PHOTO SLIDESHOW (contact rich.bergeron@gmail.com for photo copies):
Boxing fans packed the Manchester Downtown Hotel Wednesday night to take in a spectacular night of elite amateur boxing. This was the final stop on a three-city tour of Boston and Springfield, Massachusetts and Manchester, New Hampshire. The scheduled fights featured Team USA amateurs facing the best amateur boxers from Ireland. By the final bell, Ireland managed to finish the eight bouts of the evening with a tie score, their best outcome of the tour. Team USA won the first two duals of the tour in Boston and Springfield, ਕ੍ਰਮਵਾਰ, ਦੇ ਸਕੋਰ ਦੇ ਕੇ 8-4 ਅਤੇ 7-3.
ਬੇਨਟੌਨ ਨੇ ਪਹਿਲੇ ਗੇੜ ਵਿੱਚ ਇੱਕ ਸਵਰਮਿੰਗ ਅਟੈਕ ਦਾ ਧੰਨਵਾਦ ਕੀਤਾ. He worked in and out of range with 1-2 combos and sparing hooks. He used all his angles well, pivoting out of trouble and into effective range with ease. Kelley struggled to land counters until the final moments of the round when he landed his own flurry of 1-2 ਕੰਬੋਜ਼.
Kelley started the second round with much more energy and poise. He landed early and often, winging left hands and opening up a cut on Benton’s lip. Benton slipped some of the more dangerous punches, blocked shots well and landed some crisp, hard shots of his own. His best exchange was a left and right hook to the head that landed near the middle of the round.
Kelley slowed down a bit in the final round, unable to find his ideal range. He landed some hard right hands, a well-placed body shot and unloaded with a late flurry. Benton kept busy early in the round and artfully ducked under a bombing right hook from Kelley. The judges seemed more impressed with Kelley’s composure in the final two rounds as Benton kept getting drawn in to sloppy brawling. Kelley edged out the win by a 2-1 margin.
The light welterweights came next, producing another tight contest. Ireland’s Caoimhin Ferguson fought Team USA’s Charlie Sheehy with a slightly better tactical approach, earning another split decision victory for his squad.
Sheehy took on a more cautious and patient approach in the first round, waiting for the perfect moment to throw and land. His best punches of the round included a hard right hand to the body and a starching jab. Ferguson put in more work in the frame, scoring on multiple hooks to the head and unleashing wild and crazy flurries a few times. One particular left hook crashed hard into Sheehy’s head in the final moments of the round.
Ferguson landed some decent shots in the second round, but Sheehy was much more composed. He worked around the wild-swinging, hard-charging assault by keeping his distance and scoring from outside with some crisp rights to the chin. The fighters exchanged some hooks to the body and wound up in a clinch before the end of the round.
Sheehy struggled to string punches together in the final round. Though he had a nice straight right hand working for him, Ferguson was able to penetrate his defense. Ferguson landed a thumping left hook early and went on to land a few more bombs before losing his mouthpiece in one exchange. Likely knowing he needed to finish strong to get the judges on his side, Ferguson rushed in with a final torrent of hooks in the final seconds. He earned a 2-1 decision win for his tenacity.
Welterweights Kieron Molloy (Ireland) and Freudis Rojas, ਜੂਨੀਅਰ. (ਅਮਰੀਕਾ) squared off in another bout. Both fighters are previous World Championship Bronze Medalists with Molloy also claiming nine Irish National titles and Rojas winning the US nationals 10 times so far. It was another close shave win for Team Ireland.
Rojas was clearly the more active fighter in the first round. He used a consistent jab and increased his work rate through the frame. He ket busy on offense right up until the bell. Molloy began the round winging shots and trying to figure out his range. He unleashed a bit late in some of the more fierce exchanges, couldn’t figure out how to get his combinations going, and had a tough time catching up with the faster Rojas. Molloy did land some excellent straight lefts, ਪਰ.
The next round went much better for the Irish southpaw. He started with an uptick in his punch output, though he still struggled to land combos. At one point in the round, Molloy connected with a huge straight left, followed up by a nice power jab, slowing down his opponent. Rojas kept coming forward but couldn’t capitalize on scoring opportunities in the round. A late flurry of punches from Rojas wasn’t enough for him to steal the round.
Rojas landed some excellent shots in the final round, going downstairs to the body frequently. He also caught Molloy against the ropes, blasting him with straight punches. Molloy fought the smarter round, ਪਰ, picking the best times to throw and often catching Rojas with his hands down. His best exchange of the round featured a huge 1-2 connecting to the head and a wild left hook to the head. A final swarm of punches from the Irish fighter closed the show and earned him a 2-1 split decision win.
Team USA’s Nikita Ababiy scored a hard-fought win in a wild affair before the main event with Team Ireland’s Gerard French. The first round saw Ababiy jabbing well. The American came into the fight with a very non-traditional boxing stance with one hand low, but his posture seemed to be effective in luring his opponent into punching range. Ababiy landed some booming hooks and a nice left uppercut that backed up French. ਇਸ ਦੌਰਾਨ, French concentrated on trying to land counters. He had a lower work rate but also didn’t take too much punishment.
French spent the second round trying to exchange in close quarters. He landed more shots later in the round, including some heated right hooks in the final moments. Ababiy connected with some thumping shots in the round and showcased some nice defense as well. He mixed up his shots to the body and head, throwing and covering up to wait for the next opening. Ababiy landed a nice left hook to the head followed up with a picture perfect right uppercut in the final minute. He ended the round well on his way to his first win.
The final round saw Ababiy slow down a bit, but he was still effective enough to carry the frame. French managed some crisp left hooks to the head, but he couldn’t figure out the different style his opponent brought to the ring. The American cruised to the unanimous decision win.
The night also began with the only stoppage on the card thanks to a wild brawl between local 132-pound Manchester, NH novices Michael Correa and Abhisek Thapa. Correa took off across the ring upon hearing the opening bell and unleashed one wild flurry after another. Thapa didn’t let the tornado swallow him up, ਪਰ. He ust covered up and waited for his opportunities. It only took a couple minutes for Correa to start tiring out from the relentless attack. Thapa then waded in to land some of the most impressive shots of the night, forcing the referee to stop the fight for three standing eight counts before the end finally came with a whirlwind of power punches from Thapa.
There was also a guest appearance made by the boxer Floyd Mayweather, ਜੂਨੀਅਰ. still calls his toughest opponent ever, Emanuel Augustus (3-34-6, 20 ਕੋਸ). Augustus participated in a reunion the previous night with “ਆਇਰਿਸ਼” Micky ਵਾਰਡ (38-13, 27 ਕੋਸ), celebrating one of the best fights in the history of the sport, which took place on July 13, 2001. Augustus stuck around for the fights and even came into the ring to showcase that he still has the same punching prowess that made him one of the most entertaining fighters of his era.
“We learned from this tour that we’re right up there with the best teams in the world,” Team USA head coach Billy Walsh said. “Team Ireland is a very good, young team. We’re going to have a good team to send to Tokyo (2020 ਓਲੰਪਿਕ). I’m proud of my team. They all worked very hard. We didn’t have some of our best boxers because some were competing in an International tournament We do have a good crop of 18-19-20 year-olds who will make up our 2020 Olympic team.”
Team Ireland also brought their own production crew to film all the action for those who couldn’t be there:
MANCHESTER, N.H. (ਮਾਰਚ 22, 2018) – Last night’s third and final stop on USA Boxing’s 2018 ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਬਨਾਮ. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour ended in a 4-4 draw at Downtown Manchester Hotel in Manchester, New Hampshire. Team USA won the team tour title, 2-0-1.
Team USA had won the first two duals of the tour in Boston and Springfield, ਕ੍ਰਮਵਾਰ, ਦੇ ਸਕੋਰ ਦੇ ਕੇ 8-4 ਅਤੇ 7-3.
“We learned from this tour that we’re right up there with the best teams in the world,” Team USA head coachਬਿਲੀ ਵਾਲਸ਼ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ. “Team Ireland is a very good, young team. We’re going to have a good team to send to Tokyo (2020 ਓਲੰਪਿਕ). I’m proud of my team. They all worked very hard. We didn’t have some of our best boxers because some were competing in an International tournament We do have a good crop of 18-19-20 year-olds who will make up our 2020 Olympic team.”
Team Ireland led last night’s team scoring, 4-3, going into the final match of the night, a super heavyweight rematch. The 2016 Youth World Championships bronze medalistਰਿਚਰਡ Torrezonce again defeated there-time Irish National ChampionDean Gardiner,
Third time was the charm for Brooklyn middleweightNikita Ababiy, who broke into the win column with a 3-0 unanimous decision overGerard French, keeping the Americans hope alive to deadlock the final score with one match to go.
In a battle between southpaw welterweights, nine-time Irish National Champion and World Championships bronze medalist, Kieron Molloytook a 2-1 split decision overFreudis Rojas, ਜੂਨੀਅਰ., a 10-time national champion and World Championships bronze medalist.
Irish light welterweightCaoimhin Ferguson ਜਿੱਤਿਆ ਨੂੰ ਇੱਕ 2-1 split decision victory over California light welterweightCharlie Sheeyto give Team Ireland a 3-2 advantage.
Eight-time Irish National champion and European Championships bronze medalistWayne Kelley ਜਿੱਤਿਆ ਨੂੰ ਇੱਕ 2-1 split decision versus Cincinnati light welterweightAdrian Benton, the 13-time national champion making his International match debut.
In his International debut, two-time USA Boxing championJames Browningਜਿੱਤਿਆ ਨੂੰ ਇੱਕ 2-1 decision over Irish lightweightFrancis Cleary, a nine-time Irish National champion and European Championships silver medalist, in a very entertaining lightweight match.
ਨਾਂ ਕਰੋ. 2-rated American middleweightLeah Cooperdropped her opponent, eight-time National Irish National champion and European Championships bronze medalistAdolfe Burke, en route to a 3-0 ਸਰਬਸੰਮਤੀ ਦਾ ਫੈਸਲਾ.
World Championship silver medalistKellie Harringtondefeated lightweightStacia Suttlesfor the second time on the tour by the identical score, 3-0, giving Team Ireland its first lead of the tour, albeit temporary, in last night’s tour opener.
In a Special Manchester Lightweight novice class match, Michael Correa (Manchester PAL) ਨੂੰ ਹਰਾ Abhisek Thapa (Title Boxing) when the referee stopped the contest in the opening round.
Team USA middleweight Troy Isley was named Most Outstanding Boxer of the night
SPRINGFIELD, ਮਾਸ. (ਮਾਰਚ 16, 2018) – Team USA defeated Team Ireland, 7-3, last night (ਵੀਰਵਾਰ ਨੂੰ) on the second stop of the three-city 2018 ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਬਨਾਮ. Ireland ਪੂਰਬ ਮੁੱਕੇਬਾਜ਼ੀ ਟੂਰ, at MassMutual Center MGM Springfield in Massachusetts.
Team USA defeated Team Ireland in team scoring, 8-4, last Monday in the first dual and it also clinched the team title last night, holding a 2-0 advantage with one more match-up to go in the series.
ਵੀਰਵਾਰ ਨੂੰnight’s final score was somewhat misleading, ਪਰ, much more competitive than the final team score may indicate, as the first five matches ended in 2-1 split decisions, all in favor of Team USA.
Gifted California bantamweightਮਾਰਕ Castro won his second straight bout on this tour,defeating George Bates, 2-1, in the Fight of the Night.
Most Outstanding Boxer of the night, Virginia middleweightਟਰੌਏ Isley, The 2017 Elite World Championship bronze medalist, locked up the team victory and series clincher in the seventh match of the night with an up-close-and-personal unanimous decision over game Irish middleweightGerard French.
The USA vs. Ireland Northeast Boxing Tour concludesਬੁੱਧਵਾਰ ਨੂੰ, ਸਾਗਰ. 21at The Manchester Downtown Hotel in New Hampshire. The action will commence at7:00 ਦੁਪਿਹਰ. ਅਤੇfor up to 12 world-class amateur bouts, which will all be live streamed, ਮੁਫਤ ਵਿਚ, ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਮੁੱਕੇਬਾਜ਼ੀ ਦੀ ਵੈਬਸਾਈਟ 'ਤੇ (www.usaboxing.org). Presented by Corona Premium and serving as a fundraiser for another partner of the show, the Manchester PAL Boxing Club, tickets are $20 ਜਨਰਲ ਦਾਖਲੇ ਲਈ, $30 for reserved ringside seats, and available to purchase on Seacoast Ticket Agency’s website, www.seacoastticket.com, the official ticket distributor for the event.
Irish heavyweightKiril Afganasevedged 2017 US National bronze medalistAdrian Tillman, 3-0, for the second consecutive time on this tour. The taller Afranasov was too strong inside, ਇੱਕ ਵਾਰ ਫਿਰ ਤੋਂ, for Tillman.
American light heavyweightKhalil Coedecisioned six-time Irish National championCaoimhin Hynesfor the second time in a row by the identical scoring, 3-0, by effectively using his superior height and reach advantage.
Eight-time Irish National Champion Brett McGinty avenged his opening night loss, winning a 2-1 decision against National AAU championNikita Ababiy.
Southpaw Paddy Donovangave Ireland its first win of the night, upsetting Cleveland welterweightQuinton Randall, ਨੂੰ ਇੱਕ 2017 Elite World Championship team member, in the sixth match, by way of the first 3-0 unanimous decision of the evening.
2016 ਯੂਥ ਵਿਸ਼ਵ ਜੇਤੂ Delante “Tiger” ਜਾਨਸਨ took a split decision from Irish light welterweightCaoimhin Ferguson, 2-1.
California light welterweightCharlie Sheehykept the American freight train rolling, taking a split decision from eight-time Irish National championWayne Kelly.
In a rematch of last Monday’s match, heavy-handed American welterweightOshae Jones, ਨੂੰ ਇੱਕ 2017 Elite Women’s Continental Championships silver medalist, won a hard-fought split decision overGrainne Walshfor the second time in a row. Jones dropped Walsh in the opening round, but the Irish boxer battled back in another second spirited confrontation.
In the opening match of the evening, Virginia light welterweightAmelia Moore, in her first international bout, upset World Championships silver medalist lightweightKellie Harrington, 2-1.
Complete individual & team results:
SPRINGFIELD RESULTS
ਖੇਡੇਗੀ
Kiril Afanasev, ਡਬ੍ਲਿਨ, Ireland
WDEC (3-0)
Adrian Tillman, ਲਾਸ ਵੇਗਾਸ, ਕਾਲਰਾਡੋ, ਅਮਰੀਕਾ
ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ ਨਾਲ ਖੇਡੇਗੀ
Khalil Coe, Jersey, ਸ਼ਹਿਰ, ਨਿਊ ਜਰਸੀ, ਅਮਰੀਕਾ
WDEC (3-0)
Caoimhin Hynes, Belfast, Ireland
MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Brett McGinty, Derry, Ireland
WDEC (2-1)
Nikita Ababiy, ਬਰੁਕਲਿਨ, ਨ੍ਯੂ ਯੋਕ, ਅਮਰੀਕਾ
ਟਰੌਏ Isley, ਸਿਕੰਦਰੀਆ, Virginia, ਅਮਰੀਕਾ
WDEC (3-0)
Gerard French, Anrtim
WELTERWEIGHTS
Paddy Donovan, Limerick
WDEC (3-0)
Quinton Randall, Katy, ਟੈਕਸਾਸ, ਅਮਰੀਕਾ
LIGHT WELTERWEIGHTS
Tiger Johnson, Cleveland, ਓਹੀਓ, ਅਮਰੀਕਾ
WDEC (2-1)
Caoimhin Ferguson, Atrium
Charlie Sheey, Brisbane, ਕੈਲੀਫ਼ੋਰਨੀਆ ਦੇ
WDEC (2-1)
Wayne Kelly, Laois, Ireland
LIGHTWEIGHTS
ਮਾਰਕ Castro, ਫ੍ਰੇਜ਼੍ਨੋ, ਕੈਲੀਫ਼ੋਰਨੀਆ ਦੇ, ਅਮਰੀਕਾ
WDEC3 (2-1)
George Bates, ਡਬ੍ਲਿਨ
WOMEN WELTERWEIGHTS
Oshae Jones, ਟਾਲੀਡੋ, ਓਹੀਓ, ਅਮਰੀਕਾ
WDEC (2-1)
Grainne Walsh, Offaly, Ireland
WOMEN LIGHTWEIGHTS
Amelia Moore, ਸਿਕੰਦਰੀਆ, Virginia, ਅਮਰੀਕਾ
WDEC (2-1)
Kellie Harrington, ਡਬ੍ਲਿਨ, Ireland
ਅਮਰੀਕਾ: 7 IRELAND: 3
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