January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
The good, the bad and the beer
Here’s his off beat account, from ringside, of every hook, every jab, every knock down and every sip of Heineken.
Before we start, let’s take it as read that any criticism here is qualified by the fact that every fighter who had the guts to get in the ring on Saturday night, including the women, could clearly put the licks on him any time they wanted to. Hopefully they won't do that.
Competitive Bouts
Nathan Sorentino (Controversy Gym) beat Phil Donovan (Denver PD) on points
Round 1: Donovon comes out with his arms flailing and lands a few blows. Sorentino initially looks nervous but gradually becomes more composed.
Round 2: Donovon’s still swinging like a bar-room brawler, but Sorentino is calm and methodical, spilling blood with some lethal head shots.
Round 3: It’s Sorentino's fight. Donovon has run out of gas and the Bermudian fighter shows no mercy, moving in for the kill with the eerie control of an assassin firing on his helpless prey.
Kamel Dickinson (Police Gym) beat Callon Burns (Controversy Gym) on points
Round 1: Both fighters come out with a ton of energy, bouncing around the ring, sussing each other out, bobbing and weaving in and out of the first tentative punches.
Round 2: Kamel Dickinson starts to land some serious punches, backing his opponent into the corner. The fact that Burns appears to have a significant wedgie can't help matters.
Round 3: More solid work from Dickinson secures the points victory after a good show from both fighters.
Caron Adderley (BDA Police) beat Shameen Iqbal (BDA Police) on points
Round 1: A slow start as the two women get a feel for fighting in front of 500 plus people.
Round 2: Iqbal has World Champion Teresa Perozzi in her corner, but some guy in the crowd clearly thinks he's more qualified to offer advice, “hit her, hit her,” he shouts.
As far as boxing tactics go it's not the most sophisticated ploy, but sound advice nonetheless.
Round 3: The advice isn't working for Iqbal. Adderley shades the bout on points and looks delighted.
Craig Klukas (Denver PD) beat Gareth Dixon (BDA Police) by retirement
Round 1: Gone in 20 seconds. Klukas comes flying out of his corner like a raging bull. Dixon takes one look, makes arguably the most sensible decision of the night and runs for cover.
Klukas chases him round the ring before the ref gets the message and stops the fight.
Ron Jensen (Denver PD) beat Ben Gray (BDA Police) by stoppage
Round 1: Gray is the most popular fighter of the night. But even the table of coppers chanting “Benny, Benny, Benny” can't protect him from the fast fists of Jensen who comes out strong.
Round 2: Jensen floors Gray for the first knock down of the night but the Bermuda fighter just gets back up and gets on with it.
Round 3: Gray is taking a bit of a battering but he keeps coming back for more. Even when the ref stops the contest after Gray takes his fourth standing-eight count, he's still smiling.
Mario Morales (Boston) beat Andre Bean (BDA Police Gym) by retirement
Round 1: Amateur hour is clearly over. Both these men come out looking technically accomplished. There're less flying fists and much more jockeying for position.
Round 2: Morales' sizable head is giving Bean a disproportionately large target, but the Bermudian is too busy trying to defend himself against a barrage of vicious body blows.
Morales, probably the most technically accomplished fighter on the night, pounds his opponent mercilessly.
Round 3: Bean doesn't make it out for round three.
Joshua Smith (BDA Police Gym) beat Brett Titus (Denver PD)
Round 1: This seems like the best-supported fight of the night. But maybe that’s just because’ Titus’ wife is sitting opposite me while Joshua Smith's entourage are on the next table.
Round 2: It’s definitely one of the best fights of the night.
Smith shows some real ability, moving quickly, landing some heavy blows and backing off. His longer reach is making it difficult for the American to get near him.
Round 3: Popular hairdresser Smith completes a comfortable points victory, bloodying his opponent's nose in the final round. Titus holds his arm aloft, at the conclusion, sportingly accepting defeat. This was a high quality fight with good boxing and sportsmanship from both men.
Mike Halstead (Mass State Police) beat Don Von Lintel (Denver PD) on points
Round 1: Tentative opening round with neither fighter gaining the initiative. The free pretzels are pretty good though.
Round 2: The crowd's interest has dropped a few notches because it's an all-American bout.
Round 3: Real slow stuff from both fighters. Not many punches thrown. Halstead shades it on points but it wasn't the most exciting fight of the night.
Greg De Fosse (Mass State Police) beat Craig Feldman (Denver PD) on points
Round 1: Another slow starter, with De Fosse marginally on top. The lack of Bermudian involvement again cools the interest of the crowd.
Round 2: I missed that round, queuing at the bar, only to find they've run out of beer. I'm on to black and coke, so the report may become less lucid from now on. According to my neighbour, I didn’t miss much.
Round 3: The fight goes to De Fosse on points. On the evidence of what I saw it was pretty much deserved but compared to the rest of the action that was another gentle fight.
Freeman Smith (BDA Police Gym) beat Dale Kile (Mass State Police) on points.
Round 1: The tempo is right back up there. Smith comes out looking in good shape, quick on his feet and landing some heavy blows early on.
Dale Kile's wife is sitting next to me. She says: “He's had 11 years of experience taking blows from me, so he's going to be alright.”
Round 2: It looks like that assessment was a bit optimistic. Smith puts Kile on the deck three times, practically knocking him out of the ring on one occasion.
Round 3: A much more sedate round but Freeman's already got it in the bag. This was a great end to the evening and a fine performance from Bermuda's number one heavyweight.
Exhibition Bouts
Reuben Bean (BDA) v Garon Wilkinson (BDA), Kickboxing Exhibition Bout.Without a doubt, this was one of the highlights of the night. It's just a shame that a lot of people were late back from the intermission and missed it.
Both men showed a magnificent exhibition of skill and athleticism. Spectacular stuff.
Heather Monday (Denver PD) v Gina Klay (Mass State Police), Exhibition Bout
Both women trade some decent blows for three rounds without landing any significant punches.
Leo Richardson (Controversy Gym) v Ron Thomas (Denver PD), Exhibition Bout This may have been billed as an exhibition bout but Leo Richardson certainly wasn't viewing it that way.
He came out with a flurry of punches and knocked his opponent to the ground before the fight was stopped.[[In-content Ad]]
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