Lincoln – It was a successful afternoon for two unbeaten New England prospects Saturday at a matinee fight card held at the Twin River Events Center.
In a super middleweight fight, Worcester’s Edwin Rodriguez (12-0, 8 KO’s) won a unanimous decision effectively outboxing and outworking veteran journeyman Darnell Boone (16-13, 6 KO’s). Official scores were 80 – 72 (twice) and 79-73. 8countnews.com saw the fight for Rodriguez 79-73.
“He was a hell of a fighter and brought his A game”, said Rodriguez afterwards, “He took my best shots and I just couldn’t put him away.”
In the opening round, Rodriguez was far busier than his opponent who caught most of the punches being thrown at him on the arms. In the 2nd frame, Boone opened up a little more but was still outworked and a big right hook making the crowd go “oooh” punctuated the round for Rodriguez.
Through the middle rounds, Boone would sometimes counterpunch effectively. However, those efforts were too few and far between with Rodriguez being far more active. Boone’s biggest moment came in the 7th round when he landed a big right hand that forced the Worcester resident to initiate a clinch for the first time in his career.
“I had to take a breather and get my second win”, he’d say afterwards.
Rodriguez finished the fight strong amidst chants of “Edwin! Edwin!” reverberating through the arena from the many fans from Worcester who made the 40 minute drive for the fight.
“Sometimes the crowd would pump me up and I’d get in more of a fight..but I kind of liked it”, laughed Rodriguez afterwards.
Next up for Rodriguez could be a fight in early November.
Boone has now lost three consecutive fights to undefeated prospects.
In a battle of undefeated junior middleweights, 2008 US Olympian and Providence native Demetrius Andrade (8-0, 6 KO’s) passed the stiffest test of his career winning a unanimous decision in an all out war with San Diego, California’s Chris Chatman (4-1, 2 KO’s). Official scores were a laughable 60-54 (twice) and 59-55. 8coutnnews.com scored the fight for Andrade 58-56.
“He was a tough opponent”, said Andrade in his postfight interview, “He’s a hell of a fighter.”
Andrade used his reach advantage to effectively land jabs during the first two rounds. In round 3, Chatman landed a huge left hook to the head of Andrade that made a big thwacking sounds heard throughout the arena. Andrade responded with a power shot of his own and the two fighters traded punches toe to toe for the remainder of the round to the crowds delight.
At the prefight press conference, Chatman made sure to let everyone know he wasn’t an opponent coming into Andrade’s hometown to pad his record saying, “I’m no Patrick Cape”, referring to a past opponent of Andrade’s who was beaten easily.
Following the fight Saturday, Andrade said “Now my next opponent will say they’re no Chris Chatman”.
In response Chatman shouted, “You’re damn right he’s not me.”
Chatman had a good 5th round pressuring Andrade into a brawl.
“My endurance wore him out”, Chatman would say later.
In the final round, Andrade landed the cleanest and most noteworthy punches of the fight to the head of Chatman. However, Chatman kept coming forward and they both traded shots until the final bell.
Undercard Results
Providence’s Vladine Biosse (3-0, 2 KO’s) earned a unanimous decision over New York City’s Tafari Lawton (1-1) in a 4 round super middleweight fight. Biosse, a former Runningback for the University of Rhode Island football team, landed the more effective punches through three rounds. In the 4th, Lawton has success landing his left jab but was too far behind on the scorecards. Official scores were 40-36 and 39-38 (twice). 8countnews.com scored the fight 39-37 in favor of Biosse.
Puerto Rico native David Bauza Jr. (2-0, 2 KO’s), a resident of Hartford, Connecticut, easily disposed of late substitute Johnny Rowell (0-4) in their junior middleweight bout. Bauza scored two official knockdowns in the opening round when Rowell bent over the avoid punishment and later took a knee. In the 2nd after Bauza was forced to his knees again from Bauza’s onslaught of punches, referee Joey Lupino waved off the fight at 0:25.
Providence junior welterweight Jesus Caro (5-0, 4 KO’s), a Manfredo Sr. trained fighter, won a lopsided decision over Baltimore’s Damien Butler (0-2) in a 4 round fight. Caro battered Butler for the entire fight punctuated by a left hook – right hand combination that sent Butler to the canvas in the final round. It was the first time Caro was forced to go the distance thus far in his young career. Official scores were 40-35 (twice) and 39-36. 8countnews.com scored the fight 40-35 in favor of Caro.
Peabody, Massachusetts resident Simeon Dunell (10-1, 3 KO’s) scored a 4th round TKO over Colorado’s David Marquez (5-7-1, 1 KO) in a junior welterweight fight. Dunwell scored an official knockdown just seconds into the fight when he landed a right hook that put Marquez off balance and forced his right glove to graze the canvas. Dunwell continued to land clean shots in the 2nd, however Marquez landed a few good shots of his own as well. In the 3rd, Marquez switched from an orthodox stance to a southpaw and was briefly effective. However, after about a minute Dunwell was landing powerful head shots causing Marquez to turn away and wince in pain. In the 4th after a plethora of punches, a flush left hook from Dunwell to the head of his already battered opponent cause referee Joey Lupino to step in and stop the fight at 1:40.
