
spray and impact. En route to her 13th victory (against only 2
defeats), Rivers’ wild ride through this Valley became downright
tumultuous in the 5th round when Valley began scoring heavily only
to have a point deducted by the referee for clobbering Rivers while
holding her behind the head. Valley, who had been clearly winning
the round, almost immediately had another point taken away bringing
boos from the crowd and the thunderous response from Valley. The
points cost Valley the decision, who otherwise would have earned a
draw - two judges scoring the bout 57-55 with a third scoring it a
draw 56-56 even with the deductions. Rivers showed excellent
endurance in her first fight in a year and a half, looking fresher
than Valley late in rounds and able to lean into her opponent and
work her against the ropes. Questions of quickness and timing from
the layoff were answered about 90 seconds into the fight when Rivers
followed the first big exchange with a hard right-left combination
that momentarily stunned Valley. "Kathy rocks. She has my
respect," exclaimed Valley afterwards. Valley, who gave up 11
pounds at the weigh-in to take the fight (and more by the opening
bell), added that the fight was "totally fun." Rivers’
victory immediately returns her to top rank consideration in the
upper women’s weight divisions. Rivers, who said her layoff
stemmed from a dispute with her former promoter, also has the
benefit of working under the eye of Alton Merkerson, Roy Jones Jr’s
trainer. Merkerson expects her to come down close to 175 pounds
(where she’s fought most of her matches) as she continues to work
off the effect of being out of action. "Hot dogs and
pastrami," is how he described her diet during the layoff. More
on the controversial decision to follow...! Among those in
attendance:
Laila Ali and husband Johnny McClain (besieged by autograph and
picture seekers)
Suzy Taylor and husband Emmett
JoJo Wyman (who will face Corinne van Ryck de Groot in a great
matchup on the undercard of Tyson-Lewis on June 8) and her mom, Pat
former kickboxing star Robyn Covino The card was taped for broadcast
as part of the "Roy Jones Jr. Presents" series, which is
shown on Madison Square Garden Network, the Sunshine Network, ACSN,
and Comcast Sportsnet . No word as yet whether the Rivers and Valley
match will be shown. In the main event, former heavyweight champion
Michael Grant KO’d Anthony Willis. |
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