Coleman Swipes Belt, Cards Leave Arnaoutis Short!
By: Ethan Doutney
December 3rd, Manhattan Center Grand Ballroom, NY, NY: In the main event Tim “Pit Bull” Coleman won a controversial twelve round split decision over southpaw “Mighty” Mike Arnaoutis grabbing the USBA junior welter title.
After being stopped by Victor Ortiz in two rounds last March Arnaoutis was coming in off a rebound win over Doel Carrasquillo in June. Coleman on the other hand comes in putting together back to back wins after losing to then undefeated James De la Rosa October 2008.
Arnaoutis started slow in rounds one and two allowing Coleman to establish his jab and find a home for his lead right hand.
Arnaoutis appeared to change the tide in the third round moving to his right working off an effective jab.
In the fourth round Coleman was a little more active with his jab. Then after “Mighty” Mike was cut over his right eye from an accidental clash of heads Coleman landed two good hooks to close the round.
In the fifth round Arnaoutis began a solid body attack landing left uppercuts downstairs while Coleman continued to bang away with his right hand. Arnaoutis landed a good left to the head to close the round.
Round six saw Coleman start quickly landing two clean right hands with Arnaoutis answering back making his jab count and landing a good left to the body. Arnaoutis backed Coleman to the ropes scoring well to the body until Coleman stopped the assault with a big counter right hand. The two would trade with Arnaoutis backing Coleman to the ropes again landing a good right hook to the body and a looping overhand left rocking Coleman at the bell.
Arnaoutis turned up the pressure in the seventh measuring with his jab then scoring with a good left uppercut. Coleman was warned for pulling Arnaoutis down by grabbing him behind the head then appeared to be looking to load up with his right as the two looked to traded shots. Arnaoutis began to stalk Coleman using his jab to set up three solid lefts to the “Pit Bulls” body.
In the eighth round Coleman again was looking to land his right while Arnaoutis was zeroing in his left. Coleman alternated from posing to leaping in with rights and wide lefts leading to a Arnaoutis complaint about a kidney shot. Coleman began moving but appeared to be slowing down. Arnaoutis landed low with a hard left but Coleman appeared to have his hands behind Arnaoutis neck helping the punch stray low. Coleman was given an brief rest as Arnaoutis went right back to Coleman’s body scoring with two heavy lefts to close the round.
In round nine Coleman jumped Arnaoutis landing to the body then bringing his right upstairs causing Arnaoutis to clam up. “Mighty Mike” came out of his shell with a solid left to the “Pit Bull's” body and a snapping right hook to the head. The two began to trade power shots with Arnaoutis landing the cleaner shots. Arnaoutis continued to bang to the body but the “Pit Bull” finished with a good right to close the round.
In round ten Arnaoutis pressed forward with Coleman snapping left jabs and right hands most missing the mark. then at about the 2:00 mark the two clashed heads seemingly motivating the Greek warrior who picked up the pace. Arnaoutis used solid single jabs chasing a moving Coleman who would stop then jump in with right hands leading to another clash of heads. Arnaoutis finally trapped the "Pit Bull" on the ropes scoring to the body and head opening a cut over Coleman’s right eye with a tight left hand.
Coleman continued move in the eleventh but Arnaoutis was up on his toes now moving to his right scoring with his jab and straight lefts to the body. At about the 1:00 mark the two traded power leads with Coleman pawing with the jab. “Mighty Mike” began to land regularly with his left to the head and body as Coleman would lean back placing his weight on his rear leg looking to unload his right.
Round twelve saw both fighters willing to put it all on the line. Coleman was moving winging shots as Arnaoutis pumping his jab moving to the right shooting left hands then move away in an arc to his left. About midway through the round Arnaoutis was cut again over the right eye by an accidental head but this time the blood began to flow. The two traded for the last minute with Arnaoutis appearing to gain an edge landing clean left hands when another clash of heads paused “Mighty Mike” momentarily. Coleman took advantage landing a solid three punch combo. The final bell rang with Arnaoutis covered in blood not happy with Coleman refusing to shake hands.
The final scores were announced judge Robin Taylor 116-112 for Arnaoutis, then judges Glenn Feldman and Kevin Morgan scores were announced both 115-113 for Coleman to a gasping Grand Ballroom audience. I saw it for Arnaoutis, taking the second half of the fight behind a solid jab by the score 116-112.
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Robinson “Busier” but Solomon had more Sting!
By: James Doutney
The fight of the night was a battle of undefeated welterweights with Lafayette, Louisiana’s Brad “Busy Bee” Solomon, 10-0, 3Ko’s taking on Philadelphia, Pennsylvania’s southpaw “The New” Ray Robinson, 11-1, 4Ko’s.
In round one the taller Robinson, a three time National Gold Glove Champion began using a long right jab going to Solomon’s body with straight lefts. Solomon, left hand low was leapeding in firing with both hands banging away inside. Solomon appeared a little unorthodox firing from all angles seeming to keep Robinson off balance. Robinson was the busier fighter scoring mostly with jabs while Solomon landed the heavier shots. (S)
In the second round both took turns getting off with Robinson gaining control in the second half of the round using his jab as Solomon appeared to be looking for a big right hand. The final thirty seconds had Solomon make a stand, landing well inside again then scoring with a solid right uppercut. Solomon’s quick feet appeared to be giving Robinson problems. (S)
In the third, Robinson began finding the mark with his jab but he was falling short with the left after jumping in. Solomon switched up southpaw confusing Robinson momentarily allowing him to land some heavy shots. Robinson continued to press the action but Solomon seemed intent on landing the last shot of all volleys. In the last forty five seconds the "Busy Bee" was successfully countering with both hands. (S)
In round four Robinson was up on his toes adding a little more upper body movement but he was still having a hard time closing the range. His punches appeared short and Solomon was beating him with solid counters. About midway through the round Robinson began to back off taking his turn at counter punching. Solomon remained patient waiting out Robinson who switched back to the role of aggressor. Solomon was moving now changing directions leaping in landing big single shots. In the final minute of the round Solomon fell in with a combination and the two accidentally clashed heads leaving Robinson with a small cut over his left eye. (S)
Round five clearly marked some signs of frustration for Robinson unable to find his range. Solomon came out hands high in hot pursuit of a now retreating Robinson. Solomon jumped in with a three punch combination catching Robinson up high backing him up with Robinson ending up on the deck, ruled a slip by referee Sparkle Lee. Solomon with his weight on the back foot backed Robinson to the ropes letting go with power shots from both sides until a Robinson lead left earned him passge to the center of the ring. In the final thirty seconds a feinting competition broke in to a brawl with both fighters looking to land the big shot. (S)
In round six Solomon was moving on the outside appearing to rest while Robinson continued to fall short with most of his shots still unable to find his range. The second half of the round had Solomon waiting on Robinson slipping his shots then falling inside ripping big shots to Robinson's head and body. Around the minute mark Robinson began fall in hands high trying to smother the "Busy Bee's"shots landing a couple of straight left hands and a good left uppercut. Solomon appeared to tire giving Robinson his best round possibly stealing it because of the contrast of the earlier rounds. ? (R)
In round seven Robison attempted to stay in range leaning in on Solomon’s chest firing short shots landing some clean left hands. Staying in tight Robinson was gaining an advantage punching in combination but he was unable to hurt Solomon as he appeared to be smothering his own shots. Solomon still was landing the heavier shots even though his punches were getting wider. (R)
The eighth and final round Robinson attempted to pick up where he left off he but now he was moving his hands but the his punching power was gone. The “New “ Ray Robinson was attempting to walk a moving Solomon down but he couldn’t close the range finding himself on the end of single power shots from the “Busy Bee.” Robinson almost slapping now was caught with two big overhand rights driving him back. Both fighters exhausted Robinson kept moving forward and Solomon was still banging from both sides when the final bell rang. (S)
The judges scorecards were read and the hometown crowd still had hope when judge Matt Ruggero’s scores were announced 76-76 then reality set in with judges Don Trella and Steve Epstein scoring it 79-73 Solomon. The story here was solomons lethal combination of hand and foot speed with his unorthodox style allowing him to slip shots and score from different angles.
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Shannon “The Cannon” Returns Blasting McGee Out in One!
By: Robert Carroll
Brooklyn, New York’s heavyweight Shannon “The Cannon” Briggs, 49-5-1, 43Ko’s returned to the ring winning a first round knockout of Tuscaloosa, Alabama’s 38 year old Marcus McGee, 22-18, 11Ko’s. Carrying about a fifty pound weight advantage Briggs 272¼lb walked and stalked the 223½lb McGee until finally catching him with a wide thudding heavy right to the ribs dropping McGee to his knees where he remained well after referee Wayne Kelly counted him out at 2:01 of round one. Briggs the former WBO Heavyweight Champion had been absent since losing a unanimous decision to Sultan Ibragimov in June 2007 is looking for a shot at one of the Klitschko brothers.
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Hustler Boxing Undercard Results
Reported by: Karen Miller
Youngstown, Ohio’s southpaw cruiserweight Josh Harris, 5-3-1, 4Ko’s traded with Danville, Virginia’s Jaywon Woods, 7-1-1, 5Ko’s until the fourth round when he landed with a thundering left hand followed by a barrage of shots forcing the referee to call the action at 1:17 of round four of their scheduled six rounder.
Bronx super middleweight Hajro Sujak remained undefeated at 5-0, 2Ko’s dropping and keeping Dover, New Jersey’s Todd Erickson winless at 0-2-1winning a one sided unanimous decision. The judges scores were read judge Epstein and judge Trella scoring it 40-35, while judge Rugggero had it -36 Sujak.
The Maureen Shea / Jenna Shiver WBA 'interim' title fight was cancelled when Shiver failed her pre fight medical when her MRI showed a previously undetected brain tumor.
The heavyweight Kevin Millarvie and Terrell Nelson was cancelled when Nelson failed to appear at the weigh in.
