Antoine Douglas Sparkles in Showtime Main Event at Sands Bethlehem
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
*Photo Credit: Robert Brizel, Real Combat Media
Bethlehem, PA (July 19th, 2015)– In the main event of a nine bout ShoBox: The Next Generation card televised on USA Showtime, promoted by GHS3 Promotions and King’s Promotions,on Friday evening, July 17, 2015, middleweight contender Antoine Douglas of Burke, Virginia, won the vacant International Boxing Organization Inter-Continental Middleweight title and remained undefeated with a third round stoppage of Istvan Szili of Frenkendorf, Switzerland.
Douglas, now 18-0-1, 12 knockouts, had his way from the opening bell with the short Szili, now 18-1-2 with eight knockouts. Douglas began showcasing fast jabs immediately to the face of Szili, swelling up the face of Sziliand battering it quickly. Szili appeared short and tough, but could not get inside and had no ‘Plan B’ to trying to outbox Douglas when the shorter man’s plan was not there.
By round two, Douglas was consistently and frequently scoring with stinging power jabs to Szili’s face, and a short left right combination dropped Sziling face first. Szili surprisingly got up, and continued moving forward in front of Douglas, offering a target and taking a beating. Less than thirty seconds into round three, a left hook dropped Szili again. Finally, a right hook-left hook combination dropped Szili for good.
Douglas made his fourth appearance on Showtime a spectacular one, and continues his rapid rise in the most competitive 160 pound division. In the postfight interview, the name Curtis Stevens came up, and Douglas smartly stated the name of his next opponent, as always, would be a team decision, not an individual one. Teamwork is the hallmark of success, and the Douglas team, all things considered, has done well.
Result: Antoine Douglas TKO 3 Istvan Szili, Middleweights (0:29)
Douglas wins the vacant IBO Inter-Continental Middleweight title
Szili was down in the second round, and twice in the third round. Referee stops contest.
Referee: Gary Rosato
Summary Three Bout Televised Showtime Undercard
In the preliminary to the main event, middleweight Arif Magomedov of Russia remained undefeated with an impressive ten round decision over Derrick ‘Take It To The Bank’ Webster of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Magomedov showed the tenacity to work his way inside and keep the fight confined to an inside war with the taller Webster. Magomedov dropped Webster with right hands in round seven and ten. Webster would have liked to keep Magomedov on the outside and target him with jabs, but Magomedov, a carbon copy version of Pawel Wolak, continued to burrow his way inside.
Magomedov did best when he trapped Webster along the ropes and targeted him with heavy power shots. Overall Magomedov was busy all night landing heavier shots. Webster, landed some light jabs, but for the most part was not busy enough,for the most part throwing no punches at all, and when he did land they lacked the sort of power to do any damage. What Webster did have was spirit and heart, and Magomedov, who pressured Webster from start to finish, won easily but could not break his spirit. Webster had to get off the canvas near the final bell and fight on, and did so.
Result: Arif Magomedov Win 10 Derrick Webster, Middleweights
Magomedov wins the vacant WBO NABO Middleweight title
Scoring: 99-89, 99-89, 9989 Magomedov. Webster was down in rounds 7 and 10.Referee: Benjy Esteves Jr.
In a candidate for the ShoBox: The Next Generation USA Showtime ‘Fight of the Year’, super bantamweight prospect Adam Lopez of San Antonio, Texas, went to 13-0, six knockouts, with a hard fought ten round majority decision over Eliecer Aquino, now 17-1-1, 11 knockouts, of Higuey, Dominican Republic. The ten rounder featured a flash knockdown by Lopez of Aquino in the first round, leading only to a 10-9 round for Lopez instead of the usual 10-8. The rest of the lengthy bout was a good old fashioned offensive dogfight with both fighters trading bombs. Aquino crowded Lopez early, then Lopez took control in the middle rounds and scored with a consistent head and body attack. Aquino countered wherever possible.
The bout was exciting and close. Real Combat Media had Lopez winning rounds 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8, with an even round 9 at 10-10 with round one won by Lopez at 10-8 with the knockdown scored by Lopez. Real Combat Media had Aquino winning round 4, 6, 7 and 10 with round 9 even at 10-10. Even this reporter agreed the rounds were so close a point could shake, and all press at ringside watching the bout were in disagreement over who won and the actually scoring. All agreed the bout was close and would make a great rematch. Aquino actually regained control of the tempo late in the bout, and swung away in round 10 for the win to try to win it, which most fighters lack the guts to do. Lopez was better with accurate jabs which scored, but missed with bombs. Aquino was more effective with heavier punches. The bout stirred memories of Wilfredo Gomez, Lupe Pintor, Carlos Zarate, and the glory days of the super bantamweight division. This fight was superbly matched at a true credit to the ShoBox: The Next Generation broadcast series.
The bout was fought at the ‘A’ level by both unbeatens. Both careers should advance due to the excellent performance of both combatants. The decision could have gone either way.
Result: Adam Lopez Win Majority Decision 10 Eliecer Aquino, Super bantamweights
Lopez wins the vacant World Boxing Council Super Bantamweight Latino title
Lopez wins the vacant World Boxing Association Fedelatin Super Bantamweight title
Scoring: 95-95 Draw. 96-93, 96-93 Lopez. Referee: Gary Rosato.
In a strange and wrongly matched contest, super middleweight prospect Jerry Odom would up fighting in the wrong division and lost to southpaw light heavyweight Samuel Clarkson by third round stoppage. It appeared the bout was contracted for at the 168 pound super middleweight limit. Clarkson, now 215-3 with nine knockouts, Cedar Hill, Texas, who decisioned top rated 27-1 light heavyweight contender Cedric Agnew in his last bout at 175 pounds, weighed in at 172 pounds, the lowest he could go as a true light heavyweight. However, Odom, now 13-2, 12 knockouts, Bowie, Maryland, weighed in at 168.3 pounds, over the super middleweight limit.
The fight went off at light heavyweight instead, which was not the original intention. Odom was in the wrong division against an established power hitter. Odom won the first round by staying busier, throwing an attacking jab while a cautious Clarkson felt Odom out and looked for counters. Clarkson threw caution to the wind in round two, targeting Odom’s head with power shots, uppercuts and chopping shots and decking him. It was the same story in round three, with down going down twice, and Clarkson finishing him on the ropes. Odom had no business being matched one division up into the wrong division. You would think after Clarkson beat Agnew, the top rated light heavyweight contender, any matchmaker would realize you do not fight a blue chip prospect like Odom in wrong division. It was like putting Odom, a 168 pounder, in with Sergei Kovalev at 175 pounds.
Worse, Clarkson is a bing bang boom power hitter. Odom taunted Clarkson in the ring after getting hit, having contempt for Clarkson’s power. Sugar Ray Leonard taunted Hector Camacho Sr. in the ring in his last bout. Like Clarkson did with Odom, Camacho finished Leonard on the ropes after knocking him down, closing the show in brutal fashion. The Odom versus Clarkson mismatch could not have made the GH3 promoter very happy.
Result: Samuel Clarkson TKO 3 Jerry Odom, Light Heavyweights (1:15)
Odom was knocked down in round two, and twice in round three.
Referee: Shawn Clark
Untelevised Undercard Bouts at Sands Bethlehem
Referees: Gary Rosato, Benjy Esteves Jr., and Shawn Clark
Samuel Teah Win 4 Raymond Velez, Lightweights (Opening Bout)
Rob Brant TKO 3 Ernesto Berrospe, Middleweights (0:33)
Botirsher Obidov Win Split Decision 4 Christopher Brooker, Super Middleweights
Emmanuel Folly KO 2 Jose Garcia, Super Bantamweights (0:23) Garcia knocked out.
Rickey Nuno KO 3 Tim Kunkel (Debut), Junior Middleweights (0:57)
Kunkel won first round on jab and fast footwork. Nuno had considerable power, though, and Kunkel had none. Kunkel down twice in second, and was knocked out in third round.
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