Paris, Tyner on same card but not against each other

Paris, Tyner on same card but not against each other
Posted: January 28, 2008

The appearance of both men on the same card may bring a smile to the face of those that want to see a Lanardo Tyner – Vernon Paris fight but it won’t be happening February 1st when both dynamic fighters appear in the same ring but not as opponents. A fight that seems inevitable – with both sides seemingly fanning the flames badmouthing the other – will have to wait. For now, anyway.

Lanardo “Pain Server” Tyner (18-0-0, 10 KO), transplanted more than half a year ago to Texas, faces 22-6-2 Panamanian southpaw Victorio Abadia, 30. Abadia’s first trip to Michigan comes at the end of a three-fight losing streak and only his second fight after a self-imposed 39-month hiatus. He’s fought twice in 1-1/2 years following 39-months off, with his last win coming two-weeks shy of five years ago defending an IBC Super Bantamweight title against Phillip Payne. It was his second defense attempt – the first ended prematurely with an accidental headbutt, as did the fight before where he won the title. That fight resulted in two accidental headbutts.

Dearborn’s Brian “The Lion” Mihtar (8-0-0, 7 KO), 27, whose last fight was a first round TKO victory over fellow Michigan boxer Phillip McKechnie in October, takes on Ukrainian Mikhall Lyubarsky (3-8-0, 1 KO).

Mihtar, born in Detroit to Yemen parents, trains out of Kronk Dearborn and is trained by Charlie Peters.

Mikhall Lyubarsky, 28, born in the Ukraine, is coming off a two-loss streak. His last fight was a second round TKO loss in Las Vegas to Rodrigo Aguiar in August. Only two of his eleven fights went longer than 3 rounds and both were split-decisions in his favor.

Super featherweight Melinda “2Cute” Woody (1-4-0), 27, from Cleveland, Tennessee is scheduled to enter the ring against 41-year old Anna Jayne McNeil, who is making her pro debut.

According to Manager Jake Donovan, Woody’s pro career did not transition from an amateur background but, instead, she turned pro after competing in – and winning –several toughwoman contests before fighting in her one and only amateur bout in 2005. Without much of an amateur program in eastern Tennessee, Donovan says, Woody opted to turn pro later the same year.

Woody’s record is a “deceptive” 1-4, according to Donovan who reported that her single win was a shutout and that two of her losses were the result of injury. “Woody views February 1 as a fresh start, with her primary goal to get back to .500, and long-term to realize her dream of becoming a world champion,” Donovan said.

Cory Hall (0-4-1), 28, of Brant, located n the middle of the state northeast of Lansing, is scheduled against Trevor Latulas. Hall’s last fight was a first round TKO loss to Miguel Figueroa in an Illinois contest in October. Latulas (1-1-0, 1 KO) will be leaving the warmer climate of West Palm Beach in an effort to elevate his record above .500. His last fight, in July, was a win by knockout in the first round.

Motown boxer Luigi Gjokaj is scheduled to make his pro debut against Angel Monajhano.

Detroit light welterweight Bernard Harris (22-22-2, 10 KO), 33, enters the ring against Traverse City’s Chris Grays (6-14-0, 2 KO).

Willie Nelson and Prenice Brewer, of Cleveland, dropped off the card as, apparently, did Darryl Cunningham whose picture adorns the current fight poster.

Vernon “Iceman” Paris (17-0-0, 12 KO) had no opponent yet, according to promoter Joseph Donofrio.

Fight night starts at 7:30 pm this Friday at The Palace of Auburn Hills, courtesy of promoter Joseph Donofrio.