Results from Auburn Hills, Michigan
Antwun Echols D12 Rubin Williams... In his home state of Michigan, Rubin Williams (29-2-1, 16 KOs) and veteran slugger Antwun Echols (31-6-3, 27 KOs) fought to a draw. It was no hometown decision as respected referee Frank Garza deducted points from Williams in rounds seven and nine for low blows. The official scores were 114-113 (Williams), 111-115 (Echols) and 113-113, which means Williams would have won absent the penalties. A rematch is a distinct possibility, particularly since the minor super middleweight title that was at stake remains vacant. source: detroit free press
Ronald Hearns KO1 Daniel Neal... It was a frustrating night for Ronald Hearns, who is under contract to DiBella Entertainment but was allowed to fight in his homestate. According to the Detroit Free Press, Neal took a dive, going down for the count from a grazing right hand. Neal's purse was held up by the commission and Hearns expressed anger at the waste of his time. "I hit him with nothing. I didn't feel the punch in my hand," said Hearns honestly. He is now 12-0. source: detroit free press
Mary Jo Sanders TKO2 Gina Nicholas...Detroit's Mary Jo Sanders added another title belt, thist time the IBA middleweight version, to her collection by defeating Gina Nicholas when Nicholas failed to answer the bell for the third round of their IBA middleweight title fight in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Nicholas suffered an injured right arm, around the elbow, in the first round as she threw her best shots at Sanders. Now 23-0, Sanders will celebrate her 33rd birthday today. Sanders would like to fight Laila Ali, who fights one division heavier, but Ali is known for avoiding tough fights. source: detroit free press
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Anthony Bonsante W10 Matt Vanda... At 36 years old, Anthony Bonsante seemed like he was on his way out after a few losses on the reality show The Contender and related cards. On Friday in Minnesota, Bonsante showed he still rules the boxing scene in his home state, defeating a younger boxer for the second straight time. Bonsante knocked Matt Vanda down in the tenth round with a series of hard rights and went on to retain the state middleweight title he won against Troy Lowry by scores of 98-92, 98-91 and 98-91. Bonsante, 29-8-3, said he would retire if he did not win, but that day wont come just yet after a career-reinvigorating win in front of a crowd of over 8000. Vanda's record is an inflated 35-3. Next up is likely a trip to Madison Square Garden to face John Duddy in March. source: minneapolis star tribune
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Cornelius Bundrage W10 Chris Smith... Chris Smith had Cornelius Bundrage badly hurt in the sixth and tenth rounds but couldn't finish Bundrage off and wound up losing a ten-round split decision on ESPN2's Friday Night Fights main event in Tacoma, Washington on Friday. One judge scored it 96-94 Smith, but he was overruled by scores of 96-94 and 97-93 for Bundrage. Bundrage, 25-2, won the early rounds, and despite being hurt in the sixth, he rebounded to bank a couple of rounds when Smith abandoned his jab. Commentator Teddy Atlas agreed with the result, but with two swollen eyes at the end of the fight, Bundrage didn't really look like a winner. Smith is now 20-4-1 but this performance should earn him another quality opportunity. source:  friday night fights on espn2
Tomas Villa TKO6 Trinidad Mendoza... Tomas Villa is putting together a nice win streak for himself, stopping Trinidad Mendoza in Odessa, Texas for his eight straight win against a pretty good level of opposition. Now 17-5, Villa floored Mendoza twice in the sixth round. The referee stopped the junior featherweight bout as soon as Mendoza, 21-13-2, went down for the second time. Mendoza is now a disgraceful 1-12 over his last thirteen outings. source: solo boxeo on telefutura
Gabriel Martinez TKO7 Nurhan Suleymanoglu... In the Solo Boxeo opener from Odessa, Texas, welterweight prospect Gabriel Martinez upped his record to 12-0 with a seventh-round stoppage of Nurhan Suleymanoglu, a former Olympian fallen on hard times. Marinez battered Suleymanoglu all around the ring in the seventh round, causing the referee to stop the bout. Suleymanoglu, 16-7, has now lost seven of his last nine, but Martinez joins Carlos Quintana as just the second man to stop Suleymanoglu. source: solo boxeo on telefutura
Roger Cantrell W4 Marcus Pernell... Give credit to promoter Brian Halquist for putting a great swing bout on despite the miniscule ESPN2 budget. He matched Roger Cantrell, now 9-0, against Marcus Pernell, now 12-2, in a four rounder in Tacoma, Washington. One judge thought Cantrell swept every round, another scored it a shutout for Pernell. A 39-37 scorecard gave it to Cantrell. source: friday night fights on espn2
