BOXING: LIVE RESULTS FROM THE GRAND CASINO HINCKLEY

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MAIN EVENT
Cruiserweight Division | 8 Rounds
Phil “The Drill” Williams (16-9-3 14KOs) VS “The Haitian Temptation” Al Sands (20-4-1 18KOs)
Close competitive first round for Minnesota cruiserweight supremacy. Lots of feints but both hesitant to throw more than hard stiff jabs so far through three. Williams lands a hard left hook that snapped Sands’ head back. Sands returned some nice shots of his own. A fight began to break out in round four. The jab was landing for both fighters and the action picked up. Sands won the first clear cut winner of a round so far in round six. His jab was crisp and he kept a perfect distance, moving in and out of range. He continued to do the same in round 7. Tough rounds to score but Sands’ movement and jab seemed to be the difference down the stretch. Final scores read 78-74, 77-75, 78-74
“It was a very big fight” said Sands. “Phil is big and strong and it was great to have a great fight tonight. I wasn’t going to out muscle him so I stuck to boxing.”
“Much respect to Al. I was done before the fight but I did this one for my kids” said Williams. Phil announced his retirement from boxing. He plans on putting his boxing effort to the Northside boxing kids.

CO-MAIN EVENT
Featherweight Division | 8 Rounds
Ramiro “La Bala” Hernandez (16-0 10KOs) VS Vincent Jennings (6-11-2 4KOs)
Hernandez marched forward, landing head and body shots to win the early rounds. Jennings kept a low guard and bobbed, slipped, and landed a few sneaky punches of his own. A body shot by Jennings dropped Hernandez off balance to end round three. Hernandez was not hurt but it was a knockdown. Hernandez went on the attack in round four, hurting and dropping Jennings once and dominating the round.
Hernandez cruised into the 8th round up on the cards when a right hand landed by Jennings left him stunned but not in danger. The fight went to the scorecards where Hernandez was awarded the win by scores of 78-73 on all three cards.

SPECIAL ATTRACTION
Heavyweight Division | 5 Rounds
Ryan Watson (5-1-2 2KOs) VS Raymond “King Kong” Ochieng (26-25-3 21KOs)
Wild start to this heavyweight bout. Ochieng scores a flash knockdown midway although it was tough to see what the punch that landed was. After some wild exchanges, Watson evened the score at the end of the round, dropping Ochieng with a short left to the head.
Round two was bombs away for both fighters once again. Great action featuring wild haymakers. The pace slowed slightly in round three as both men seemed a little winded although each had their moments again. Both heavyweights came out for round four with a vengeance, landing more big haymaker shots. Watson appeared to have pulled out a very close fight by taking the fifth and final rounds on the score cards. Ochieng did well in the round but Watson was more accurate and busy. Either way, fun fight and good effort from both fighters. The judges saw the fight for Ryan Watson by majority decision with scores of 48-47, 47-48, 48-47.

Welterweight Division | 6 Rounds
Joe “The Snipa” James (7-0 4KOs) VS Drake Heitfield (2-9-2)
St. Cloud’s Joe James made quick work of Drake Heitfield, dropping him twice in the second round with well placed body shots. The end came at 1:30 of round two.
“I sparred with some great guys heading into the fight like Delorien Caraway and Caleb Truax and was able to put it all together” said James when asked to discuss the body shots landed and victory.

Bantamweight Division | 8 Rounds
Lawrence Newton (14-0 7KOs) VS Ernie Marquez (10-15-2 3KOs)
Marquez came to fight but Newton used his reach and speed to potshot the shorter Marquez for much of the opening round. Ernie Marquez continues to hang tough going into round four but Newton is probably sweeping the cards Good fight so far. The fight stayed true to the prior rounds in round four before a short left hook to the chin dropped Marquez as the round came to an end. Marques popped up and smiled off the knockdown.

Super Featherweight Division | 6 Rounds
Marlin “So Icey” Sims (7-0 4KOs) VS Mike Fowler (7-26 2KOs)
It was a cautious opening round for both Sims and Fowler who were trying to get a feel of what the other would bring. The southpaw fighters were having trouble finding the proper range through round two but Sims appeared to be at the doorstep. We will see what round three brings. The fourth round followed the previous round pretty closely. Both fighters seem a little hesitant to let go of their shots. Sims is stalking with his height and jab, while Fowler tries to get inside to counter.
Sims got things rolling midway through the fifth round. A short right uppercut to the head dropped Fowler. Moments later Sims dropped Fowler again with a straight right to the jaw. Sims closed the show with Fowler giving a tough effort but unable to breach the defense of Sims. All three judges scored the fight 60-52 in favor of Marlin Sims.
“He doesn’t have the best record but I give him credit” said Sims. The knockdowns came by me being patient. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to finish him . Thanks to everybody for coming out and showing support” said Sims.

Jr Welterweight Division | 6 Rounds
Rondale “Give Em Hell” Hubbert (13-12-2 8KOs) VS Jose Jacobo (8-1 2KOs)
A close first round was seized by Hubbert who landed a huge right hand to the chin of Jacobo that had him staggered before the bell. Hubbert wasn’t able to capitalize in round two as Jacobo got his jab working and Hubbert loaded up on single shots. Both fighters traded at the end of round two. Jacobo continued to work the jab in round three. Hubbert came forward though, bobbing and weaving and throwing single shots which scored. Good action to close out round four with Hubbert landing another big right that sent Jacobo’s mouth piece flying. The two exchanged to the bell. Once again in round five, the fighters did most of the rounds work in the closing seconds in a close round. The sixth and final round was by far the most entertaining. Jacobo finally began to follow up after throwing his jab and landed some nice shots. Hubbert did the same, each landing sharp punches and going back for more. The judges saw the fight for Jacobo in the end who moves to 8-1 by scores of 58-56, 58-56, and 59-54. It was a nice, close fight and effort from both fighters. 59-54 seems off as Hubbert came forward and landed the more damaging shots.
“I just want to thank everyone for coming out despite the icy weather” said Jacobo who credited his jab for the victory.

Light Heavyweight Division | 4 Rounds
Cruse Stewart (6-0 6KOs) VS Deangelo Curtis (2-3)
A left hand to the body dropped Deangelo Curtis at 1:05 of the opening round. Curtis was hurt but got to his feet but the fight was waived off. Stewart picks up win number 6, all wins coming by way of knockout.
“We are looking to get right back in here tomorrow!” exclaimed Stewart following the body shot knockout.

Heavyweight Division | 4 Rounds
Matt Hatfield (1-0, 1KO) vs Tyler Prokop (0-1)
Matt Hatfield knocked out Tyler Prokp at 1:55 of the second round. Prokop was tough but Hatfield came forward and was able to eventually get through with left and rights to the head dropping Prokop twice in the fight.

Heavyweight Division | 4 Rounds
Colton Warner (1-0, 1 KO) VS Matt Foster (0-4)
Colton Warner won his pro debut with a third round knockout over Matt Foster in the opening bout of the evening. A straight right to the head dropped Foster at :53 into the third round. Warner looked calm and composed in his pro debut.
“I felt pretty good and relaxed. I knew the knockout would come if I took my time” Said Warner afterwards.