| Photo Credit: Lucas Noonan, Premier Boxing Champions
Omar Douglas Outpoints Frank De Alba in a Telephone Booth in PBC Main Event By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent-Ringside
Bethlehem, PA (December 30th, 2015)– In the televised main event bout of an 11 bout card at Sands Casino Events Center in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday evening, December 29, 2015, promoted by Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions and Marshall Kauffman’s King’s Promotions, Omar ‘Super O’ Douglas outpointed hometown area Frank ‘Ice’ De Alba is a closely fought exciting ten rounder which had the crowd on its feet. In a nasty ‘win at all costs’ ten round slugfest which featured nonstop toe-to-toe action and almost no holding, Douglas, 16-0 with 11 knockouts, Wilmington, Delaware, fought De Alba, now 17-2 with six knockouts, Reading, Pennsylvania, tightly inside of an invisible telephone booth. The rounds were extremely close and difficult to score. However, Douglas landed some crisp body shots and combinations on the inside close from time to time, and was clearly ahead on the punch count, doing just enough to pull this bout out on points.
De Alba had ten rounds of opportunities, was in the house, and tried hard to win this bout. Many of the rounds were even. Press felt Douglas was at least a point or two ahead, as he did enough in two or three of the rounds to give him the benefit of the doubt though all of the rounds were close. Both fighters rocked each other, gave and took their best shots, were hungry, and wanted it bad. Douglas moved De Alba a few time. De Alba could not move Douglas, though. Douglas kept up the heat and De Alba answered it. Douglas still slightly outworked him, though. Trainer Marshall Kauffman urged De Alba to continue his momentum whenever he scored big, but he remained somewhat cautious and did not follow up when he landed the big shots, allowing Douglas to seize the majority of the momentum. There was some belief De Alba would still get a hometown decision, but it did not happen. The judge’s scorecards ringside appeared neutral and fair, though they went three ways.
Result: Omar Douglas Win Majority Decision 10 Frank De Alba, Super Bantamweights Scoring: 95-95 Draw. 96-94, 97-93 for Douglas. Referee: Gary Rosato.
In a televised undercard upset, Philadelphia light heavyweight prospect Christopher Brooker, 7-1 with five knockouts, outpointed 8-0 Detroit Al Haymon prospect Leo Hall. Brooker, wild eyed and hungry, attacked Hall from the opening bell and kept the heat on, leaving the defensive Hall with no room to mount an offense. Brooker appeared to win every round, keeping up the pressure and landing combinations, listening to his corner and making no mistakes.
Christopher Brooker Win 8 Leo Hall, Light Heavyweights Scoring: 80-72, 79-73, and 79-73 for Brooker. Referee: Gary Rosato.
In the untelevised undercard, trainer Danny ‘Pa Encima’ Rivera, a former trainer of world champions Roman Martinez, Elio Rojas, and cruiserweight contender Julio Cesar Mathews, continued his winning ways with unbeaten super welterweight prospect Junior Castillo of the Dominican Republic. Castillo, 9-0, with six knockouts, competed at middleweight in the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Castillo scored a fifth round stoppage of Eduardo Flores, 23-19-3 with 15 knockouts, Quito, Ecuador. The ringside physician stopped the bout between rounds after the fifth round, with the right eye of Flores a beaten red bloody mess, though Flores was still game and wanted to continue.
Result: Junior Castillo Win Technical Decision 5 Eduardo Flores, Super Welterweights Time: 3:00. Ringside physician stops contest between rounds. Referee; Gary Rosato
In a scary moment during the walkout bouts following the televised events, Philadelphia super lightweight southpaw Jerome Conquest won by disqualification over Allentown southpaw Christian Molina. Thirty seconds into the second round, Molina suddenly deadlifted Conquest along the ropes into the air, and then slammed him face first off the floor. Conquest, face down and not moving, was immediately tended to by the ringside physicians and emergency medical personnel, and transported by stretcher to the nearest hospital. Molina will be suspended by the Pennsylvania Athletic Commission.
Result: Jerome Conquest Win Disqualification 2 Christian Molina, Super Lightweights Time: 0:30 of round two. Molina body slammed Conquest and was disqualified. Referee: Gary Rosato
Untelevised Bouts on Sands Casino Bethlehem Undercard
Referees: Benjy Esteves Jr. and Gary Rosato
Miguel Cruz TKO 7 Virgil Green, Welterweights (1:36) 12-0 Al Haymon prospect Cruz had Green down twice in seventh. Esteves stops contest
Denis Douglin TKO 8 Marcus Upshaw, Super Middleweights (1:53) Upshaw down in first and second. Douglin beat Upshaw on the ropes. Esteves stops contest
Milton Santiago Win Majority Decision 8 Angel Hernandez, Lightweights 13-0 Al Haymon prospect Santiago got taken on a trip to hell by Texas fighter Hernandez
Kyrone Davis Win 6 Andrew Hernandez, Middleweights Delaware 10-0 Al Haymon prospect wins every round against Arizona survivor Hernandez
Chris Colbert Win 4 Derrick Bivins, Featherweights Brooklyn 5-0 Al Haymon prospect Colbert got taken on a trip to hell by Philly boxer Bivins
Earl Newman Win 4 Victor Kpadenou, Light Heavyweights Brooklyn 8-0 Al Haymon prospect Newman outpoints showboating Benin boxer Kpadenou
Stephen Fulton Win Majority Decision 4 Joshua Greer Jr., Super Bantamweights Taller Fulton wins first two rounds, shorter Greer wins last two. Controversial decision
Heavyweight Travis Kauffman and cruiserweight Steve Cunningham did commentary for Fox Sports 1 with dressing room interviews of the fighters and at ringside. |
OMAR DOUGLAS WINS BACK AND FORTH BATTLE OVER FRANK DE ALBA ON PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS TOE-TO-TOE TUESDAYS ON FS1 & BOXEO DE CAMPEONES ON FOX DEPORTES
FROM SANDS BETHLEHEM EVENTS CENTER
MIGUEL CRUZ REMAINS PERFECT WITH SEVENTH ROUND
STOPPAGE OF VIRGIL GREEN
Christopher Brooker Knocks Off Previously Unbeaten Leo Hall
BETHLEHEM, PA. (December 30, 2015) – Unbeaten Omar Douglas (16-0, 11 KOs) gritted out a 10-round unanimous decision over Frank De Alba (17-2-2, 6 KOs) on Tuesday night’s edition of Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) TOE-TO-TOE TUESDAYS on FS1 and BOXEO DE CAMPEONES on FOX Deportes from Sands Bethlehem Event Center in Bethlehem, Pa.
Douglas started to turn up the heat up in round two as he landed two hard left hooks that stopped De Alba in his tracks. De Alba was able to gain confidence in round three, as he was able to counter effectively against Douglas.
Round five had the best two-way action of the first half of the fight with both guys digging deep to gain an advantage. Douglas seemed to get the better of the exchanges as he landed the harder combinations. Douglas began to take over the middle rounds and in round eight, a left hook rocked De Alba and put him in danger for this first time in the fight.
The two fought hard down the stretch and excited the crowd with Douglas winning in the end by majority decision by scores of 97-93, 96-94 and 95-95.
In the co-main event, Miguel Cruz (12-0, 11 KOs) remained perfect by scoring a seventh-round stoppage over Virgil Green (11-4, 3 KOs) in a scheduled eight-round welterweight battle.
Cruz was dominant throughout the fight and in round four he rocked Green with a left hook that had his opponent stumbling into the corner. In round seven, Cruz landed a perfect right and left hook that put Green down.
Sensing his moment, Cruz quickly finished the deal with two hard lefts that forced referee Benjy Esteves to stop the fight at 1:32 of round seven. Cruz’s power punches proved to be most dangerous as he connected on 46 percent of them.
In the televised opener, Christopher Brooker (7-1, 5 KOs) worked hard and earned an eight-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Leo Hall in a light heavyweight bout.
Brooker controlled most of the action and came out with a strong first round landing some solid punches in close on Hall. In round five, Brooker landed a solid combination that sent Hall back to the ropes and had him in trouble. He was far more accurate throughout the night, landing 49 percent of his total punches and 53 percent of his power punches.
In his strongest moment of the fight in round seven, Brooker landed a perfect right on the chin that drew a big reaction from crowd. The judges scored the fight 80-72 and 79-73 twice all for Brooker.
Here is what the fighters had to say Tuesday:
OMAR DOUGLAS
“I feel great. I got some great rounds. The judges might have made it a little bit closer than it really was. But I went into his hometown and did what I do.
“He was about as tough as my last fight. The only thing tougher than the last one was that I had to come here on the road and do it.
“This builds me. It makes me a better fighter. I had a great opportunity tonight and I jumped on it. I feel like I’m the better fighter and tonight I proved it.”
FRANK DEALBA
“It was a very competitive fight. I think I landed more punches. He was more aggressive, but I was landing more.
“This is boxing. I just come here to put on a show for the great fans. I thought I won the fight. I knew I beat him inside.”
MIGUEL CRUZ
“It was a great fight, he was a tough opponent who was very agile and mobile. I had to be patient and it was great to get those rounds. I’m coming for the 147-pound division.
“I was definitely trying to break him down slowly. He was mobile, but I didn’t expect him to be so quick.
“I was hurting him every time I hit him and I finally got him out of there.”
VIRGIL GREEN
“The hits to the back of the head were the problem. I wanted the ref to do something about it but that’s what hurt me. I never recovered from it.
“I felt like I was frustrating him and out-boxing him. But I never recovered from that blow.”
CHRISTOPHER BROOKER
“It was a good fight. He’s a good boxer, but I had to keep it rough. He has some good experience that kicked in, but my will, my heart and my training kicked in too.
“My loss is what got me motivated for this performance. No more setbacks, only get backs.”
LEO HALL
“I tried to work, We were working in there. I wasn’t surprised by anything. It was a good fight.
“I pushed myself. We got in there and fought. There’s no excuses. We’re going back to work.”
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