By Pattee Mak | September 12, 2013
Manchester, N.H, Ringside
Boxing fans not only came out to watch three professional boxing bouts but in addition were entertained by the up and coming next superstars in the amateur division. 7 fights totalled the night’s bout sheet.
Welterweight and fan favorite and hot prospect Danny “Bhoy” O’Connor from Framingham, Massachusetts headlined the 12th annual Fight To Educate charity boxing event in an 8 round bout against Raul Tover of Mission, Texas. Back in the amateur days Tover defeated O’Connor during the 2005 National PALs in Oxnard, California, but in the end O’Connor got his victory tonight.
There was no competition in this fight. O’Connor came ready to win. He was landing precise, cleaner punches while being the aggressor. There was no doubt in my mind nor the judges when they scored the bout 80-73; 79-37 and 79-73.
O’Connor increased his record to 23-1-0 and Toner decreased his record to 11-8-1.
In the co-main event and 2nd professional bout of the night Chris Gilbert of Windsor, Vermont took on Anthony “The Candyman” Chase of Providence, Rhode Island. The Candyman who hasn’t been in the ring since 2001 when he last fought and won a 6 round UD against Rohan Nanon.
During round 1 Chase didn’t appear all that rusty to me and look very comfortable in the ring. In round 2 things quickly changed while Chase went to the canvas 3 times. During round 3 Chase goes down once more, and right afterwards his corner comes into the ring with towel in hand. Fight stops and Gilbert wins by TKO, 1 minute 23 seconds into round 3.
Gilbert increased his record and retains his no zero loss record to read 10-0-0 and Chase decreased his record to 11-2.
Brandon Berry of West Forks, Maine vs. Jesus Javier Cintron of Springfield, Massachusetts. After continuous low blows the referee disqualified Cintron at the 3rd round. Winner Berry. Berry increased his record to 3-0-0 and Cintron declines to 1-4-2.
In the amateur division, the future supa stars:
Jose Vargas of Lawrence, Massachusetts vs. Jalen Renaud of Springfield, Massachusetts. Winner Vargas by decision. Judges scored it to a draw at 29-28; 28-28 and 28-29, but in the end the tiebreaker went to Vargas. Renaud was very disappointed and wished he kept his hands up more during the fight.
Dominic Lessier who was the 2013 New England Golden Gloves Champion of Lowell, Massachusetts vs. Josh Bickford the 3x Golden Gloves Champion out of Mount Holly, Vermont. Winner Lessier by Decision.
Joel Felix of Lawrence, Massachusetts vs. James Perkins of Saugus, Massachusetts. Winner by decision Felix. Judges scored the bout 29-28; 30-25; 29-28.
Devon DeCinto vs. Bryan Cullinane. DeCinto winner by decision. Judges scored the bout 27-29; 26-29 and 27-30.
Fight To Educate was presented by Alrich Cabinet. On hand during the event was 2012 CT Hall of Fame inductee “Dangerous” Dana Rosenblatt (37-1-2), 2 x world light welterweight champion and International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee, Aaron “Hawk” Pryor (39-1, 25 KO’s) and former World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight champion Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini (29-5, 23 KO’s). I spoke with the Hawk and Boom Boom and they both appeared to be enjoying the evening’s event.
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.
