BOXING: FULL RESULTS FROM HINCKLEY, MN

RINGSIDE REPORT FROM THE GRAND CASINO IN HINCKLEY, MINNESOTA, AUGUST 17, 2018
BY RAY KILGORE

Rondale Hubbert improved to (12-6-1 7 Ko’s) by taking an 8-round split decision over Markus Morris (11-4, 7 Kos) in a competitive fight.

Round one: Morris started the round by applying pressure as he tried to walk Hubbert down.  Morris went to Hubbert’s body and followed that up with hard rights and lefts to Hubbert’s head.  But Hubbert took the blows well and he showed a solid chin all night long.  Hubbert was the faster of the two,  and this made it easy for him to get in fast right hands to Morris’ head despite Morris’ tight defense.   Round one was very close with both men applying the pressure.

Round two: Once again Morris pressured Hubbert by throwing many punches despite missing the mark.  Hubbert’s speed and solid movement impacted how Morris’ at times throw wide and slow punches.  Hubbert was able to back Morris to the ropes by going to his body and head.  Morris, who kept a stoic face, did not look bothered by Hubbert’s pressure.  But he was forced to retreat to the ropes with his defense tight.

Round three: Both boxers took turns trading, but because of Hubbert’s moving in and out, it appeared as if Morris’ blows were more devastating than they were.  Morris kept the pressure up and this caused Hubbert to respond, at times, by moving to the ropes and or landing one punch in a clinch.

Round four: Was probably Morris’ best as he landed several punches to Hubbert’s head; Hubbert had to hold more in this round.  At one-point.  Morris attempted to connect with a hard right, but he missed wildly in which  Hubbert hung his hands to his side and taunted him. However, Morris was able to get Hubbert on the far ropes, and he landed three hard rights to Hubbert’s head right before the bell sounded.

Round five: Although Morris did not appear tired, Hubbert’ movement kept him off balance several times. Both fighters took turns trading hard shots with Morris focusing on Hubbert’s body, and Hubbert targeting Morris’ head.  But Hubbert’s speed made his blows the more effective of the two.

Round six: Morris took the round big early as the aggressor, but Hubbert stood his ground and landed some serious right hands to Morris’ head. And when Morris returned the same, Hubbert took the blows well and fired back with full confidence.

Round seven: Morris picked up where he left off in round six by coming right at Hubbert.  But at that point, Hubbert was able to adjust to Morris’ style and he was able to time Morris with big right hands.  Halfway in the round, Morris attempted to land a shot and missed.  Hubbert timed him with a hard right and Morris went down hard. Morris was clearly hurt although he made the standing eight;  once the action resumed, he attacked again as he landed uppercuts and rights to Morris’ head which caused Morris to hold on for most of the round. Morris did land a nice body shot before the end of the round and was fighting back.

Round eight: Both fighters traded. But Hubbert was able to sneak in a right that appeared to have an impact.  Hubbert landed a good uppercut and Morris once again clinched and looked impacted by the blow.  Both men traded wildly as they tried to assert their dominance until the end of the bell.

Judges’ cards read 76-75 Morris, 76-75 Hubbert.  76-75 Hubbert

Cem Kilic improved to (11-0 6 Kos) stopping Joe Amouta (7-2-1 2 Kos) with a devastating punch.

Round one: Amouta started strong as he landed on Kilic with what looked like every legal punch in the boxing book.  He made Kilic look slow and kept him off balance by his movement.  Amouta continued to land right hands to Kilic’s head and body while Kilic pressed forward.  To Kilic’s credit, he was not discouraged as he focused on Amouta’s body;  he was able to get in a one-two combo to Amouta’s head as the bell sounded.

Round two: Kilic was able to get Amouta on the ropes early and worked his body. Although Amouta continued to move, he started to look tired landing one hard right to Kilic’s head and then held.  Amouta took several deep breaths as Kilic’s pressure was getting to him.  When Kilic got Amouta on the rope, Amouta looked uneasy as he tried to hold and land more from a survival mode.

Round three: Amouta started the round fast by landing hard right hands to Kilic’s head.  But once again Kilic was not hurt and walked Amouta down.  Amouta was once again landing one blow and holding.  Kilic pinned Amouta on the ropes, and he landed a good body blow;  Amouta bent to his right to protect himself and Kilic landed a hard right to the side of his temple; Amouta had a delayed reaction and hit the canvas hard. The fight was stopped at 46 seconds left in the round.

Hasim Rahman Jr put on a woeful performance as he improved to (6-0, 4 Ko’s) taking a unanimous decision over Ray Ochieng (26-22- 21 Kos)

Round one: The fight was slow and sloppy from the outset with both men circling in a slow-motion fashion trying to find the right shot.  Ochieng pushed the action but he was off balance and missed often with big right hands.  But Rahman Jr. would not engage and when he did, he landed one blow and got on his bike cycle to cover.

Round 2: The fighters once again refused to engage as both men threw wildly; at one point, both wrestled in the clinch and due to being off balance, fell. But Rahman Jr was able to land the better shots.

Round 3: Rahman Jr. landed a one-two combo that knocked Ochieng down.  The fighter was able to make the count, but as Rahman Jr. tried to attack, Ochieng responded and missed with a big right to  Rahman Jr.’s head. Once Rahman Jr. figured Ochieng wasn’t that hurt, he went back to his moving around the ring without throwing anything of value.

Rounds 4,5,6: The final three rounds were similar to the others as Rahman Jr. walked around the ring not attempting to fight while Ochieng tried to engage with little success.

The judges’ scores were: 58-55,-58-55, -58-55 for Rahman Jr. although Ochieng appeared to have won the fight.

DeLorien Caraway improved to (11-2 5 Kos) in a comeback fight stopping Jeff Farmer (4-16 1 KO) in round four.

Round one: It was clear that Caraway was too fast for Farmer.  But to Farmer’s credit, he took Caraway’s blows well.  Caraway used his jab, hard rights and speed to offset Farmer who missed widely at times.

Round two: Farmer was able to land two good rights to Caraway’s head.  And Caraway had to adjust again.  Farmer’s blows did not appear to hurt Caraway during the fight.

Round three: Caraway hurt farmer with a good 1-2 combo to his body and head.  Caraway moved, fainted and teased Farmer during the round.  Farmer landed several slapping blows to Caraway’s head,  but Caraway’s speed was too much; and once again, he took control of the round with ease jabbing, moving, picking his shots and talking to his supporters in the audience.

Round four: Caraway picked up the tempo and worked Farmer’s body followed by several rights to his head. By that point, Farmer’s main offense was to pin his gloves to his head and not fire back. Caraway continued to have his way until the referee put a halt to the fight.

Marlim Sims improved to (3-0 2Kos) stopping Dakota Laster (1-4 1Kos) with ease in round one

Round one: Sims landed hard jabs while Laster kept his gloves high to his head. The round was slow; Laster tried to land several blows, but he looked as if he was hitting the heavy bag. Sims kept his cool, and he landed good right hands and strong jabs that snapped Laster’s head back.

Round two: Sims picked up the pace landing combos to Laster’s body and head.  Sims returned to his jab and he continued to snap Laster’s head back.  Laster appeared somewhat lost and dazed as Sims showed too much skill.  As the round came to an end, Sims hurt Laster with two hard right hands to the head.

Round 3: Before the start of the round, the doctor examined Laster and the fight was waved off.

In a solid performance, Ramiro Hernandez improved to (12-0 8 KOs) taking a unanimous six-round decision over Mike Fowler

Round one: Ramiro looked poised throughout the fight.  He focused on Fowler’s head and body while using a tight defense.  Flower showed grit; he attempted to fire back when Hernandez went on the offensive.  Ramiro changed his game plan and turned to his jab as he connected effectually to Flower’s face and body.

Round two: Flower hit Ramiro with several hard rights to the head.  And although the judges’ scorecards were all in favor of Ramiro, the fight was deceiving as Ramiro put on a good performance as well. But Ramiro wasn’t bothered by Flower’s blows. And at one point during the clinch, Ramiro landed an uppercut and several blows to Flower’s head to end the round.

Round three, four, five and six: Were similar as Ramiro pressed the action using aggression, jabs, bodywork and head movement to put on an impressive show.

The judges scores were:

Cruse Stewart improved to (1-0 1, KOs) by stopping Leroy Eason (0-2)

The fight didn’t last long and Stewart looked solid and powerful in his pro debut. Stewart brought with him a good boxing reputation and he showed off those skills by knocking out Eason in the opening round.

Tristan James improved to (2-2) with a thrilling decision over Tony Palmisano (2-1 2Kos)

Round one: How James took the big blows from Palmisano was amazing.  Throughout round one, Palmisano hit James with every hard-right hands possible, and still, James fought back. James’ jab would bother Palmisano all night, and towards the end of the round,  James bloodied Palmisano’s nose badly.

Round two: Palmisano started strong;  he landed good blows as James backed up and moved around the ring. Although James kept his head straight in the air and took hard blows to the chin, the blows did not bother him.  He continued to land mean jabs and rights to Palmisano’s head.  And Palmisano’s eye started to puff up from James’ strong combos.

Round 3: Both men took turns trading, but it was Palmisano who was the aggressor;  and at one point,  he hurt James with a good body blow and a hard right to his head.  James moved and held Palmisano often.  Although Palmisano was tired and took many blows, he boxed his best. But James’ punches had conviction, and at one point Palmisano attempted a right hand, but missed and fell almost through the ropes. Palmisano looked tired from taking James’ jabs and right hands.  He held often and his nose continued to bleed; his eyes were badly bruised.  James continued to walk Palmisano down going to his body and head right up until the bell sounded.

Round 4: Before the start of the round, the doctor examined Palmisano.

The fight continued, and James once again was the aggressor.  But to Palmisano’s credit, he fought back, and at one point, he landed a right to James’ head which rocked him and  forced him to clinch for a bit.  James gathered himself and rocked Palmisano often.  When the fight was over the judges’ scores were: 38-38, 39-37, 39-37 for James.

Joe James improved to (1-0 1 Kos) stopping Starr Roberts ( 0-1) in round two.

Round one: James started strong going to Roberts’ body.  Roberts was mostly on the defensive.  James did most of his work using a jab and going to the body.  Roberts did not offer much in return.

Round 2: Shortly into the round, James knocked Roberts down with a body blow.  Roberts beat the count, but he was in bad shape. James continued to attack Roberts’ body as Roberts covered up.  At one point, James must have landed over seven unanswered blows until the bell sounded at which point the referee stopped the fight for a James TKO.