By Chris Morris & Eric ‘Sugar Foot’ Duran
Lance ‘Lay ‘em Down’ Williams took the fight on Wednesday morning. He accepted a fight with hometown favorite Ricky Lopez on short notice and pulled off the seemingly impossible. He starched the hometown star, silencing the crowd and sending them home in disbelief of what they witnessed. This isn’t what you expect from a short notice opponent, but, that works both ways. Kirstie Simmons continues to improve her craft under the guidance of Chris Green at A-1 Boxing, earning a unanimous decision win over Jasmine ‘Jazz’ Clarkson. Manny Lopez had his hands full with Christian Steele, who’s record is far from matching his mettle. The rest of the under card went predictably as expected ending in quick knock outs against over-matched opponents.
When Ricky Lopez hit the ring something wasn’t quite right. He wasn’t his usual calm self. He didn’t have the grin that oozes confidence that usually graces his face before the bell. He was uneasy. Uptight. Concerned. His original opponent pulled out over last weekend. His fight was to be the main event an eight rounder, on his own New Generation Fight Promotions card, headed by his father, Rick Sr. and brother Devin.
The search was on Monday to find a replacement. When it’s your promotion you don’t want to let down your fans or kill the momentum your company has gained. Taking Lopez out of the main event AND off of the show would be a let down. So a replacement was found in Lance ‘Lay ‘Em Down’ Williams, fighting out of Muscatine, Iowa. Williams sports a modest record of 6-4. He only fought once in 2014 and lost a majority decision to a fighter who was 4-0. He was on a 3 fight losing streak. Seemed safe enough, just one issue, the weight.
Lopez is best served fighting at featherweight, 126 pounds. Williams is a natural lightweight, 135 pounds, and has fought as heavy as 141 pounds. Lightweight is two full divisions above featherweight. All six of Williams wins have come by knockout. Lopez made the decision to keep the card intact and it turned out to be a costly mistake.
The first round was mostly ‘feeling out’ and gauging timing. Lopez was a bit busier while Williams worked to time Lopez coming in. In the second Lopez looks to get his jab going. He is shooting up and downstairs. He also lands a nice overhand right. William’s father, Ron, instructs his son from the corner “When he jabs to the body, drop the right hand on him”. He starts to find a home for the counter shot. They are fighting inside and Lopez gets his feat squared up as Williams hits him with a nice uppercut, knocking him over, more than down. Lopez is up quickly, but there is true concern in his eyes. Williams wins his first round, 10-8.
Williams gains confidence in the third and he hurts Lopez with a looping right hook that sneaks behind the guard. Williams is controlling the center of the ring and landing punches. Lopez is not letting his hands go and looks to be thinking too much. Lopez gets back on track in the fourth as he lands a counter right hand to start the round. Williams is finding a home for his loopy right hook. Lopez lands a winging weft hook and then another to the body. He dives in and lands a hard overhand right. Lopez looks to be calmed and in control, but it will be the calm before the storm.
Williams lands a straight right and then left hook to the body. Lopez digs a left hook to the midsection sending Williams to the ropes. Lopez throws a flurry of punches to the body and head as Williams goes down. The crowd roars with excitement for the hometown fighter. He beats the count and Lopez doesn’t want to let this chance get away. He traps him in the corner and again forces him down with a barrage of blows. He’s up and ready to go, but looks like he is on borrowed time.
Lopez lands a lead left hook to the body and follows with an overhand right. The end is near. Lopez lands a rabbit punch to the back of Williams head in a tussle and referee Tom Johnson calls time to allow Williams time to recover from the illegal but unintentional blow. His corner is telling him to ‘stomp your feet! Get your legs back!’. Williams doesn’t take long and he’s ready to continue.
Williams lands an uppercut followed by a straight right that puts Lopez out before he hits the mat. When his head slams on the canvass it jars him awake. He struggles, looking to get to his feet before falling over to his side. Johnson waves the fight off at 2:59 of the fifth.
This was one of the most brutal knockouts I’ve seen from ringside in nearly 15 years of covering boxing in Colorado. And the fifth round was a round of the year candidate for sure.
Williams improves his record to 7-4, 7KOs while Lopez drops to 13-4, 5KOs and will have to head back to the drawing board. CM
Ricky Lopez’ stablemate, Donovan Estrella and his father, Ed, were to the point after the fight.
“We want him next and we’ll beat him!”–Ed Estrella
“Yes sir Chris Morris my team and I for sure want him next. We don’t call anyone out, ever, but wee are calling him out!”–Donovan Estrella.
We will have Williams response in an interview to follow. CM
Cardona Crushes Allen With Right Cross
Super middleweight Izaak Cardona warmed up for a round before unleashing his power putting Cameron Allen out in fine form in the second round.
Cardona starts slow, stalking Allen and closing the gap to get inside. He lands a left hook to the body that Allen takes, but not well. Cardona traps him in the corner at round’s end and unloads four hard left hooks in a row. In the second Cardona continues to come forward behind his punches. His left hook to the body is on Allen’s mind as he covers up. He lands a 1-2 in the corner and Allen goes down. He’s up as Stephen Blea’s count reaches five. Cardona paws with a left hook, which leads him to uncork a twisting right hand that could not have landed any harder. Allen goes down as though he were shot. Blea waves off the count at 2:12, knowing Allen will not make it to his feet.
Cardona’s usual ‘weapon of choice’ is the left hook. Tonight he has knock out power in both paws.
Cardona improves to 11-2, 11KOs and Cameron Allen drops the fifth of his last six starts landing at 6-18, 3KOs. CM
Lopez Steals One From Steele
Jr. welterweights Manny Lopez and Christian Steele give the fans some exciting, competitive rounds of boxing.
Heavy leather flying in the opening moments of the first round. Lopez working off the jab, digging to the body. Steele hanging tough as Lopez unloads with power shots. Steele is more skilled then what his record would suggest. It’s a competitive round. Steele catches Lopez with a left hook, wobbling Manny. Steele is countering Lopez with a check left hook. Stiff jab from Lopez sends Steele back pedaling. These boys are trading heavy artillery on the inside. Steele proving to be a tough opponent.
A phone booth battle breaks out in the corner. Highly skilled, competitive bout here in round three. Steele didn’t come to lay down. He may be losing on the cards but he is by far, no ‘opponent’ to this point. Steele with a nice, counter uppercut in the corner. Lopez’ activity has slowed down in round four as Steele counters him. Another counter uppercut to the sternum for Steele who is coming on strong in the fight.
Counter left hook by Steele along the ropes. Lopez with a left hook after a straight right from Steele. Steele is stealing the momentum in round five. Lopez comes out strong maybe sensing he needs a big round. Steele isn’t as busy as he should be in a close fight. Steele with a 2-3 on the inside to close the round out.
Judges Tom Johnson and Tyrone Short see the bout 58-56 while Ed Kugler turns in a shut out of 60-54, he missed a good fight, all for the winner by unanimous decision, Manny Lopez.
Lopez improves to 8-1, 5KOs and Steele drops to 4-14-2, 1KO.
The scorecards do not indicate how close and competitive this bout was. The 60-54 card is atrocious in my opinion. ED
Cobb continues to improve, picks up another stoppage win
Light heavyweight Donald Cobb patiently breaks down John Skipper in two quick rounds.
Skipper is inexperienced and fighting sloppy. Cobb is being patient and looking for an opening. Cobb started to land his jab. Cobb fighting at his own pace, controlling the round. Skipper is on his bike in round two as he has felt the power of Cobb. Cobb lands a flush straight left and hurts Skipper. Cobb lands another straight left, dropping Skipper. Skipper refuses to continue. Referee Tom Johnson stops the fight at 1:26 of the second.
Cobb improves to 5-0, 4KOs and Skipper debuts at 0-1. ED
Escamilla fishes with Serrano, de-livers him with a hook
Super featherweight David Escamilla remains undefeated, stops Fernando Serrano in the 1st round.
Serrano isn’t backing down from Escamilla here in round one. The fighters trade hooks on the inside. Escamilla drops Serrano with a hard left hook to body. Referee Stephen Blea reaches a count of ten, it’s over folks at 2:24 of the opening round.
Escamilla improves to 6-0, 4KOs while Serrano drops to 1-4, 1KO. ED
Simmons proving to be the best female boxer in Colorado, shutouts out Clarkson
Female Kristie Simmons puts on a clinic, decisions Jasmine “Jazz” Clarkson over four one sided rounds.
These females are not playing as they meet in the center of the ring and go to work. Simmons timng Clarkson as she swings widely. Simmons hurts Clarkson with a straight left. Simmons is on point, drilling Clarkson with a ripping 1-2. Clarkson fights back strong and refuses to back down. Clarkson is the younger sister of Samuel Clarkson who upset Cedric Agnew recently and beat Izaak Cardona by split decision back in November.
Simmons is sticking the jab as Clarkson is showing frustration. Simmons hurts Clarkson with a picture perfect 1-2. A nice straight left lands flush on the face of Clarkson. An overhand left from the southpaw Simmons lands flush. Simmons is drilling Clarkson through three rounds of action. Clarkson is fading as Simmons is in a groove. Simmons is landing crisp shots between the looping shots of Clarkson.
Clarkson, also a southpaw, isn’t quitting as Simmons picks her apart in the final round. Simmons is putting on a clinic as the fight comes to an end. Landing nearly at will.
Your winner by unanimous decision, all cards reading 40-36, Kristie Simmons. Simmons improves to 7-1, 1KO while Clarkson drops to 1-2.
Editor note: Simmons has the best corner in the game as far as instructions. Former heavyweight Chris Green shouts instructions like “Bo Jackson” her and give her the “Larry Holmes” “Where’s my Michael Jordan?” pure entertainment. RMB will have a video to go with an interview this week. ED
Clark Destroys Rosales
Welterweight Saud Clark of the Danny “Swift” Garcia academy in Philadelphia, overwhelms Eric Rosales in one round.
Clark with a big left hook during the exchange, drops Rosales. After an 8 count, Clark drops Rosales with a powerful overhand right. Rosales is too tough for his own good as rises to continue. It’s over moments later as Clark jumps all over Rosales on the inside, dropping him for the third time, prompting referee Tom Johnson to call a halt to the action at :52 of the first round.
Clark improves to 5-1-1, 3KOs as Rosales remains with out a win at 0-3. ED
In a very classy gesture, there was a 10 count for Colorado’s beloved official John Ulibarri who recently passed at the age of 90. DJ Quote did a fine job, as per usual, keeping the energy high between bouts and bringing out the fighters to their choices of entrance music. New Generation Fight Promotions has already announced their next date which will be Saturday, April 25th at their home venue the Crown Plaza DIA.
