James Kirkland and 50 Cent Steal The Show at Resorts World Casino Boxing Card
By Robert Brizel, Head RCM Boxing Correspondent- Ringside
New York, NY (December 21, 2013)– Whatever American rapper and entrepreneur Curtis Jackson III AKA 50 Cent does, there’s an electric and flamboyant sense of the utter spectacular. The six bout boxing card promoted by 50 Cent and his SMS Promotions at Resorts World Casino on Friday evening, December 20, 2013, was not different. 50 Cent fighters scored first round knockouts in the last three bouts, keeping the ringside doctors on their toes, and were clearly worthy of better first rate opposition. In the middle of it all, rap singer Prodigy of Mobb Deep gave a rap performance inside the ring to keep ‘The Havoc’ going.
However, it was the presentation of an award in center ring to James ‘Mandingo’ Kirkland by 50 Cent which has the historical significance to shatter boxing history. Southpaw Kirkland received a special plaque in honor of the 73 power punches he landed on helpless 20-0 Glen Tapia at Boardwalk Hall on December 7, 2013. The 73 power shots landed are a CompuBox statistical 154 pound record. Kirkland’s one-sided torture of Tapia with trainer Ann Wolfe in his corner might sent up a big money MegaFight for promoter 50 Cent between Kirkland and Floyd Mayweather Jr. , Erislandy Lara, Saul Alvarez, Carlos Molina or Anthony Mundine(coming off a stoppage win over Shane Mosley)sometime in 2014.
Kirkland and 50 Cent electrified the crowd by their presence as well. In the main event, 23 year old light welterweight prospect Amir Imam of Albany, New York, won the vacant North American Boxing Association Light Welterweight title with a first round knockout of Sergio Perez of Mexico. Referee Ron Lipton counted Perez out for the full count of tenafter Imam landed a right to the head.
SIcne winning his four round debut by decision at the Seminole Hard Rock. Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida, in November 2011, Imam, now 12-0, eleven knockouts, has stopped his last eleven opponents within four rounds for a 100% stoppage ratio. That’s impressive, The 38 year old Perez, now 28-16, 19 knockouts, Tijuana, Mexico, had only been stopped twice in his 21 year career. Perez was inactive 2004-2010. Usually experienced Mexican fighters gut it out for the guts and the glory. Instead, Perez took a quick beating as Imam’s straight power shots were so fast in the brief affair, Perez probably never saw most of them before he got knocked out, and more than likely, retired by the New York State Athletic Commission and ABC Boxing outside of Mexico.
Result: Amir Imam KO 1 Sergio Perez, Light Welterweights
Imam Wins Vacant NABA Junior Welterweight title.
Main Event Referee: Ron Lipton. Time: 0:53 of the First Round.
Hungry super bantamweight southpaw 4-0 Nate Green of New Haven, Connecticut, trained by Luis Rosa at New Haven’s Boxing and Faith Gym, won the only decision on the card, coming off the canvas for a flash knockdown in the first round to score an impressive six round decision over 16-1 Thomas Snow of Capital Heights, Maryland. Green had Snow down in the fourth and sixth rounds. Green hoped 50 Cent or Lou DiBella might sign him, and made the most of the golden opportunity given to him by famed matchmaker Joe Quiambo. Green backed up Snow fearlessly, and walked him down with jabs and power shots all night, forcing the crafty Snow to hold on to survive from the second round on.
Green demonstrated the technical skills of a future world champion in only his fifth professional fight! Green was forced into a punch and hold contest as Snow would hold on for most of the bout-whenever Green landed a punch and appeared unable to counter as he lacked Green’s speed, accuracy, and work rate which broke him down rapidly. After the bout, Green noted “Snow really didn’t want to workon the inside. I was trying to work on the inside but he wouldn’t let me. So I worked him over one punch at a time. If I caught him a second time in the last round he was gonna go, but he had a lot of experience (and survived). I felt good.”
Trainer Louis Rosa, who also trains his son, 15-0 super bantamweight Louis Rosa Jr. and 5-0 light heavyweight Elvis Figueroa, was asked about the incredible risk of putting g a 4-0 unknown in with 16-1 contender. “I took a risk, I took a chance. I look at this as an opportunity. Nate Green is a diamond waiting to be discovered.”
SMS Promotions Undercard Results
Referees: Ron Lipton, Benji Esteves, and Ricky Gonzalez
Nate Green Win 6 Thomas Snow, Super Bantamweights. Green now 5-0, Snow 16-2.
Scoring: 58-54, 58-54, 58-54 for Green. Snow down in fourth and sixth rounds.
Joel Diaz Jr. KO 1 Tony Walker, Light Welterweights (2:27). Walker down twice.
Ryan ‘Blue Chip’ Martin KO 1 Eric Goodall, Lightweights
Emmanuel DeJesus TKO 4 Antonio Fernandes-Chavez, Light Middleweights (2:59)
Donte Strayhorn TKO 4 Sam Moura, Lightweights (1:34). Moura down in third round.
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