Ringside Boxing Report: The Blue Horizon in Philadelphia
 © Peter Terry |
The Blue Horizon is billed as the number 1 boxing venue in the world and tonight’s action went some way to validating that statement. Promoter Vernoca L. Michael put on a show of blood, sweat and tears at the historical Blue Horizon in Philadelphia, PA. The action was steady throughout the night and the Philadelphia crowd kept the arena rocking as per usual. |
The card featured Ecuadorian Middleweight Luis Hernandez, who stole the show by knocking out Joshua Onyango. Also putting on memorable displays were Berry Butler, up and comer Gee Cullmer and New York southpaw Jill Emery.
The night kicked off with a four round heavyweight match up featuring Brooklyn, New York native Newton Kidd lacing them up against newcomer Kevin Hood of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Hood steps into the ring with an obvious weight disadvantage, which ultimately led to his demise.
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Heavyweight
Newton Kidd (5-4-1 4 KOs) vs. Kevin Hood (1-1)
Brooklyn, NY Lancaster, PA
Round one – Kidd shows he is the more polished of the two fighters, staying active with a left to the body. Hood persistently tries to tie up Kidd and then receives an accidental head butt, causing a cut above the left eye. The action resumes and Kidd uses his quickness to elude Hood.
10-9 Kidd
Round two – Hood comes out pressing the action trying to score with heavy blows. He lands a few but none flush, Kidd stands his ground, demonstrating that he is not afraid to trade with his larger opponent. After an action filled first minute, the fight slows down almost to a screeching halt, as Hood once again clinches his opponent at the first sign of trouble. Kidd is able to muscle away, using the hit and run technique
until the round ends.
10- 9 Kidd
Round three – Kidd starts the round off by displaying his effective jab, usually followed by a right hook. Hood gets an energy boost and goes on the attack, which sparks a nice back and forth exchange in the centre of the ring. After going on the offensive, Hood is gassed out and looks on verge of collapse. He miraculously survives another late round charge by Kidd, who had him pinned in the corner and unloaded his entire arsenal to Hoods body and head.
The ringside doctor, who was seated to my immediate right, stopped the fight after the third round due to “extreme fatigueâ€on the part of Hood. With the win Newton Kidd improves to 6-4-1 (4), while Kevin Hood falls to 1-2 (0).
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Super Middleweight
Gee Cullmer (6-1-1) vs. Anthony Greeley (7-20-2 1KO)
Camden, NJ Philadelphia, PA
Fight 2 showcased 8 fight novice Gee Cullmer, as he took on
Philadelphia journeyman Anthony Greeley in a 6 round super middleweight bout.
Round 1 – The fight starts with both fighters wasting no time getting into in getting down to business, with a fierce exchange in the middle of the ring. Action slows down and Greeley is working the jab to good effect. Greeley goes to the well one too many times as Cullmer dodges the jab and lands a clean right to the head. He
follows up by working the body and then starts to land overhand rights to the head. Cullmer dominated the round and set the tone for the rest of the fight.
10 – 9 Cullmer
Round 2 – Cullmer starts off with stiff left jabs. Greelye is tying up, but Cullmer continues to land the 1-2 combo to the head. Cullmer lands a hard right to Greeley’s chin, but the Philadelphia man connects with a big right of his own. Cullmer initiates more action but Greeley deters him with the jab. Cullmer slips the jab again and begins to pepper his foe with rights and lefts to the head and body. Greeley occasionally slips in a good shot but it is clear Cullmer is getting the better of the exchange.
10 -9 Cullmer
Round 3 – Cullmer comes out fast, working the body, which leads to a nice exchange on the ropes. Cullmer lands a solid right to the head. Greeley plays possum, baiting Cullmer in, then unloading hard rights and lefts, which find the mark. Cullmer regroups and lands clean rights and lefts of his own to the head of Greeley. Cullmer really starts to turn it up, getting in close and firing off 3 punch combos.
10-9 Cullmer
Round 4 – Cullmer takes on a new approach as he throws a few tapping shots
then backs away. This goes on for the first minute. Greeley is throwing hard
rights that miss. Cullmer lands a solid right then goes back to tapping, this time with the left. He follows the tapping left with long looping rights. Cullmer takes his offence downstairs, beating on his opponent ribs and then lands a big right which rips open the lip of Greely.
10-9 Cullmer
Round 5 – Greenly is busted open but he shows the heart of a warrior, going
back to the middle and exchanging with Cullmer. Greely lands a running three punch
combo, which get the attention of Cullmer. Once again the New jersey fighter steps it up and begins landing hard rights, which send Greelye to the ropes where he receives more of a beating. Greeley is starting to look tired but gets the best of a late round
exchange in the corner.
it 10-9 Cullmer
Round 6 – Cullmer starts off by chasing Greelye around the ring, finally
catching him with a hard overhand right, which busts Greeley’s lip open again and
soaks a ringside reporter with blood. The crowd goes wild. Cullmer stays on
the attack and hits with uppercuts and straight rights. Greeley takes a
lickin’ but keeps on tickin’, as he hangs in there for a good exchange. The action slows yet again and the round closes with Cullmer connecting with 2 lefts and a right.
10-9 Cullmer
Gee Cullmer wins by unanimous decision
Judge: Robert Grasso 60-54 | Judge: Richard Hopkins 60-54 | Judge: Ali Khan
60-54
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Light Heavyweight
Berry Butler (17-15 15ko’s) vs Eric Graham (10-2-2 3ko’s)
Greenville, SC Newark, NJ
Round 1 – Action starts off slow as both fighters feel each other out,
throwing single shots and then backing away. The pace picks up when Graham works
the body. Butler backs Graham off, connecting upstairs and then displays a stiff
jab. Graham attacks like a bull and throws hard, ripping punches to the body.
Butler is throwing back but it is Graham who finishes the round with a big left.
10 – 9 Graham
Round 2 – Graham wastes no time going on the attack, which takes the action
to the ropes where an all out brawl breaks out. It is Butler who comes out of
it big, as he lands a hard right followed by 2 dead on the chin upper cuts, which leaves Graham noticeably distressed. Butler stays on the attack and is throwing punches with every bit of his 175 lbs packed behind it. Butler administers another beating on the ropes but Graham fires back, landing 3 nice lefts of his own. Graham goes for broke but misses leaving himself wide open for 2 thunderous left uppercuts, followed by a booming right, flooring Graham and leaving referee Gary Rosato no choice but to stop the fight.
Berry Butler improves to 18-12 16ko’s
Eric Graham falls to 10 -3-2 2ko’s
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Welterweight
Jill Emery (3-0) vs. Maria Nava (1-3)
New York, NY Little Rock, Arkansas
Round 1 – Nava is active early, charging her opponent and trying to work the head of Emery. Emery picks up the pace and begins to throw a flashy left, which would dominate the rest of her offence for the duration of the fight. Nava tries to charge but is kept at bay by the left of Emery.
10 -9 Emery
Round 2 – The first of three rounds thoroughly dominated by Jill Emery. Jill
throws and lands the left at will and there seems to be nothing Nava can do about it. Emery is landing the left to the head, body and back to the head a few more times before she lands a crisp left square on Nava’s chin, sending Nava sprawling to the canvas with a few seconds left in the round. Nava beats the count and the bell sounds.
10 -9 Emery
Round 3 – The overhand left of Emery is giving Nava no end of problems. Emery is dominant from start to finish, landing to the head and body at will, while
avoiding almost any offense Nava tries to put together.
Round 4 – see round 3
Saddoboxing scores it 10 -9 Emery
Round 5 – see round 3 & 4 Nava is proving to have a cast iron chin,
absorbing lots of punishment but not going down again.
Round 6 – Nava goes for broke and tries to attack Emery but still can’t avoid the left. Emery, who was throwing mostly head shots in the first 5 rounds, now starts to place the left to the body, which is hurting Nava. Nava shows she is a scrapper with a big heart but was no match for the New York native Jill Emery.
Saddoboxing scores it 10 -9 Emery
Jill Emery wins by unanimous decision
Judge: Robert Grasso 60-52 | Judge: Richard Hopkins 60-53 | Judge: Ali Khan
60-53 ~
Jill Emery improves to 4-0 1ko
Maria Nava fallsto 1 -4
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Main Event
Middleweight
Luis Hernandez (13-2 6ko’s) vs Joshua Onyango (12-11 11ko’s)
Ecuador Kenya
Round 1 – The main event starts off fast, as Onyango sets a fast pace, getting right in the face of his opponent and throwing caution to the wind. Onyango is a touch wild, which gives Hernandez the opportunity to land solid body shots. Onyango lands a few soft shots then turns up the heat, connecting with a few more to the head. Hernandez is showing a solid chin as these punches seem to have little effect. Hernandez ends the round with a stiff flurry which leaves Onyango wobbly as the bell sounds.
10 -9 Hernandez
Round 2 – Onyango starts off strong again and lands solid overhand rights. Hernandez counters with a powerful right that hurts Onyango. Onyango has bad balance for the remainder of the round but hangs tough and keeps the action at a steady pace as both fighters battle it out all over the ring.
10 -10
Round 3 – Both fighters come out of the corner strong, throwing haymakers, which land at an exciting rate. The fight hits fever pitch as these warriors continue to battle it out and absorb severe punishment in the process. Both fighters throw with blazing speed and seem willing to fight to the death. The back and forth action is even until Hernandez applies more pressure at the end of the round, connecting with big shots to the head. When the round ends the Philly crowd is on their feet applauding the effort put forth by both fighters
10 -10
Round 4 – More fast paced action as both fighters come out blazing with a plethora of rights and lefts. In the midst of an all out bang along the ropes which almost saw both fighters crash through the ropes onto the press tables, Hernandez connects with a devastating overhand right which put Onyango on his back, where he spent the 10 count pondering a new career as a safari tour guide.
Luis Hernandez improves to 14 – 2 7ko’s
Joshua Onyango falls to 12 -12 11 ko’s