By Larry Tornambe at ringside

Dover, Del.   Michael Stewart, from nearby New Castle, Delaware, brought his faithful to help fill the Rollins Center at Dover Downs for his first bout in his home state in a couple of years.  In his last four, Stewart dropped fights to Ricky Hatton, Sharmba Mitchell and Juan Carlos Rubio while winning only one.  Stewart (38-4-2; 143 lbs) grinned when asked about the changes at the top of his jr. welterweight division and yearns to be back in to contention soon. 

The 1,700+ brought “No Joke” Stewart into the ring with vibrating cheers which helped him through an anxious start, “he hit me with some right hands.”  Mike was beginning to set himself up for disaster by staying stationary, Omar Bernal took advantage and tossed punches.  Stewart regrouped and stepped in near the end of the opening round, “he was already hurt when he backed up to the ropes.  You saw him with his hands up.  I hit him with a left hook and a right hand.”  A left hook to the body is what I saw and Bernal went down for the count; Bernal said he got hit on the jaw.  Regardless of where it landed, Bernal (25-7-3; 19 KO’s, 143lbs) was counted out as the bell ending the first should have been sounding.

This win got him going back to the body and serves as a confidence enhancer as Bernal is no pushover.

The main support bout featured LaJuan Simon and Kevin Butts in a super Middleweight tussle.  Butts started the bout hard and Simon had to shake off the attack.  Simon, who’s coming off of Philadelphia’s fight of the year versus Jameel Wilson, looked like he may be headed down the same road.  As the facts unfolded Simon (9-0-1) put his punches together well and with power.  Butts staggered at the end of the 2nd and Simon continued his pace in the 3rd.  Simon had too much of everything for Butts and Kevin knew it.  After the 3rd round the corner of Butts (8-6-1) stopped the bout.

Undercard:

Cruiserweights: Chuck Berry TKO 1 Bernie Torre

Middleweights: Doug Esbenshaden U Dec. 6 Tony Smith

Heavyweights: Richard Stewart TKO 1:04 2nd James Daniels

Welterweights: Damon Antoine Maj Dec 4 Doel Carraquillo

The card will be broadcast on CN-8 from Maine to Maryland on Sunday at 9pm.