JungleBoy
Tames the Wolfman!
By Ramon Hough
In the main event, the "Jungleboy" Zach Walters tamed the "Wolfman" Marty Lindquist with a dramatic 2nd round TKO and became the Minnesota Light Heavyweight champion.
The "Wolfman" entered the ring huffing and puffing, seemingly trying to intimidate the "Jungleboy." It even looked like he tried head-butting the "Jungleboy" during referee Mark Nelson's pre-fight instructions in the middle of the ring.
In the 1st round, the "Jungleboy" tried establishing the jab and mixed up punches effectively to the body and head. On the other side, the "Wolfman" was looking to land one big right hand. Although the "Wolfman" landed a few solid right hands, it was the "Jungleboy" who controlled the action by being busier and more accurate.
Between rounds, the "Wolfman" would not sit down and continued huffing and puffing in his corner. The "Jungleboy" seemed calm while listening to his corner's instructions.
By the 2nd round, the "Jungleboy" seemed to be sitting down on his punches more. He was still jabbing and using both hands effectively to the body and head. The "Wolfman" continued loading up and landed a hard right hand to the "Jungleboy's" body.
In the final minute of the round, the "Wolfman" landed a powerful right hand to "Jungleboy's" jaw, knocking out his mouthpiece. Sensing he may have stunned the "Jungleboy," the "Wolfman" tried following up with more bombs, but the "Jungleboy" was able to tie him up. During the clinch and probably sensing a lull in the action, Nelson stepped between the fighters to find the mouthpiece.
When the action resumed, the "Wolfman," probably sensing he had a wounded animal in front of him, charged in recklessly and walked into a well-timed, picture-perfect counter right hand to the head. The "Wolfman" went down hard and got up quickly, but clearly had no howl left in him. Nelson looked into his eyes and called a halt to the action at 2:46 of the 2nd round.
The "Jungleboy" of Duluth, Minnesota upped his record to 8-1, 7 KO's, with the only loss being a disputed decision. The "Wolfman" of Blaine, Minnesota drops to 10-4, 8 KO's.
Chris Holt won the Minnesota Middleweight title with a dominant performance over the always-durable Kwan Manassah.
Holt of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota controlled the action by being busier and consistently landing combinations to Manassah's body and head. His best punch was probably the right hand to the head. Manassah did land some jabs and an occasional overhand right, but couldn't put more than one punch together at a time. By the 3rd round, Holt's sustained body attack began taking its toll and Manassah was bleeding badly from his mouth.
Manassah of Minneapolis got rocked throughout the fight, but as is his custom, he never stopped trying and showed toughness and courage. All three judges scored the fight 60-54 in favor of Holt. Manassah may be too tough for his own good and has now lost 20 fights in a row.
Holt improves to 9-4, 6 KO's. Manassah falls to 6-22, 5 KO's.
In an exhibition, Jose Leo Moreno and James Wayka showed why they may be two of the Midwest's better young fighters. In a fight with no winner or loser, the two fighters treated the crowd with a show of their considerable skills. As always, the "Lionhearted" came forward and constantly applied pressure, working Wayka's body and head. Wayka jabbed effectively and mostly boxed on his toes.
Moreno's record stands at 8-0, 7 KO's. Wayka is 12-2, 8 KO's.
Heavyweight John Sargent, Jr. looked good early, but in the end, couldn't prevent his family from going winless on the night. Matt Anderson won by TKO after the 2nd round when J. Sargent couldn't continue.
In the 1st round, Anderson came straight forward throwing jabs and right hands, while the southpaw J. Sargent was looking to counter with straight left hands. The game plan seemed to be in full effect when J. Sargent landed a straight left that dropped Anderson.
After two rounds, J. Sargent seemed to be winning the fight, but told his corner he was having trouble breathing and could no longer continue.
The "Swinging Swede" improves to 2-2, 2 KO's. It was J. Sargent's pro debut.
Middleweight Andy "Chaos" Kolle continued his winning ways with a 1st round TKO over Brian Sargent, Jr. The southpaw Kolle couldn't seem to miss with jabs and straight left hands. B. Sargent tried working Kolle's body, but left himself wide-open to headshots.
Kolle ended matters with a right hook followed by two straight left hands to the head. B. Sargent went down in his own corner. Both fighter and corner decided they'd seen enough. Kolle of Fergus Falls improves to 3-0, 2 KO's. B. Sargent is now 1-2, 1 KO.
In a heavyweight fight, Brad Laffin stayed undefeated after knocking out Dan Bruce in the 1st round.
Bruce tried establishing the jab early, but Laffin was just too big and strong to hold off. Laffin ended matters with a monster left hook. Referee Mark Nelson counted him out at 1:12 of the 1st round.
Laffin has won all three of his pro fights by knockout. On the other hand, Bruce has lost all three of his pro fights by way of knockout.
Undefeated heavyweight Raphael Butler won in spectacular fashion by knocking out Arthur Boyles in the first minute of the first round. Butler was the much bigger man and drove Boyles into the ropes with two straight right hands to the head. Butler saw an opening and unleashed a devastating left hook to Boyles' ribcage. Boyles went down hard and was writhing in pain as referee Joe Hoffman reached the 10-count. The end came at 0:36 of the 1st round. Boyles was shaken up for a few minutes and may have broken some ribs. It was a punch that may have been heard throughout the arena.
The 20-year-old Butler improves to 3-0, 3 KO's. Boyles drops to 0-2.
In the opening bout, middleweight Joe Lynch improved to 2-0 with a 2nd round TKO over Cyrus Sargent.
Lynch was busier and seemed to be in better condition. C. Sargent started the fight throwing wild haymakers, but looked exhausted as early as the middle of the 1st round. Lynch scored a knockdown with two consecutive right hands to C. Sargent's head. Fatigue probably played a bigger role in the knockdown as the punches. C. Sargent's corner stopped the fight before referee Mark Nelson could finish the count.