Tony Harrison and Luck of the Draw, USS Cunningham Returns
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Los Angeles, CA ( April 18th, 2021)– In an April weekend of mixed results, with many fighters shaking off the cake dust which comes with more than a year of ring rust, former World Boxing Council Junior Middleweight champion Tony Harrison settled for a lucky draw over 12 rounds with Bryant Perrella in the main event at Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles, California, Saturday evening, April 17, 2021, Premier Boxing Champions on Fox Sports.
For Harrison, the issue may more have been trying to find his place again inside the ring, and inside his emotional soul, after the death of his father and trainer Ali Harrison during the Covid-19 Novel Coronavirus pandemic which has claimed the lives of over three milion people worldwide. Professional boxing, like professional sports, is almost on life support fighting for its existence during the mostly no spectator period.
The rounds went back and forth. Most experts had Perrella ahead eight rounds to four, but the rounds were hard fought. The one scorecard draw was acceptable by most observers, but not the one scorecard for Harrison. Perhaps the biggest win for Harrison was not the bout, but his courage and determination, heart to return to the ring after losing his father, whoahd motivated and inspired him to win a world title. The pandemic period has tested the spirit, motivation, heart and determination of boxing’s best warriors. The real dilemma is returning with even greater determination, versus returning for a paycheck. Harrison’s heart was in the bout, and there is something to say for that, even if Perrella’s hands were faster and landed more frequently.
Harrison, 28-3-1 with 21 knockouts, Detroit, Michigan, and southpaw Perrella, trained by Roy Jones Jr., 17-3-1 with 14 knockouts, Fort Myers, Florida, both drew for the first time in their careers. Perrella’s left hand seemed to find its mark more often than Harrison’s right hand. Perrella simply led on the punch count overall, though Harrison was more accurate with his jab and gave a great effort. In one sense, boxers who fight during the pandemic are at least more active than those who have not fought during the pandemic. Perrella was cut on the left eye from an accidental headbutt in round 11. Overall, it was an entertaining scrap for television, and another controversial decision.
Result: Tony Harrison Draw 12 Bryant Perrella, Junior Middleweights
Scoring: 114-114 Draw. 116-112 Harrison. 117-111 Perrella. Referee: Thomas Taylor
Steve “USS” Cunningham returned to the ring after four years of layoff, and stilled looked sharp and in superb condition, scoring a six rounds decision over debuting MMA fighter Frank Mir at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Cunningham, age 44, 30-9-1 with 13 knockouts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the former world cruiserweight champion, weighed 206 pounds, remained as cunning as ever, never allowing the 276 pounds MMA champion Mir to get close enough to him to attempt to use his size as an advantage. Cunningham used his right hand well enough to appear to win every round except the fourth. MMA fighter Mir went the distance with Cunningham, and there is something to be said for that, as Conor McGregor did not go the distance with Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Result: Steve Cunningham Win 6 Frank Mir (Pro Debut), Heavyweights
Scoring: 60-54, 60-54, 58-56 for Steve “USS” Cunningham.
Debuting MMA fighter Mir outweighs Cunningham 276 to 206 pounds. Weight nonfactor.
Other Major Weekend Fight Results:
Hugo Alberto Roldan Win 10 Emilio Domenguez Rodriguez, Super Lightweights
20-0-1 Argentine 140 pounds prospect Roldan is 7-0-1 in recent ten round decisions fought.
Gustavo Daniel Lemos TKO 8 Maximiliano Ricardo Veron, Super Lightweights
26-0 Argentine prospect Lemos in second defense of IBF Latino Super Lightweight title.
Max Reeves Technical Draw 3 Mark Smith, Super Middleweights
Vacant Australia Victoria title bout ends when accidental head clash causes a broken nose.
Dan Azeez Win Split Decision 10 Ricky Summers, Light Heavyweights
13-0 prospect Azeez retains BBBof C British English Light Heavyweight title
Danny Dignum Split Draw 10 Andreey Sirotkin, Middleweights
13-0-1 Dignum, cut on left eye in eighth, tenth, retains WBO European Middleweight title
James Martin Win Majority Decision 8 Vito Mielicki Jr., Super Welterweights
7-2 Marshall Kauffman Philadelphia fighter Martin upsets 8-0 Mielnicki.
Efetobor Apochi KO 3 Deon Nicholson, Cruiserweights
11-0 Nigerian Apochi had 14-0 Nicholson down in second, down and out in third round.
Darwin Price KO 5 Saul Corral, Welterweights (0:20)
Arizona’s 31-16 Corral knocked out for ten count by 17-1 Houston, Texas prospect Price.
Demetrius Andrade Win 12 Liam Williams, Middleweights
30-0 Andrade retains WBO World Middleweight title. Williams down in second round.
Scoring: 118-109, 118-109, 116-111 for Andrade. Referee: Roberto Ramirez Jr.
Carlos Gongora win 12 Christopher Pearson, Super Middleweights
20-0 Ecuador southpaw Gongora retains IBO World Super Middleweight title.
Jake Paul TKO 1 Ben Askren (Pro Debut), Cruiserweights (1:59)
Social media icon Jake Paul goes to 3-0. What a joke. Fred Flintstone could have won.
Regis Prograis Win Technical decision 6 Ivan Redkach, Super Lightweights
Welcome to Shakespeare theatre. Redkach, hit above belt, claims low blow, says cannot continue. Removed on stretcher. Goes to scorecards. Scoring: 60-54, 60-54, 59-54 Prograis.
Kendrick Ball Jr. Win 8 Brian Vera, Super Middleweights
16-1-2 Ball wins vacant WBC USNBC Silver Super Middleweight title. Vera now 28-17.
Fabio Turchi Win 12 Dylan Bregon, Cruiserweights
19-0-1 Italian southpaw “Stone Crusher” Turchi Wins EBU European Cruiserweight title.
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