The Mouthpiece
Shotgun!!—Ennis Decisions Winchester
Folly Stops Hinojosa
By: George H. Hanson Jr., Esq.
Date: Friday, March 31, 2017
Venue: 2300 Arena – Philadelphia, PA
Promoter: Victory Boxing Promotions
Ring Announcer: Henry “Dis-com-bob-u-lating” Jones
Referee: Shawn Clark & Eric Dali
Photos: christoneyphotography.com
Thirty-eight year-old James “Shotgun” Winchester (20 wins – 12 losses – 0 draws – 8 kos) rode into Philly from his hometown of Reidsville, North Carolina with much bravado and chutzpah determined not to get gunned down by 19 year-old Philly Phenom Jaron “Boots” Ennis (9 wins – 0 losses – 0 draws – 8 kos) becoming the ninth victim to be rescued by the referee! Thus, when Ennis opened up with the two Gatlin guns hidden in his gloves at the start of the first stanza of their six-round main event bout—Winchester ducked, took cover, came up with a head-butt simultaneously landing a right to his opponent’s groin letting the audience know “I ain’t going to take this ass-kicking silently!” Despite the rough-house tactics Ennis worked behind a stiff jab landing combinations to the body – changing directions to befuddle Winchester – perpetual motion firing from all angles.
Ennis (R.) blasting Winchester.
In the second round a frustrated Winchester tackled Ennis like an NFL linebacker sacking a quarterback and then proceeded to land a straight right while standing over his fallen foe. Immediately, Ennis’ father/trainer Derek “Bozy” Ennis was on the ring apron apparently ready to enter the ring, Fortunately referee Shawn Clark was able to diffuse the social dynamite that was about to create an explosion by waving the trainer back to the corner. He then proceeded to issue a stern warning reminding Winchester that he was tethering on the brink of disqualification. Ennis kept his composure boxing brilliantly round after round dominating the action – controlling the pace – having Winchester in dire straits in the final round – barely surviving to the final bell. No surprise that all three judges had it 60-53 for Ennis who won by unanimous decision.
To say that Winchester used every dirty trick in the book is the understatement of the year! He “got down and dirty” like a well-fed pig on a mud slide! However, the elder statesman provided Ennis with an invaluable lesson that will serve him well as he continues his march to a world title.
I am never one to follow tradition for tradition’s sake. I am always ready to climb out on the limb whenever popular belief appears to be based on the road most traveled and the fear of being wrong. Thus, I am alone on an island by stating that it is a waste of time and talent for undefeated junior-featherweight Manny “Major Pain” Folly (9 wins – 0 losses – 0 draws – 7 kos) to continue along the same path – at least twelve or more fights before fighting for a world title. Folly is ready now and I see absolutely no reason why he couldn’t be a world champion before the close of 2017.
Folly (R.) lands the straight right.
Tonight in the six-round co-main event Folly – a full-time Philadelphia police officer – needed a mere two minutes and eighteen seconds to dismantle and dispose of Luis Hinojosa (30 wins – 10 losses – 0 draws – 17 kos) of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Folly strolled out of his corner in the first round and connected with a hard left hook that rocked Hinojosa – setting the tone. A few seconds thereafter, a body shot deposited the Dominican to the canvas—referee Dali reaching the count of five before he was upright and ready to continue. The action resumed with Folly working behind a stiff jab keeping Hinojosa—who was trying but never succeeded in landing anything of consequence—off balance. With a little over a minute remaining in the round, Folly connected with a vicious right that sent his opponent to the canvas for the second time. Again, the game but overmatched boxer was up as the referee tolled the count of five, wiped his gloves and signaled for the fight to resume. Wasting no time, Folly walked straight to Hinojosa and blasted him with a stiff jab followed by a laser straight right placing him back in a familiar spot on the canvas— referee Dali immediately calling an end to bout.
I just don’t see the practicality of Folly laboring for the next two years or twelve more bouts before a title fight. He is simply too talented to follow the road most traveled by the “can’t miss” prospects. Basketball superstar LeBron James went straight to the NBA by skipping college. Folly is similarly talented and doesn’t need twenty or more fights to prepare for a world title. He will be more than ready in three more fights.
In a scheduled four-round lightweight bout undefeated Philly prospect Joshua “Hands of Stone” Jones (3 wins – 0 losses – 1 draw – 2 kos) boxed brilliantly resembling a gloved sniper—picking his shots—out-boxing tough Dustin Arnold (1 win – 0 losses – 0 draws – 0 ko) of Coral Springs, Florida almost pitching a shut-out—winning a unanimous decision 40-36 twice and 39-37. The southpaw Jones stalked Arnold at the opening bell connecting with his laser-like straight left hurting his opponent midway through the round. Arnold was able to weather the storm and connected with a right to Jones’ body. However, the Philadelphian controlled the action and won the round handily. And, he put on a boxing clinic for the next three rounds—precision punching—landing with relative ease— appearing as though he was using the rounds to perfect his craft.
Jones (L.) lands the straight left.
Seventeen year-old welterweight prospect Brandun Lee (1 win – 0 losses – 0 draws – 1 ko) of Coachella, California who made his debut here in the same ring on January 28th returned in similar fashion stopping over-matched debuting Seth Basler of Marion, Illinois 2:12 of the opening round of their scheduled four-rounder – winning by technical knockout.
Lee was hell-bent on scoring an early knockout, attacking at the opening bell bouncing hooks and right hands off Basler’s dome forcing him to retreat, his face beet-red, thirty seconds into the bout. Midway in the round a left to the body sent the off-balance Basler to the canvas gaining him a respite by complaining to the referee that he hurt his leg. Basler was able to continue after the ringside physician gave his blessings.
Lee (R.) connects with the overhand right
Lee attacked landing a murderous left hook capped off by a right uppercut that had Basler stumbling in deep trouble with referee Dali realizing that it was in Basler’s best interest to end the pogrom and declare Lee the victor.
“He’s not new to this, he is true to this!” stated ring announcer Henry Jones as he introduced journeyman Juan Zapata (4 wins – 10 losses – 2 draws – 2 kos) of Trujillo, Honduras now fighting out of the Bronx, New York for his scheduled four-round super-middleweight bout against undefeated Darren “Venom” Goodall (4 wins – 0 losses – 0 draws – 3 kos) of New Milford, New Jersey. The chiseled Zapata resembled a smaller version of former heavyweight champion Frank Bruno – muscles bulging – looking more like a body builder than a professional pugilist. With sixteen fights under his belt, Jones was correct – Zapata wasn’t “new to this” and Goodall was about to prove that he was “true to this.”
The gong rang and Goodall used his jab to set the tone of the opening round keeping his adversary in punching range landing to the head and body as the wild swinging Zapata returned fire with bad intentions. Goodall found pay dirt with a right to the body and a left hook that landed squarely on Zapata’s head toppling him to the canvas referee Clark reaching the count of eight before the Honduran was on his feet. Seizing the moment – throwing caution to the wind – Goodall moved in for the kill and was met with a desperation left hook that caught him high on the head reminding him that Zapata was still dangerous and was going to go down swinging. Goodall slowed his attack and went back to using his jab.
Goodall (R.) connects with the straight right.
The second round was unfolding in similar fashion as the opening stanza when midway, Goodall blasted Zapata with a vicious left hook that sent him to the canvas on one knee listening to the ten-count. Referee Clark reached the count of nine as Zapata reached his feet. However, Clark decided that he was unable to continue and called a halt declaring Goodall the winner by technical knockout at 1:51 of the second round.
It was another exciting night of the sweet science in Philadelphia – The Capital of Boxing. Once again Henry Jones was the perfect host not only was he the ring announcer but also the ringmaster—entertaining the near capacity audience throughout the night. As we would say in colloquial terms, “Michael Buffer and Jimmy Lennon Jr. ain’t got nothing on Dis-com-bob-u-lating Jones.”
Continue to support the sweet science, and remember, always carry your mouthpiece!!
ghanson3@hotmail.com
