Fox Decisions Mercado, Fans Enjoy King’s Promotions Show at SugarHouse Casino
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent- Ringside
*Photo Credit: Robert Brizel, Real Combat Media
Philadelphia, PA (May 13th, 2018)– Super lightweight prospect Mikal Fox of Forestville, Maryland, went to 17-0 with a hard-fought but unanimous eight-round decision over game 11-4 Anthony Mercado of Arecibo, Puerto Rico, in the main event at SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Friday evening, May 11, 2018, on an eight bout card promoted by Marshall Kauffman’s King’s Promotions. Mercado lost for the fourth time in his last five bouts, however, he scored an upset third-round stoppage win this past March over 7-0 Philadelphia Tyrone Crawley, to earn this opportunity bout. A capacity crowd enjoyed the SugarHouse card.
Fox enjoyed a slight height and reach advantage over Mercado, but Mercado put it all on the table in rounds three and four by executing a unique game plan. Mercado, an expert at head movement and slipping punches, would land crisp body shots on Fox, then tie Fox up, without allowing Fox to throw hard any punches. The novel approach enabled Mercado to win the rounds on two scorecards. However, Fox began to use superior foot movement in round five, not allowing Mercado to get set with a target. Mercado did not land very often after that with his body blows, and had no alternative plan. The ring was not cut off, and the two fighters went round and round.
Fox appears closer to a 10 rounder regional title bout of some kind in the near future.
Another boxing card took place at 2300 Arena in Philadelphia at the same time, a Showtime Shobox: The Next Generation card. A cut man working the first bout at SugarHouse was immediately transported to the other boxing card on the other side of Philadelphia, so it was a busy night of boozing in Philadelphia. Philadelphia lightweight Jerome Conquest, his left leg in a cast from a running injury during training, was at ringside.
Result: Mykal Fox Win 8 Anthony Mercado, Super Lightweights
Scoring: 79-73, 78-74, 78-84 Fox. Referee: Eric Dali
SugarHouse Casino, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Undercard Bout Results
Referees: Eric Dali, Blair Talmadge
Joel Flores Majority Draw 4 Christopher Burgos, Junior Lightweights (Opening Bout)
Flores won rounds one and three, Burgos won rounds two and four. The close bout was fought for almost all 12 minutes as two rock ‘em sock ‘em robots in a telephone booth.
Michael Coffie TKO 1 Lamar Lewis, Heavyweights (1:15)
Gargantuan 3-0 heavyweight Coffie decked winless blubbery Arkansas stiff Lewis in first.
Joshafat Ortiz TKO 2 Jordan Peters, Super Featherweights (2:13)
Reading, Pennsylvania 3-0 super featherweight prospect Ortiz got decked in first round, and beat the count. Ortiz decked Peters in second, then stopped him, in comeback thriller.
Jerrod Miner Draw 4 Desmond Moore, Bantamweights
Philadelphia versus Bethlehem. Stronger Miner won rounds two and three, Moore won rounds two and four as Miner tired near bout’s end. Miner was busier, but missed often.
Scoring of 39-37 Miner, 39-37 Moore, and 38-38 a draw spoke for the closeness of the bout.
Anvar Yunusov win 4 Deo Kizito, Super Featherweights
Surprise! Philadelphia’s Yunusov got decked by Kizito in third. Kizito tired in the fourth.
Romuel Cruz Win 4 Bryan Perez, Super Bantamweights
Philadelphia versus Puerto Rico. 2-0 Cruz got taken on a trip to hell by 2-10-1 Perez, who showed up in top condition to fight, and who proved boxing records don’t mean anything.
Alex Barboza Win 4 Sergio Aguilar, Super Bantamweights
Philadelphia versus Florida. 6-3-1 Alex Barboza, Pennsylvania and professional boxing’s only ever combination boxer and ring announcer, wins easy decision 40-36, 39-37, 39-37, changes his clothes, and returns to the ring to announce the decision after the main event.
Only in Philadelphia will you find a ring announcer who fights too-on the same card!
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