After taking almost the entire month of August off, the sport of boxing got back into full swing this weekend and there some decent shows to report upon.
Former WBO Heavyweight Champion Lamon Brewster returned to the ring for the first time in more than a year as the 35 year old slugger knocked out New York based veteran Danny Batchedler in the fifth round at The Gardens in Cincinnati, OH last night to take the NABA title.
Brewster, 34-4 (30), proved just too big and quick for Batchelder and wins for the first time in three years after dropping consecutive losses to Serguei Lyakhovich and Wladimir Klitschko in world title bouts.
31 year old Batchelder, who has come up in weight during his career from super middle, drops to 25-6-1 (12), losing his third bout in a row.
Also on Saturday, middleweight Anthony Greenidge, 12-1-1 (5), won a hard fought eight rounder over Louis Turner by majority decision at the Holiday Inn Select in Atlanta, GA.
Lightweight Tyrese Hendrix, 14-0-1 (6), posted a six round unanimous decision over veteran Luis Bolano, 41-11 (31), on the undercard.
There was action on Friday as well, with former welterweight contender Antonio Diaz, 44-5-1 (29), continuing his comeback with an eighth round points win against Juan Pablo Montes de Oca, 9-15-2, at Omega Products International in Corona, CA.
On the bill as well was welterweight Pavel Miranda, 16-2 (8), who banged out a split decision over Alex Viramontes, 9-6 (3), after eight rounds.
At the Center Stage in Atlanta, British heavyweight Roman Greenberg, 27-1 (18), stepped up to a higher level of competition was stopped in the second round by 39 year old puncher Cedric Boswell, 28-1 (22).
The Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT saw NABF Cruiserweight Champ Matt Godfrey, 17-1 (10), retained his title by stopping Emmanuel Nwodo, 22-5 (18), in the fourth round.
Featherweight prospect Matt Remillard, 15-0 (8), won the vacant WBC USNBC crown with a fourth round finishing of Adauto Gonzalez, 9-5 (3), and heavyweight Jason Estrada, 14-1 (3), posted an eight round decision over Domonic Jenkins, 13-9-1 (6).
At the New Alhambra in Philadelphia, welterweight Mike Jones, 15-0 (13), stayed perfect with a six round stoppage of Juliano Ramos, 15-2 (12), for the vacant NABA title.
Light middle Rudy Cisneros, 12-2 (10), also saw action on the bill, outboxing Latif Mundy, 8-1 (3), after eight rounds.