Virgil Hill Captures Fifth World Boxing Title

“Quicksilver” struck again as 42 year old Virgil Hill managed to turn back the clock against Russian tourist Valery Brudov Friday night at the Tropicana Casino in Atlantic City to take a well deserved unanimous decision and the vacant WBA Cruiserweight title. On a shared Silverhawk/Guilty/Star Boxing Promotion, Hill started off keeping his distance behind the jab but by the fourth was trading with the younger Russian. During the mid-fight slugfest Hill’s sturdy chin remained true but suffered a sizable laceration above his left eye. The North Dakota man managed to regain control by the seventh and cruised into the final frame behind a firm points lead. After rounds of following Hill around the ring Brudov finally struck paydirt with just a few seconds remaining in the bout. A full blooded right hand shook Hill to his boots but the final bell sounded before Brudov, could finish the job. By virtue of his higher workrate Hill sees the half century mark in victories, improving to 50-5 (23) and winning a world title for the fifth time in two weight classes. Brudov suffers his first loss and now stands at 30-1 (23). There was other great action on the card as well.

In a battle of southpaws, former WBC Lightweight Champion Stevie Johnston made a strong argument that he still has “it” by posting a strong performance against Steve Quinonez to win the vacant IBO Light Welter title as well as the NABC belt. The diminutive Denver based boxer by and large proved too difficult to hit and made the Californian Quinonez pay time and again with sharp counters. Quinonez had to get off of the canvas in the first and shake off the effects of a cut late in the bout but wasn’t able to put much together during the contest, succeeding only in sporadic moments and losing by unanimous decision. Johnston goes to 38-3-1 (17) while Quinonez falls to 31-10-1 (10).

Also, Camden, NJ light heavy Prince Badi Ajamu dropped Galen Brown to the canvas several times early but had to hold on as the southpaw from St. Joseph, MO came back with a strong argument in the middle rounds. Ajamu’s quality shone through however as he canvassed Brown twice in round ten with spearing body shots, the second of which prompted a stoppage of the action. Ajamu retains his WBC Continental American crown.

Another New Jersey based hopeful, this time fast-handed local light welter Mike Arnaoutis, crushed previously undefeated Marc Thompson in a single round with bracing southpaw straight left hands to retain his NABO title. Other names in the win column on the card were former world title challenger Nate Campbell along with Kevin Johnson and Chuck Mussachio.