-It was a night of old fashioned turf wars, upsets and questionable officiating at an action packed fight card at the Twin River Casino and Resort in Lincoln, Rhode Island Friday night.
- In the light heavyweight main event, local favorite Joey Spina (24-1-1, 17 KO’s) scored a 1st round TKO over Topeka, KS’ Matt Gockel (12-10, 7 KO’s). Referee Charlie Dwyer stopped the fight at 1:55 of the opening frame. It appeared to be very premature.
Spina landed a left hook that sent Gockel to the canvas midway through the scheduled 3 minute round. Gockel got up and appeared fine, however the official called a halt to the action.
Both Gockel and Spina were visibly upset with the unusual ending to the fight.
In an interview afterwards, Spina said that the official had asked Gockel if he was ok and wanted to continue following the knockdown, but Gockel said “No”. However, Gockel claims he said “OK.”
“I would’ve knocked him out anyways…He couldn’t hit my ass with a bat”, said Spina following the fight. However, he added, “It was too quick…nothing was really gained from this fight.”
Following the bout, Spina called out The Contender: Season 2 runner-up Jaidon Codrington.
- In the evening’s co-feature, Lowell’s Joey McCreedy (10-2-1, 5 KO’s) and Providence’s Richard “Bobo the Bull” Starnino (9-5-2, 2 KO’s) battled for an exciting 8 rounds in a rematch of a hotly contested draw last year. This time, McCreedy ended up with the winning nod. Official scores were 76-76 even and 79-73 and 78-75 for McCreedy. 8countnews.com scored the bout in favor of McCreedy 77-76.
Both fighters' traded blows from bell to bell. No knockdowns were scored, but the action was plenty. Following the fight the crowd roared when ring announcer John Vena asked “Who would like to see a rubber match?”
- In an extremely controversial decision, Providence’s undefeated lightweight Eddie Soto (11-0, 4 KO’s) won a split decision over Lowell’s Sean Eklund (6-3, 1 KO) in a 6 round fight. Official scores were 58-57 for Eklund and 57-56 and an inexplicable 58-55 for Soto from judge Walter Stone. 8countnews.com scored the fight 58-55 for Eklund.
Eklund hurt Soto with an overhand right at the end of the second frame and pushed him to the canvas as the bell sounded.
In the 5th round, Eklund scored two knockdowns. Despite the two knockdowns, all three ringside judges scored the round 10-8 for Eklund instead of 10-7. One judge, Walter Stone gave Soto every round except for the 5th.
The decision was heavily booed by the crowd.
Eklund’s trainer / uncle “Irish” Micky Ward was very upset with the decision and said he would like the outcome of the fight to be reviewed by the Rhode Island boxing commissioners.
The Rhode Island commission would not comment.
- In an upset, Philadelphia’s David Williams (6-2-1, 2 KO’s) outworked the previously undefeated local cruiserweight Adam Harris (10-1, 7 KO’s) to win a 6 round unanimous decision. Official scores were 58-58 (twice) and 58-57 for Williams. 8countnews.com scored the fight for Williams 58-57.
Both fighters were tentative throughout, but Williams was far busier. Harris opened up in the final frame, but it was far too late. Williams survived to win a decision.
- In a quick paced bout that went by quick, Providence’s Jesus Caro (4-0, 4 KO’s), trained by Peter Manfredo Sr., stopped South Carlolina's Jerry Pressley (0-2) in the opening round of their junior welterweight fight.
After some good action from both fighter’s in the opening minute, Caro cornered Pressley and stunned him with an overhand right. Pressley would get himself out of the corner, but would be knocked down just seconds later via a Caro right hand.
Pressley would make it to his feet, but referee Charlie Dwyer called a halt to the bout just moments later when he failed to intelligently defend himself against Caro’s onslaught. Official time of the TKO was 1:49 of the first round.
- Youngstown, Ohio’s Anthony Pietrantonio (5-2) scored 4 knockdowns en route to a 3rd round TKO of New Englander Brian Macy (5-1, 2 KO’s) in a super middleweight fight.
Pietrantonio was in charge from the opening bell, knocking Macy down just seconds into the bout with a left jab. Macy closed the opening frame strong, but hit the canvas twice more in the 2nd round courtesy of right hands from Pietrantonio.
It was questionable whether or not Macy had his bearings coming out for the 3rd round and after hitting the deck once more, referee Charlie Dwyer stopped the bout 0:46 into the 3rd round.
- Out of town heavyweight Shawn Mclean (3-4, 2 KO’s) stunned New England’s Rashad Minor (1-1, 1 KO) 0:27 into the first round. All it took was one overhand right from Mclean to drop the hometown favorite and Minor was down for the count.
- Providence native Josh Beeman (4-2-3, 2 KO’s) and Atlanta’s Jamar Saunders (2-1-1, 1 KO) battled to 4 round draw in an all out slugfest that saw both fighters give and receive numerous power punches, especially in a frenzied final round that brought the crowd to its feet. Official scores were 39-37 for Beeman, 39-37 for Saunders and 38-38 even. 8countnews.com scored the fight a draw at 38-38 apiece.
- Providence’s Jay Holland (1-0, 1 KO) used his height and youth advantage to quickly dispose of South Carolina’s Kevin Varnadore (0-5) in the opening bout of the night. The time of the stoppage was 0:51 of the 1st round.
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