Marco Romero KO2 Javier Dario Aragon ... Last weekend's Turner Boxing Academy show was a celebration of local hero Marco “El Tiburon” Romero (10-0, 9 KOs) at the sold-out Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center last Saturday night in Olathe, Kansas. A multiple national amateur champion, Romero fought in his hometown at a lighter weight, 165 pounds, on his way down from super middleweight to middleweight. Romero, age 19, faced Mexico's Javier Dario Aragon (7-2-1, 3 KOs) in the main event. Once the “feeling-out” opening round was out of the way, Romero opened up in the second round and found his range, peppering Aragon with counter-punch combinations until a left hook sent Aragon down to the canvas. Aragon beat the count and attempted to move out of trouble, but a double hook to Aragon’s body, followed by a perfectly placed left hook landed on Aragon’s chin to close the show.
“This show made all the years of my hard work and sacrifices worth it,” an exuberant Romero said after the fight. “The best thing about fighting in Olathe was that it was only five minutes from my house. I stuck with the game plan, cut off the ring, and landed the power punch I wanted to end the fight. I spoke to Coach John and perhaps I’ll fight for the fourth and final time in Portland, Maine in November, and another possibility is a show in Topeka in December along with John Cantrell.”
“Rarely does the main event live up to expectations, but this one did with young Marco Romero scoring an electrifying knockout with a crushing left hook that would have made Joe Frazier proud,” added Brown, who is also Romero’s head trainer/manager. “Marco gave his fans everything they wanted and more. As always, Marco was a class act after his victory, making sure his most recent victim was okay. Marco then left the ring and was swallowed up by his adoring fans”
“Last Saturday had to be the biggest night in Olathe’s sports history,” noted Romero’s advisor Al Valenti.
UNDERCARD
In the co-feature, Topeka heavyweight John “Iron Man” Cantrell improved to 15-0 (14 KOs) with a third-round stoppage of Portland “The Prince” Pringle (5-5, 1 KO). Cantrell, also a licensed boxing promoter in Kansas, took control of the fight in round two as Cantrell landed a series of body punches, and then finished Pringle off in the third.
Three-time national amateur champion Ben Turla (1-0, 1 KO) turned in a memorable pro debut in a battle of cruiserweight southpaws versus Randy “Spawn” Martina (1-1, 1 KO). Turla came out of the corner determined to make a statement and it didn’t take long for him to establish the pace. A powerful right jab-straight left combo floored Martina and the referee quickly waved off the fight in the opening round.
Kansas City welterweight Marcell Davidson (7-0, 4 KOs) was tested early and often by Ociel Vazquez (2-2, 2 KOs). In a back-and-forth fight, Davidson emerged with a disputed four-round unanimous decision. Davidson was a celebrated amateur boxer who was the 2019 National Golden Gloves champion, as well as the two-time winner of Ringside World Championships.
In the opener, Kansas City welterweight Anthony Adams, Jr. (5-1, 5 KOs) stopped Marquis “Ther Hawk” Hawthorne (8-25) in the third round, following a straight right hand that sent Hawthorne onto the ropes, when the referee stepped right in the halt the action.
Putting on a quality pro boxing show is a monumental undertaking,” event promoter John Brown said. ‘It can only be done with the right team and when that works together a masterpiece is produced. Last night was a classic masterpiece. I was lucky to secure the ultimate A-team with the world’s best matchmaker, Mark Vaz, and legendary Al Valenti for marketing, and young rookie named Erin Taylor who was a rock star.
“We had four great competitive amateur bouts featuring some of the best boxers in the country (all won by Turner Boxing Academy boxers) and five exciting bouts that left every fan feeling they really got their money’s worth of entertainment. All of the pro bouts gave the packed house what they wanted: competitive battles and some classic knockouts.”
A four-bout USA Boxing-sanctioned amateur card preceded the pro card.
