Boxing In America: Taylor, Cintron, Grant, Martinez Victorious

ByRichard Eberline

Good weekend in the states with former middleweight world champion Jermain Taylor making a comeback from a pair of Kelly Pavlik losses to outpoint ex-IBF titlist Jeff Lacy at super middle to headline a big show last night at Vanderbilt University Memorial Gymnasium in Memphis, TN.

Taylor, 28-2-1 (17), controlled the action early but Lacy came back in the middle rounds to press his claim. Taylor found a way to regain momentum until Lacy, 24-2 (17), stepped it up late in the bout but it was too little, too late as Taylor wins a wide points decision.

Former IBF Light Welter titlist Lovemore N’dou, 46-11-1 (31), stepped up to 147 pounds to meet former IBF Welter Champ Kermit Cintron, 30-2 (27), in that organization’s title eliminator and made a good accounting of himself but didn’t have the stamina to outwork his taller, younger opponent, who won a UD on points.

Also on the card in Memphis was heavyweight Chazz Witherspoon, 24-1 (16), who stopped Adam Richards, 21-2 (14), in the eighth and final round of a classic two-way slugfest and super middle Alan Green, 27-1 (19), won against aging ex-light middle world champ Carl Daniels, 50-16-1 (32), who was retired by his corner in the seventh.

Also on Saturday, the Seneca Niagara Casino in Niagara, NY was the site of the continuing comeback of former world heavyweight title challenger Michael Grant, 45-3 (33), who won the NABA crown with a wide points decision over 41 year old Paul Marinaccio, 24-4-3 (11).

In the support bouts, former WBA Super Middleweight Champ Byron Mitchell, 26-4-1 (19), won his first fight in over six years with a first round TKO against Etienne Whitaker, 33-31-2 (21), at light heavy and ex-light middle world title challenger Ross Thompson, 27-12-2 (17), won his first contest in over five years by knocking out Cullen Rogers, 9-22-2 (5), at cruiserweight.

On Friday at the New Alhambra in Philadelphia, PA, super flyweight Raul Martinez, 24-0 (14), picked up the vacant NABF title while retaining the IBA belt by knocking out the previously undefeated Victor Proa, 26-1-2 (19).

Also in action in Philadelphia, welterweight slugger Alexis Camacho, 17-1 (16), stopped Edvan Dos Santos Barros, 9-6-1 (7), in the second, while super bantam hotshot Teon Kennedy, 11-0 (5), posted a six round points win over Felipe Almanza, 12-15-2 (6), and heavyweight Faruq Saleem, 38-0 (32), won a six rounder against Willie Perryman, 10-17 (7).