Report and Photos by Bob Ryder
Fan favorite Cameron Pankey was impressive, pounding out a victory over Argentina’s Ernesto Sebastian Franzolini in the main event of promoter Carlos Llinas’ latest Night of Knockouts series at the MotorCity Casino in Detroit. Featherweight Pankey displayed improved defense and his usual sustained offense, scoring a third-round TKO to take his record to (14-1, 5 KOs).
The fighters banged heads hard in the opening round, causing Franzolini to take a knee in pain. Thankfully, neither sustained a noticeable cut. Franzolini was unable to mount anything to keep Pankey off him and, right at the end of the second round, suffered a knockdown. Franzolini rose and, coming out for the third, got in trouble with Pankey on the attack, receiving a standing eight-count from referee Lorraine Aldrich. Pankey scored another knockdown, and as Aldrich neared the full count, Franzolini indicated his night was done at the 2:20 mark of round three. Franzolini goes back to Argentina at (22-18-2, 2 KOs); Pankey moves on to perhaps another main event slot in the near future.
The co-main six-round contest saw Detroit’s Joshiah Shackleford pound out a workmanlike victory over DePriest Johnson of Houston. Johnson did enough to stay out of serious trouble, allowing Shackleford to go about his business without significant danger coming back his way. Scores were 60-54 (x3). Middleweight Shackleford improves to (10-2, 5 KOs), while Johnson is now (5-12, 0 KOs).
In another scheduled six-rounder, Philadelphia’s Christian Ortiz needed less than a round to take out Mexico’s Angel Varela Urena. Looking very impressive, the super featherweight Ortiz landed a monster body shot that left Urena writhing in pain on the mat at the 2:52 mark, as he remains unbeaten at (8-0, 6 KOs), while Urena falls to (11-11, 7 KOs).
In a very entertaining junior middleweight fight—one of many scheduled four-round bouts on the card—Canada’s Hunter Lee went the distance with fellow Canadian Achilles Shinas to improve his mark to (5-0, 2 KOs), taking a majority decision with scores of 40-36 (x2) and 38-38. Shinas falls to (1-1, 1 KO). Lee, fighting out of the famed Kronk Gym, got an excellent test from Shinas and was pushed all the way in a bout where the action was nearly nonstop. Lee looks ready to move up to the six-round level going forward.
Results of the rest of the card (featuring eight four-rounders):
Detroit heavyweight Timmie Plair received huge cheers from the crowd, winning his pro debut by TKO at 2:41 of the opening round over Markus Cleveland, who was also making his pro debut.
Cody Brooks was stunned in the third round of his cruiserweight contest against Twon Smith but rode it out to take a 39-37 (x3) decision. Brooks moves to (4-0-1, 3 KOs), while Smith falls to (6-16, 5 KOs).
In another cruiserweight matchup, popular William Canales (5-0, 4 KOs) of Puerto Rico dished out a one-sided beating to Michael Teolis (1-2, 1 KO), who did not come out for the start of the third round. Teolis bravely tried to stay with Canales but just didn’t have enough to hang with him.
In yet another cruiserweight tiff, debuting Charles Cross needed just 44 seconds to send opponent James Ashley (0-3) home with a KO loss.
Detroit’s Tadale Harris (2-0-1, 1 KO) took a commanding decision over Anthony Alston Jr. (0-5) with scores of 40-36 (x3) at junior welterweight.
Heavyweight Marcus Solis came out ahead after four rounds by scores of 40-35 (x3) over Vernon Coakley III. Both were making their pro debuts.
Jeremiah Phifer improved to (3-0, 3 KOs), scoring a second-round knockdown and continuing his assault in the third, with referee Steve Daher waving it off at 1:43, dropping Phifer’s opponent Teon McGee to (1-5, 1 KO). The match was at welterweight.
The opening bout of the night had super featherweight Jeremiah Richard winning his pro debut by KO at 2:50 of the first round over Shaquan Wager (2-10, 2 KOs).
Promoter Llinas announced his next Night of Knockouts for June 26. His cards are always an interesting mix of established fighters and newcomers hoping to make a mark in the boxing world, consistently delivering entertaining nights of action. Sellouts are common.
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