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Congressman Michael Grimm not only represents the 13th District of Brooklyn and Staten Island in Washington, D.C. Congressman Grimm but is also a big fight fan. His presence electrified a capacity crowd at Aviator Sports Arena at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn on Saturday night, June 3, 2012, as the congressman took the microphone to greet his constituency, and show support for former U.S. Olympian Sadam Ali’s first ever World Kid Promotions.
In the main event, Sadam Ali, both promoter and unbeaten welterweight prospect, won the vacant WBU Americas Welterweight title, stopping veteran Franklin Gonzalez at 2:22 of the eighth round of a schedule eight. Sadam took his time with Gonzalez, moving forward with left and right jabs, content to win rounds on points while patiently narrowing the gap between him and Gonzalez. To his credit, Gonzalez looked to be in top condition, and came to win, but because Ali remained out of his punching range, most of Gonzalez’ punches missed. Gonzalez slipped punches well, and his legs were good as he was moving left to right on his bicycle.
By the end of the fifth round, the left eye of Gonzalez was puffy and swollen, though his vision was not affected. Gonzalez was getting hit by Ali’s jabs often. Gonzalez stayed competitive by landing occasional counter body shots on Ali. The major problem Gonzalez had was all of his punches were beginning to miss badly and awkwardly. As Gonzalez swung wildly and missed, he staggered around the ring. By the sixth round, Ali had begun to cut of the ring and apply pressure, leaving Gonzalez in trouble. As the crowd chanted “Ali! Ali! Ali!” it was apparent Gonzalez had no chants-and no chance-at all. Some of Ali’s jab flurries sent Gonzalez bouncing off the ring ropes off-balance, and Gonzalez had trouble regaining his equilibrium while on the move.
Gonzalez slipped to the canvas in the seventh and the eighth, and was knocked down in the seventh and the eighth rounds. World champion Paulie ‘Magic Man’ Malignaggi, shouting advice to Sadam Ali at ringside, described Gonzalez as a clever experienced veteran well-schooled in the art of survival. Though, as Malignaggi also noted, Gonzalez did not do as well against Luis Collazo.
Malignaggi predicted Gonzalez would reach the final bell, but Gonzalez did not. Swinging wildly, desperately, and staggering around the ring off-balance on queer street in the final round, Gonzalez was put down a second time by Ali for good, forcing an end to the abrupt end to the contest at 2:22 of the eighth and final round.
Gonzalez, whose previous outings include an eight round decision loss to Dmitry Salita, and knockout losses to King David Estrada and Luis Collazo, took a brutal beating from Ali in the last two rounds of the contest. Gonzalez falls to 15-10 (10). Gonazlez came into this bout after winning an upset decision win over 16-1 Eddie Hyland at Resorts Casino.
Sadam Ali is now 15-0, (8), and worthy of a step up fight against better opposition in the future, based on his impressive performance at Aviator. His first pro fight promotion was tricky, though.
Besides Malignaggi, boxers in attendance included Boyd Melson, former world champion Joey Gamache (whose son Steven won on the undercard), Thomas LaManna, Santander Silgado, Gabriel Tito Bracero, Gary Stark Jr., and amateur champion Marcus Brown. Tee-shirts were sold to held finance Brown’s bid as a member of the upcoming U.S. Olympic Boxing team.
On the undercard, rising Bosnian cruiserweight prospect Arman Mrkanovic of Brooklyn scored a fourth round bloody nose stoppage to ruin the debut of game Daniel Petch of Columbus, Ohio. The stoppage appeared a bit premature, but the outcome was never in doubt.
Female super bantamweight Jennifer Santiago of Brooklyn won her pro debut by winning a toe-to-toe thriller decision over winless but competitive Mikhayla Nebel of Columbus, Ohio.
Light middleweight Steven Gamache, son of Joey Gamache, won a four round slugout by decision over journeyman Willie Bryant.
Aril Frederick-Auguste stopped Jamil Gadsden in the second round of a battle between local debuting middleweights. Gadsden was down.
World Kid Promotions Aviator Arena Undercard
Arman Mrkanovic TKO 4 Daniel Petch (debut), Cruiserweights
Jennifer Santiago (debut) Win 4 Mikhayla Nebel, Super Bantamweights
Aril Frederick-Auguste (debut) TKO 2 Jamil Gadsden (debut), Middleweights
Steven Gamache (son of Joey Gamache) Win 4 Willie Bryant, Light Middleweights
