Fighting in his hometown for the second time, Worcester’s undefeated prospect Edwin Rodriguez (16-0, 12 KO’s) made quite the impression with a 5th round TKO of Ibaheim King (7-4, 2 KO’s) in front of 1,129 fans at Mechanics Hall. The fight was contested above the normal fighting weight of both fighters as King took the fight on just two days notice. Technically, it was a light heavyweight bout.
King, despite taking the fight on just two days notice, certainly came to fight. In the opening round with Rodriguez pressuring him, King landed a counter left hand that seemed to get the Worcester fighter’s attention. However, Rodriguez’s constant pressure led to King being pressed up against the ropes while the unbeaten fighter wailed away loading up with bad intentioned punches mostly to King’s body.
Following a respectable first round from King, Rodriguez found his rhythm more and more.
In the 5th round, Rodriguez pressured King into a corner and while King attempted to fight his way out, Rodriguez landed a thudding wide left hand that caused King’s knee’s to buckle and gloves to graze the canvas for an official knockdown to be scored. King beat the count but wouldn’t survive for long. Moments later another huge thudding wide punch, this time a right hand, connected from Rodriguez sending the game opponent to the canvas. The fight was waved off at 1:06 of the round.
In the evening’s co-feature, Quincy junior lightweight prospect Ryan “The Polish Prince” Kielczewski (9-0, 2 KO’s) earned a 6 round unanimous decision over tough Miami native Juan Nazario (6-3-1, 4 KO’s). Nazario scored a questionable knockdown in the 2nd round. However, it was all Kielczewski the remainder of the fight including a clear knockdown in the 4th round via a right hand when Nazario was up against the ropes. Official scores were 60-55 from all three judges in favor of Kielczewski.
Worcester heavyweight Rashad Minor (4-1, 3 KO’s) was extended the distance the first time in his pro career as he won a unanimous decision over New Mexico’s Reginald Jackson (2-2, 2 KO’s) in a 4 round tilt. Official scores were 40-36 across the board.
Female heavyweight Sonya Lamonakis (1-0, 1 KO) made a successful pro debut with a 2nd round TKO of Ohio’s Kasondra Hardnett (0-3). Lamonakis, a resident of Turners Falls, Massachusetts, just proved to be too active and accurate for Hardnett and the fight was waved off 25 seconds into the first round.
Detroit based prospect Isiah Thomas (7-0, 4 KO’s), no relation to the former NBA player of the same name, kept his undefeated record intact with a unanimous decision over Houston’s Larry Pryor (6-7, 4 KO’s) over 6 rounds. Official scores were 58-55 from all three judges.
Paterson, New Jersey super middleweight Richard Pierson (9-2, 6 KO’s) made quick work of the comebacking Reynaldo Rodriguez (5-1, 2 KO’s), a Woonsocket, Rhode Island resident with a cheering section in attendance. Pierson was able to stun Rodriguez with two right hand uppercuts early in the first round before sending him dazed to the canvas with the very same punch later in the frame. Rodriguez got to his feet before the count was up but wasn’t in any shape to continue. The bout was waved off at 2:32 of the first round.
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