Happy Birthday Marshall!—Carto Demolishes Diale Oberlton Stops Pendarvis
By: George H. Hanson Jr., Esq
Date: January 12, 2024
Venue: LIVE! Casino Hotel Philadelphia.
Promoters: Marshall Kauffman—King’s Promotions
Ring Announcers: Henry “Discombobulating” Jones
Referees: Harvey Dock & Dave Braslow
Ring Card: The Queens of King’s – Kendra Danelle & Kiana Kareema
Coverage: BXNG TV Photos: Darryl Cobb Jr
As I sat in the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica midday on Thursday, awaiting my flight back to Philadelphia I decided to reacquaint myself to the luxuries of technology and social media. A three-week hiatus home on the farm in rural Manchester was a well-needed respite from the hustle and bustle of the City of Brotherly Love and technology. I anxiously logged into www.boxrec.com and noticed that there was a professional card – eight bouts – featuring two of my favorite fighters – Chrisian Carto and Atif “Lord Pretty Calvo” Oberlton – two pugilistic prodigies that I have followed as we would say in colloquial terms – since they were knee-high to a grasshopper. As soon as I landed and reached home at 6 PM – I secured a press-credential by calling “The King of King’s Promotions” – Marshall Kauffman who was celebrating his 61st birthday. Happy Birthday Marshall!!
I arrived somewhat tardy and walked briskly across the parking lot into the building, through the casino – up the escalator to the ballroom/arena hosting the fights – just in time to catch the final two minutes of the first round of the opening bout. Philadelphia welterweight Ismail Muhammad (3 wins – 0 losses – 0 draws – 2 kos) fighting from the southpaw stance, controlled the action against Zach Hill (3 wins – 6 losses- 0 draws – 2 kos) of Watertown, South Dakota. The twenty-two-year-old Philadelphian boxed masterfully against his adversary – thirteen years his senior – judiciously following the instructions of his corner – trainer Derek “Bozy” Ennis and his assistants – capturing the opening stanza.
In the second round of the scheduled four-rounder, Muhammad resumed painting his masterpiece – a gloved Ernie Barnes having a good time – going downstairs to the body. Midway into the round a body shot forced Hill to the canvas much to the delight of Muhammad. Hill made it upright as referee Braslow tolled the count of three. The action resumed and Muhammad attacked relentlessly, both barrels blazing forcing the referee to call a halt at 1:53 – saving Hill from the inevitable – another trip to the canvas – separated from his senses. Muhammad was declared the winner by technical knockout.
After being sidelined for over fifteen months – Christian Carto (20 wins – 1 loss – 0 draws – 13 kos) of Philadelphia squared off against Ardin “The Jackal” Diale (35 wins – 18 losses – 4 draws – 17 kos) of Benguet, Philippines in tonight’s eight-round main event featherweight bout. The last time Carto saw action was October 1, 2022 – at 2300 Arena, Philadelphia – when he won a unanimous eight-round decision over Hector Andres Sosa of Argentina. Sosa is currently the IBO World Featherweight Champion – a title he won on July 22, 2023, via a tenth-round knockout of James Dickens. Flanked by IBF World Welterweight Champion – Jaron “Boots” Ennis, trainer Derek “Bozy” Ennis, cutman Joey “Eye” Intrieri and cohorts – Carto was last out of the dressing room as Diale waited patiently in the ring. The audience stood as multi-talented lightweight Nahir “Woo” Albright graced us with a wonderful rendition of the National Anthem.
Referee Harvey Dock gave the instructions – the combatants retreated to the respective corners as their handlers exited and the gong sounded for the opening round. It was evident from the first punch that Carto held an insurmountable advantage in hand speed. The Jackal came forward and Carto peppered him with lightning-fast combinations. It was a masterful display of the sweet science as Carto captured the opening round in fantastic fashion. I had no idea what was in store for the next round as Carto came out of his corner unloading from both barrels. He controlled the action, blasting away with a quick combination followed by a vicious right that sent Diale to the canvas – laying on his back as though he was sunbathing. The Jackal rose on unsteady legs like a newborn fawn and genuflected forcing referee Dock to call a halt to the action – declaring Carto the winner by technical knockout at 1:09 of round two.
I was praying that tonight’s co-main event wasn’t the stage for a ring tragedy. The eight rounder featured southpaws – undefeated twenty-five-year-old Philadelphia light-heavyweight sensation Atif “Lord Pretty Calvo” Oberlton (8 wins – 0 losses – 0 draws – 6 kos) against thirty-seven-year-old Cleotis Pendarvis (22 wins – 19 losses – 2 draws – 9 kos) of Lancaster, California. The 5ft 7 inches Pendarvis joined the punch-for-pay ranks back in 2004 as a welterweight and appeared to be at a considerable size, speed, and power disadvantage against the towering 6 ft. 3 inches Philadelphian who packs dynamite in both hand and unleashes combinations like a Gatlin gun. Oberlton was inactive due to injuries for almost one year – his last fight on January 20, 2023 – an eight-round unanimous decision over then undefeated Artem Brusov. I was uncomfortable in my press-row seat as the song “Suicide or Murder” by Bounty Killer played from the tracks of my imagination. I must be intellectually honest – Pendarvis was on a suicide mission and there was a high probability that Oberlton was going to be “charged” for murder. Regardless – I knew that this fight was not going to end well for the Californian.
With new trainer Tom Yankello in his corner – Oberlton came out at the opening bell stalking his prey – working behind his southpaw jab. He controlled the action – showing no signs of ring rust as Pendarvis came forward with his head barely reaching Lord Pretty Calvo’s shoulders. Pendarvis was literally walking through a minefield and the audience was on the edge of their seats awaiting his demise. He made it out of the opening stanza compliments of the humanity and generosity of the Philly fighter who wanted to display his wares to his adoring fans. The second round began with the undefeated prospect comfortable playing the matador as Pendarvis came forward. As fate would have it – Oberlton unleashed a vicious left uppercut that drove Pendarvis to the canvas. I thought that he died and I just witnessed a fatal ring tragedy. Miraculously, Pendarvis made it to his feet as referee Braslow reached the count of nine and called and end to this mismatch, declaring Oberlton the winner at 1:26 of the round. Suicide or murder?
There must be something special in the water at the Albright household. Welterweight Quadir “Savage C-4” Albright (9 wins – 1 loss – 0 draws – 9 kos) lived up to his moniker in a scheduled eight-rounder against southpaw Adam Kipenga (11 wins – 4 losses – 1 draws\ – 7 kos) of Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania fighting out of Virginia. Standing 6 ft. I inch Albright towered over his 5 ft. 7 inches opponent. Albright answered the bell boxing brilliantly behind his jab reminiscent of the great five-division world champion and Hall of Famer – Tommy “The Hitman” Hearns. He patiently controlled the pace and distance, looking to unload the heavy artillery as Kipenga marched forward. The opening round was close because of the Tanzanian’s aggression.
Albright continued using his jab in the second stanza – probing for an opening – allowing Kapenga to come forward – oblivious to the ambuscade that was imminent. It was a cerebral display of pugilistic prowess, and I sat eagerly awaiting the moment when Albright would detonate the C-4 in his right mitt. The Philadelphian captured the second round simply by out-jabbing and outmaneuvering Kapenga who continued his forward march. Albright didn’t waste much time in the next round, uncorking a devastating straight right early that pierced Kapenga’s guard – landing squarely on his chin – sending him to the canvas – imploding like the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Allow me to applaud the Tanzanian’s temerity and resiliency. Surprisingly, he refused to be diminished in the ashes of history and was standing upright as referee Harvey Dock reached the count of six. However, Dock made the right decision as was expected and called a halt to the bout. There was no need for an impaired Kapenga to be target practice for Albright – a deadly finisher. Kudos to the referee who declared Albright the victor by technical knockout – 38 seconds of the third round.
In the fifth bout of the night and the second fight of her budding professional career, featherweight Jaclyne “The Assassin” McTamney (1 win – 0 losses – 0 draws – 1 ko) of Southampton, Pennsylvania entered the ring to the frenzied applause of her supporters who packed the venue. McTamney radiated in the adulation as she climbed through the ropes and zoomed in on Cara McLaughlin (1 win – 7 losses – 0 draws – 0 kos) of Cookstown, Northern Ireland now fighting out of New York in the opposite corner. Referee Harvey Dock gave the instructions and the fighters and handlers retreated to their respective corners and the gong sounded for the scheduled four-rounder. The 5 feet 3 inches McTamney was simply too quick and fundamentally sound for her thirty-seven-year-old opponent – working behind her jab, using lateral movement to offset her – landing the occasional right. There were no knockdowns or instances of either boxers being in dire strait. It was a textbook performance by the lady from Southampton who pitched a shut-out winning on all three scorecards 40-36. Hopefully, McTamney will fight more frequently and not every four months as is the case since her debut on September 15, 2023.
I gain no pleasure in disparaging the official arbiters of professional pugilism. However, it was the late, great Bishop Desmond Tutu who eloquently stated, “If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse, and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.” Thus, I am compelled to log my disapproval of the decision in the second bout – a six-rounder between welterweights – Ibrahim “Hitman” Robinson (6 win – 0 losses – 1 draw – 5 kos) of Baltimore, Maryland, and Renny Viamonte Mastrapa (2 wins – 0 losses – 0 draws – 2 kos) of La Isla Cuba residing in Las Vegas, Nevada.. Press-row had the twenty-two-year-old Robinson winning at least four rounds – one of the judges scored it 57-57 while the other two awarded Mastrapa the decision 58-56. The 6 ft Robinson controlled the action with his educated jab and counter right – easily taking the first three rounds as Mastrapa appeared to be looking to land a punch of consequence to turn the tides. The fourth round was closer because of the inside-fighting. However, Robinson was somewhat busier, and I am confident that any reasonable viewer would have scored another round for him. The next two rounds were close with not much separating the combatants. Mastrapa connected with an overhand right in the fifth round that could have made the difference on the scorecards – giving him the edge in that round. Robinson won the fight – however the judges got it wrong – making a compelling argument for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission to purchase three guide dogs and canes.
The third bout of this magnanimous night of the sweet science featured debuting light-heavyweights Cody Russell and thirty-eight-year-old Ronald “Pitbull” Trahan of Fort Worth, Texas – ten years his opponent’s senior. It was an entertaining and tactical match with the bewhiskered, distinguished looking Russell matching Trahan’s pugilistic prowess in the opening stanza with jabs and tactical movement, leaving the judges to flip a coin to decide the victor. Russell distinguished himself in the next round by landing a combination in the closing moments that momentarily froze the Texan in his tracks. Early in the third round, Trahan had his mouthpiece dislodged by a strike. Russell followed with a punch that sent him to the canvas. How fortuitous for Trahan that somehow based on the angle of referee Braslow – he missed the punch and the knockdown – calling it a slip. However, this was the precursor of the grand finale. Because shortly thereafter, Russell uncorked a crippling left hook that anchored Trahan to the canvas. As referee Braslow began the count, Trahan attempted to get upright and like a novice on ice-skates, his legs split in opposite directions forcing the end of the bout. Russell was declared the winner by technical at 1:19 of the third round.
Amateur standout, eighteen-year-old junior-featherweight Cornelius Chada Phipps of Oxford, Pennsylvania was successful in his professional debut, capturing a unanimous four-round decision 40-35 on all three scorecards over Darin Holliday Jr. (0 wins – 1 loss – 0 draws) of Philadelphia. Phipps was first with his jab in the opening round and was busier going to the body in the second round against the taller and talented Holliday that we can only surmise was over-thinking his dilemma instead of throwing punches. Phipps landed a vicious uppercut in the third round forcing Holliday to clutch for survival – referee Dock eventually deducted a point for excessive holding. The final round was uneventful with the Philadelphian demonstrating no sense of urgency as Phipps won the round working behind his jab. It was an impressive outing for the teenager and a lesson for Holliday who can easily change the trajectory of his career and get his name in the winning column.
This was a wonderful opening to another exciting year of boxing in the City of Brotherly Love. It is also the start of a new era, the first time in almost thirty-four years that the Lilliputian – Greg Sirb – masquerading as the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission – was not patrolling ringside or the dressing rooms – yelling and overstepping boundaries. He retired in September of last year. We can only hope that he finds as much comfort in his retirement as we are experiencing.
Happy Birthday Marshall Kauffman. Thanks for a great show, the first article as I vie for another Salute to Philly Boxers “Writer of the Year” award. I appreciate everyone who continue to support my work, allowing me to win every year since 2012. Equally important, much respect to all the promoters – especially Alex “Macho” Barbosa, Stephen Espinoza, Manny Rivera, and Diane Fisher Di Maio. Special thanks to photographers Darryl Cobb Jr., Kenny Ludwig, and Amber Rosa. I can only hope that people are reading the articles and not just admiring the wonderful images that you capture. Thanks to my editors Kahlil Small and Chris Toney. Your help is greatly appreciated. Finally, thanks to my sister Dawn Marie Hanson who made sure that her little brother was way ahead of everyone. I only hope that one day that I can write as well as you. Despite your passing, I hear your voice every day pushing me to greater heights.
Continue to support the sweet science, and remember, always carry your mouthpiece!
ghanson18@icloud.com
