Kayo! Mansour Knocks Out Confusing Cameroon Heavyweight Fred Kassi in Seven
By Robert Brizel, Head RCM Boxing Correspondent-Ringside
*Photo Credit Robert Brizel, Real Combat Media
Bethlehem PA, (November 10, 2014)– Southpaw heavyweight contender Amir ‘Hardcore’ Mansour, who possesses devastating punching power, faced a mysterious dilemma in the main event at Sands Casino Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, on Saturday evening, November 8, 2014, promoted by Main Events, Peltz Promotions and BAM Promotions. Mansour, now 21-1, 16 knockouts, Wilmington, Delaware, faced unknown 18-2 Fred Kassi, a Cameroon fighter out of New Orleans with 10 heavyweight knockouts. Kassi had not been seen by anyone. No fight footage on him was available. Uniquely, Kassi appeared confident in the ring and unintimidated by Mansour’s reputation, adding to the mystery before the start of the bout.
Both fighters appeared in top condition, and NBC Sports Network had a winner in the main event. Mansour appeared to be sufficiently outworking the unknown Kassi, but whenever Mansour came in swinging with heavy leather, Kassi counterpunched with power and stung him with power! Mansour appeared to be taken aback by Kassi’s power, and opted to box cautiously and patiently until he could figure his strange opponent out.
In a most confusing and brilliant strategy, Kassi continued switching back and forth from the orthodox stance to the southpaw stance and back again. Frequently Mansour swung into empty air, as Kassi had switched stances time and time again, and his figure was not there as a frustrated Mansour was unable to close the show. Finally, midway through round seven, Kassi got briefly caught on the ropes, where a Mansour counter right hook pitched Kassi face first to the canvas knocked out, an exciting end to a surprisingly good fight. A stretcher was brought in, and Kassi was administered oxygen. Fortunately Kassi soon recovered, and was seen smiling with Mansour in the ring congratulating and talking with him after the bout.
A confused and perplexed Mansour admitted after the bout the unknown Kassi had stung him with hard punches a number of times during the contest. Mansour remains atop the heavyweight mix, and would make a great world title shot with Chagaev, Stiverne, or the winner of Wladimir Klitschko versus Kubrat Pulev in 2015. Another possibility would be for Mansour to fight Artur Szpilka, who beat Tomasz Adamek for the IBF International Heavyweight title, for that belt in 2015 on NBC. Another idea could be for Mansour to fight Tomas Adamek or Vyacheslav Glaskov for the vacant IBF North American title on NBC.
Result: Amir Mansour KO 7 Fred Kassi, Heavyweights, NBC Sports Network Main Event
Time: 2:17. Referee: Gary Rosato.
Former world heavyweight champion Larry Holmes, and current heavyweight contender Steve Cunningham were ringside. Cunningham was interviewed before the card. Steve and his wife have temporarily relocated from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, and are still waiting for a heart transplant to save the life of their nine year old daughter. According to Cunningham, six donor hearts have been offered so far, but none have been compatible.
NBC Sports Network Undercard at Sands Casino Bethlehem
Referees: Gary Rosato, Steve Smoger, and David Franciosi
Dmitriy Mikhailenko Referee’s Technical Decision 8 Ronald Cruz, Light Middleweights
Powerful 18-0 workmanlike Russian Mikhailenko wore Cruz down mechanically, landing six punches for every two he took. Cruz wanted an inside bout and got it, fighting Mikhailenko’s style fight. Cruz had no confidence in his punches, holding back tentatively when he should have been throwing. Cruz landed a powerful counter right tot he head frequently, but did not follow up when he scored. Cruz right eye appeared cut and swollen shut after round eight, causing the stoppage. Cruz was ineffective at 154 pounds, fighting in the wrong division when he should have stayed at welterweight. his corner agreed.
Vasily Lepikhin Win 10 Jackson Junior, Light Heavyweights
Scoring: 97-93, 97-93, 96-94 for Lephikin
Taller and strong 16-0 Russian light heavyweight prospect defeated Brazil’s Jackson Junio on superior conditioning, but fought the wrong style fight. Instead of using his height and reach advantage to easily outpoint the stubborn Brazilian, Lepikhin took the entire bout to theinside and gave Junior the chance to fight an inside war. Junior tagged Lepikhin when the Russian got caught on the ropes, and stayed alive in the bout. Some of the early rounds were close, but the later rounds were not, when Lepikhin found a second wind and got the best of Junior, winning the last several rounds and the bout. Real Combat Media scored the bout 97-95 for Lepikhin. The Russian has great potential, but needs work in terms of lateral movement. When you have height and reach over your opponent, you need to use it.
Arturo Trujillo Win 4 Anthony Prescott, Welterweights
Scoring: 39-35, 39-35, 39-35 for Trujillo, an Easton Pennsylvania southpaw, now 6-0.
2011 National Golden Gloves champion at 152 pounds Trujillo dropped Prescott in the last ten seconds of round one and round four, creating 10-8 rounds twice, winning easily.
Fellow Easton resident Larry Holmes, the former world heavyweight champion known as ‘The Easton Assassin’, was in attendance to show support for the promising local prospect.
Omar Carroll Win Split Decision 4 Anthony Carramanno, Super Bantamweights
Scoring: 39-37, 39-37 for Carroll. 39-37 for Carramanno.
Philly fighter Carroll, 0-3-1, making a comeback after six and a half years inactivity, counterpunched over Staten Island’s 2-0 Carramanno’s straight left while moving side to side. Carroll scored an impressive win in this minor upset. Carroll was solidly tagging Carramanno all over the place in round four. Despite the scoring, the bout was not close.
Carroll, with his sideburns, reminded this reporter of a pint sized version of Joe Frazier.
Nick Valiere Win 4 David Navarro, Welterweights
Scoring: 39-37, 39-37, 39-37 for Valliere.
New Jersey southpaw Valliere, age 18, is a a kind of wild wide swinging boxer who nonetheless remains very active and busy in every round he fights with a high volume punch workrate. He needs improve his punching technique, which is too wide at present.
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