By Larry Tornambe, at Ringside
Dover, DE - Donna Duva Brooks recently started Hall of Fame Promotions. In bringing bouts to Dover Downs Rollins Center they announced to the world, with a live broadcast on ESPN2 Wednesday Night at the Fights, they are ready for the top. The main event featured Oscar Diaz challenging Chris “the Mechanic” Smith for his regional Welterweight titles.
Matchmaker, Nick Tiberi was able to hold the card together despite several late pull outs. The five-bout card was topped by a solid 12-round main event. Chris Smith’s NABA and NABF titles were on the line with Oscar Diaz licking his chops to take them. Diaz began the bout quickly and gained an edge by using short, plentiful punches with a powerful left hook. Smith turned the tables in the 2nd round, winning with better combinations. Diaz slammed home some heavy handed combinations in the ensuing rounds and even countered well off the ropes. By the 6th stanza it was evident that Smith could not keep up with the work output of Diaz.
“The Mechanic” Smith (146¼ lbs) slipped in the 7th round and Diaz picked up energy and finished the round focused on body punching. Diaz got Smith’s attention in the 8th with a stunning combo and opened a small cut near Smith’s right eye. Smith was able to keep Diaz on the ropes for some of the round and by the 9th the stamina factor was in Smith’s favor. Rounds 9-11 were all Smith with effective aggressiveness and an edge in stamina. Diaz would go to the ropes too much in these rounds and Smith moved in to take advantage. Diaz saved enough for a strong finish in the 12th and it came to the scores of 116-112 twice and 115-113 for a unanimous decision for Oscar Diaz. Now 25-1, Diaz looks to be the star of Hall of Fame Promotions and is guided well by Tommy Brooks and Lou Duva. Smith loses his belts and now stands at 20-3-1 with still plenty of fight remaining.
Jamar Patterson vs. Martin Tucker was changed from a 6-round bout to a 4-rounder, but they gave us 6-rounds worth of action. Both junior welterweights boxers would exchange heavy combinations and the majority decision would tilt in the favor of Patterson of Utica, NY. Patterson is 6-0, while Tucker is 4-3.
Michael Torres survived a knockdown to unanimously defeat Eli Addison over 8 Junior welterweight rounds. The 21-year old Torres is undefeated at 7-0, while Addison is 8-2; only 19 with lots of promise.
Lamont Cooper didn’t win any of the 4-rounds against Dhafir Smith in the Light Heavyweight opening bout. Smith levels up to 14-14 with the win, Cooper is now 6-14-1.
Dave Evans gave up over 5 pounds to Darrell Crenshaw in a 4-round Jr. Welterweight tussle. Evans got the nod, as he showed superiors skills, in a majority decision. Evans is 9-2. Crenshaw is 1-6-1.
Dover Downs is holding an August date for their next fight card.
Hall of Fame Promotions did not offer their next fight card location or date.
