(all pictures courtesy of Emily Harney/Fitography)
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DERRY, N.H. (Out 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 (Samdi, Aug. 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 (WBO) middleweight chanpyon Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade ak“Gallo nan” Jose Antonio Rivera, pran retrèt 3-tan nan, 2-division title holder.
“I’m glad that tonight we took as step forward towards normalcy,” pwomotè Chris Traietti kòmante. 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 “Titan” Johnson nan evènman an prensipal.
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, menm si, 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, nan wonn de. 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 Mike “Bad Man” OHan, Jr. did just about everything but stop gritty Dewayne Sajès, who was penalized two points and officially floored once. But he survived, albeit losing a lop-sided 6-round unanimous decision to Ohan.
Angletè Golden Nouvo Gan chanpyon 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 Ko).
In a spirited fight, undefeated pwa loud limyè Edet “Papito” Mkpanam (4-0, 3 Ko) was relentless against a game Sayil “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 Ko).
Middleweight Anthony Concepcion won by way of a third-round disqualification when his opponent, pro-debu Caleb Denham, ignored the referee’s instructions to continue fighting.
Middleweight Larry “Slomoshun” Smith, fighting out of Dallas, recorded his first victory in more than nine years, taking a 4-round unanimous decision from Jezi “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 ane
Texas light heavyweight Bryan Vera frape soti Mike Anderson with a big right hand early in round one. Abit Leo Gerstel immediately waved off the count right after Anderson hit the mat. Vera, who is known for his participating in Contender an reyalite televizyon montre, has defeated world champions Sergio Mora (de fwa), then-undefeated Andy Lee ak 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 “Itman” Pryor ak Francisco Neto. It didn’t take long for Pryor, whose cousin was the late, Hall nan Famer Arawon “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.
Rezilta Ranpli anba a:
REZILTA OFISYÈL
MAIN EVÈNMAN – VACANT NEW ENGLAND. HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Justin Rolfe (4-1-1, 3 Ko), Fairfield, ME
WDEC8 (79-73, 79-73, 78-74)
Tracey Johnson (4-8-6, 0 Ko), Boston, MA
(Rolfe won the N.E. pwa loud tit)
CO-FEATURE – VACANT NEW HAMPSHIRE WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Ryan DiBartolomeo (3-0-1, 1 KO), Leominster, MA
WDEC6 (59-54, 59-54, 56-57)
Kris Jacobs (2-1-1, 0 Ko), Fall River, MA
(DiBartolomeo won vacant N.H. welterweight title)
CRUISERWEIGHTS
Larry Pryor (12-22, 6 Ko), Frederickson, MD
WTKO1 (0.35)
Francisco Neto (1-9), Woburn, MA
Heavyweights limyè
Kendrick Ball, Jr. (15-1-2, 11 Ko), Worcester, MA
Tahuk Taylor (3-12-1, 1 KO), Greensboro, NC
Edet Mkpanam (4-0, 3 Ko), New Bedford, MA
WDEC4 (40-35, 39-36, 39-36)
Sayil Almeida (0-12), Framingham, MA
Bryan Vera (27-16, 17 Ko), Auston, TX
WKO1 (1:01)
Mike Anderson (0-6), Philadelphia, PA
MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Francis Hogan (2-0, 2 Ko), Weymouth, MA
WTKO1 (1:37)
Rashan Blackburn (8-54-2, 4 Ko), Columbus, OH
Larry Smith (11-44-2, 7 Ko), Dallas, TX
WEC4 (40-35, 40-36, 40-36)
Jesus Javier Cintron (1-14-2, 0 Ko), Asbury Park, NJ
Anthony Concepcion (5-0-1, 4 Ko). Providence, RI
WDQ3 (152)
Caleb Denham (0-1, 0 Ko), Jamaica Plain, MA
JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Tyrone Luckey (10-12-4, 7 Ko), Little Egg Harbor, NJ
WDQ2 (2:51)
Cliff McPherson (2-41-1, 1 KO), Cleveland, OH
Mike Ohan, Jr. (10-1, 5 Ko), Holbrook, MA
WDEC6 (60-52, 59-54, 59-54)
Dewayne Sajès (7-54-2, 3 Ko), Indianapolis, IN
Lightweights
Jonathan Depina (2-0, 2 Ko), Boston, MA
WKO1 (2:17)
Theo Desjarden (0-12), Wrentham, MA