By Troy Ondrizek @ ringside
Warriors and Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing put on an event in Hollywood Florida at the beautiful HardRock Casino t showcase some up and coming talent and proven contenders. The card featured several young heavyweights, light welterweight contender and was headlined by Terrance Cauthen and Sechew Powell’s 154lb IBF #2 eliminator.
In a four round heavyweight affair, Kasim Howard (4-0 3KO) took on cupcake Leo Bercier (4-5 3KO). At 6’3” and 207lbs, Howard can almost be fighting at cruiserweight, but then again the low weight is just an indication of cardio training, which is a rarity amongst the heavyweights. The first two rounds saw Howard using his jab to control distance and timing. Bercier was the bulging bull borrowing forward throwing bombs at Kasim without any idea where they were going. Howard being forced to fight on his heels seemed a little confused, but was able to utilize his legs to avoid the charges. Howard admitted to being nervous in the first two rounds. After the butterflies left, accurate shots came flying at Bercier. Howard floored Bercier in the 4th with a straight right; the Bulging Bull got up and hugged his way to a unanimous 40-35 loss.
For what was scheduled as a six round heavyweight bout ended in one. Wilmer “The Latin Hammer” Vazquez (5-0 3KO) nailed Shawn Kocab (3-3 1KO) with every follow-up left hook he threw. The fight went like this, Kocab throws monstrous wild right leaving hands down and chin up while Vazquez would duck the right throw some shot and follow-up left hook and bang, Kocab dazed. Near the end of the round one of those ill-mannered lefts from “The Latin Hammer” put Shawn in a supine cross in the corner as the ref rushed over to wave the fight off. This was a good action fight, but you really don’t learn anything about a fighter in bouts like these.
Deleon Tinsley (8-2 5KO) came in looking for the upset against Alfredo Escalera Jr. (15-1 11KO). Escalera might be the son of former super featherweight titlist Alfredo Escalera, but the name is all they share in common. It’s obvious that as a cruiserweight the younger Escalera is a much bigger man, but what else is obvious is that senior forgot to teach junior his boxing prowess. One can only go so far on daddy’s name as Jesus Chavez Jr. knows. However, this seems to be as far as Escalera can go. The first two rounds saw the faster hands of Escalera push Tinsley back, and a solid body attack kept the Tinsley honest. Once the third came, the local man brought the heat inside and was winning the contest of who was the best sloppy fighter. In the fourth we saw Junior hurt as he didn’t see Tinsley’s punches coming. After being rocked there, the rest of the fight was a hug-a-thon for Escalera and for the most part DeLeon obliged. The final two rounds saw Tinsley want it more. BoxingScene.com had the score 58-56 for Tinsley and his mouth dropped open in amazement when all three judges agreed.
His mouth is flashy, but often his fighting is not, Kevin “Kingpin” Johnson (18-0 6KO) comes to give his opponents a lesson in pugilism. That is exactly what he planned to do against durable Jermell Barnes (18-15 4KO). Johnson is a younger less popular version of James Toney. Always the showman, Johnson toyed with Barnes form the start. Skipping and jumping looking like he was doing hopscotch Johnson was peppering Barnes with jabs and left hooks. Johnson was doing this all while talking to photographers and his corner and Barnes came in headfirst and forgetting to punch. In the fourth we saw Johnson do some gym work as he used Barnes’ head as a speed-bag which drew boos from the impatient crowd. Continuing to show his superb jab Johnson’s primary weapon was more than enough to grab the rounds and the victory, but his inability to put away a vastly outclassed fighter wore thin on the crowd’s patience. Johnson walked away with an 80-72 shutout victory on all three cards.
In what was a how the hell did this fight get sanctioned, Marty Robbins (22-40 15KO) was a late replacement snack served up to Juan Urango (19-1 15). Urango the former IBF light welterweight titlist had no problems with the older Robbins. To my amazement the bout made it out of the first round. Urango elected to stay back and box trying to get some rounds in and hone his technique. Robbins was able to dance his way around Juan’s big shots. Urango tried to work the body whenever Robbins orbited close enough for Urango to find him. The body shots effectively slowed the seasoned vet down and Juan started landing right hooks with ease. Even though Robbins didn’t win a single minute of any round, he moved well and would surprise Urango with a shot from time to time. It was the fifth round in which Urango fell Robbins twice with left hooks while he was on the ropes and the fight was stopped at 2:44 of the same round during a barrage of unanswered Urango bombs.
In an eliminator for the IBF’s number one ranking at light middleweight, Terrance “The Heat” Cauthen (32-3 9KO) IBF #6 took on Sechew “Iron Horse” Powell (21-1 12KO) IBF #5. Both fighters came out throwing haymakers in the first ten seconds of the bout. Neither man was able to grab control for the first minute until Powell landed a big right hook that sent Cauthen to the canvas. More annoyed than hurt Cauthen came back in control to finish the round. Terrance then proceeded to put the heat on Powell and caught the Iron Horse flush with numerous right hooks along the ropes. Powell showed he had an iron chin and walked forward through Cauthen’s shots. Round four saw the same action as Cauthen held Powell along the ropes and seemed to over-power Sechew. The two moved to the center of the ring and as they had for the three previous rounds they stood head to head throwing shots and Powell was able to land a short left and put Cauthen to the mat once again. Cauthen got up on rubbery legs and the bout was halted at 2:19 of the 4th round. With the win Powell moves to the mandatory for the winner of Cory Spinks and Verno Phillips.
The night was full of one-sided bouts with a surprising upset, but was high-lighted by a hotly contested main event ending in a highlight knockout. Kasim Howard and Wilmer Vazquez showed they have some promise while Kevin Johnson and Juan Urango need a challenge in their next bouts. Sechew Powell had a great victory over a game opponent, I seriously doubt his next fight will as exciting or entertaining given the prospects it will probably be against Cory Spinks.
