Nolan
Returns with Win at DeCarlo's After an absence of over a year and a half Detroit heavyweight Leo Nolan returned to ring action in the familiar confines of DeCarlo's Convention Center in Warren. As a former member of promoter John Carlisle's Team Cannon, Nolan had boxed here often in 2002-05. In this one, opponent Mike Jones of Port Huron had a big weight advantage over Nolan but when the first bell rang it looked like things would be over in a hurry. The big guys got right to it and before the round was barely half over Jones had been knocked to the canvas twice. Jones managed to weather the rest of the round and get himself back into the fight. By the third round Jones also had a bloody nose but hung in the rest of the way to make it interesting. Nolan was awarded the 8 round unanimous decision to improve to 27-1 while Jones suffered his 5th loss in a row in declining to 4-15.
Kronk's Domonique Dolton went the distance for the first time in his young pro career scoring a shutout (40-36 on all cards) 4 round decision victory over Willie Deboe Thomas who was making his pro debut. Thomas came to fight and there were good spirited exchanges throughout this welterweight contest. Dolton now 3-0. Fans of Luigi Gjokaj were disappointed when his last minute replacement opponent Damon Antoine of Akron, Ohio arrived just in time to weigh in well over the limit causing the bout to be scratched. Disappointment for the local fans continued in the next bout as favorite Tommy Simaan suffered a bad cut during an exchange of punches and lost by second round TKO. Ringside physician Dr. Samet described the injury as an unusual vertical cut (most eye cuts are horizontal) right thorough the eye lid. As the blood flowed heavily into Tommy's eye there was no choice but to award Joshua Rodriguez the victory in his pro debut. Simman is know 3-2. Welterweights. In what was really no fight, Detroit cruiserweight Isiah Thomas blasted out a hapless Shawn Dean in only 36 seconds of the first round. Dean has now lost 3 in a row by first round KO and based on this performance should probably look at pursuing a different activity. Thomas improves to 2-0 in scoring his second straight first round KO. James Lester, Jr decided to get the crowd ready for Halloween early by donning a mask for his ring entrance. "Just trying to create some extra excitement, you know a little gimmick", Lester stated. Once the mask came off and Lester went to work it was no "treat" for foe Courtney Patterson. Patterson received a standing 8 count at the end of the first round. In the second round Patterson was knocked down and beat the count but referee Ansel Stewart did not like the way he responded and stopped the contest. A big overhand right turned the "trick" for Lester who moves up to 6-2. Patterson is 1-2. Lightweights. Heavyweight Matthew Eckerle stormed out and launched a furious barrage of punches against Larry Carter. For a moment it looked like Eckerle's assault might overwhelm Carter early. After about a minute however, Carter steadied himself and started to work Matt over. Carter scored a knockdown just as the bell rang ending the first round and Eckerle took the 8 count before rising. Carter was in control in the second round and landed a vicious body shot to drop Matt to the canvas where referee Ron Cunningham counted him out. In the opening contest of the night, Purnell Gates scored a unanimous 4 round decision over Guy Packer in a middleweight match up. The bout got ugly at times and Packer received a point deduction for his tactics in the third round. All three judges scored the bout for Gates at 40-35 as Purnell improves to 15-1. Packer is now 2-20 in losing his eighth straight. DeCarlo's
is a great place for boxing, it evokes an old-time club atmosphere.
Promoter John Carlisle/Four Corner Productions had to be happy with
the turnout as the place was packed. According to Carlisle this
was not a one time return but the start of more presentations in
the future.
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