Atlantic City Fistic Explosion: Part One.
 © Curtis McCormick |
Golden Boy East’s first show ever was a smashing success as the Oscar de la Hoya – Bernard Hopkins partnership took over Atlantic City’s posh Borgata Hotel and Casino on Thursday night. HBO Latino televised the proceedings as part of their popular Spanish language “Boxeo de Oro” series and the main event |
between Demetrius Hopkins and Paul Delgado was a thrilling see-saw battle that capped the action-packed night quite nicely. The undercard bouts offered plenty of action from fighters of varying skill levels but plenty of heart.
Things started off with a light middleweight contest between Phillip McCants, 150-pounds, of Philadelphia and John Huskey, 150-pounds, who had traveled all the way from Oklahoma City. Round one began with the taller McCants keeping distance for a few seconds before launching an all out two fisted assault on the Midwesterner’s midsection. Huskey was driven back on the ropes by the ferocity and looked to be ready to take a knee when the referee stepped in and waved off the action after only twenty-four seconds of the round. As the crowd lustily booed the official’s action, Huskey looked incredulous at the referee while McCants dropped to his knees and promptly put the top of his head on the canvas, staying there a full two minutes. The Philadelphia man improves to 4-1 (3) while Huskey’s bad luck streak continues at 1-4 (1).
Phillip McCants vs. John Huskey
Click for larger image © Curtis McCormick
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Next up was a classic boxer – slugger match-up with Camden, New Jersey’s Max Alexander, 167-pounds, versus hometown Atlantic City man Alfred “AK-47” Kinsey, 170-pounds. The lanky Alexander looked a bit reluctant in the first as the stronger Kinsey looked to bore his way inside and set up shop. The Camden man’s timing appeared to be off as he failed to catch the advancing Kinsey with any jabs and luckily for Alexander, Kinsey mostly missed with anything other than body shots.
Round two saw a bit more action as the combatants engaged in a sudden furious battle on the ropes. Kinsey got some good bodywork in but was put off when he caught a big counter right from Alexander. The rest of the session was less frenetic but when “AK-47” attacked Alexander, he was beginning to find the target.
Round three saw the taller boxer repeatedly tagging Kinsey on the way in with counters and brief but sharp combinations. Alexander figured out how to take advantage of Kinsey’s lack of defense and it paid off. Switching tactics, Alexander drove a booming left hand to Kinsey’s side that caused the shorter man to pause momentarily but the advantage wasn’t pressed and the round ended.
In the fourth and final frame Alexander opened up and was much more accurate than in the previous rounds. It looked as if that body shot had taken the air out of Kinsey’s sails but the aggressive brawler found his second wind in the latter stages and got in some decent body work but it was too little, too late. The right hands that Alexander caught Kinsey with lacked power and the Atlantic City native gained confidence to be more active as the fight came to a close.
As the scores were read the judges had it a majority draw with Alexander taking one card 38-37 and the two men drawing even on the others 38-38. SaddoBoxing had Alexander winning the bout 39-37. Alexander sees his record to 3-0-1 (0) while Kinsey goes to 4-2-1 (4).
Max Alexander vs. Alfred Kinsey
Click for larger image © Curtis McCormick
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The third bout of the evening featured Irish middleweight champion Matthew Macklin, 157-pounds, against Atlanta’s Leo Laudat who tipped the scales at 155-pounds. After an entrance complete with Irish banners and bagpipes, Macklin began the first round chasing the taller Laudat around the ring. Immediately the stocky Macklin drove on his opponent, landing stiff body shots and when he got in close, the kind of textbook combinations of hooks, screw shots and uppercuts that are the hallmark of a Billy Graham trained fighter. Laudat seemed taken aback by the non stop ferocity of Macklin’s attack, which at times snapped the head of the Georgian back alarmingly, and hardly threw a punch.
The second round was more of the same with Macklin pressing with great success. Laudat still moved around the ring a lot, trying in vain to ward off the attack but by round’s end had found his jab and the man from Birmingham, England wasn’t able to come in as easily as before.
Laudat opened the third trying to make a stand and trade with his oppressor but was back on the bike after coming out on the short end of the exchanges. Macklin continued to bang shot after shot off the head and body of Laudat, only catching the occasional counter as the beleaguered Atlantan realized the man in the green shorts didn’t appear to be getting the least bit tired and that he better start punching before the fight is waved off. As Laudat again tried to open up Macklin made him pay dearly as the Irish born puncher did a good imitation of his stablemate, IBF light welterweight champion Ricky Hatton. It’s unbelievable that Laudat can stand up to the rain of punishment he was caught in as the journeyman was struck flush with a dizzying array of crosses, hooks and a sneaky leaping uppercut/hook that Graham terms a “screw shot.”
Near the end of the round the referee waved off the one-sided affair, as Laudat wasn’t punching back. An overjoyed Macklin leapt into the arms of strength coach/nutritionist Kerry Kayes while Graham and Laudat’s trainer engaged in a brief yet tense staredown across about ten feet of canvas that ended shortly with the Manchester trainer shaking the other man’s hand. Laudat and his cornermen were angry that the bout was waved off and the fighter was trying to play to the crowd but no one was buying it. Instead they cheered Macklin as he raised his hands and enjoyed the moment. When Laudat did try and punch his fellow combatant he looked far better than his mediocre record would indicate but the Atlanta man just wasn’t nearly active enough to keep the swarming Macklin off and in the end he left the official no choice but to call off the continuation of the fight.
With the stoppage, Macklin improves to 14-1 (10) while Leo Laudat falls to 7-9 (7).
Matthew Macklin vs. Leo Laudat
Click for larger image © Curtis McCormick
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Watch for part two of Atlantic City Fistic Explosion where we’ll bring round by round details and photos of Demetrius Hopkins – Paul Delgado, Larry Mosley – Alexis Division and 2004 US Olympian Rock Allen’s professional debut against Damon Antoine.
Contact Curtis McCormick at thomaspointrd@aol.com