Ringside by Pattee Mak | May 31, 2014
Jimmy Burchfield of Classic Entertainment & Sports (CES) delivered 6 professional fights and 5 amateur bouts at Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut. The main event, World lightweight title contender Hammerin’ Hank Lundy of Philadelphia headlined the event against Pipino Cuevas Jr. of Mexico City, Mexico. Cuevas is the son of the former WBA world welterweight champ Pipino Cuevas and Jr is also a former WBC Latino Champ.
Round 1 started off to a slow start with both fighter not too busy. Cuevas not having too much power behind his punches. Round 2 was a different story, coming out of the corner Cuevas face already seems to be getting swollen. Lundy connected with a left hand and Cuevas went down. The referee called a halt to the fight at 2:23 into round 2.
Lundy increased his record to 25-3-1, 12 KOs while Cuevas decreases his record to 17-12-0, 15 Kos.
A local fan favorite, SHELITO VINCENT of New London, CT went up against super bantamweight LAKEYSHA WILLIAMS of Philadelphia, Pa. Opening round Shelly came out strong trying to get the KO as soon as the bell rang. At the end of round 2 Shelly backed up Williams up against the rope and unleashed a multitude of punches. During the rest of the rounds, Shelly continuing backed up Williams against the ropes. Williams instead of getting off the ropes took the punishment Shelly delivered. After 6 rounds the judges scored the fight 60-54 2x and 59-55 all for Shelly. Shelly increases her record to 11-1 and Williams deceased her record to 9-19-3.
Super welterweights, JIMMY WILLIAMS came out strong against CHRISTIAN LAO both from New Haven, Conn. William showed the crowed how it is done in boxing. At 1:57 of round 1 Williams connects with a left hook, snaps Lao backwards and when they continue on Williams finishes Lao with a right hook and then followed with a left. Lao goes down to the canvas. Williams gets the KO victory and is awarded the Ct State Super Welterweight title. Williams’s advances to 6-0-1 and Lao decreases to 5-3-1.
Welterweights – ALEKSANDRA MAGDZIAK-LOPES of Marshfield, Mass. vs. ALTHEA SAUNDERS of Atlantic City, N.J. Lopes was going into the fight with 13 fights and Saunders this would be her 4th pro fight. Both fighters fought a competitive fight but it ended up as a draw. 58-57 – Lopes; 56-58 – Saunders and 57-57.
Light heavyweights KEVIN COBBS of Willimantic, Conn. vs. WILLIS LOCKETT of Tahoma Park, Maryland. There is a considerable height difference between the 2 fighters with Cobbs coming into the ring with the tighter abs of the two. Cobbs planning out boxed Lockett and in the end won by UD 40-36; 39-37 and 39-37.
Super Welterweights – ETHAN PENA of Providence, R.I. vs. “JABBIN” JOE WILSON of Hartford, Conn. Pena was warned by the referee for hitting with a low blow. Winner by UD Jabbin Joe Wilson. Judges scored the bout 39-37; 39-37 and 40-36.
Amateurs (Like Father Like Son):
Isaac Perez vs. Danny Pena both of Providence R.I. Perez wins by decision. 30-27; 29-27 and 29-28.
Miguel Teo vs. Godfrey Campbell. 29-28; 29-28 and 28-29. Decision goes to Teo.
Ray Oliveira Jr. the son of Ray Oliveira of New Bedford vs. Khiary Gray-Pitts of Worcester, MA. Decision goes Gray-Pitts. 28-29; 30-26 and 30-26. I’m waiting to see Khiary turn pro.
Gary Balletto Jr. of Cranston, R.I. the son of Gary Balletto whom back in October, 2013 was paralyzed from the waist down due to an accident vs. Eric Anderson of New Haven, CT. After 3 rounds all 3 judges scored the bout 30-27 for Balletto.
Scott Sullivan of New Bedford, MA vs. Anthony Marsella, Jr. of Smithfield, RI vs. Scott Sullivan of New Bedford, MA.
As in September, I once again ran out of gas in the 10th & 11th championship rounds of October & November with this column, but I recovered to complete them and will unleash a few more flurries to close out the 12th and final round.
In the first week of October, Hassan N’Dam won a UD over Curtis Stevens in an eliminator for the right to challenge Jermaine Taylor who defeated aging Sam Soliman to regain the IBF Middleweight title. How Taylor even earned this title shot is another story altogether, but it is all irrelevant as he is now the champion. However he will not have too much time to savor his victory as he has assault and battery charges pending against him and an upcoming court fight that may turn out to be the toughest fight of his life, just when things started to look up for him in boxing, we wish him luck.
