Walker beats Garcia by split decision
Travis Walker W10 George Garcia... No one emerged as a future heavyweight savior on the ShoBox telecast from Minneapolis, but Travis Walker did win a battle of unbeaten heavyweights. Walker took a ten-round split decision from a pudgy George Garcia by announced scores of 95-94, 95-93 and 93-96. Walker scored a second-round knockdown but had a point deducted for a tenth-round low blow. The winner's record now stands at 23-0-1, and it was his second win after stepping up from easy pickins. Garcia, who previously fought mostly in Arizona, showed talent, but he couldn't match Walker's natural athletic gifts. source: shobox on showtime
Art Binkowski TKO8 Raphael Butler... Art Binkowski outgutted Raphael Butler in a war of attrition in Minnesota, coming back from to score a last-minute technical knockout. It was an exciting first and last round, with slow action in between. Binkowski, a 2000 Olympian for Canada, showed heart by battling on after suffering three first-round knockdowns and then a cut suffered from a head clash. Butler showed his power early but couldn't sustain the pace, and after the midpoint of the eight rounder, the fight threatened to become a heavyweight snoozefests. Butler's chin was said to be questionable, and Binkowski almost waited too long to dent it, finally knocking down an exhausted Butler more than two minutes into round eight. Butler beat the count, but spit out his mouthpiece twice before action resumed. The referee was confused about what to do, but his decision to stop the fight was the correct one. Binkowski, who appeared as an opponent in the movie Cinderella Man, was well behind on the scorecards. He is now 15-1-3, but needs to get in better shape after nearly a year out of the ring. Butler, now 25-4, might not make it to the next level. source: shobox on showtime
