Tevin “American Idol” Farmer Retains NABF Title in Philly Friday.
By: Ken Hissner
At the 2300 Arena in South Philadelphia Friday night Promoters Peltz Boxing, Bam Boxing Promotions, DiBella Entertainment and Joe Hand Promotions put on an 8 bout show. This show was highlighted by a great undercard.
In the main event the NABF super featherweight champion Tevin “The American Idol” Farmer, 24-4-1 (5), of North Philly, defeated game opponent from Kosovo Dardan Zenunaj, 12-3 (9), out of L.A., over ten rounds.
In the opening round it was all Zenuanaj surprisingly reaching the usually hard to hit Farmer. In the second round Farmer came storming out landing at will. It was all Farmer landing combinations and a hard left to the chin of Zenunaj at the end of a five punch combination. In the third round Farmer continued to rock Zenuanaj with combinations while slipping punches in return. Though Zenuanaj landed half a dozen punches Farmer was able to block most. Farmer finished the round well.
In the fourth round Zenuanaj never stops coming forward while Farmer is doing as much slipping punches as landing them.
Farmer finished strong with a flurry in a close round that could have made the difference. In the fifth round Zenunaj continues stalking and driving Farmer to a corner. Farmer shows his skills but looks a bit tired. In the sixth round Farmer went from doing little but slipping and covering up to landing a four punch combination. Once again Zenuanaj had Farmer in a corner. It was Farmer’s round but is only fighting in spurts. In the seventh round Zenuanaj puts his hips and challenges Farmer to open up. Farmer obliged and it was a good round for both fighters.
In round eighth round both fighters were slugging it out unlike the first seven rounds. In the ninth round Farmer flurries in spurts but still out punches Zenuanaj who looks to be tiring. In the tenth and final round a straight left to the chin of Zenuanaj knocked his head back but he came right back. It was a close round that could decide this one. Referee Shawn Clark had little to do in this one.
Chino Rivas and his assistant Rashiem Jefferson were in the Farmer corner.
Afterwards the promoter of Farmer DiBella was in the ring while WBA champion Jason “El Canito” Sosa was standing in Farmer’s corner. It was the seventeenth straight win for Farmer.
Dewey LaRosa had it 98-92 while Julie Lederman and Dave Braslow had it 99-91. This writer had it 96-94.
In the co-feature Philly cruiserweight Garrett “Ultimate Warrior” Wilson, 17-11-1 (9), won a majority decision in a boring fight over Lamont “Too Smooth” Capers, 7-9-2 (0), of Hawley, PA, in 6.
In the first round the much taller Capers used his long reach and kept it in the face of Wilson annoying him more than anything else. In the second round it was more of the same with Wilson missing more than landing. In the third round Capers continued to use his jab. In the third round Wilson finally got inside of the jab and drove Capers into the ropes having him hurt but Capers managed to hold on.
In the fourth round it was more of the same like the first two rounds with Capers beginning to tire. Close round but Wilson may have pulled it out. In the fifth round Capers countered with a right to the chin of Wilson. Shortly afterwards it was Wilson driving Capers into a corner before getting tied up. Wilson has chased Capers the entire fight. In the sixth and final round it was more of Capers running and Wilson chasing and missing more than he landed. It was a terrible fight due to Capers. Veteran trainer “Cornbread” Ramsey was in the Wilson corner.
Both Dewey LaRosa and Adam Friscia had it 58-56 while Dave Braslow and this writer had it 57-57.
Super welterweight Isaiah Wise, 3-1 (2), of Philly, was in a war and lost a majority decision to Panama’s Roque Zapata, 2-1-3 (0), out of Culpeper, VA, over 4 rounds. This could have been the main event that’s how good it was. This was by far the fight of the night!
The opening round was a war. Wise tried boxing but Zapata would come in low and continue throwing punches. Zapata had rocked Wise several times and had his face reddened. In the second round it was just as brutal as the first. Zapata was getting hit low without warning because it was the only way Wise could keep him from throwing bombs.
In the third round Wise continued to stand in front of Zapata. Wise rarely used his jab as if he was a former MMA fighter. The war continued with Wise going to the body with border line punches while Zapata never stopped throwing and landing. In the fourth and final round they went all out for the fourth round. Wise’s face was showing the wear from the punches to the head while Zapata rarely went to the body. Both fighters took punches well and never stopped landing. Wise continued to the body while Zapata rarely did.
Judges Lederman had it 38-38 while LaRosa had it 40-36 and Braswell 39-37 as did this writer.
In the opening bout southpaw super bantamweight Jose “Chocolatito” Gonzalez, 6-0-1 (2), out of New York City, won a decision over Tim Ibarra, 4-4 (1), out of Denver, CO, over 4 rounds.
In the first two rounds Ibarra took the first but the second was a toss up.
Ibarra doesn’t seem to be bothered by Gonzalez being southpaw. Gonzalez is moving to his right in line for Ibarra to score. In the third round Ibarra was landing lead rights one after another to the chin of Gonzalez. In the fourth and final round Ibarra continues in this round to counter well. He even turned southpaw several times. Gonzalez finished strong landing straight lefts to the chin of Ibarra. Up until the last round referee McCall hardly had to break the boxers.
Judges Lederman and Frisca had it 40-36 while Braswell scored it 39-37 all for Rodriguez. This writer had it 38-38.
Heavyweight from the Ukraine Iegor Plevako, 2-0 (1), out of Brooklyn, NY, stopped Montrell Castro, 0-1 (0), out of Philly, at 0:31 of the first.
In the first round Castro was bullying his way backing up Plevako. All of a sudden Castro started tiring and Plevako rocked him and had him out on his feet and trying to cover up to no avail. For some reason referee Clark instead of stopping the fight gave Castro an 8 count. Castro didn’t look good coming out for the second round when Plevako rocked him again. Castro tried tackling Plevako and fell to the canvas causing referee Clark to finally wave the fight off.
“I thought the referee should have stopped the fight instead of giving him a count.” said Plevako. He is one of many of Dave McWaters boxers.
Lightweight Victor Padilla of PR now out of Berlin, NJ, knocked out Kimmy St. Pierre, 1-3 (0), of Quebec CAN, at 0:59 of the second round.
In the first round Padilla the southpaw started out like it was going to end it early. Then halfway through the round Padilla started picking his punches rocking Pierre with a combination.
Padilla was warned twice for low blows by referee Benjy Esteves, Jr. In the second round a low blow by Padilla gave Pierre several minutes to re-coup by referee Esteves. Padilla came in to end it and he did with a flurry of punches dropping St. Pierre who took the count without trying to get up. Padilla looks like the real deal as his trainer Chino Rivas advised this writer prior to the fight.
Padilla won the FL GG last week and just turned 18. “I was nervous in the first round landing low blows trying to get to the mid-section. I really felt good in this fight and am ready to go again next week,” said Padilla.
Junior lightweight Joseph “Fast Hands” Adorno, 1-0 (1), of Allentown, PA, stopped Guy Newman, 0-1 (0), of Lynchburg, VA, at 1:47 of the first round.
In the first round after a pair of knockdowns referee Clark wisely stopped it. Adorno went to both body and head with vicious punches. He is certainly a good prospect and had many fans come down from Allentown. This kid not only has fast hands but he throws with “bad intensions!” He said “I didn’t look for the knockout but when it came it came.”
Super welterweight Marcel Rivers, 1-0 (1), of North Philly, stormed out of the corner and never gave Tony Kim, 0-1 (0), of Fresh Meadows, NY, a chance stopping him at 0:41 of the first round. Rivers kept beating him until scoring a knockdown. Upon rising Kim again was taking hard punches to the head when referee McCall wisely stopped it. Veteran trainer Fred Jenkins, Sr. was in the corner of Rivers.