Pop Goes the Weasel!—Wilson Crashes Caputo Smith

The Mouthpiece

Date:                       Saturday, June 20, 2015

Venue:                    Valley Forge Casino Resort—Valley Forge, PA

Promoters:             Marshall Kauffman—King’s Promotions

Ring Announcers:   Alex Barbosa & Nino Del Bueno

Referee:                 Shawn Clark & Blair Talmadge

Photos:                   www.christoneyphotography.com

 

The battle for the vacant Pennsylvania State cruiserweight title pitting South Philly’s Garrett “The Ultimate Warrior” Wilson against Kenneth Square’s Anthony “The Bull” Caputo Smith had all the trappings and backdrop of a classic old school Philadelphia rumble between two relentless gladiators with a penchant for waging war. Both fighters built their dossiers on facing everyone willing to sign their name to a contract.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Garrett “The Ultimate Warrior” Wilson.

The Philadelphia fight faithful followed every post on social media from the press conference to the promotional video with Caputo’s new trainer—Joey Eye—relishing in the obvious—both fighters were incapable of backing up. There were some who questioned the level of petrol left in the tank of Wilson (13 wins – 9 losses – 0 draws – 7 kos) who had rumbled with a top-10 heavyweight, cruiserweight and light-heavyweight. They wanted to believe that the fat lady was clearing her throat and Caputo Smith (15 wins – 4 losses – 0 draws – 10 kos) would pull the curtain down on a career that skyrocketed and had leveled off. At last week’s press conference Eye stated that “it wasn’t personal” but he was looking to avenge Chuckie “The Professor” Mussachio’s 12^th round knockout loss to Wilson on November 19, 2011. Behind on all scorecards, Wilson’s murderous left hook snatched victory from the jaws of defeat sending his adversary to the canvas for the ten-count—pop goes the weasel!

Those steeped in the sweet science know that the last thing to leave a fighter is his knockout power, and watching Wilson spar it was evident that he was rejuvenated or as comedian J.B Smoove would say, “he lost his juvenation, got juvenated again, so now he is rejuvenated! Philadelphia’s “Ultimate Warrior” was busy denting heavy bags down at the Marian Anderson Recreation Center where he trains in South Philadelphia. Most important, he was deadly focused and his timing and accuracy was on par with arguably his signature performance— a 12-round unanimous decision victory over Omar Sheik on April 23, 2011 for the vacant USBA cruiserweight belt. On that memorable night, Wilson boxed brilliantly out-punching and out-thinking his nemesis.

The gong sounded and like a crop duster flying straight into the eye of a sandstorm—Caputo Smith headed straight for Wilson who tried to gain separation and get an accurate reading on his marauding adversary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wilson (R.) lands the knockout blow.

Nothing of consequence landed in the opening stanza as Caputo Smith blanketed Wilson like a bad tailor-made suit. The Philly fighter used a stiff jab to stymie an all-out blitz by “The Bull.” In the second round a well-timed short right introduced Caputo Smith to the canvas. He never saw the punch and was stunned momentarily. But, he has tremendous recuperative powers and was up before referee Shawn Clark could reach the count of three and was able to regain his composure and continue attacking. Wilson remained calm realizing that patience was the key to victory. Instead of dropping bombs with reckless abandon, he continued probing for more openings jabbing to the head and body.

Caputo Smith resumed his forward march in the third round walking directly into a short right uppercut that found the tip of his chin sending him to the canvas flat on his back sunbathing in the ring lights appearing as thought he was on vacation in Montego Bay, Jamaica—pop goes the weasel! Wilson stepped cautiously over his fallen foe on his way to the neutral corner where he leaned back with his hands over the ring ropes confident that he was done for the night. In an amazing display of will, Caputo Smith made it to his feet a split-second after referee Clark reached the ten-count declaring the fight’s conclusion. Wilson added the Pennsylvania State cruiserweight belt to his collection winning by knockout at 1:41 of the third round of the scheduled ten-rounder.

Undefeated Philly junior-welterweight Milton “El Santo” Santiago Jr. (10 wins – 0 losses – 0 draws – 3 kos) graduated from high school earlier during the week and was in his eleventh fight tonight since joining the professional ranks on February 7^th of last year. The Al Haymon signed eighteen year-old prospect in his short career has fought just as many times as Floyd “Money” Mayweather over the past seven years. With Bozy Ennis—Philadelphia’s #1 trainer—added to his corner Santiago noted in the prefight interview that they have been working on his defense and getting more leverage and power on his punches.

Jose Miguel Castro (4 wins – 4 losses – 0 draws – 2 kos) came all the way from Carolina, Puerto Rico hoping to upset the apple cart and hand the teenager his first loss. Santiago out boxed his 27 year-old opponent in the opening round jabbing to the head and body using every inch of the squared circle putting on a boxing clinic. But a fortuitous moment in the second stanza as Castro connected with a quick hook as Santiago was retreating, sending him to the canvas for a split second.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Santiago (R.) on the attack.

More surprised than hurt, Santiago rose quickly before referee Blair Talmadge could begin counting. The knockdown was duly noted and Santiago resumed his pugilistic prowess going to the body beautifully befuddling his opponent

The remaining four rounds of the scheduled six-rounder were almost identical with the younger pugilist switching intermittently from orthodox to southpaw while controlling the pace and tempo of the fight. Santiago swept all four remaining rounds as he adeptly defended against Castro’s onslaught by parrying, slipping and sliding while countering. No surprise that all three judges returned identical scores of 59-55 for the teenage sensation.

Like an old time gunslinger lightweight Jack “Shady” Grady (0 wins – 1 loss – 0 draws)

rode into the casino from Buffalo, New York opened his saddle-bags loaded with cases of “whup-ass” and attacked Kevin “The Bruiser” Garcia (1 win – 1 loss – 0 draws – 0 kos) of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania in the opening round of their scheduled four-rounder.

Shady didn’t bother to shave – he didn’t care! And I doubt if anyone had the courage to demand that he shave. The bearded boxer went to war throwing punches from every conceivable angle as Garcia stood his ground returning fire winning the opening stanza.

It was a fiercely contested battle with Grady constantly switching from the orthodox to the southpaw stance effectively throughout the match winning the next round. The final two rounds were extremely close with the battle being waged on equal footing. It ended in a majority draw with two judges scoring it 38-38 with the third giving Garcia the nod 39-37.

The son of Jamaican immigrants— Earl “The Flash” Newman (5 wins – 0 losses – 0 draws – 4 kos) of Brooklyn, New York started boxing in order to lose weight. He advanced rapidly winning the 2013 National Golden Gloves, National PAL tournament and World Golden Gloves sealing his fate by getting signed by Al Haymon—advisor and the most powerful person in professional pugilism. Newman began his career as a cruiserweight and decided to forgo the traditional Jamaican cuisine to compete tonight as a light-heavyweight in a scheduled six-rounder against Lamont “Too Smooth” Capers (5 wins – 6 losses – 0 draws – 0 kos) of Hawley, Pennsylvania.

Decked out in window-pane trunks or strips of material surrounding black tights, Capers looked more like a court jester in medieval England than a professional fighter about to engage in the art of fisticuffs. Newman wasn’t in a jovial mood—a harbinger of pain and destruction— dominating the action by working the body forcing Capers to take a knee in the second round afteravicious uppercut found his solar plexus. Capers beat referee Talmadge’s count and the action resumed with Newman in hot pursuit, hell-bent on closing the show. Capers made it out of the round and was on the canvas again in the third round compliments of a left uppercut to the bread basket.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Newman (R.) delivering the right cross.

However the referee missed the punch and accepted Capers’ convincing performance of a fighter struck in the gonads. Thus, Newman was warned for delivering a low blow and the action resumed as Capers clutched to make it out of the round.

Newman sent Capers to the canvas again in the fourth round with another uppercut to the body and ended the one-sided fight in the next round with the same punch. Capers was able to make it to his feet at the count of five but he had faced too much adversity throughout the bout and wisely decided to surrender. Newman was declared the winner by technical knockout 2:56 of the fifth round.

Junior-middleweight Robert “Super Smooth” Sweeney (3 wins – 2 losses – 0 draws – 0 kos) of Hampton, Virginia jumped out to an early lead in the scheduled six-rounder against fellow southpaw Eric Spring (5 wins – 0 losses – 0 draws – 1 ko) of Reading, Pennsylvania. The shorter Sweeney outworked Spring during their exchanges whacking away to the body and head. It was a heated contest with Sweeney marching forward pressing the action like a mini-Marvelous Marvin Hagler.

It was an action packed bout and I gave the first three rounds to Sweeney. Spring closed the gap in the next two rounds inspired by his fans’ raucous support. He was able to slow Sweeney’s forward progress by landing combination as his opponent faded down the stretch. Sweeney righted the ship in the last half of the final round by pinning Spring to the ropes and working the body. The punches didn’t have the same power as those in the first half of the bout. Nevertheless, they were effective and should have secured victory. However, it appears that I wasn’t watching the same fight as the Three Blind Mice disguised as judges who awarded the fight to Spring by scores of 60-54, 59-55 and 58-56.

Another Al Haymon acolyte—Philly junior-featherweight Stephen “Scooter” Fulton (5 wins – 0 losses – 0 draws – 2 kos) used Pablo Cupul (8 wins – 17 losses – 0 draw – 5 kos) of San Diego, California for target practice hitting him at will like he was a piñata at a kids’ party.  Fulton hit Cupul with everything except the referee! Displaying every weapon in his arsenal, the 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fulton (L.) working behind the jab.

National Golden Gloves champion jabbed to the body, landed the overhand right while mixing in uppercuts and hooks to Cupul’s ribcage. It is difficult to recall if Cupul even threw a punch much less connected with one. To characterize this bout as a one-sided affair is tantamount to declaring Walmart a neighborhood corner

store!

With his right eye cut and rapidly swelling Cupul came out for the third round with one foot in the fight and the other on the banana peel of defeat. Fulton drilled him throughout the round with pinpoint accuracy wanting me to yell at referee Clark to stop the fight. I was somewhat relieved that at the conclusion of the round, the ringside doctor went to Cupul’s corner and signaled to the referee that the fight was over. Fulton was declared the winner at 3:00 of round three.

 

Other Results: Another Al Haymon prospect, undefeated southpaw super-middleweight John Magda (10 wins – 0 losses – 0 draws – 7 kos) of Rutherford, New Jersey was able to avoid the deadly right hand of the dangerous Colombian, Dionisio “Mr. Knockout” Miranda (22 wins – 11 losses – 2 draws – 19 kos) and win a unanimous six-round decision by scores of 60-54 twice and 59-55. The fight was much closer than the scorecards indicated. Debuting cruiserweight Hafiz Montgomery of Atlantic City, New Jersey was impressive in sweeping every round, winning 40-36 on all scorecards over the cagey Philly veteran Brian “Wildman” Donahue (3 wins –12 losses – 2 draws – 0 kos). York, Pennsylvania welterweight Samuel “Too Sharp” Quinones (8 wins – 3 losses – 0 draws – 3 kos) disposed and dismissed Shiwone “The Warrior” Gortman (4 wins – 7 losses – 1 draw – 2 kos) of Grand Prairie, Texas with an overhand right in the third round forcing referee Blair Talmadge to call a halt. Quinones won by technical knockout at 38 second of the third round. He dominated the bout punching with deadly accuracy and tremendous power.

Up and down the City Road

In and out the Eagle

That’s the way the money goes

Pop! goes the weasel.

I went a’hunting in the woods,

It wasn’t very legal,

The dog and I were caught with the goods,

Pop! goes the weasel.

I said I didn’t hunt or sport,

The warden looked at my beagle,

He said to tell it to the court,

Pop! goes the weasel.

 

Continue to support the sweet science, and remember, always carry your mouthpiece!

 

 



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