Samuels, Thurman Show Power
Posted by Ramon Aranda on 05.12.2008
Full report from the A La Carte Pavilion in Tampa, Florida.
Written by Anthony Ivey
Starfight Productions hosted a night of boxing May 9 at the A La Carte Pavilion in Tampa.
In the main event featuring junior welterweights, St. Pete's Derrick Samuels scored an impressive first-round knockout over Donnel Logan. A lightning quick right hook drove Logan face first to the canvas. Although Logan rose at nine, he was unsteady on his feet and the referee ended the contest.
"If you think for one second I can't punch, you're gonna be in for it," stated Samuels, who raises his mark to 15-3-1 with 4 KOs.
"Derrick has sparred with Edner Cherry, and Edner has said Derrick is a great boxer, as well as a really good puncher," added Starfight's Pete Fernandez.
The first-round knockout streak continued for Clearwater welterweight prospect Keith Thurman as he brutalized Jessie Davis with vicious straight rights to the head and hard hooks to the body from the opening bell until Davis crumpled to the canvas from the assault. The fight was quickly waved off moments after.
"I came prepared and felt confident. He was a tough opponent, but in the end my power was too much for him," explained Thurman, who improves to 5-0 with 5 KOs.
The evening began with St. Pete's Willie Chisolm battling Tampa's Nick Iannuzzi in a four-round cruiserweight bout. Chisolm nailed Iannuzzi with an overhand right in the fight's opening moments, but Iannuzzi dominated the rest of the round with a series of hard, straight shots to the head. Iannuzzi controlled the second, even hurting Chisolm in the last half of the round with combinations. A huge right hand floored Chisolm in the final 20 seconds of the third, and Iannuzzi closed the show in the fourth as Chisolm's corner surrendered as its fighter was being hammered along the ropes.
"He was the best opponent I fought so far, but he couldn't handle my jab and he kept lunging in, so he was open for the uppercut," stated Iannuzzi (6-0, 4 KOs).
"No excuses – he was the better man tonight. I'll be back," said Chisolm (6-4).
Super featherweight Jenna Shiver took on Adwicke Lopez in a four-round affair. Lopez came out fast, winging hard shots at Shiver in the first stanza, as Shiver did her best to stand her ground and fire back with combinations. St. Pete's Shiver had a more effective second round with straight punches, but Lopez found the mark with hard hooks and overhand rights. Shiver had her moments in the third, but again Lopez connected with more power shots. While Shiver had a good final round, Tampa's Lopez was awarded a unanimous decision via triple scores of 39-37 for a successful victory in her pro debut. With the loss, Shiver falls to 6-3-1.
Jason Rorie started his pro debut off on the right foot with a knockdown in the opening round of his four-round featherweight bout against Jesus Mendez. Round two was fairly even with both guys landing effectively. The awkward Mendez scored repeatedly in the third, until a Rorie body shot had him wincing in pain in the round's closing moments. Rorie closed the fight strong in the fourth to seal a split decision victory with scores reading 38-37 (twice), with one judge dissenting, 37-38.
Featherweights took center stage again in the following bout as New Port Richey's Carlos Rivera faced Carlos Vinan. Both guys fought hard on the inside in round one, but in round two Rivera went on the outside and picked Vinan off with straight shots until Vinan closed the gap by round's end. Rivera had his way in the third, landing at will with straight lefts that snapped Vinan's head back repeatedly. Rivera hurt Vinan in the fourth with body shots, and the fifth saw a bloody Vinan staggering around the ring courtesy of Rivera's vicious assault. Round six was academic as Rivera again landed at will to take home a unanimous decision by scores of 59-55 all around.
"I could have done a little more, but I was sick a few days before the fight," explained Rivera. "But every fight I believe I can get better."
Rivera's mark now stands at 12-3-2.
Undefeated St. Pete middleweight Ahsandi Gibbs squared off against Timothy Hall in a four rounder in the next bout of the evening. After a feeling out opening round, Gibbs connected with hooks to the head and body in the second. Gibbs applied steady pressure and tagged Hall with a strong right hand to the head to close out the third. Gibbs came out blazing in the fourth, hammering Hall with both hands till the bell sounded to end the fight. Scores tallied a shutout on all cards, 40-36.
"I felt about 85 percent in there, and he could definitely take a punch. But in the end, he was just overwhelmed," said Gibbs, who improves to 7-0 with 2 KOs.
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This article was written by Anthony Ivey, a writer for Floridabeatdownboxing.com and a regular contributor to 411mania.com.
