Hanks Victorious On Bronx Knock Out Cancer Boxing Card
Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing promoted its first annual Knock Out Cancer outdoor boxing card for the American Cancer Society at Hunter’s Point Produce Market in the Bronx, all proceeds going to charity.
Four professional bouts, including two title bouts, took place in 100 degree plus heat. A New York State Junior Welterweight title bout between Issouf Kinda and Bayan Jargal did not take place. Jargal was replaced by Bryan Abraham. The pro debut of 3 time Bronx Golden Gloves champion Livingston Joseph was postponed.
In the main event, unbeaten heavyweight Joe ‘The Future’ Hanks, now 17-0 (11), Newark, New Jersey, won a sound ten round decision over Alfredo ‘Salsero’ Escalera Jr., now 18-4-1 (12), San Juan Puerto Rico.
Cruiserweight Escalera seems to have trouble in “big fightsâ€, and worse, he cannot fight at heavyweight. Against Hanks, Escalera was fighting in the wrong division.
Escalera, stopped in the eighth round of a vacant WBO NABO cruiserweight title bout with Latif Kayode in August 2010, was not going to win the International Boxing Association heavyweight title in his very next bout.
Hanks had height and reach advantage against the smaller Escalera. Hanks used his left jab and hard jab combinations to win every round. Escalera took Hanks best shots and landed some counters at times.
Hanks fought smartly, staying on the outside to score a points victory. By the ninth round, Hanks was giving Escalera a bad beating. Escalera survived and tried to slug it out toe-to-toe in the tenth and final round, to no avail.
Results: Joe Hanks W10 Alfredo Escalera Jr., Heavyweights
Scoring: 100-90 from all three judges
Undercard Results:
43 year old Alicia Ashley won the World Boxing Council’s female version of the Super Bantamweight title in the preliminary bout to the main event. Alicia lost a 10 round majority decision to Marcela Acuna in her first attempt to win the WBC title in 2009.
Alicia Ashley W10 Christina Ruiz, Female Super Bantamweights
Scoring: 100-90, 99-91, 98-91 for Ashley
Local winless light heavyweight trial horse Borngod Washington finally won his first professional bout in nine tries, with a split decision upset over debuting Bruno Bouhi.
Borngod Washington SD4 Bruno Bouhi (Debut), Light Heavyweights
Scoring: 38-37 twice for Washington, 38-37 Bouhi
Issouf Kinda W6 Bryan Abraham, Light Welterweights
Scoring: 60-54, 59-55, 59-55 for Kinda