Jacqui Frazier-Lyde, the daughter of Joe Frazier, returned to the ring after more than a year and a half tending to her real job as an attorney. Frazier-Lyde, 188 lbs, poked, pounded and outmaneuvered the tough, Carley Pesente over four rounds at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Frazier-Lyde, the main attraction on the SoReal Communications card, established the quicker punches early. Meanwhile, Pesente (216 lbs; 3-8-1; 3 KO’s) took everything Jacqui threw and endured the four round bout. The unanimous decision went Frazier-Lyde’s way by scores of 40-36. Sister Smoke Frazier-Lyde (12-1) continues the hard work with a bout on September 10th in Atlantic City’s Tropicana against MaryAnn Almager.
Tyrone Tate figured to finish the night with a win, however Emmanuel Chukwu Nwodo had other ideas for his first bout outside of Nigeria. Chuckwu Nwodo (reported at 9-3) hasn’t fought in almost three years. That time wasn’t spent on the couch though, he crushed Tate with a KO at 2:49 of the 2nd round. Tate said he was OK afterwards and commented on how strong Nwodo was, “everything he threw was heavy”. The cruiserweights were scheduled for 6.
Representing a certain, unplanned theme during the evening were fighters who’d been out of the ring for more than a year. Gee Edward Cullmer hadn’t fought in a 16 months due to his main trainer’s death and a managerial change. Cullmer (160lbs, 6-1) outworked Clarence “Sonny Bono” Taylor in a six round bout. Taylor (157 lbs; 7-4-2) opened well but slowed during the second stanza. Cullmer began to use left hooks to the body as his main weapon and Taylor tried to clinch excessively. Taylor started to let the hands go later, but had limited steam.
Ben Locke made his pro debut against Anthony Abrames (152 lbs). Locke (150), a relative of Ivan Robinson, dropped a four round majority decision to Abrames (1-1).
Mike Rhodes got his first win as a pro in three bouts, but he’s still
undefeated. Rhodes put together clubbing right hands to the head of debuting, Alfred Banvikebicius. Alfred visited the canvas three times in the first, blinked through most of the round and fought almost half the round without a mouthpiece. It just wasn’t the German’s night. Rhodes (1-0-2; 1KO) ended the bout 19 seconds in the 2nd round to open the evening.
Special awards and tributes were made during the night to SoReal
Communications Champions of the Community; Police Commissioner, Sylvester Johnson, President and CEO of Yardley Farms, Joe Mammana; Sam Staten, Sr. of Local 332 and Bill Chaney, the Director of Volunteer Services for the Philadelphia Prison System. The awards were named for the late Lucien Blackwell, a valuable supporter of Philadelphia boxing prior to his passing in 2003. Special recognition was earned through heroic contributions and actions through this year by these gentlemen.
Judges: Tam Kaczmarek, Dave Greer, Bill Nealon
Timekeeper: Fred Blumstein
Referees: Steve Smoger and Ron Aurit,
Matchmaker: Zac Pomilio
Promoter: SoReal Communications: Pete Lyde
Ring Announcer: Larry Tornambe
