BOXING: JAMES, TRUAX STOP OPPONENTS IN MNPLS

(By Ray Kilgore and Jesse Kelley at Ringside) – Jamal James and Caleb Truax thrilled spectators packed into the Armory in Minneapolis last Friday night. The venue was filled even with the Vikings and Twins running only blocks away. The performances by two of Minnesota’s top boxers may have set up an even bigger event rumored to be hosted at The Armory in the coming months for one or both. Over 3,570 fans patiently waited for the final two fights of the night to see the Minnesotans in action. The wait was worth it. Once the out of state fighters had done their jobs, the content crowd let loose and the venue erupted in support of both Truax and James.

Jamal James cripples Mahonry Montes last weekend at the Armory. PHOTO BY RICH PETERSON

PHOTO BY RICH PETERSON

In the FS1 televised main event, WBA #3, WBC #11 rated welterweight Jamal “Shango” James (now 24-1, 11 KO’s) nearly broke Mahonry Montes (now 35-8-1, 24 KO’s) in half with with a crippling body shot at 2:58 of the second round.
James controlled most of the action by throwing jabs in Montes’ face while also targeting the body. Every punch James attempted had bad intentions.
Montes was initially the aggressor as he tried to pin James on the ropes. James, who held a considerable height advantage, kept his cool and continued to focus on Montes’ body in the opening round. As the round came to an end, it was clear that unless Montes established some authority, James was going to have his way all night long.
James once again focused his attention on jabbing and going to Montes’ body in round two. His speed and movement caused Montes issues. As the round came a close, James landed a hard right to Montes’ head which he followed up with a thunderous right to the body that sent Montes down. Montes rolled on the canvas in pain and the fight was called off at 2:58 of round two.

“I feel like I’m ready for the elite welterweights and tonight proved it again,” said James. “I’m going to keep working hard and taking down anyone they put in front of me. It’s time for me to make my mark in the division.”

Caleb Truax lands his signature uppercut against Fabiano Pena last Friday night at the Armory in Minneapolis. PHOTO BY RICH PETERSON

PHOTO BY RICH PETERSON

Former IBF super middleweight champion “Golden” Caleb Truax (now 30-4-2, 19 KOs) scored a third round TKO stoppage win over Fabiano Pena (15-11-1, 11 KOs) in the final bout of the evening. Odd to most in attendance and around the State, Truax’s fight was not shown on television. However, Truax and a large fan base in attendance were unfazed by the situation as Truax made his ring entrance while Prince’ Purple Rain accompanied him and his team.
Truax (rated WBC #10, IBF #7 super middleweight) got the job done and he made Pena look like a boxer whose thinking, planning, and coordination were never intact from the start. Truax followed Pena with his gloves high to his chin in round one as he worked the Brazilian’s body and used a flicking jab to bait Pena into something big. At one point, Truax pinned Pena to the ropes where he landed several hard body shots and overhand rights to Pena’s head. Pena backed up like a timid school boy scared of a bully.
Truax was having his way going into the third, landing uppercuts and right hands to Pena’s head. As round three neared it’s end, so too did Pena. Truax landed another hard right to his opponents head and followed up with a strong uppercut. Pena went down but was able to make the count despite being in trouble and the fight was called off at 2:50 of round three.

“It felt great to get back in the ring and perform in front of my home town fans on Friday night” said Truax. “The atmosphere was electric and I can’t wait to bring a huge fight back to the armory in the near future!”

Celso Ramirez trades punches with Willie Jones in the opening bout of the evening. PHOTO BY RICH PETERSON

Florida’s Willie Jones improved to (6-1, 3 KO’s) by stopping 21 year-old Celso Ramirez (7-1, 7 Kos) of Minneapolis at 2:32 of the second round of a welterweight bout. In another odd promotional decision, the only other Minnesotan on the card, Ramirez had his bout versus Jones take place nearly an hour before the other fights kicked off. Only a few stray fans had even made it into the building to watch.
Both men came out jabbing and the fight was exciting from the get go. Ramirez looked good early on as he moved around the ring looking for openings. He was able to go to Jones’ body effectively. But to Jones’ credit, he kept his composure and fired back.
In the middle of the round, both boxers traded hard blows and Ramirez moved side to side while Jones came forward. It was a difficult round to score.
The two boxers slowed the pace of the action to begin round two by fainting and looking for openings. Ramirez connected first with a right to Jones’ head and how Jones showed no effects from the punch was amazing. In fact, Jones countered with two good rights of his own that backed Ramirez up. Ramirez was having success in the biggest fight of his career but was dropping his hands after landing his jab and combinations. This gave Jones the moments he needed to swing the bout in his favor.
Jones continued to capitalize by landing another hard right to the head which he followed up with a strong uppercut that dropped Ramirez for the first time in his professional career.
To his credit, Ramirez made it to his feet, but he was out of it physically. It was clear that Ramirez’s was mentally aware of what was happening, but his body could not respond. Jones egerly took advantage. Jones landed several blows to a dazed Ramirez whose coordination was not there. Referee Gary Miezwa took a close look at Ramirez and called the fight off at 2:32.
Ramirez was understandably dissapointed by the outcome, but he did not seem discouraged by the setback. The young fighter met with fans in the crowd and stayed to support his teammate Jamal James and Caleb Truax after returning from the dressing rooms following his fight.
Ramirez says that he plans to grow from the setback and come back stronger than ever.

Willie Monroe Jr improved to (23-3, 6 KO’s) with a 10 round decision over Javier Francisco Maciel (33-7, 23 KO’s) In the co-featured TV bout.
Round 1: Monroe did a lot of posing as he looked for the perfect shot. Maciel flicked his jab but they had nothing on them.
Round 2: Monroe continued to land the better blows. Maciel moved forward, and at times he was willing to exchange but Monroe got the better of the two.
Rounds 3-10: Were much of the same with Monroe posing then landing an occasional good blow. Maciel moved in but he was not landing much.
The judges gave Monroe the win by Unanimous Decision (100-90, 100-90, 99-91 ).

Efe Ajagba improved to (6-0 with 5 kos) when Curtis Harper (13-6 9 Kos) was disqualified after the referee’s final in ring instructions. Harper walked out of the ring and left the building shortly after. Harper was reportedly unhappy with his contracted pay for the fight despite agreeing to terms up until the moment he took a look at his mountinous opponent.

Jamontay Clark improved to (13-1 with 7 kos) by defeating Jeison Rosario (16-1-1 with 11 kayos) by Unanimous Decision
Round 1: Both men started slow and there was no action worthy of watching. Clark came forward and Rosario tried to counter but he was not effective.
Round 2: Rosario put the pressure on and he landed decent combos but nothing that made Clark take notice. Rosario continued to be the aggressor, but Clark was able to land solid blows to Rosario’s head and body. But nothing that got Rosario’s attention.
Round 3: Rosario continued to be the aggressor and Rosario was able to land a good blow to Clark’s head. And Clark reacted in gesture by going doing. As he made his way to the red corner crawling to get up Clark beat the count and he was basically surviving the round taking some good shots.
Rounds 4 and 5: Clark realized what took place in round three, started out these rounds but moving side to side trying to establish his jab. Rosario didn’t do much to capitalized on the knockdown as neither man looked impressive but Clark did enough to take the rounds.
Rounds 6-7: Clark picked up his tempo, but he wasn’t doing much outside of landing one-two combo. Rosario was the aggressor, but because of his sloppy wild punches, Clark was able to move side to side and pick his shots.
Rounds 8-10: They were similar to the others with Clark moving and landing occasional hard right hands to Rosario’s head and body. And Rosario followed trying to land something worthy of getting Clark’s attention but he wasn’t able to do so.
Clark by Unanimous Decision (99-90, 98-91, 97-92)

Eimantas Stanionis improved to (8-0 with 5 kos) by defeating Levan Ghvamichava (18-4-1 with 13 kos) by Unanimous Decision.
Rounds 1-2: Both boxers took turns jabbing but it was Eimantas Stanionis who appeared to get the better of the the two going Ghvamichava’s body and head. Ghvamichava wasn’t out of the fight; he showed heart by pressing forward trying to land his own solid blows.
Rounds 2-3: Ghvamichava landed solid uppercuts, but Stanionis came back with his own right hands and good jabs. Some of the blows eventually made Ghamichava’s nose bleed. Stanionis took the round from as the aggressor landing effective body and head blows.
Rounds 4-6: Ghvamichava did a lot of moving although he was able to land hard jabs. Stanionis moved forward but he wasn’t pushing the action as hard. He was able to land good body blows and counter effectively.
Rounds 7-10: Ghvamichava continued to move and but was effective although Stanionis pushed the action and he used his better boxing skills to take over the fight.
Stanionis (80-72 79-73 79-73).

Sebastian Fundora improved to (10-0 with 6 kos) by defeating Antonio Urista (10-3 with 2 kos) by TKO in round 2
Round 1: Fundora landed hard right hands, good body shots and strong jabs to easily take care of Urista. He backed Urista to the ropes and landed several uppercuts. At one point he was able to pin Urista on the ropes and hit him with many unanswered blows until the fight was called off.

Leon Lawson improved to (8-0 with 4 kos) by defeating Brandon Adams (4-7-1 with 2 Kos), by Unanimous decision
Rounds 1-8: Adams tried to control the temp by starting fast, but Lawson connected with hard right hands and used aggression to control the action. Adams tired to land haymakers but they missed often due to Lawson’s high advantage.
The fight continued in the same fashion with Lawson snaping Adams’ head back and worked behind his jab to take a Unanimous Decision (60-54, 60-54, 60-54).

Efetobor Apochi improved to (5-0 with 5 Kos) defeating Aaron Chavers ( 8-6-1 with 3 Kos) by TKO in round 1
Round 1: Apochi pinned Chavers in the corner early in the fight and connected with hard body and head shots. Apochi’s aggressive stance was too much as he landed a hard right to Chavers’ head which hurt the fighter and the fight was called off at 2:18.

Gary Antonio Russell improved to (12-0 with 10 Kos) by stopping Nick Otieno (31-15 with 13 Kos) in round one.
Round 1: Russell destroyed Otieno with his speed, aggression, and overall better skills. He connected to Otieno with a solid right that dropped Otieno; Otieno wasn’t able to make the count and the fight was stopped at 1:18