The historic Fox Theatre in Detroit played host to Salita Promotions offering Friday night. In the main event, reigning USBA heavyweight champ, Brandon Moore (title not on the line tonight) took on undefeated knockout artist And nearby Flint, MI native DeAndre Savage in a scheduled 10-rounder.
Moore came in 20 lb lighter than his last fight in June and 56 lb lighter than Savage. He used his long and lean frame two box neatly behind the jab. In the fourth round, Moore followed up the left jab with a nice right to the temple that wobbled Savage momentarily. Moore would potshot the jab and circle Savage, who was mustering virtually no offense. He was content to just plod forward with his guard up.
Moore picked up the volume in round seven, punishing Savage with punch after punch. A booming right to the temple caused a delayed knockdown as Savage swayed in the breeze before going down. He beat the count and was saved by the Bell before Moore could deliver any more damage. Incredibly, Savage made it through the eighth round, despite swaying in the breeze from several more big shots.
Incredibly, Savage weathered a 10 round storm and made it the distance, perhaps scoring a moral victory, given that both men predicted they would score a knockout. Both men went the full ten rounds for the first time in careers. The scoring was a formality as the judges saw it: 100-89 twice and 99-90, all for Moore, who moves to 20-1, 10 KOs. Moore called out Anthony Joshua, wanting to be AJ’s comeback opponent. He also called for the IBF to rank him in it’s top 10. Savage loses for the first time at 10-1, 10 KOs.
The co-main event saw a fantastic battle for the vacant vacant WBA/WBC female middleweight titles between Chicago’s Olivia Curry and Sydney, Australia’s Kaye Scott. Scott tarted the fight showing uncharacteristic power and volume punching. Though she has no knockouts on her record, Scott showed power, rocking Curry several times in the early going. In the third round, a cut opened on the left outer brow bone of Curry. While the referee indicated a punch, it in fact came from a clash of heads. The action was back and forth between these two ladies for all 10 rounds.
Two massive hematomas appeared on the left forehead and right eyebrow respectively of Curry, yet somehow she battled through the adversity to go the distance. The judges saw it: 98-92 Scott and 95-95 twice for a majority draw! Both titles remain vacant. Curry goes to 7-2-3, 2 KOs, while Scott goes to 4-1-1.
Super middles Da’Velle Smith (Taylor, Michigan) and Janer Gonzalez (Cartegena, Colombia) went at it in abbreviated fashion as Smith dropped Gonzalez twice in round two, the second time for the count, ending matters at 2:59 of the round. Smith, improves to 14-0, 9 KOs. Gonzalez falls 24-9-1, 20 KOs.
Heavyweights Sardius Simmons and Elmir Isom-Riley opened the DAZN televised segment of the show in a scheduled 6-round contest. Simmons was the busier fighter, controlled the distance and the pace, though Isom-Riley came to fight and didn’t lay down. In the end, the judges scored a unanimous decision for Simmons: 58-56 twice and 59-55, going to 4-0, 2 KOs. Isom-Riley falls to 5-7, 3 KOs.
Non-televised undercard results:
Women’s Welterweight – 6 Rounds
Savannah Tini of Detroit improved to 6-0 (2 KOs), showcasing strength and speed in a unanimous decision win over Michaele Nogue of Atlantic City, N.J.
Featherweight – 8 Rounds
Edmonton, Canada’s Jelena Mrdjenovic, trained by world-renowned SugarHill Steward, defeated a game Liliana Martinez of the Dominican Republic.
Light Heavyweight – 6 Rounds
Local favorite Kahmel Makled thrilled his many fans in attendance, outboxing Christian Juresic of Cleveland to improve to 4-0 (3 KOs) via unanimous decision.
Women’s Featherweight – 4 Rounds
Highly decorated amateur champion Jasmine Hampton of Ann Arbor, Mich., made a statement in her professional debut, stopping Midajah Rogers of Port Huron, Mich., in under 30 seconds.
