The Mouthpiece
Silverback! Robinson Stops Amuzu – Williams Decisions Grayton
By: George H. Hanson Jr., Esq
Date: September 14, 2018
Venue: 2300 Arena – Philadelphia, PA
Promoters: Marshall Kauffman—King’s Promotions
Ring Announcer: Mark Fratto
Referees: Eric Dali & Blair Talmadge
Ring Card: The Queens of King’s – Mimi Gibson & Kendra Danelle
Coverage: Facebook Fight Night Live
Commentators: Marc Abrams & Michael Woods
Photos: Darryl Cobb Jr.
Philly super-middleweight Brandon “B-Rob” Robinson (10 wins – 1 loss – 0 draws – 7 kos) understands marketing and has labeled his quest for a world title as “Gorilla Season” campaigning as the only Silverback in the division. Robinson and Pivott Boxing, his management team, have dispelled and destroyed all of the negative perceptions of gorillas created by Hollywood. Thus, his handlers were decked out in exquisite jogging suits with the picture of a gorilla emblazoned on the back as they escorted him to the ring. In addition, it was only fitting that ring announcer Mark Fratto introduced Robinson as “The Silverback” before the start of the scheduled eight-round main event with Ernest Amuzu (24 wins – 3 losses – 0 draws – 22 kos) of Ghana, now residing in Prichard, Alabama. I doubt if Amuzu ever saw a gorilla while growing up in his homeland of Ghana. Gorillas are found mostly in the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. Tonight he was facing a gloved-silverback and he showed no concern.
Robinson (L.) landing the jab on Amuzu
The gong sounded and trainer Rashad Brown sent Robinson straight at Amuzu who appeared unfazed but attempted to get a good reading on his opponent by retreating and using his jab. Nothing of consequence landed in the opening round and Robinson continued his forward march in the second stanza unloading the heavy artillery in the Ghanaian’s direction only missing by inches. Amuzu to his credit fought back letting the audience know that he did not come to Philadelphia just for a paycheck. He believed that he could upset the hometown fighter.
Robinson was hell-bent on scoring a knockout and attacked at a frenetic pace in the third round. They waged war with Amuzu standing his ground and fighting valiantly. They went back and forth much to the delight of the crowd who reveled in the action. During one of the heated exchanges, Robinson landed an overhand right that had Amuzu reeling across the ring. Somehow, the Philly fighter became airborne and was able to connect with another devastating right that snapped Amuzu’s head back as he was stumbling across the ring-forcing referee Tallmadge to call a halt at 2:04. With almost a minute remaining in the round, there is little doubt that Robinson would have left Amuzu helpless and hapless on the canvas had the referee not ended the melee.
Robinson (L) going airborne to land the right
In a scheduled ten-round welterweight bout Terrell “Tiger” Williams (16 wins – 0 losses – 0 draws – 13 kos) of Los Angeles, California won a unanimous decision 98-89, 98-90 and 97-92 over slick southpaw David “Day Day” Grayton (15 wins – 2 losses – 1 draw – 11 kos) of Washington, DC. It was a fight in which the scores did nothing to tell the story of an action-packed fight in which press-row had Drayton sweeping the last three rounds. I had the fight even in rounds 5-5 and Williams the victor 95-92 due to him scoring three knockdown — winning the first, second and sixth rounds 10-8.
Very few thought that the bout was going to go to the scorecards when Grayton visited the canvas compliments of a straight right and again in the second round after walking into the same identical punch. Both times, he was able to get off the deck immediately and use his ring savvy to evade further punishment and survive. Grayton took the third round by smothering Williams and out-landing him. However, Williams was back in command in the fourth round, hurting Grayton having him in a crisis with the bell rescuing him from a stoppage or another trip to the canvas. The fifth round was close with a slight edge to Grayton who was on the canvas for a third time in the next round after walking into another straight right. He was hurt but somehow he made it out of the round.
The action resumed in the seventh round with Grayton throwing caution to the wind – slugging with the heavy-handed Williams to the bell. With Williams slowing down somewhat, Grayton took the lead and was able to hurt him in the eighth stanza with a combination – pinning him to the ropes and unleashing. It would have been a dramatic turn of events. However, the Californian survived and made it through the rest of the fight despite Grayton having a slight edge in the last two rounds. It was a terrific fight and kudos to both combatants for displaying their wares and boxing acumen.
Williams (L.) connects with the right hook
In the opening bout of the night welterweight Shyngyskhan Tazhibay (6 wins – 0 losses – 0 draws – 2 kos) of Kazakhstan now fighting out of Washington, DC under the tutelage of famed trainer Barry Hunter, won a unanimous four-round decision by scores of 40-36 twice and 39-37 over Justin “Baby Boy” Johnson (6 wins – 17 losses – 6 draws – 0 kos) of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in an entertaining tactical match. Tazhibay was able to out-box Johnson by using his jab and lead left hooks to control the action. With Hunter yelling “Step it up!” he was able to outwork Johnson who fought valiantly and made the rounds close.
Junior-welterweight Keeshawn “The Next Big Thing” Williams (2 wins – 0 losses – 1 draw – 1 ko) of Washington, DC with Barry Hunter in his corner worked behind a well-timed jab, moved well and out-boxed tough thirty-three year-old southpaw Farhad “The Puncher” Fatulla (1 win – 1 loss – 0 draws – 0 kos) of Salt Lake City, Utah – winning a unanimous four-round decision 40-36 on all three scorecards. Williams was just a little too fast and too slick for the game but outgunned Fatulla who appeared one step behind Hunter’s pupil. Williams jab found its target and kept Fatulla off balance. Williams was able to close the show by hurting Fatulla to the body in the last round. It was a good showing for the twenty-one-year-old Williams.
In a scheduled eight-round junior-lightweight bout three-time Olympian Anvar Yunusov (4 wins – 0 losses – 0 draws – 1 ko) of Tajikistan now residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was impressive in dismissing Angel Monreal (10 wins – 10 losses – 1 draw – 3 kos) of Mexico at 2:39 of the third round. Yunusov made his ring-walk with Survivor’s 1982 hit “Eye of the Tiger” blaring over the house-speakers as Monreal waited in the blue corner.
Yunusov, fighting from the southpaw stance, did not waste much time in the opening round as he sent Monreal to the canvas with a right hook followed by a straight left, which crashed off his dome. Monreal was able to get up as referee Dali reached the count of three, dusted his gloves and signaled for the action to resume. Monreal showed great recuperative powers and was able to be competitive in surviving the remainder of the round and making it to the bell. He fared no better in the second round because Yunusov caught him with another straight left during a heated exchange forcing one of Monreal’s knees to touch the canvas – a knock-down. However, the referee was out of position and missed the obvious call from our vantage point in press-row. Monreal fought hard despite taking some powerful shots from Yunusov who was in total control.
Yunsov (R.) lands the straight left
The end came in the third round as Yunusov continued his domination. He caught Monreal with a blistering straight left that sent him toppling backwards into the ropes his head landing under the bottom strand. Monreal was not going to beat the count and referee Dali immediately called a halt declaring Yunusov the winner by technical knockout.
Despite the equality in weight, there was a monumental disparity in height as 6 ft. tall Philly junior-welterweight Daiyann Butt (1 win – 0 losses – 0 draws – 0 kos) towered over the diminutive 5 ft. 5 inches Anthony “Lights Out” Smith (1 win – 2 losses – 0 draws – 1 ko) of Fresno, California. In the scheduled four-rounder, the opening stanza was closely contested with the shorter Smith working behind his jab sticking it to Butt’s midsection. Butt was able to use his height and reach to outbox his shorter adversary over the next three rounds. It was a spirited contest with Butt pitching a shut-out 40-36 on all three scorecards.
In a war of attrition Philadelphia featherweight Crystian “The Struggles” Pequero (2 wins – 0 losses – 0 draws – 1 ko) and debuting Yueri “Dinamita” Andujar of the Dominican Republic waged war—reminiscent of that epic battle between middleweight champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Tommy “The Hitman” Hearns—for almost three glorious rounds of the scheduled four-rounder with the taller Andujar winning by technical knockout at 2:06 of the third round. The shorter, compact Pequero came out bombing to the body at the opening bell with Andujar appearing to welcome the onslaught firing back instead of taking cover or retreating. Somehow, you got the sense that this was not going to go to the scorecards. They both unloaded the heavy artillery with Andujar hurting Pequero in the final twenty seconds of the round— attempting to close the show.
The war continued in the second round with Andujar out-landing his shorter adversary. Pequero who has excellent boxing skills abandoned his jab and engaged in a dogfight for which Andujar seemed well-equipped. Thus, they stood toe-to-toe trying to decapitate each other. However, Andujar appeared to be more effective and was wearing down the Philadelphian. The action resumed in the third stanza at the same breakneck pace. During one of the exchanges, Andujar connected with a vicious right uppercut and left hook that almost unhinged Pequero’s head forcing referee Dali to stop the action-packed bout. There is little question that this was the fight of the night!
Andujar (R.) lands the overhand right
Debuting junior-lightweight James Bernadin of Lancaster, Pennsylvania showed his mettle in a heated scheduled four-rounder—with Christopher Burgos (1 win – 2 losses – 1 draw – 0 kos) of Philadelphia – winning by technical knockout at 2:19 of the third round. It was an exciting action-packed bout with Burgos pressing the action at the opening bell. Burgos was winning the round when he got hurt midway by two rights that were unleashed by Bernadin who initially appeared to be in over his head.
Bernadin is a quick study and was able to take command in the second round opening a slight gash on Burgos’ left cheek. However, Burgos kept coming forward forcing his nemesis to fight at a high pace – landing hard shots in perpetual motion. The fracas continued in the third round with both boxers throwing almost every shot with bad intentions. Burgos walked into an overhand right followed by a left hook and went straight to the canvas. He made it to his feet on unsteady legs as referee Talmadge reached the count of three. Burgos wobbled – forcing the referee to stop this intense battle.
Bantamweight Alejandro “El Grande” Jimenez (2 wins – 0 losses – 0 draws – 1 ko) of New Hope, Pennsylvania won a unanimous four-round decision 40-36 on all three scorecards over cast-iron chin Jerrod “The Golden” Miner (1 win – 1 loss – 2 draws – 1 ko) in a war in which many bombs were detonated. Jimenez came forward at the opening bell showing no deference for Miner’s boxing abilities and punching power. He walked straight to Miner landing hard shots forcing the Philadelphian to retreat. They fought hard with Jimenez getting the better of the exchanges – landing the harder shots. Miner’s chin was tested and it passed with flying colors because Jimenez’s shots would have left most bantamweights comatose. Miner fought back but it simply wasn’t his night. Jimenez outworked and out-landed him – pitching the shut-out.
Jimenez (R.) going to the body
It was simply a sensational night of the sweet science with another capacity crowd. There wasn’t a bad fight on tonight’s card. Much respect to the matchmaker for nine terrific match-ups. Manager Lando Rosa, CEO of Pivott Boxing, has made it clear that it is “Gorilla Season’ and that his fighter Brandon Robinson is the only Silverback in the super-middleweight division. Thus, they are ready and willing to accept bigger challenges in hope of getting a world title in record time.
(L-R) Gibson, Hanson & Danelle
Continue to support the sweet science, and remember, always carry your mouthpiece!
ghanson3@hotmail.com
