By: Ken Hissner
Andre Kut’s KEA Boxing returned to the beautiful Birchwood Manor, in Whippany, NJ, Friday night. Kut continues to have competitive fights. This writer has never seen him have a bad show.
In the Main Event Light heavyweight Darren “Venom” Goodall, 5-0-1 (4), of New Milford, NJ, and Tahlik Taylor, 3-10-1 (1), of Freeport, NY, battled to a very exciting draw over 6 rounds of action.
In the first round Taylor rushed out driving Goodall into the ropes. Goodall slowed Taylor down with a left hook to the body. Taylor dropped Goodall with a straight right to the chin. He was up immediately before Referee Ricky Vera reached the count of 8. Goodall fought his way back until the bell in a spirited first round though suffering from a bloody nose.
In the second round Taylor seemed to out punch Goodall until the halfway point of the round when Goodall drove Taylor into the ropes with a flurry of punches. Taylor landed a hard lead right to the chin of Goodall forcing him to hold. At the bell both boxers were exchanging punches. In the third round Goodall landed a hard body shot to the mid-section of Taylor driving him back several steps. Goodall rocked Taylor with a right lead. Goodall dropped Taylor with a hard right body shot. Taylor struggled to beat the count of Referee Ricky Vera.
In the fourth round Goodall rocked Taylor with a right to the head. Taylor came back with his own right buckling the knees of Goodall in a very exciting round for the fans in attendance. In the fifth round Taylor came out landing a left hook to the chin of Goodall driving him into the ropes. Goodall drove Taylor into the ropes with a right hand. Taylor came back with a left hook rocking Goodall and knocking out his mouthpiece. Goodall drove Taylor into the ropes with a right to the chin but got countered with a Taylor left hook rocking him. Taylor ended the round with a right to the head of Goodall. The fans were standing as this was one action packed round.
In the sixth and final round Goodall landed a double left hook to the body and head of Taylor hurting him. It turned into a brawl as Goodall had Taylor trapped in the corner but Taylor would suddenly come back with a right uppercut to the chin almost dropping Goodall just when it looked like Taylor was through. Goodall backed Taylor into another corner of the ring with his fans cheering him on. This was one great bout for the fans right up to the end.
Judge Atkins 58-55 Goodall, Bennett 57-56 for Taylor and Kinney 56-56 as did this writer.
In the co-feature Welterweight Ardrick “Hit Man” Butler, 7-5 (3), of Philadelphia, PA, lost a split decision to southpaw Marcus Beckford, 5-8-3 (1), of Lafayette, LA, over 4 rounds.
In the first round Beckford landed a left to the head of Butler who counter him with a powerful right to the head hurting Beckford. Southpaw Beckford landed a lead left to the chin of Butler. Close round. In the second round Beckford landed a good left to the chin of Butler. Butler continues to come forward backing up Beckford who countered the jab of Butler. Beckford started putting his arms to his side as Butler landed a good right to the head. It was another close round.
In the third round Butler drove Beckford back with a right to the chin. A lead right from Butler to the chin caused Beckford’s gloves to touch the canvas and score as a knockdown by referee Dave Franciosi. In the fourth and final round Beckford keeps using an effective jab as Butler is looking for to land the right. A right from Butler to the chin of Beckford got his attention. Butler was returning to the ring after six years. Dave Franciosi was the referee.
Judge Jackie Atkins 38-37 for Butler, Al Bennett 38-37 for Beckford and James Kinney 38-37 for Beckford while this writer had it 38-37 Butler.
Super Bantamweight Manny “Major Pain” Folly, 11-0 (9), Philadelphia, PA, stopped Mexican Pablo Cupul, 9-25 (5), of San Diego, CA, at 1:53 of the fourth and final round.
In the first round Folly went right to the body of Cupul. Folly landed a 3-punch combination to body and head. A Folly left uppercut to the body of Cupul hurt him. Folly continued backing up Cupul with a right to the head followed by a body attack. Referee Dave Franciosi warned Cupul about coming in with his head. Cupul had Folly against the ropes at the bell as Folly was taking punches off his high held gloves for the most part.
In the second round Cupul landed a left to the body of Folly who countered with a right to the head. Folly drove Cupul back several steps into the ropes with a right to the head that could have been called a knockdown. Folly returning to the ring for close to a ring is returning to his form of the past.
In the third round Folly got hit in the back of the head and went right after Cupul driving him into the ropes with a flurry of punches. Once again Cupul landed a punch behind the head without warning from the Referee. Folly landed a lead right to the head driving Cupul into the ropes and Folly followed with a border line left hook as Cupul was holding. Cupul had Folly against the ropes as Folly was slipping most of the punches up until the bell. In the fourth and final round Cupul was warned for holding. Folly landed a wicked combination to the head dropping Cupul who struggled to get up. Referee Franciosi called a halt
Philly’s best trainer “Bozy” Ennis worked the corner of the returning Folly for the first time. Folly returned to action for the first time in close to a year and by the fourth looked like the top prospect he was a year ago. “I had a little ring rust not fighting in over a year. I have a new coach and I am looking forward to fighting after Ramadan. I’m happy with my performance and working with my new trainer,” said Folly.
Super Lightweight southpaw John “El Terrible” Bauza, 10-0 (5), of PR and N. Bergen, NJ, shut out Hugo “El aguerrido” Padilla, 5-14 (2), of Aguasalientes, MEX, over 6 rounds.
In the first round southpaw Bauza landed several right hooks to the body of Padilla. Padilla landed a lead right to the body of Bauza who came right back with a straight left to the head of Padilla. Good round for Bauza. In the second round Bauza came out on the attack with both hands blasting to the body driving Padilla against the ropes. Bauza hurt Padilla with a right hook to the head but Padilla fought right back with a wild right to the head. The taller Bauza drove Padilla back into the ropes with a combination to the head at the bell.
In the third round Bauza led with a pair of straight left hands to the head of Padilla. Bauza landed a solid left to the chin of Padilla knocking out his mouthpiece. Referee Bashir sent Bauza to a neutral corner. Bauza came right back after Padilla landing well up until the bell. In the fourth round Bauza missed with a lead left but landed a right hook to the body of Padilla. Padilla walked into a left to the head coming in low. Bauza led with a solid left to the head of Padilla who is coming forward more this round.
In the fifth round Bauza landed a straight left to the chin of Padilla driving him into a neutral corner. Padilla backed Bauza against the ropes until Bauza punched his way off the ropes. Bauza landed a solid left to the chin of Padilla knocking his mouthpiece out for a second time in the fight. Bauza landed a left uppercut to the mid-section of Padilla. Padilla was the aggressor but Bauza countered well continuing out punching Padilla. In the sixth and final round Referee Bashir warned Padilla for charging Bauza with his head down and tying him up. Padilla switches back and forth from orthodox to southpaw. There is no quit in Padilla. Padilla lands an overhand right to the head of Bauza who counters with a left of his own to the head of Padilla.
All 3 judges, Al Bennett, James Kinney and Jackie Atkins along with this writer scored it 60-54.
Super Featherweight southpaw Andrew “Sweet Pea” Bentley, 4-3 (1), of Jersey City, NJ, stopped Arrel “Crunch Time” Love, 1-1 (1), of Cleveland, OH, at 2:42 of the second round, of a scheduled 4.
In the first round southpaw Bentley using an effective jab for the first half minute. Love had Bentley against the ropes until Bentley fought his way out of it. Mid-way through the round both started exchanging punches in the middle of the ring. Last minute Bentley had Love against the ropes with a flurry of punches. In the second round Bentley landed a pair of right uppercuts to the chin of Love backing him up several steps. Bentley went right after Love dropping him with a right uppercut on the chin. Love got up at referee Ricky Vera’s count of 8. He was hurt and immediately Bentley was all over Love having him defenseless against the ropes when Referee Vera wisely called a halt.
In Bentley’s corner was former boxer Bobby Rooney.
Middleweight Robert “Tiger” Terry, 2-0 (0), of Jersey City, NJ, easily defeated James “Thunder” Robinson, 5-10-4 (1), of York, PA, over 4 rounds.
In the first round Terry came out throwing bombs as the more experienced Robinson used his jab to counter the rushes of Terry. Robinson landed a lead right to the head of Terry who came back with a flurry of punches driving Robinson into the ropes. Terry drove Robinson into the ropes but Robinson fought his was out of it. Both boxers landed left hooks to the head at the bell.
In the second round Terry kept coming forward with body work as Robinson used his jab and an occasional right to fend him off. Terry started dropping his hands to the side stalking Robinson landing vicious body shots as Robinson fought back best he could up until the bell. In the third round Terry drove Robinson into the ropes with good body work. Robinson kept boxing Terry trying to stop his attack but didn’t have the fire power to keep him off of him. Referee Ron Bashir took away a point from Robinson for holding.
In the fourth and final round Terry was going for the knockout with vicious body shots having Robinson against the ropes. Robinson landed a lead right to the head of Terry. Both boxers landed left hooks to the head. Terry drove Robinson into the corner with body punches. Once Again Referee Bashir took away a point from Robinson for holding as he was looking to survive the fight at this point and he did.
Judge Bennett 39-35, Kinney and Atkins 40-34 as did this writer.
Former boxer Bobby Rooney worked the corner of Terry who was a runner-up in the recent Golden Gloves.
In the show opener Welterweight Steve Moore, 1-3 (0), of Orange, NJ, notched his first win stopping Laquan Lewis, 2-10 (2), of Wyandanch, NY, at 2:41 of the third round in a scheduled 4.
In the first round Moore was the aggressor head hunting throwing rights while Lewis counters with left uppercuts and left hooks to the body. Lewis landed a good right to the head of Moore halfway through the round. Moore pinned Lewis to the ropes landing a flurry of punches. Just prior to the bell Moore landed a vicious right to the head of Lewis driving him back a step or two. In the second round Moore pinned Lewis against the ropes landing four punches until he was caught with a Lewis left hook to the head. Lewis landed four punches to the head and body of Moore. Moore came back with a 3-punch combination of his own. Lewis landed a solid left hook to the chin of Moore causing him to hold. Both were exchanging punches at the bell. Lewis lost his mouth piece twice in the round and was warned by referee Ron Bashir. First two rounds were all action.
In the third round Moore gave Lewis a body beating. Moore had Lewis hurt with a flurry of punches against the ropes. Moore landed a right and left to the head dropping Lewis. Referee Bashir wisely immediately waved it off. The ring physician was immediately in the ring. It took several minutes when Lewis was up and then on the stool.
Matchmaker Chris Middendorf put together a great match-up of fights. Ring Annoucer is NJB HOF President Henry Hascup. In attendance was former two division world champion Bobby “Chappy” Czyz.