The all-Philly matchup between Lajuan “Simply Marvelous” Simon and Jameel “Black Gold” Wilson has been thirsted, delayed and cancelled, but it finally happened on the Power Productions, Inc. boxing card at the National Guard Armory in Philadelphia on Friday night. Wilson is always in an exciting fight; while Simon has been undefeated in his seven pro fights and has shown skill and heart, but was never tested hard. He’s just been able to handle who’s in front of him, meanwhile Wilson always has an answer for your attack and he gets off first well too. “It is a step up for Simon” said Sonny Mistretta, Power Productions matchmaker. For Wilson, after besting Antoine Echols before running out of gas and losing the bout in the final round on an ESPN fight, it was a chance to get back in the winner’s circle in his home town.
The 8-round main event started evenly with Wilson (169½ lbs) offering the harder punches before the ref could get out of the way. Simon answered right back and neither fighter established dominance in the opening heat. Both fighters seemed stunned in the 2nd round with Simon reeling backwards first before he was able to get back his territory in center ring. Wilson continued to press the action in the 3rd heat and was moving his head well, making Simon (167½lbs) miss, however Wilson went back to the corner with a cut along the side of his right eye. The blood didn’t’ appear to bother him, but Simon was able to capture “Black Gold” on the ropes and cut Wilson’s left eye in the process. Wilson later claimed both cuts were caused by butts, “but he wasn’t doing it on purpose, when I’d punch he would duck and lean forward.” Essentially it was the turning point for Simon, he switched to southpaw for a couple of rounds and he looked like the fresher fighter in the second half of the bout. Wilson would tell Boxingtalk.net “I was fighting blind, I’d have to wait for him to hit me so I’d know where he was.” Wilson showed plenty of heart and Simon showed boxing skill and perseverance when he was tested by this more experienced foe. It came down to a majority decision, which heightened the thrill that the fans enjoyed during this Philly classic. Judge Rose Vargus saw it even at 76-76, Ed Leahy and George Hill turned in scores of 79-73 for Lajuan Simon. Lajuan remains undefeated at 8-0 and Wilson falls to 13-9-2.
Derrick Ennis remained undefeated by outworking and outpunching Josh Smith. In this scheduled for 6 Junior Middleweight semi-windup, Smith was dropped twice and evidently had wrong answers to the doctor’s questions after the 3rd round. On advise of the ringside doctor the bout was stopped between rounds 3 and 4.
Undercard: Middleweights: Jamal “Da Truth” Davis stopped Rashard Sanders at 2:41 of the 1st with three knockdowns. Cruiserweights: Lamont Barnes earned a win his pro debut with a KO at 2:58 of the 1st round over Alfred Bandidebicuis. Heavyweight: Chazz Witherspoon is now 4-0 after Harold Rodriguez’s corner threw in the towel at 2:40 of the 4th. Tyric “Too Sweet” Robinson defeated Ahmed Curry.
Power Productions has a June 10th show planned for the Legendary Blue Horizon with Willie “the Gladiator” Gibbs on top with Lajuan Simon returning as well. Promoter Greg Robinson said “it’s double hitter with two featured fights.” Inquire about the June card at
www.PowerProductionsinc.com or call 215 888-9411.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL REPORT
Send questions and comments to: planetlarry@hotmail.com
