By: George H. Hanson Jr., Esq.
Date: September 29, 2023
Venue: 2300 Arena – Philadelphia, PA
Promoter: Alex Barbosa—R&B Promotions
Ring Announcer: Steve Peacock
Referees: Shawn Clark & Eric Dali
Coverage: www.combatsportsnow.com
Photos: Amber Rosa & Darryl Cobb Jr.
Gloves: “Put Up Your Dukes” brand – www.kdukesboxing.com
Where do I begin? It was arguably the best show in Philadelphia in 2023! Please grab your favorite beverage before I take you for another journey in “The Capital of Boxing” – “Philly Fight Night 3” by R& B Promotions. Allow me to lay the groundwork. With Chris Toney relocating to Hollywood three years ago – I have been without a photographer. Thanks to my friends Darryl Cobb Jr. and Kenny “Top Shotta” Ludwig I am never without photographs – for which I am eternally grateful. But, as fate would have it, I was able to view some of the work of sixteen-year-old high-school junior Amber Rosa – an aspiring lawyer and photo prodigy. Amber is the daughter of Lando Rosa, Founder & CEO of Pivott Boxing Academy and the manager of two of tonight’s combatants – Oluwafemi “The Nightmare” Oyeleye and Joshua “The Real War” Jones. The erudite, supremely talented and gifted teenager– an acolyte of Cobb Jr. – made her debut tonight as a professional boxing photographer. Welcome Amber Rosa!
The main event featured two southpaws – Tevin “The American Idol” Farmer (31 wins – 5 losses – 1 draw – 6 kos) former IBF Super-featherweight champion in a scheduled eight-round lightweight bout against Oscar Barajas (7 wins – 8 losses – 1 draw – 2 kos) of Ocampo, Mexico. This would be Farmer’s second fight since he lost his title via unanimous decision to Joseph Diaz on January 30, 2020. He returned to action and won a unanimous ten-round decision over cross-town rival – fellow Philadelphian – Avery Sparrow on June 24th of this year at this same venue.
Barajas was first out of the dressing rooms and walked to the ring with an air of humble superiority and familiarity – riding a three-fight winning streak – including two six-round majority decision victories last year over two Philadelphians at this same venue – Jerome “The Conqueror” Conquest on February 26,th and Damon Allen Jr. – July 9th. In his last bout on March 4, 2023, Barajas won a majority six-round decision over Roberto Gomez in Newton Township, Pennsylvania. The cheers were loud for Barajas as his compatriots applauded his entrance. There was no question that he was hell-bent on bagging his third Philadelphia victim – extending his win-streak to four – all in the state of Pennsylvania.
I assumed that it was Farmer who made his way to the ring – decked out in an exquisite mask that covered his entire face – I was unsure whether to drop my pen and retrieve my wallet since it appeared that this could be robbery disguised as a ring-walk. My trepidation was alleviated as the mask was removed and Farmer commenced shadow boxing – warming up for the task at hand. Referee Eric Dali gave the combatants their instructions, they retreated, and the gong sounded. Farmer controlled the pace early by working behind his jab, keeping Barajas at a distance. It was classic Tevin Farmer as his opponent came forward but simply was out-boxed by the former world champion. The action resumed in similar fashion in the second stanza. However, with about twenty seconds remaining in the round, Farmer got Barajas acquainted with the canvas – dropping him with a stiff right jab. Surprised and somewhat embarrassed, the proud Mexican fighter was upright almost immediately not allowing Referee Dali to reach the toll of two. The action resumed briefly, and the bell ended the round.
Barajas won the third round as Farmer spent too much time on the rope doing his impersonation of the great, four-division World Champion – Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker. During one of these exchanges, Barajas found his rhythm and kept punching as Farmer bobbed and weaved – discombobulating him with some hard shots. Farmer was hurt in the last thirty seconds of the round and was somewhat relieved when the bell rang. He wobbled and even headed to the wrong corner. How fortuitous that Referee Dali gave him the benefit of the doubt and did not stop the fight.
Showing amazing recuperative powers, Farmer boxed brilliantly and judiciously working behind his jab in the traditional plot of the bull and the matador. Farmer was back in command and would continue along the same trajectory in the fifth round. However, Barajas landed what appeared to be a right hook that got the former champion’s attention. Nevertheless, press-row scored the round for Farmer. The Philly fighter continued to display his wares in the sixth round – reminding us that he is a master at the art of hitting without being. It was a rebuttable presumption that Farmer would not only win the sixth round but also do likewise in the remaining two. But, Farmer had other plans. As Barajas was attacking, Farmer unleashed a straight left that landed flush on the Mexican’s chin – cutting his legs from beneath him – sending him crashing to the canvas on his back – comatose – counting sheep – giving us the leading candidate for “Knockout of the Year.” Silence filled the room momentarily for a split-second and you could hear mice fornicating in the trash cans outside the venue – before the entire arena erupted in raucous cheers and Farmer leaped on the top rope celebrating. The medical team immediately rushed into the ring and fortunately the fallen fighter was revived before Ring Announcer Peacock declared Farmer the winner by knockout at 1:51 of the sixth round. I guess we should change Farmer’s moniker from the “American Idol” to “Deontay Wilder Jr.”
In the co-feature Oluwafemi “The Nightmare” Oyeleye (13 wins – 0 losses – 0 draws –7 kos) from Lagos, Nigeria fighting out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania faced Jimmy “Quiet Storm” Williams (18 wins – 12 losses – 2 draws – 6 kos) of New Haven, Connecticut. A Gold Medalist at the 2015 African Games, “The Nightmare” was signed to Mayweather Promotions and after a 3 1/2-year hiatus made his way to “The Capital of Boxing” – Philadelphia and is now trained and managed by legendary Coach Shar’ron Baker and Lando Rosa, Founder & CEO of Pivott Boxing Academy.
An impeccable southpaw boxer with power in both hands, “The Nightmare” is a physical specimen that makes most super-middleweights look small! Equally important, he is a cerebral fighter – a master thinker – who lays the foundation before leveling his opponent hapless and helpless in the squared circle. It was easier crossing a minefield safely in the Vietnam War than making it out of a fight with “The Nightmare” upright. One misstep and you are on the canvas! He is that explosive!
Oyeleye worked behind his stiff southpaw jab – controlling the action – going to the body as Williams retreated on his bicycle – slipping to the canvas on one occasion to evade punishment. The action resumed in the second stanza with the Nigerian marching forward – picking his shots making Williams uncomfortable – attempting to thwart his progress. Oyeleye captured the round and picked up the pace in the third round. Midway through the round a well-placed counter right hook sent Williams crashing to the canvas. He was upright as Referee Clark reached the count of three – wiped his gloves and the action resumed. Like a gloved shark – Oyeleye smelled blood in the water and hopped on his adversary beating him from pillar to post for what seemed like fifteen seconds – forcing the referee to stop the festivities – declaring him the winner by technical knockout at 2:08.
WBC, WBA, IBF & WBO Unified Junior-middleweight Champion Jermell Charlo is in trouble. The Nightmare is coming! And nobody will be able to save him. Vacate, move up and abdicate your throne because I don’t see how he will be able to outbox Oyeleye.
In the opening bout of the night welterweight Ghandi Romain (0 wins – 1 loss – 0 draws) of Union City, New Jersey by way of Port-au- Prince, Haiti was back in the ring after literally snatching defeat from the jaws of victory in his debut at this same venue on July 22nd against cast iron-chinned Anthony Dill (2 wins – 1 loss – 0 draws – 2 kos) of Philadelphia. After scoring two devastating knockdowns in the third round of the scheduled four-rounder – it was Romain who was on the way to the canvas held up and rescued by the referee who called a halt to the bout declaring Dill the winner by technical knockout.
Lightening wasn’t going to strike twice as Romain made short work of Jose Luis Franco Baron (0 wins – 5 losses – 0 draws) of El Vigia, Venezuela dropping him twice in the opening round – scoring a technical knockout at 59 seconds. A left hook to the body introduced Baron to the canvas with less than twenty seconds expiring in the round. Baron was up when Referee Dali reached the count of four. The fight resumed and shortly thereafter Romain connected with a combination to the body watching as his opponent descended to the canvas for the second time. Dali started counting and then declared the fight over. Romain’s fans cheered raucously as they watched his hand being raised in victory.
Tonight, in his second fight after a 2 1/2-year hiatus – Philadelphia lightweight Joshua “The Real War “Jones was impressive, boxing brilliantly against iron-chinned 78-fight Colombian veteran Jonathan “Popeye” Perez (41 wins – 37 losses – 0 draws – 33 kos) – winning a four-round unanimous decision. Jones is a stablemate of Oyeleye and shares the same trainer, manager, and promoter. With his new team, the supremely talented and gifted fighter is now on the right path to the top.
Jones, a crafty southpaw, is a bigger version of two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and former two-division World Champion Guillermo “El Chacal” Rigondeaux. Round after round he hit strong-willed Perez – a doppelgänger for former World Junior Middleweight Champion – Julian “J-Rock” Williams with everything except Referee Shawn Clark! The body shots were crippling and evoked fond memories of my Jamaican brother – three-division World Champion Mike “The Body Snatcher” McCallum. But the Colombian came to “get down, not lay down” and knew how to survive while fighting back. Jones wouldn’t allow Popeye to get his spinach!!t was an action-packed bout and another great performance by “The Real War.”
In a four-round middleweight bout Allen Otto (2 wins – 0 losses – 0 draws – 2 kos) of Pennsauken, New Jersey fought to a four-majority draw with southpaw James Abraham (2 wins – 0 losses – 0 draws – 2 kos) of Queens, New York. Abrahams was the busier fighter throughout the first three rounds – using his southpaw jab mixed in with an occasional right uppercut and straight left. Otto for some inexplicable reason appeared as though he was looking to detonate a knockout blow. However, everyone in press-row scored all three rounds for Abraham. Otto picked up the pace in the final round – hurting Abraham in the last twenty seconds – pinning him to the ropes. One judge scored it 39-37 for Abraham – similar to my scorecard – overruled by the other two who had it 38-38 – a draw and what appears to be an early Christmas present for Otto.
In the second bout of the night – a rematch of their July 22nd action-packed bout – heavyweight Daniel Bean (2 wins – 1 loss – 0 draws – 2 kos) from Old Bridge, New Jersey squared off against the man who gave him his sole loss – Rob Perez (1 win – 0 losses – 0 draws – 0 kos) of Worcester, Massachusetts. The pageantry of the ring-walk was stupendous as Perez was first out the dressing room with his personal rapper decked out in a #3 Philadelphia 76ers tank top – bellowing over the house-speakers. Bean, wearing a black t-shirt made his way into the ring evoking fond memories of Michael Gerard Tyson.
The gong sounded and they met in the center of the ring launching bombs at a frenetic pace. Toe-to-toe they rumbled like there was no tomorrow. Heavyweights are not supposed to be able to fight at that pace. Towards the end of the round, Bean pinned Perez on the ropes and unleashed the heavy artillery. Bean won the opening round as Perez made it back to his corner with his left eye swollen. The action continued in the second round with Bean trying to box from a distance as Perez pushed the action – landing more – getting a slight edge. Bean was slowing down and somehow this energized Perez who pushed the action forcing his adversary to stand and fight. Perez’s indefatigable will to win allowed him to win a close final round. Like their first fight – Perez garnered a majority decision 39-37 twice and 38-38.
In the fifth bout, junior-lightweight Carlos “Rock Hands” Rosario (9 wins – 3 losses – 0 draws – 4 kos) of Pennsauken, New Jersey was fortunate to escape his encounter with Diuhl Olguin (16 wins – 32 losses – 6 draws – 10 kos) of Oak Hills, California with a six-round majority draw. I scored the opening round for Rosario who worked behind his jab. Despite Olguin being the aggressor, I gave the round to Rosario who appeared busier. Maybe, I need a guide dog because I scored rounds 2 -5 for Olguin who blanketed Rosario and was busier even hurting him in the fifth stanza. The final round was close and could have been scored for Rosario who got on his Harley-Davidson and was sticking and moving with his nemesis in hot pursuit. Thus, I was flabbergasted when one judge scored it 59-55 for Rosario. That individual needs a refresher course on the finer points of scoring a boxing match or new glasses. Fortunately for Olguin the other two judges had it 57-57 as he escaped Philadelphia with a draw.
It was spectacular having Amber Rosa as my new photographer and internet boxing sensation Manager Marty in press-row. However, I wasn’t going to miss this event as it was to be the end of an era. After thirty-three years this is the final show for Greg Sirb, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission. Yes, the diminutive narcissistic despot bearing the moniker “Biggie Smalls” will be abdicating his throne – retiring – having served as the longest tenured role of any state athletic commissioner in the country. My grandmother always told me to find something that you like about someone and focus on that one quality. Without success I have spent the last seventeen years as a writer searching for a likable trait in Sirb whom I have witnessed conducting himself as a dictator instead of a public servant – shouting and throwing temper tantrums. However, I must admit that prior to meeting Sirb I was vehemently against abortion – now I am pro-choice!
Lastly, it was great watching the fighters wearing the exquisite, well-crafted, and beautiful KDukes boxing gloves www.kdukesboxing.com. Established in 2016 and based in Brooklyn, New York – it is only a matter of time before this company’s products become “The Air Jordans of Boxing.” Please visit the website, you will fall in love with the “Put Up Your Dukes” brand.
See you back at 2300 Arena on December 1st for “Philly Fight Night 4.”
Thanks again, Amber Rosa!
Continue to support the sweet science, and remember, always carry your mouthpiece.
ghanson18@icloud.com.
