(all pictures courtesy of Emily Harney/Fitography)
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DERRY, N.H. (Agost 30, 2020) – Two regional title bouts, supported by several stay-busy fights, highlighted Granite Chin Promotion’s first pro boxing event since this past November, ‘Return to Derry,” last night (Dissabte, Agost. 29), in front of a near capacity crowd at New England Sports Center in Derry, New Hampshire.
Two world champions were in attendance to support the fighters, undefeated reigning World Boxing Organization (OMB) campió de pes mitjà Demetrio “Boo Boo” Andrade i“El Gall” José Antonio Rivera, el retirat 3-temps, 2-division title holder.
“I’m glad that tonight we took as step forward towards normalcy,” promotor Chris Traietti comentat. Sports help to bring people together and tonight we had a packed house with people of all races, religions, and creeds. I’m happy these Americans enjoyed themselves here tonight.”
Justin “Crazy Train” Rolfe was crowned New England heavyweight champion by way of an 8-round unanimous decision over Tracey “Tità” Johnson en l'esdeveniment principal.
Rolfe vs. Johnson II was a rematch of a 6-round majority draw last November in Quincy, Massachusetts. A lot more was at stake in the rematch, encara que, because the N.E. heavyweight title was on the line. Boston southpaw Johnson, the half-brother of Andrade, methodically boxed, while Maine-resident Rolfe came forward throwing bombs, and their contrast of styles made for a entertaining fight.
The elusive Johnson started finding his range in the fourth round, connecting with combinations as Rolfe appeared to tire, but he got his second wind and continued to be aggressive, often pinning Johnson on the ropes. The two evenly matched fighters went back and forth in the latter half of the fight, although Rolfe pressed the action and Johnson countered. Neither appeared to be hurt at any point during the bout., Both let loose in the eighth and final round, leaving nothing in the tank. Rolfe’s non-stop attack and turned out to be the difference in this match-up.
Ryan DiBartolomeo captured the vacant New Hampshire welterweight title, taking a 6-round split decision over Kris Jacobs, in the co-featured event. “I live in Massachusetts but all my fights (3-0-1) have been in New Hampshire and I train in Nashua (NH),” DiBartolomeo said after the fight. “Fighting in New Hampshire is like fighting at home and now I’m the New Hampshire welterweight champ.”
DiBartolemeo quickly came out of the corner and soon dropped Jacobs for an 8-count. Jacobs made it through the opening round, but he was unable to avoid the free-swinging DiBartolemeo’s strong right hand, peppering his opponents head, en la segona ronda. Jacobs settled down in the third, picked-up the pace in the fourth, and started letting his hands go more in the fifth, landing more effectively on his aggressive foe. The two fighters went at it toe-to-toe in the final round and DiBartolemeo closed the show.
New England middleweight champion Kendrick Ball, Jr., fighting light heavyweight Tahuk Taylor, displayed his skill set to the maximum, blasting his opponent to the mat with a sweet straight right, again with a beautiful left hook, and he was about to close the show when refereeJackie Morell mercifully ended the fight with 13-seconds left in round one.
Popular junior welterweight Micro “Bad Man” OHan, Jr. did just about everything but stop gritty Dewayne Saviesa, who was penalized two points and officially floored once. But he survived, albeit losing a lop-sided 6-round unanimous decision to Ohan.
campió dels Guants d'Or de Nova Anglaterra Francis “Frank The Tank” Hogan dismissed Rashan Wisdom, who went down on the canvas twice before his corner threw in the towel. Hogan is a tall, lanky southpaw who is well schooled and now 2-0 (2 KOs).
In a spirited fight, pes semipesado invicte Edet “Papito” Mkpanam (4-0, 3 KOs) was relentless against a game Saül “Spider” Almeida, one of the top mixed-martial-arts fighters in New England. Mkpanan dropped Almeida in the first two rounds on his way to a tough 4-round unanimous decision.
Promising Boston lightweight prospect Jonathan Depina outclassed Theo “The Unholy Truth” Desjardin, flooring him early and finishing him off soon after with a blistering shot, to improve to 2-0 (2 KOs).
De pes mitjà Anthony Concepcion won by way of a third-round disqualification when his opponent, pro-debutant Caleb Denham, ignored the referee’s instructions to continue fighting.
De pes mitjà Larry “Slomoshun” Herrero, fighting out of Dallas, recorded his first victory in more than nine years, taking a 4-round unanimous decision from Jesús “The Juice” Cintron. The 41-year-old Smith, 0-39-2 during his winless streak, dropped Anderson in the first round.
Larry Smith celebrated after his first win in 9 any
Texas light heavyweight Bryan Vera noquejat Mike Anderson with a big right hand early in round one. Àrbitre Leo Gerstel immediately waved off the count right after Anderson hit the mat. Vera, who is known for his participating in The Contender reality show de la televisió, has defeated world champions Sergio Mora (dues vegades), then-undefeated Andy Lee i Serhiy Dzinziruk during his 16-year pro career.
Veteran junior middleweight Cliff “Magician” McPherson had no tricks for Tyrone “Hands of Stone” Luckey because he was disqualified in the second round by referee Morrell for repeated holding.
Opening the night was a cruiserweight match between Larry “Sicario” Pryor i Francisco Net. It didn’t take long for Pryor, whose cousin was the late, Saló de la Fama Aaron “Hawk” Pryor, put down Neto with a nicely placed left hook. Neto beat the count but stood on wobbly legs, leading referee Gerstel to halt the fight at the 35-second mark of the opening round.
Els resultats complets de sota:
RESULTATS OFICIALS
MAIN EVENT – VACANT NEW ENGLAND. HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Justin Rolfe (4-1-1, 3 KOs), Fairfield, Maine
WDEC8 (79-73, 79-73, 78-74)
Tracey Johnson (4-8-6, 0 KOs), Boston, Massachusetts
(Rolfe won the N.E. títol de pes pesat)
CO-FEATURE – VACANT NEW HAMPSHIRE WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Ryan DiBartolomeo (3-0-1, 1 KO), Leominster, Massachusetts
WDEC6 (59-54, 59-54, 56-57)
Kris Jacobs (2-1-1, 0 KOs), Fall River, Massachusetts
(DiBartolomeo won vacant N.H. títol de pes welter)
creuers
Larry Pryor (12-22, 6 KOs), Frederickson, Maryland
WTKO1 (0.35)
Francisco Net (1-9), Woburn, Massachusetts
Semipesats
Kendrick Ball, Jr. (15-1-2, 11 KOs), Worcester, Massachusetts
Tahuk Taylor (3-12-1, 1 KO), Greensboro, NC
Edet Mkpanam (4-0, 3 KOs), New Bedford, Massachusetts
WDEC4 (40-35, 39-36, 39-36)
Saul Almeida (0-12), Framingham, Massachusetts
Bryan Vera (27-16, 17 KOs), Auston, TX
WKO1 (1:01)
Mike Anderson (0-6), Filadèlfia, Pennsilvània
Els pesos mitjans
Francis Hogan (2-0, 2 KOs), Weymouth, Massachusetts
WTKO1 (1:37)
Rashan Blackburn (8-54-2, 4 KOs), Columbus, Ohio
Larry Smith (11-44-2, 7 KOs), Dallas, TX
WEC4 (40-35, 40-36, 40-36)
Jesus Javier Cintron (1-14-2, 0 KOs), Asbury Park, Nova Jersey
Anthony Concepcion (5-0-1, 4 KOs). Providència, Rhode Island
WDQ3 (152)
Caleb Denham (0-1, 0 KOs), Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts
MITJANS MITJANS JUNIOR
Tyrone Luckey (10-12-4, 7 KOs), Little Egg Harbor, Nova Jersey
WDQ2 (2:51)
Cliff McPherson (2-41-1, 1 KO), Cleveland, Ohio
Mike Ohan, Jr. (10-1, 5 KOs), Holbrook, Massachusetts
WDEC6 (60-52, 59-54, 59-54)
Dewayne Saviesa (7-54-2, 3 KOs), Indianàpolis, IN
Pesos lleugers
Jonathan Depina (2-0, 2 KOs), Boston, Massachusetts
WKO1 (2:17)
Theo Desjarden (0-12), Wrentham, Massachusetts