Chris “Hard Hittin” Henry continued his ascent up the boxing landscape by defending his regional light heavyweight titles against Derrick James of Dallas. Henry, of Houston and originally from the Golden Triangle area, took apart James in the first round with body shots and sharp accurate punches. A short left hook dropped the challenger near the end of the round.
James turned to desperate tactics in the second stanza grabbing onto Henry and tackling him to the canvas. The champion fought through the fouling with short punches and scored a knockdown landing a right hook just behind James’s ear.
After a relatively calm third round, the roughhousing continued in the fourth. Henry pushed James to the canvas and nearly out of the ring. A punch to the back of the head scored another knockdown for Henry but also resulted in a point deduction. Another punch behind James’s head resulted in a knockdown near the end of the round, but this time got James a warning to keep his head up.
The following round was a slugfest with James falling all over the canvas and continuously complaining of punches behind his head while also continuing to bend over and expose himself to the punches.
Henry proved unafraid of his opponents punches and brazenly went for the knockout in the sixth, ending the bout with a huge overhand left which landed James stretched out on the canvas. He would get up but referee Ruben Carrion showed mercy in ending the slaughter after six knockdowns in total.
Demonstrating that he’ll fight anyone, anytime, in his previous bout Henry stepped in to defeat 6’7” 265 lb Rafael Pedro. “He’s a throwback, he’s got the heart of a fighter,” said Henry’s manager Bob Spagnola.
Henry holds four regional title belts and a #4 ranking in the WBC. Next, he hopes to challenge one of the aging former champions in the division or line up a shot at one of the major belt holders hailing from Europe.
“We defended the titles tonight and now I want one of the big boys,” exclaimed the ecstatic champ as he celebrated with his fans.
In undercard action, Alfonso Lopez of Cut N’ Shoot patiently dismantled winless Jason Lane, picking up his third professional win.
Crowd favorite Eugene Hill of Dickinson packed the house and didn’t disappoint them in dispatching Othello Jackson in the opening round.
Steve Collins of Houston showed tenacity and a more svelte physique bloodying and knocking down the well-traveled Travis Fulton.
Cornelius White of Missouri City made a great debut knocking out Cedric Blake of Shreveport with a stiff left jab in the 1st round.
With his fourth card at the Grand Plaza Hotel, Cameron Park’s Rock Solid Promotions has firmly re-established Thursday night boxing in the ballroom. A crowd of 1400 witnessed another night of exciting knockouts, local prospects, and a championship fight.
Amongst the boxing dignitaries in attendance was Olympic Gold medalist and ex-world titlist Mark Breland.
What: Ballroom Boxing
Where: Houston Grand Plaza Hotel, 8686 Kirby
Who: Rock Sold Promotions
Results:
Light Heavyweights
Chris Henry (21-0) over Derrick James (20-7-1) via TKO at 1:06 of the 6th round
Light Heavyweights
Alfonso Lopez (3-0) over Jason Lane (0-6) via KO at 1:23 of the 2nd round
Heavyweights
Eugene Hill (5-0) over Othello Jackson (0-2) via KO at 1:00 of the 1st round
Heavyweights
Steve Collins (15-1) over Travis Fulton (15-19) by Unanimous Decision by scores of 40-34, 40-34, & 40-34
Welterweights
Jerome Adams (2-1) over Starr Johnson (3-16-1) by Unanimous Decision by scores of 39-36, 39-36, & 39-36
Super Middleweights
Cornelius White (1-0) over Cederic Blake (0-7) via KO at 0:55 of the 1st round
