Fantastic Fight Night at The Lagoon
Tonight PJ Augustine’s Five for Life Entertainment put on an action packed card at The Lagoon in Essington, Pennsylvania and SaddoBoxing.com was there. Headlining the bill was exciting welterweight prospect Julio Aquino along with middleweight power puncher Rasheem Brown, supported by a solid undercard.
First up was a light middleweight contest between Roberto Burgess and Rodney Green. Both fighters come out swinging and Burgess scored a quick knockout late in the first round with an overhand left. In the second, the pace died down with lots of holding and moving but no action. The third round saw Green show heart by working the body, although he took alot of counter punches and his eye begins to swell. In the fourth and final frame, Green threw haymakers to try and win the bout, but due to grossly swollen eyes he couldn’t avoid Burgess’s jab which led to the victory, a unanimous decision in favor of Burgess. This was an exciting fight and a great start to the show. Both fighters came out looking to score big but Burgess proved he was too much for Green to handle. Official scorcards 39-36, 38-37, 39-36.
Next, cruiserweights Glenn Turner vs. Ray McLamore. Not much action in the first as the fighters felt each other out. In the second the pace picked up with Turner coming in hard and scoring a knockdown with a big right hand. Turner tried to finish McLamore off in the third but to no avail. The fourth featured excellent work by both men. Turner seemed cautious at first and McLamore knew he needed a knockdown to stay in contention. Both fighters battled it out until the bell sounded. In one of the better fights of the night, McLamore was more the counter puncher but could not keep up with the speed of Turner, sporting the Philadelphia Eagles green hairdo, who effectively worked the middle of the ring and won by unanimous decision. Official scorecards 38-37, 39-36, 39-36.
The third bout of the evening featured former rising super middleweight contender Rasheem Brown vs. Anthony Greeley. Brown received a big hometown ovation as he entered the ring but the first frame was a feeling out round, with both fighters not doing much punching. In the second, Greeley came out hard trying to dictate the pace but Brown stood tall and traded with the opponent on many occasions. The third saw Greeley deciding to work the body for the whole round and was successful. It was an impressive round by Greeley. In the fourth round, Greeley tried to keep the inside pace going but obviously was starting to wear down. Brown used the jab effectively to keep his foe at bay. By the fifth, Brown stepped up and scored with a flurry of body shots by the end of the round was hitting Greeley at will. The sixth and final round featured Brown putting it all together with combos to the head and body. Greeley avoided him at the end, trying to steal a decision but was unsuccessful as Brown wins by unanimous decision. Greeley had tried to bully Brown but it didn’t work. Both fighters showed willingness to stand in there and trade punches. Toward the end Brown showed that he was clearly the better fighter throwing a series of body shots, combinations and power punches. Official scorecards 60-54, 59-55, 58-56.
Super featherweights Eric Hunter and Kentucky native Mike Salyers were next and it was the best fight of the night. Pace was fast and furious in the first with Hunter displaying extremely quickness. His speed gave him the round and warmed the crowd up. The second round featured more fast action as Salyers consistently hit Hunter with overhand rights, which would have normally given him the round but the visitor lost a point due to an elbow to the head. The advantage swungthe other way in the third, which was dominated by Hunter, who threw lightning fast three punch combos, which cut Salyers’ eye badly. The fourth was a good round with both fighters exchanging. Hunter got the best of it but Salyers showed a chin and heart. Hunter wins a unanimous decision. Both of these guys were seriously fast. Salyers had an already swollen eye even before the fight started but was impressive no the less. The crowd was buzzing about Hunter before the fight and cheering very loud during the fight. Best fight of the night. Official scorecards 40-35, 39-36, 39-36.
The main event was next, featuring welterweights Julio Aquino vs. Mikel Williams. The first round was very slow paced; a feel out round that was just slow. The second was fought at the same pace and the crowd started to sour on Aquino before he steals the round with a late flurry of body shots. The third saw more action as Williams started out strong, working the body but Aquino went to the jab and kept him at bay, followed up with a right cross that rocked Williams. The fourth starts off as another slow round before Williams steps up and hurts Aquino in the middle of the round with a right uppercut and tried his hardest but could not finish Aquino off. Williams dominated the round.
The fifth started off with Aquino seeming to avoid Williams at first but then charged inside which started a fierce toe to toe battle in the center of the ring, where Aquino made the crowd roar with three big overhand rights to Williams’ head. Williams showed a lot of heart but lost the street corner type war and the round.
The sixth sees Williams coming out the aggressor but Aquino counters early before stealing the round with a barrage of body and head shots in the last thirty seconds. Unanimous decision for Aquino but should have been much closer This match started off very slow then Aquino found an opening and went to work on both the head and the body. Williams did a great job of counter punching and connected with a few right uppercuts in key moments of the battle. Great fight, I would like to see a rematch. Official scorecards 59-55, 58-56, 59-55.
The last bout of the evening featured heavyweights Dan Mullarky vs. Larry Robertson. Mullarky came out with a full head of steam but exposed his chin which Robertson took full advantage of, scoring a knockdown with a looping left at 1:15 of the first. Robertson then hit his adversary with a big right hand, which left Mullarky dazed, causing the referee to call a halt at 1:35 of the first round.