The Mouthpiece
Long Live The Queen—Cox Stops Butler
Owusu Decisions Williams
By: George H. Hanson Jr., Esq.
Date: September 17, 2022
Venue: Chase Fieldhouse– Wilmington, Delaware
Promoters: Diane Fischer-Christiano—Dee Lee Promotions LLC
Ring Announcer: Nino DelBuono
Referee: Eric Dali
Timekeeper: Alice “The G.O.A.T” Grady
Matchmaker: Nick Tiberi
Coverage: Live Streaming via SFBN
Photos: Darryl Cobb Jr.
I got the news on Thursday, September 8th that the Queen met her demise and was no longer amongst the living. Immediately, I thought that promoter Diane Fischer-Christiano – “The Queen of Professional Boxing” had transitioned to the big boxing arena in the sky. It never occurred to me that social media and news outlet were referring to Queen Elizabeth II – “The Barbarian of Colonization” – whose death was cause for celebration on Irish Twitter. I was relieved that our beloved promoter was alive and that she would make history bringing the first ever professional boxing card to Chase Fieldhouse. Someone had the audacity to solicit my opinion on the monarch’s death. I retorted, quoting my Howard University School of Law classmate, Malik Zulu Shabazz Esq., “Did Jews mourn the passing of Hitler?”
(L-R) Fisher-Christiano & Hanson
This would be my first time back in press row since May 10, 2019, when super-middleweight Kalvin “Hot Sauce” Henderson deposited Antowyan “Ice Man” Aikens five times on the canvas, scoring a fourth-round technical knockout at 2300 Arena, Philadelphia – King’s Promotions. The pandemic arrived in March 2020, and I decided it simply wasn’t worth subjecting myself to all the protocols, requirements, and restrictions to cover our beloved sport. Lastly, it would have to snow in Jamaica before I get the called Covid-19 vaccine. The only shot that I would consider taking is a shot of Tequila and I am a teetotaler.
The incomparable Chris Toney moved to Hollywood. Thus, I had to secure the services of my good friend and award-winning photographer, Darryl Cobb Jr. who rode shotgun with me from Philadelphia to Wilmington, Delaware. We arrived at the venue, two hours ahead of the 7PM opening bout and lingered outside – me getting photos with fighters and their handlers. I was further reassured that “The Queen” was alive as promoter Diane Fischer-Christiano arrived dressed as though she was about to make it down the catwalk in Milan during Fashion Week. Of course, we got a picture together.
If you have made it this far and is wondering when I will start talking about the fights. Remember, patience is a virtue and I had to lay the foundation for this historic night of boxing. Yes, there must be foreplay before the real action.
In the main event – a battle of southpaws – Dante “Red Comet” Cox (8 wins – 2 losses – 0 draws – 5 kos) of Glen Burnie, Maryland squared off against Raekwon “Sugar” Butler (5 wins – 2 losses – 0 draws – 3 kos) of Brooklyn, New York in a scheduled eight-rounder for the American Federation Lightweight title. Butler came forward at the opening bell getting the better of the exchanges – looking like a man on a mission.
Cox kept his distance, moving strategically getting a proper reading on his adversary – unbothered by the pace and tempo. Butler garnered the opening stanza on my scorecard.
Cox (L.) lands a crushing straight left.
The second round began in similar fashion with Butler pressing the action. During an exchange Cox landed the harder punches that wobbled the Brooklynite making him look like a flag waving in the wind. Cox pressed the action and appeared to inadvertently push Butlers to the canvas, however, the referee called it a knockdown with Butler getting to his feet immediately. The action resumed and Cox landed with impunity as Burton appeared to be in dire straits – in a purple haze – physically present with his brain floating in a Petri dish – literally out on his feet – his body on autopilot throwing punches. Cox continued to unload as Butler refused to go down. Fortunately, Referee Dali made the decision to protect the valiant fighter from himself and called a halt to this action-packed bout with two seconds remaining in the round – declaring Cox the victor by technical knockout at 2:58 and the new ABF Lightweight Champion.
In a scheduled six-round bout for the vacant American Boxing Federation Mid-American Middleweight title southpaw Eslih Owusu (7 wins – 1 loss – 0 draws – 4 kos) of Worcester, Massachusetts walked aways with a unanimous decision victory over DeWayne “The Beast” Williams (3 wins – 4 losses – 1 draw – 3 kos) Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania in a closely contested match that could have been decided either way. There wasn’t much separating the combatants as Williams pressed the action landing a few body shots as Owusu countered with an occasional right.
Owusu (L.) goes to Williams’ body
In the fourth round, Owusu sent Williams to the canvas with a right hook that crashed off the side of his head. Referee Dali scored the knockdown as Williams got up immediately as he began the count. Unfazed, Williams continued his forward march and the fight resumed at the same pace and cadence. The final two rounds were close. At the end, two judges scored it 57-56 with the third seeing it 58-55 all for Owusu.
In another scheduled six-rounder, lightweight Jessica “The Cobra” Camara (9 wins – 3 losses – 0 draws – 0 kos) of Montreal, Canada didn’t waste much time in dismissing and disposing of Josefina Maria “Nina” Vega (9 wins – 4 losses – 0 draws – 4 kos) Bronx, New York by way of Equador in forty seconds of the opening round. The gong sounded and Camara immediately hopped on her prey like a fat man at a $10 “All You Can Eat” buffet. Vega was bombarded by an avalanche of leather and didn’t get an opportunity to retreat or get her hands up. Camara unleashed a flurry, finishing with a vicious left hook – sending Vega backwards on her back down to the canvas like a bowling balling rolling over the final pin. Referee Dali immediately called a halt to this blitzkrieg as Vega laid on her back as though she was sunbathing in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Fortunately, the fallen fighter was able to get to her feet without any assistance – appearing somewhat surprised and disappointed that she was steamrolled. Camara was declared the winner by knockout – 40 seconds of the opening round.
We must never forget that boxing is part and parcel of the entertainment industry. Thus, I am always appreciative of the pageantry of the ring walk. And tonight, the audience was not disappointed as hometown hero – junior-lightweight Jaligue “Duck No Action” Holden (1 win – 0 losses – 0 draws – 1 ko) exited the dressing room – showing his sartorial splendor – decked out in an exquisite pink and yellow outfit – trainer Doug Pettiford leading the way as the 1990 hit single “Power” by German hip-house group Snap blared over the house speakers.
Holden (L.) lands the jab.
“Like the crack of the whip, I “Snap!” attack
Front to back, in this thing called rap
Dig it like a cymbal, rhyme devil on the heavenly level
Bang the bass, turn up the treble
Radical mind, day and night all the time
7:14 a.m., wise, divine
Maniac brainiac, winnin’ the game
I’m the lyrical Jesse James
The supremely confident Holden made his way into the ring, the audience swept up in the moment with Charles “Contract Killer” Clark (3 wins – 12 losses – 1 draw – 1 ko) of Dallas, Texas waiting patiently in the opposing corner – unbothered – in green and black trunks as though he was an extra in a movie starring his adversary. After the introductions and formalities – the gong sounded, and Holden strolled out on the attack – mouth opened – losing his mouthpiece in the first ten seconds – dislodged by a jab from Clark. There was a break in the action as the referee retrieved the mouthpiece and Holden’s corner rinsed it and placed it back in his mouth. The action resumed with the Holden pressing the action, raking the retreating Clark to the body with left hooks – capturing the opening round.
Either Clark didn’t have a contract, or he wasn’t a killer because his performance was out of sync with his moniker – “Contract Killer.” The Texan was in retreat mode, fighting cautiously from the opening bell as Holden pressed the action round after round – landing effectively to the body, trying to close the show with a knockout in the fourth and final round. However, Clark mastered the art of effectively clinching and again caused Holden to lose his gum shield in the final ten seconds. No surprise all three judges scored it 40-36 for Holden – who had good performance against a cagey veteran – a pedagogical experience for the rising prospect.
It was evident from the opening bell that middleweight Olivia “The Predator” Gerula (18 wins – 19 losses – 1 draw – 1 ko) Las Vegas, Nevada by way of Winnipeg, Canada – was hell-bent on celebrating her twenty-fifth anniversary as a professional pugilist on October 4th with a victory – the nineteenth. With her husband – Grayson – assisting her trainer in the corner- Gerula attacked the taller Logan “The Golden Girl” Holler (9 wins – 1 loss– 1 draw – 3 kos) from Columbia, South Carolina at the opening bell. The Predator blanketed the blond and beautiful Holler – sticking to her like a cheap seersucker suit in the middle of an Alabama summer. Unlike the previous bouts, this fight featured a ring card guy at the end of each round. DeShawn Kessler Adkins of the Teflon Fitness Center got rid of his shirt and paraded around the ring between rounds – ring card over his head – much to the delight of the audience.
Gerula (R.) connects with a right hook
Round after round Gerula forced Holler to fight at her pace – getting the better of the exchanges – using one gear – forward! No surprise that Gerula was awarded a unanimous decision 40-36 on two-scorecards and 39-37 on the final – getting her nineteenth win – “Holler!”
My Jamaican brother fom Mount Vernon, New York – featherweight Antonio “The Problem” Lucaine (0 wins – 5 losses – 0 draws) walked briskly to the rink reminiscent of Peoples Hernandez played by Jeffrey Wright in the scene from the movie “Shaft” (2000) in which the Dominican drug lord comes out of his apartment to confront the detective on the sidewalk. Lucaine appeared to be a man on a mission to eradicate the zero from his win column. Carlos Gonzalez (1 win – 0 losses – 0 draws – 1 ko) from Springfield, Massachusetts had no problem as he raced out as the gong sounded and deposited his opponent on the canvas in approximately ten seconds much to the surprise of the fallen fighter. Lucaine was upright as Referee Dali began the count and checked his faculties. The action resumed and Gonzalez blitzed Lucaine, throwing a furious flurry connecting with a straight right and left hook sending him backwards – a second trip to the canvas – Dali stopping the fight without a count. Gonzalez was declared the winner by knockout – 40 seconds of the opening round. It is not my intent to be harsh but after six consecutive losses in as many fights – I highly recommend that Lucaine retire from prizefighting and seriously consider pursuing a career as a thespian.
In the opening bout of the night, Philly light-heavyweight Tariq “Showtime” Green (1 win – 1 loss – 0 draws – 0 kos) won a four-round unanimous decision over debuting Yohanes Rezenes of Lanham, Maryland. It was a tactical match with Green following the instructions of trainer – Philadelphia legend – Fred Jenkins Sr. – working the body – staying busier for the entire fight. Rezenes who bears an uncanny resemblance to His Imperial Majesty – Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia – came forward but was outboxed by the Philadelphian who had better technique. It was a spirited bout and Green garnered his second victory – back to the drawing board for Rezenes.
It was a terrific night of the sweet science, and I was somewhat surprised that I was the only writer in press-row covering this historic event. The bouts were exciting. Most important, The Queen of Dee Lee Promotions is alive and well. I got a picture with “The Greatest Timekeeper God Created” – Alice “The G.O.A.T” Grady. The sentiments shared on Irish Twitter regarding the British monarch’s passing were no surprise and expected. Elizabeth II bumboclaat!!
(L-R) Hanson & Timekeeper Grady
Continue to support the sweet science, and remember, always carry your mouthpiece!
ghanson3@hotmail.com
