Body Blows: Boxing After Dark Tripleheader

Results

HBO Boxing After Dark emanated from ECW’s house of hardcore, the Hammerstein Ballroom, last Saturday. All three fights were one-sided and could have used the drama begotten from a flaming tire iron or a thumbtack-laden toaster.

Andre Berto vs. Norberto Bravo

There were signs that this card would be a dud when Andre Berto’s original opponent, Ben Tackie, pulled out due to immigration issues. The result probably wouldn’t have changed but it certainly would have lasted longer. Andre Berto has the physical tools that draw comparisons to Mike Tyson in a welterweight’s body. He represented Haiti in the 2004 Olympics after failing to qualify for the U.S. team. His parents are Haitian. Norberto Bravo was on the second season of The Contender and overachieved in making it to the semi-finals.

A left hook early in the first round puts Bravo on the canvas. A right-left combination puts Bravo down again. Andre Berto lands a right straight and the fight is stopped due to the three knockdown rule. Three sentences, three knockdowns.

Sechew Powell vs. Ishe Smith

The Contender is all over this show. Ishe Smith was a participant in the first season of The Contender and was seen as the favorite to win…before he didn’t. Powell did not compete on The Contender but was famously involved in a double knockdown with second season member Cornelius Bundrage to open their fight only to knock him out with his next punch.

The fight has a slow pace through two lackluster rounds. This is not the best way to showcase up-and-coming talent but you can’t force the guys to fight. The action picks up a little in the third round when Powell lands a hook. The fourth round is even better with each fighter gaining momentum in the round. Ishe Smith lands a right hook to an off-balance Powell, causing the light middleweight to go down. Powell’s feet were tangled but the official ruling is a knockdown. Powell showed the knockdown didn’t hurt him as he came out with a vengeance to start the fifth round. Ishe Smith is grunting with his punches now. He sounds like any Russian woman tennis player ever. Sechew Powell is winning the fight but only due to Ishe Smith’s inactivity and unwavering patience.

Ishe Smith is more active in the eighth round. He almost made this fight interesting. Powell lacks any urgency in this fight despite his corner’s advice. Perhaps he thought he had the fight won. HBO’s Howard Lederman had the fight even going into the tenth and final round. Both fighters land good power punches in the last round as Max Kellerman and Lennox Lewis argue if they have convinced themselves that Powell is winning the fight. Honestly, it seemed that this fight was up for the taking of anyone that wanted to win it. The fight went to the scorecards where all three judges scored it 97-92 in favor of Sechew Powell.

Paulie Malignaggi vs. Edner Cherry

Brooklyn-native Paulie Malignaggi had the support of the crowd. He also had a blue streak in his hair to match his sideburns. Sometimes I just don’t understand the kids these days. Malignaggi is coming off of his first professional loss in which Miguel Cotto busted up his face. Edner Cherry usually fights at lightweight but came up to light welterweight for this HBO main event slot. Cherry is a busy fighter who can’t seem to find himself in a bad fight.

Malignaggi lands a big left in the first round that doesn’t faze Cherry. It could be Cherry’s good chin on display but it is more likely a display of Malignaggi’s lack of punching power. Paulie had 21 wins coming into this fight and only five were by knockout. That’s sad given the bums that Malignaggi faced early in his career. However, what Malignaggi lacks in power he makes up for in speed. He is using it well so far in this fight. He’s not allowing Cherry to get in a rhythm and be as aggressive as he usually is in his fights. Malignaggi shows off his jab in the third round making it tough for Cherry to get inside and do work.

Edner Cherry’s corner is pleading with their fighter to work his opponent’s body. Cherry is landing a few nice flurries but overall not adhering to his corner’s advice. He’s throwing one punch at a time and getting caught in a clinch anytime he backs Malignaggi into a corner. Give Paulie credit for taking Cherry out of his usual style of boxing as the Cherry Bomb is still not being assertive in the sixth round. Malignaggi avoids all of Cherry’s attacks in the seventh round as this fight is becoming reminiscent of Mayweather-Baldomir.

Since Cherry was never able to do any damage on Malignaggi’s body, the Magic Man was able to keep his bounce in the late rounds and stay away from any of Cherry’s attempts at a knockout. Cherry did show some heart in the tenth round but it was the epitome of “too little too late.” Malignaggi relied on his superior hand and foot speed to earn the unanimous decision.

Other Results From The Week

– Tony Thompson defeated Timor Ibragimov by unanimous decision, proving that Sultan is the cheese of the Ibragimov family.

– Andre Dirrell, 2004 Olympic Bronze Medalist, made easy work of Kenny Kost in their super middleweight bout as he won by unanimous decision.

– Alonzo Butler maintained his unblemished heavyweight record by scoring a unanimous decision over James Walton.

– Verno Phillips recorded a unanimous decision over Eddie Sanchez in the main event of ESPN Friday Night Fights.

– Michael Sprott handed British heavyweight and 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist Audley Harrison his third career loss. Sprott won by knockout in the third round.

– Lightweight prospect Amir Khan defeated Mohammed Medjadji by TKO in the first round.

– Mike Oliver earned a close unanimous decision over Gary Stark Jr in the super bantamweight main event of ShoBox: The Next Generation.

– James McGirt Jr earned a 4th round TKO of Anthony Little.

Spit Bucket

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