Dirrell Brothers Win as Boxing Returns to Trump Taj Mahal in Bankrupt Atlantic City
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
*Photo Credit: Sugar Ray Bailey
Atlantic City, NJ (April 30th, 2016)–On Friday evening, April 29, 2016, a 12 bout card promoted by King’s Promotions and Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions was held at Carl Icahn’s Trump Taj Mahal Hotel Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the first boxing card held there in six years, since popular Atlantic City heavyweight Chazz Witherspoon headlined a card there in 2010.
In the main event, super middleweight contender Andre Dirrell came off the canvas in the second round to win a ten round unanimous decision over Blake Caparello, and move closer to another world title shot at 168 pounds. Andre Dirrell, now 25-2 with 16 knockouts, Flint, Michigan, who every round on points by backing up and outworking the awkward southpaw Caparello, 22-2-1 with six knockouts, Greenvale, Australia.
Caparello has his best chance after a close first round. Caparello nailed Andre Dirrell with a short left hook to the head which dropped Dirrell briefly to a knee in a corner for a 10-8 Caparello round, his only good round of the ten round bout. Caparello strangely settled on the ropes in the same corner in round three, perhaps hoping for the counter opportunity to catch Dirrell again, but taking a beating instead for a 10-8 Dirrell round.
Caparello continued holding and wrestling. It might have been because he apparently entered the ring with his eyes and face somewhat swollen and puffy from sparring with new Jersey southpaw Derrick Webster. Without excuse, Caparello entered the ring to win. However, his lucky punch was never equaled a second time, and most of his punches swung wide and wild. Occasionally he landed a counter, but his punches lacked power.
The bout turned somewhat ugly, with Dirrell pushing Caparello into the ropes and pressing him with his forearm to trap him and keep him there, and Caparello holding and wrestling throughout. Caparello did the work for this bout and tried to win, His game plan to knockout Dirrell didn’t work, and left him without a single other round on the cards.
Result: Andre Dirrell Win 10 Blake Caparello, Super Middleweights
Scoring: 98-91, 98-91, 98-91 Andre Dirrell. Caparello knocked down Dirrell in the second.
Referee: David Fields
Result: Andre Dirrell Win 10 Blake Caparello, Super Middleweights
Scoring: 98-91, 98-91, 98-91 Andre Dirrell. Caparello knocked down Dirrell in the second.
Referee: David Fields
Other Bouts at Atlantic City Taj Mahal
Referees: Earl Brown, Harvey Dock, David Fields, and Benjy Esteves Jr.
Also Televised on Spike TV
Anthony Dirrell TKO 1 Caleb Truax, Super Middleweights (1:49) Brother of Andre Dirrell
Former WBC champion Dirrell knocked down Truax twice, the second time down and out.
Jonathan Guzman Win Referee’s Technical Decision 8 Daniel Rosas, Super Bantamweights
21-0, 21 Knockouts Guzman wins battle for the IBF # 2 rating position. Rosas down twice.
Untelevised Bouts
Eddie Ramirez TKO 2 Osumanu Akaba, Welterweights (2:33)
36 win fighter Akaba gives up, complaining about being thumbed in the right eye. Referee Harvey Dock paused before stopping contest. Akaba was hit by a 13-0 Ramirez punch.
Anthony ‘Juice’ Young Win 6 Juan Rodriguez, Welterweights
Young knocked down Rodriguez in the first round, then outboxed him the rest of the way.
Titus Williams Win 6 DeWayne Wisdom, Super Featherweights
In a tremendous show of courage, 5-28 journeyman Wisdom took a bad beating and came off the canvas twice in the final round, but somehow survived to go the six round distance against 5-0 2013 New York Golden Gloves champion Williams, boxing his first six rounder.
Darnell Pierce TKO 2 Hafiz Montgomery, Cruiserweight Walkout Bout (1:19)
Battle of unbeaten cruiserweights finds a winner after televised portion of card ends.
Brendan Barrett TKO 2 Alando Pugh, Heavyweight Walkout Bout (2:25)
4-0-2 tattooed MMA fighter Barrett stops 1-8 stiff Pugh in final bout of the evening.
Chris Thomas KO 1 Jessie Singletary, Middleweights (1:26)
Atlantic City unbeaten prospect Chris Thomas made short work of winless Singletary.
Abraham Nova TKO 1 Weusi Johnson, Super Lightweights (2:56)
Pro debut for Abraham Nova, a Sampson Boxing prospect, is successful over 1-0 Johnson.
Chordale Booker KO 2 Tolutomi Agunblade, Super Welterweights (1:41)
Booker, 2015 New York Daily News Golden Gloves champion, in opening bout on the card.
COMMENTS
English