Kronk
Boxers have a Good Night Boxing returned to Detroit’s Eastern Market district Friday night with an evening of Pro-Am action courtesy of Sugar Hill Boxing and Undisputed Promotions. It was the first of what promoters promise will be monthly shows at the venue, which hosted one other such show in late 2006.
The night started with the first of seven amateur bouts with a 106-lb match between Joe’s Boxing’s Austin Watkins and Kronk’s Ahmed Mahmood. Watkins traded his boxing regiment for the past couple months for middle school wrestling workouts, and family members reported that he was not feeling well, and it showed as he lost a decision to the less-experienced Mahmood. East Cleveland’s Brett Simmons’ punches had more power than his Toronto-area opponent, Padraic Griffin, at 135-lbs and he was rewarded with the win in a hard-fought battle that had a portion of the crowd turning patriotic at one point calling “USA, USA.” Kronk’s Raymond Harris was definitely the aggressor in his match with Joe’s Tony Anderson, who, like Watkins before him, seemed off his game. Despite rallying in the third round, it was too late to make up the points Anderson gave away early and Harris improved his record with the win at 152-lbs. After a short intermission so that the Ringside corner cushions could be replaced with the Kronk-emblazoned ones, the show was back on. In the second of two bouts absent Kronk boxers, Big Tyme’s Jordan Letestu won over Just Us’ Damar Singleton at 160-lbs after the northern Ontario boxer spent the first half of the fight chasing his Toledo opponent around the ring. Although Singleton became more active beginning part way through the second round it was not enough to counter the better effort of the Canadian. Kronk standout Erick DeLeon didn’t allow the last of three Ontario boxers of the night much opportunity to advance the fight as he was the aggressor throughout the 130-lb contest with Steeltown’s Steve Wilcox. The fourth Kronk amateur in the ring was Leandre White at 152-lbs facing off against Toledo’s Roy Barringer. White’s experience and power were too much for the Just Us boxer who earned the first 8-count of the night, coming in the first round. White is making plans to turn pro this summer so this could be one of his last club shows as an amateur. The
final amateur fight was between heavyweights Craig Lewis of Kronk
and Ryan Rawls of A-Square Fight Club. Rawls received an 8-count
in the third round and the first bloody nose of the evening in a
bout filled with too much holding which no doubt contributed to
his loss. Lewis’ win made the record unanimous for Kronk fighters,
winning all five amateur bouts in which they participated. |
