By employing perhaps the ultimate example of both brains and brawn, World Boxing Union World Lightweight Champion and Oklahoma native Noah Zuhdi (17-1, 13 KOs) successfully defended his title by knocking out challenger Gyula Vajda (12-4, 8 KOs), of Hujdahdhaza, Hungary at 1:09 of the second round at the Lucky Star Casino in Concho, Oklahoma on Saturday, September 24, 2013.
The champion was obviously happy, “I am very pleased that I was able to execute the game plan my trainer Dickie Wood and I worked so hard in rehearsing in the weeks leading up to the bout,” Zuhdi said. “I have a great amount of respect for the skills that my opponent possesses and he has the heart of a champion. I am very grateful to all of the wonderful people who continue to support me both inside and outside of the ring.”
Zuhdi, who follows in the footsteps of such former WBU world champion fighters as Thomas Hearns, George Foreman and Mickey Ward, subject of the Academy Award winning film “The Fighter,” has impressed Don “Moose” Lewis, president of the WBU, who was present to sanction the fight. “Oklahoma should be proud of their champion Noah Zuhdi,” he said, “and I look forward to watching this wonderful fighter any time he’s in the ring. He is a world class individual with quick wits, a hard charging style and a lot of heart.”
“Vajda came to take the WBU World Title to Eastern Europe,” catBOX president Bill Zuhdi said. “His only problem was that Noah Zuhdi, one of the hardest hitting lightweights in the world, held the title and wanted to keep it.”
Mark Rodgers, Marketing Director at Lucky Star Casino also was pleased to be part of the championship event. “We congratulate Noah Zuhdi on an impressive successful defense of his championship.”
The World Championship event also featured catBOX fighter super middleweight Bo Gibbs, Jr. (9-0, 5 KOs), Carney, OK, who scored a fifth round TKO when Warren Walker (3-2, 3 KOs), Tulsa, OK could not answer the bell for the sixth round. Gibbs dominated the fight up to Walker not answering the bell.
Lucky Star Casino was the perfect venue for hosting a world title fight. Presented by Lucky Star Casino, produced by catBOX Entertainment (fight card and fight production) and C3 Fights (advertising and production), the World Championship event also featured catBOX fighter Bo Gibbs, Jr. (9-0, 5 KOs), Carney, OK, who scored a fifth round TKO when Warren Walker (3-2, 3 KOs) could not answer the bell for the sixth round. Gibbs dominated the fight up to Walker not answering the bell.
Other fights on the card:
Tim Bronson unanimous decision over Darren DeLaune Heavyweights 4 rds
Lee Broom KO 1 over Ben Harris Heavyweights 4 rds
Clifton Thames unanimous decision over Octavio Garay lightweights 4 rds
As in September, I once again ran out of gas in the 10th & 11th championship rounds of October & November with this column, but I recovered to complete them and will unleash a few more flurries to close out the 12th and final round.
In the first week of October, Hassan N’Dam won a UD over Curtis Stevens in an eliminator for the right to challenge Jermaine Taylor who defeated aging Sam Soliman to regain the IBF Middleweight title. How Taylor even earned this title shot is another story altogether, but it is all irrelevant as he is now the champion. However he will not have too much time to savor his victory as he has assault and battery charges pending against him and an upcoming court fight that may turn out to be the toughest fight of his life, just when things started to look up for him in boxing, we wish him luck.
