Former
Pontchartrain is Site of Club Show A ballroom inside the former Hotel Pontchartrain in downtown Detroit was the site for one of two club shows held in the city over the weekend. The Downtown Boxing Club hosted the Saturday show at the Riverside Hotel, formerly the Pontchartrain, located across the street from Cobo Hall. Thirteen clubs participated in Khali Muhammad’s first club show, held the same night as a show across the river in Windsor and a night after fights at the nearby Detroit Yacht Club. The small venue was filled to near-capacity for a night of exciting bouts, two of which ended by RSC and one with a hurt fighter. Sully’s Gym in Canada’s Terry Trafford was knocked unconscious momentarily by a hard left hook from Kronk’s Brandon Love in the second of two bouts at 147-lbs There were concerns when the Toronto fighter reportedly could not feel his legs but feeling came back and he was able to leave the ring under his own power after several minutes. The injury caused a hastily called intermission to complete required paperwork before the action resumed. Monroe’s Allah Wright dropped two in a row losing a decision to Kronk’s Bruce Martin at 125-lbs after another points loss at the Yacht Club the night before. The two losses come after five straight wins, often against more experienced boxers. Detroit Jungle’s Sajjad Al-Mayaii improved his record with a win over Azteca’s Sergio Morales at 135-lbs. A 112-lb battle between Joe’s Austin Watkins and Alberto Saenz of Casa De Boxeo was cut short by the referee upon advice of the ring doctor after a nose bleed for Saenz that started midway through the first round continued unabated well in to the second. Downtown Boxing’s sole entrant of the evening was 80-pounder Cortez Todd who improved his record with a decision over debuting Hamdi Dari, whose two brothers are also boxers and were in attendance. Kronk’s Ronnie Austion won the judge’s nod over Flint’s Darrion Lawson at 125-lbs in an unusual matchup that saw both fighters receive warnings from the referee and saw Lawson pushed backward nearly out through the ropes. In all, thirteen bouts were fought – three more than trainer Muhammad had intended, or had championship belts for – but he told Sportssummary that he would provide belts to the remaining three winners, as well. Pro boxer Rich Power, who was a co-sponsor of the night, was in attendance as was Alexis Hloros. Other results: Daz
Watkins/Azteca dec. Leon Lawson III/Berston. 75-lbs. |