:: Diamond Gloves Boxing ::

Mohegan Sun Arena
Showtime Championship Boxing
By: Jason C. Franz Reporting From Ringside
Photos By: Tom Casino / Showtime

From the opening bell of the first fight at the Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT, the night proved to be filled with upsets, disappointments, and action packed rounds. Michael Moorer, who was featured on the card led a relatively boring dramatized fight, while others came out on top in stunning fashion. Jeff Lacy, Lucia Rijker, and Daniel Judah were among the star studded victors on Showtime's Championship Boxing, but the same couldn't be said for others. In a dramatic upset, 2000 Mexican Olympian Francisco "Panchito" Bojado suffered his first loss, and established a flaw on his record. Among the other victors who were showcased, "Bad" Brad Dawson gave a thrilling performance as he glazed over Jerald Lowe in the first round, while Justo "Sensational" Sencion knocked out Omar Vazquez in the eighth round. So in turn, what was supposed to be an easy night for most fighters, actually turned out to be a melting pot of mixed conclusions. As it stands now, Francisco "Panchito" Bojado is focused on a rematch with Juan Carlos Rubio, in what he & Gary Shaw of Main Events, thought was a highly controversial decision.

Sencion -VS- Vazquez In the first of what is to be a thrilling night of boxing action from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT, up and coming Justo "Sensational" Sencion knocked out Omar Vazquez. Sencion improved his record to 19-1 with 11 KO's. This fight was marred by headbutts that ultimately led to Vazquez dropping to his knees at 2:26 of the eighth and final round and being counted out. The more technically sound Sencion dropped Vazquez twice in the fourth round with two right uppercuts, and it was apparent that Vazquez was hurt; but, "Sensational" wasn't able to finish him off, until Vazquez decided he had had enough.

Judah -VS- Davis In the second match of the night, Daniel Judah (brother of super Zab) defeated Robert Davis by a unanimous decision in a light heavyweight matchup. Daniel, improving his record to 14-0-1, being cheered on by Zab sitting ringside, won on the judges cards' of 79-73, 80-72 and 80-72. This fight, as reflected in the judges scoring, should not have gone the distance as Judah had Davis swinging wildly and on numerous occasions Judah had davis backed up against the ropes and into a corner, but lacked the power punch to put him away.

Dawson -VS- Lowe The third fight of the night was a super middleweight affair that pitted local talent "Bad" Chad Dawson, 4-0, from nearby New Haven, Connecticut versus Jerald Lowe of Atlanta, Georgia. Although slated to go four rounds, "Bad" Chad was determined to please the home fans, and please he did by unleashing a flurry of rights and lefts on Lowe which forced referee Daniel Schiavone to step in and stop the bout at 2:56 of the first round. After the fight, Lowe (who has been in the ring with Jeff Lacy, also on tonight's card) said that Dawson was faster, but was not as hard-hitting as "Left-Hook" Lacy.

Lacy -VS- Thomas Jeff Lacy, the number 14 ranked IBF super middleweight contender and 2000 U.S. Olympian, improved to 8-0 with all eight wins coming by way of knockout. "Left-Hook" took on Glen " The Promise" Thomas, who fell to 29-8, in what was scheduled for ten rounds, but with the effort put forth by Thomas he would have been better to stay at home in Louisville, KY and saved himself the plane fare. Lacy, looking ripped and unbelievably fast, KO'd Thomas :55 seconds into the first round with a right hook to Thomas' body which caused him to drop to the canvas and be counted out. The crowd in attendance was less than enthuiased as Thomas' reaction to the punch was delayed, and in a classy move, Thomas, as he exited the ring extended his middle finger to the Mohegan Sun fans. Lacy is an extremely talented fighter who has a bright future, but this writer would like to see him start fighting some quality competition.

Bojado -VS- Rubio Francisco "Panchito" Bojado, selected by USA Today as the prospect of the year for 2001, entered the ring with a perfect 9-0 record with 9 KO's, exuding confidence set to take on Juan Carlos Rubio, who stepped in with a less than perfect 26-6-2 record with 10 KO's, in a ten round Junior Welterweight event. The eighteen-year old Bojado, known as "The Babyfaced Assassin," a member of Mexico's 2000 Olympic team and being billed as the next Mexican boxing superstar and Rubio, a journeyman with nearly four times as much ring experience, went head-to-head in the new Mohegan Sun Arena. From the start it was apparent that Bojado, who has never been past the third round, was going to employ his strategy of looking for the quick knockout. Unfortunately for Panchito, it was not meant to be, as Rubio had Bojado frustrated throughout the fight. Rubio controlled the fight through the effective use of combinations and cutting off the ring, Bojado, on the other hand, threw and landed big punches, but Rubio was unfazed. On the occasions that Bojado did put punches together he was able to connect and hurt Rubio, but these combinations were few and far between, a tactical error on the part of Bojado and his corner.
Bojado -vs- Rubio

Things heated up in the fifth round as Rubio and Bojado were toe-to-toe in the middle of the ring throwing punches with reckless abandon, which brought the fans to their feet. This action continued into the sixth round as Rubio connected with many uppercuts while on the inside and led to Bojado looking tired and stunned. With 1:36 left in the eighth round, Rubio, again putting the pressure on, was credited with a knockdown as Bojado, trying to bob and weave, touched the canvas with his with his right glove. Heading into the tenth round, the fight could have gone either way and both fighters were determined to be the victor. As Bojado threw looping punches, Rubio egged him on, and things were fast and furious with the crowd whipped into a frenzy. As the fight concluded, we headed to the judges scorecards, and a unanimous decison was reached. Rubio (now 27-6-2), by a margin of 96-94, 96-94 and 98-92, upset the previously perfect Bojado (now 9-1). This fight was by far the most entertaining of the evening and could have easily received top billing; and, although Bojado is a superstar-in-the-making, this outcome is good for a sport whose reputation has been tarnished.

Rijker -VS- Witherspoon In the 6-round Women's Junior Welterweight fight, Lucia Rijker, 15-0 with 13 KO's, stopped perpetual loser Carla Shakura Witherspoon, who dropped to 9-27-1, at :29 seconds of the fourth round.

Moorer -VS- Davis The main event on the card at the Mohegan Sun Arena was the 10 round Heavyweight attraction which pitted two-time former Heavyweight champion Michael "Double M" Moorer against another ex-Heavyweight champion Robert "Desert Storm" Davis. Moorer, who is 3-0-1 with 3 KO's in his comeback attempt after a self-imposed three year absence due to personal reasons, immediately jumped on Davis from the opening bell. Forty seconds into round one, Moorer rocked Davis with a left hook and down went Davis, and it looked as if this fight was going to be a short one. Smelling blood, Moorer moved in for the kill and stuck Davis with a right hand which sent Davis to the canvas for the second time in the round.
Bojado -vs- Rubio

Unfortunately, for Moorer (and the fans in attendance), he was unable to land another shot to end the fight. After this round the action was hard to find as both fighters seemed tired and lacadasical, evidenced by the frequent boos and steady stream of patrons exiting the arena, except for the seventh round where Davis came alive and stunned Moorer, which sent him reeling against the ropes before being saved by the bell. Although it is hard to believe, the fight went the distance and again was sent to the judges who came up with a unanimous decision with scores of 97-91, 97-91 and an astonishing 99-89, all in favor of Moorer, who improved to 43-2-1 with 34 KO's, whose only losses came at the hands of George Foreman and Evander "The Real Deal" Holyfield; and, dropping Davis to 26-4 with 15 KO's.