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Ray Edwards Gets Unanimous Decision Over T.J. Gibson
May 21st, 2011

Report By Ray Kilgore
Photos By Jesse Kelley

By Ray Kilgore: Leading up to Friday's night fight at Grand Casino Hinckley, Minnesota Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards, 26, and his trainer, Jeff Warner, did a good job of talking up Edwards as the next best heavyweight.

"Ray will be the first to come from pro football as a starter and destroy the heavyweight division," Warner told a local newspaper before the fight. "He's a modern-day Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson combined."

Well, Edwards, who was rumored to have received $5,000 plus 50 percent of the live gate, was far from either Ali or Tyson, taking a four-round unanimous decision over T.J. Gibson winning by scores of 40-34, 39-35, 40-34 on all three cards.
The 6'5", 258-pound Edwards quickly discovered that 5'9" Gibson wasn't willing to come in and lie down, as many expected he would.
In round one, Edwards and Gibson, both making their professional boxing debuts, started off trading jabs, but surprisingly it was the smaller Gibson who was the aggressor for most of the opening round.
Edwards circled, looking for an opening; halfway through the round, he hit the jackpot as he landed a one-two combo that sent Gibson down. Gibson wasn't seriously hurt, but the fight began to take on a clear pattern of Edwards circling, throwing an occasional jab, and trying to land a big right.

Unfortunately both men's lack of boxing experience showed at times, such as when Gibson resorted to throwing looping right hands while Edwards blocked, then tried a punch with two of his own before the men would tie up.
Without question, Gibson was viewed as nothing more than an opponent for Edwards' first real fight, expected to be knocked out within seconds of the opening bell. But to his credit, he came planning to fight his best, and at times he was able to land his looping rights.
But the fight would inevitably fall back into its pattern, each man taking turns moving forward, followed by one or two blows from Edwards. At one point in round two, referee Joe Cortez motioned for both men to engage more, because Edwards had begun to drop his hands to his sides and walk around the ring while Gibson held his gloves bent inward, looking to land his clubbing rights.
By round three, it was clear that Edwards was going to take the contest, and his confidence in victory showed as he showboated, dropping his hands to his sides.
In the final round, Edwards was able to put Gibson on the canvas for the second time with a right, just as the boxers were breaking up from a clinch. Gibson made the count, and toward the end of the round, both men exchanged blows the most action-packed sequence of the fight.
The fans booed several times throughout, disappointed in the show, but Edwards reached his goal of getting his first professional win and improved his record to (1-0), while Gibson fell to (0-1).

 

 

Cerresso Fort Impresses, Stopping Tim Taggart Jr. in Round Two
Before Friday's fight, Cerresso Fort had been inactive in boxing since July 2010, when he defeated Steve Macomber, while his opponent, Taggart, was coming off a barn burner win against Charles Meier earlier this year.
Fort, who has had past managerial problems, started round one jabbing, while Taggart countered with several jabs of his own. The men mirrored each other at times, one would jab only to be met by his opponent's jab. But soon the action would heat up, both boxers exchanging hard blows, while Taggart set himself up as the aggressor, trying to land hard rights.
At one point during the round, Taggart missed a blow; Fort countered and sent Taggart to the canvas seconds before the bell ended the round.
In round two, both picked up where they left off, going back to trading blows until Fort decided to return to the jab.
While Fort was still trying to adjust to his changed approach to the fight, Taggart landed what appeared to be a good right, getting Fort's attention, and shortly thereafter the fighters went back to trading blows. Then Taggart threw a shot that missed Fort, who countered with a one-two of his own, that sent Taggart down hard to the canvas. While referee Joe Cortez was administering the ten count, he quickly waved off the fight, seeing that Taggart was in no condition to continue.
With the win, Fort improved to (11-0, 9 KOs) while Taggart fell to (5-3, 2 KOs).

Jamal James Defeats Hector Orozco by Tough Unanimous Decision
Hector Orozco came out strong in his fight against Jamal James and quickly attempted to land several right hands, forcing James to try to slow the pace down and use his counters. Both fighters traded good shots, but it was James' jab and body work that was most noticeable early.

In round two, James snapped his jab more and continued to work the body, while Orozco moved forward, trying to land a big punch while wearing James down with non stop pressure.

By rounds five and six, Orozco had succeeded in making James somewhat tired. James stuck with his game plan of using his jab, going to the body, and trading when he felt it was needed. Orozco walked through some big shots as he finished the bout swarming James with punches.

James improved his record to (5-0, 4 KOs) while Orozco fell to (3-8) by unanimous decision (58-56, 58-56, 58-56)

 

 

Larry Butler Gets Technical Win Over Van Goodman in a Bloody Mess
Round one started slow, as both men did lots of posturing. It would be Butler who finally got things started, landing several right hands followed up by several jabs. Goodman didn't appear bothered by them, however, and he ended up landing several of his own combos and solid right hands.

By round two, Goodman came out the aggressor and landed a hard right hand that sent Butler down. Butler looked tired and seemed content with surviving the round. But with the start of round three, both men went back to landing good jabs and right hands. Near the far ropes, Butler landed a good shot that opened up a bad cut over Goodman's eye, and Goodman's face became a bloody mess.

In round four, Goodman landed some good jabs that snapped Butler's head back, while Butler came back and landed several good rights of his own. The blood over Goodman's eye continued to flow, and at last the doctor was called in to take a look at his injury.

The fight continued, and this time it was Butler who landed the better of the blows, as his right hand snapped Goodman's head back. The men exchanged blows again, and for the second time the action was stopped so that the ring doctor could check Goodman's eye. This time it was decided that Goodman's eye injury was too major, and the fight was called off.

Butler improved his record to (1-0, 1 KOs) while Goodman fell to (2-3, 1 KOs).

 

Tony Lee Dazzles, Stopping Ronnie Fuentez in Round Four
Tony Lee got the action started early, as he used a good jab and strong right to back Ronnie Fuentez up. Lee sensed that Fuentez was a little buzzed from the blow and tried to take advantage of the opportunity, but Fuentez, who was making his professional debut, was game as he swung back in an effort to fend off Lee's attack. Minutes before the round closed, Lee appeared to send Fuentez down on one knee from a good punch, but the referee ruled it a slip.

By round two, both fighters had the fans into the fight as Lee backed Fuentez into the corner, while Fuentez unwisely dropped both his hands to his sides, taking two hard blows. Luckily Fuentez wasn't seriously hurt and tried to fire back.

But it was Lee's fast hands and body work that made the difference.

By round three, it was evident that Lee's overall skills were going to be too much for Fuentez, as Lee connected with several flurries followed by a solid right that dropped Fuentez.

Fuentez made the count, but seconds later he went down again from a hard body shot. Again Fuentez made the count, but he spit out his mouth guard. Once the action resumed, Lee tried to jump on Fuentez to end the fight. But before he had a chance, the bell sounded, ending the round.

In round four, Lee picked up where he had left off and sent Fuentez down hard with a solid blow. As Fuentez struggled to make the count, it was clear that he was in no condition to continue, and the fight was called off.

Lee improved his record to (4-0, 2 KOs) while Fuentez fell to (0-1).

 

 

Jonathan Perez Dominates Raymond Torres in Round Two
Perez came out in round one trying to end the fight early, as he landed two hard right hands. But Torres was game and was willing to exchange blows with Perez, until minutes into the round, when Perez took solid control by landing solid rights, working the body, and using combos to take the round.

By round two, Perez was picking up the action, going back to his jab. Torres attempted to flurry but wasn't landing any blows. By this time, Torres was in retreat mode, and Perez landed a hard body blow that sent Torres down. Torres was able to make the count, but he didn't appear in good shape and the fight was called off.
Perez improved his record to (2-0, 2 KOs) while Torres fell to (0-2).