Maryland prospects remain unbeaten!

By Don Wright

08/12/2005

Maryland prospects remain unbeaten!

Undefeated Baltimore prospects Tony “Cyclone” Cygan and Mike “the American Dream” Dietrich, were both victorious last night in Maryland’s final professional card of the year, at Martin’s West in Woodlawn. In the main event, Cygan scored a unanimous decision over James “the Heat” North, in an eight round middleweight bout.  North used lateral movement and angles to provide a difficult target for the more active Cygan.  However, despite giving up noticeable height and reach advantages, Cygan as able to make North fight on the inside for much of the bout, and came away with a convincing unanimous decision.
Cygan improved to 9-0, with 6 KOs, while North dropped to 7-9-1 with 2 KOs. In the co-feature, undefeated Baltimore heavyweight Mike "The American Dream" Dietrich scored an impressive first round TKO over Mike "Mini Van" Van Meer.  Dietrich used a lethal combination of power and accuracy to land several hard left hands on Van Meer, three of which sent “Mini Van” to the canvas.  Referee John Gradowski put a stop to the one-sided affair at 2:55 of round one.


Dietrich, who improved to 7-0 with 3 KOs, returned to Martin’s West following an impressive win here in July, in which legendary trainer Kevin Rooney worked his corner.  After that fight, Rooney, clearly impressed with his young charge’s raw potential, said “Mike has the potential to … take over the heavyweight division.”  Rooney continued, “if he could just get a little more head movement and then put him in the ring with [the current crop of top heavyweights], in my opinion, they’re not going to know what’s going on.”


On the undercard, fellow Baltimore heavyweight Jed "The Punisher" Phipps scored a very impressive sixth-round TKO over Dan "The Mean Machine" Whetsel.  Phipps employed a strong and accurate jab to set up his big right hand, which he was able to land with increasing frequency as the bout progressed.
In the sixth round, Phipps landed a hard right hand that sent Whetsel stumbling to the ropes.  Phipps then jumped on the hurt Whetsel with a barrage of punches, before referee Bill Holmes called a halt to the fight at 2:04 of round six. Phipps improves to 16-3, with 9 KOs.  Whetsel drops to 6-5-1, with 3 KOs.


In other action, Pasadena, Maryland’s Mike "The Persecutor" Paschall won a hard fought six-round unanimous decision over the rugged Don "The Wildman" Schrock, in a six round super middleweight bout.  After injuring his right hand early in the fight, Paschall gutted out a comfortable unanimous decision, relying almost exclusively on the left hand throughout the remainder of the fight.


Paschall ran his perfect record to 7-0, with 2 KOs, while Schrock fell to 2-3, with 1 KO.


Also appearing on the undercard, was 2004 U.S. Olympic Boxing Team Captain, Devin “Devastatin” Vargas, of Toledo, Ohio.  Vargas scored a frightening first round knockout of Albert Newberry, when he sent Newberry to the canvas for the second time with a huge left hand.  Newberry crashed to the canvas, where he remained for several minutes after Referee John Gradowski stopped the fight at 30 seconds of round one.
Vargas upped his undefeated record to 7-0, with 4 KOs, while Newberry fell to 3-2, with 2 KOs.


In the evening’s first fight, cruiserweight Eddie "Lightnin’ Diablo" Otts and Derek Sierra engaged in an action fight for four rounds.  In the end, neither fighter was able to score his first professional victory, as the fight ended in a draw.


The card was promoted by Jake “the Snake” Smith of Baltimore Pro Boxing.  For more information on Jake’s gym on Broadway in Baltimore, or future shows, visit www.baltimoreboxing.com

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