HOME | PAST RESULTS | INTERVIEWS | FIGHTERS | CONTACT | AMATEUR PAGE

PHOTO REPORT FROM THE GRAND CASINO HINCKLEY
September 10th, 2011
By Ray Kilgore and Jesse Kelley at Ringside

PHOTOS AT BOTTOM OF REPORT

 

Jeremy McLaurin Shines in taking a Majority Decision over a Game Gary Eyer
If Jeremy McLaurin was going to win this fight, he had to have determination, will, skill and the ability to come back when Eyer pressed the fight. McLaurin (9-2, 5 Ko's), was able to follow his game plan and took a majority decision 76-76, 78-74 and 79-73 over Gary Eyer (8-2, 6 Ko's).
In round one, McLaurin used his jab and movement to set up good shots, keeping Eyer out of range. McLaurin continued to work Eyer's body later in the round as he set the tempo early.
Eyer opened up more in round two, unleashing body and head shots. McLaurin countered with his own body shots followed up with good right hands. The boxers moved to the far ropes and worked inside. But it was Eyer who landed the better shots as he landed flurries which had the crowd cheering.
In round three, Eyer did some of his best work by landing good body blows and went to McLaurin's head effectively. Several of Eyer's shots got McLaurin's attention although he never seemed really hurt. McLaurin, who overcame a lot growing up in the foster care system, looked physically bigger than Eyer making him able to withstand a lot of Eyer's punishment.
By round five, both boxers showed each other their best. They went toe-to-toe. In fact, Antonio Tarver, who called the action for the live Shobox telecast, watched intensely as McLaurin and Eyer moved past trading punches. The action stayed constant but it was McLaurin who was throwing more punches while Eyer began putting more effort into avoiding punches.
Eyer was confident as he put his hands by his side and taunted McLaurin throughout the round. McLaurin answered with his own taunts until his corner yelled for him to focus. As each boxer went back to trading, it was McLaurin who seemed to get the better of the two. And toward the end of the round, Eyer started circling without throwing many blows.
In round six, Eyer continued his movement while McLaurin pressed forward trying to find the right opening. McLaurin seemed to have the faster hands and was able to follow up with good right hands to the head and body. Toward the end of the round, the two fighters were tangled and McLaurin threw Eyer to the canvas twice before getting a warning from referee Steve Smoger.
In rounds seven and eight, both fighters continued to exchange but it was McLaurin who went back to the jab and seemed to land the stronger punches. Eyer continued to move around the ring looking for openings and found some success. Before the decision was announced, both boxers got into a verbal exchange but quickly embraced. After the bout, McLaurin stated that the featherweight division was his new home after fighting his first 10 fights as a lightweight.
"I had a great training camp and we came up with the perfect game plan to pick up the victory" said McLaurin afterwards. " I was surprised he (Eyer) ran so much because he is usually a straight forward fighter but I adapted and stuck with the game plan and I feel like I won the fight convincingly."

 

Tim Taggart jr. Outworked Harley Kilfian Early Only to Lose By Fourth-round TKO
Going into the fight the big question was how Taggart jr. was going to carry 175 pounds in his first time in that weight division. In round one, Taggart (5-4, 3 Ko's), came out to prove he belonged there as he used his jab, circled the ring effectively and hit a game Kilfian (8-7, 5 KO's ), at will.
In round two, Taggart Jr. continued his success landing right hands and going to Kilfian's body. However, Kilfian found his own success with an occasional jab and right hand but he was not as busy as Taggart.
By round four, the fight settled into the pattern of Taggart using his jab, staying outside and throwing 1-2 combos while Kilfian pressed forward. But unlike the first several rounds, Kilfian started to warm up and landed his power shots more frequently. Kilfian couldn't miss with the right hand, landing almost at will and opening up a bad cut over Taggart's left eye in the process.
Kilfian moved in and landed a big right, followed by a left-right combination that sent Taggart down. Wounded, Taggart beat the eight count but wasn't in good shape. Referee Mark Nelson called a halt to the action so the ring doctor could look at Taggart's cut. The fight was stopped at 1:33 into the round because of the cut. Word is Taggart required 12 stitches to close the cut later that night.

 

Hector Orozco Gets Revenge Defeating Tony Lee by Unanimous Decision
In their first fight back in December 2009, Tony Lee (4-1, 2 KO's), fought Hector Orozco (4-8, 3 Ko's), and Lee had to dig deep to get his first professional win. Friday night, Lee had to dig deeper to keep his record undefeated. But Orozco controlled the fight from the outset and when it was over, all three judges scored the fight 50-45, 48-47 and 49-47 for Orozco.
In round one, Orozco set the tone by going after Lee who found himself struggling all evening to find a rhythm. When he was able to find a solid stance to land power shots, he had to quickly abandon the plan as Orozco was in his chest throwing body shots and overhand rights.
By round two, Orozco used a weak jab as a disguise to set up his attack to Lee's body and his head. Lee fired back, landing good shots to the body of Orozco.
But by the final round, although Lee showed the determination that got him to be undefeated up until the fight, it was Orozco who looked the fresher of the two while Lee had a cut over his eye with a swollen face. Before the announcement was made, Lee showed sportsmanship by raising Orozco's hand and pointed to the fighter as if to say he knew Orozco got this one.

T.J Gibson Stuns Al Sands by Fourth-round TKO
T.J. Gibson (1-1, 1KO), showed he could be tough in the ring if need be. When he lost a unanimous decision to former Minnesota Viking Ray Edwards this past spring, Gibson didn't display much boxing skill but he showed heart. Going into Friday night's match up against Al Sands at Hinkley Grand Casino in Minnesota, not only was Gibson returning to the place where he suffered his only defeat, but he was facing a boxer in Sands (2-1, 2 Ko's), who was rangy, had power and height similar to Edwards.
In round one, it looked like déjà vu for Gibson as Sands used his reach, jab, and movement to take control. And in round two, Sands, who came into the fight with a first round TKO win in his last showing, went toe-to-toe with Gibson and often got the better of the exchange. Gibson, once again, showed no quit as he landed wildly and connected although Sands didn't seem bothered early on.
In round three, Sands picked up the tempo going back to his jab, moving and picking his shots. Gibson was hit with clean punches early and took them well, although he looked a little shaken when Sands had him against the ropes at one point.
A shift in the fight took place in the middle part of the third as Gibson began to reach Sands often. Sands' footwork and defense started to look sloppy as he bent over to his right with his hands down trying to avoid Gibson's blows. Gibson sensed that Sands was tired and turned up the pace. Gibson connected with clean shots and the momentum had changed.
At one point, Gibson backed Sands to the ropes and as the boxers made their way to the center ring, Gibson hit Sands with a power shot that sent Sands down for the first time in his professional career. Sands made the count, but he was bleeding from the eye and looked on wobbly legs as the bell sounded.
In the final round, Sands made one last stand but his legs were not there. Gibson moved in hitting Sands with a good right followed by a weak left that sent Sands down for the second time in the fight. As referee Mark Nelson gave the count, Sands spit out his mouth piece but got up on woozy legs. He wobbled against the ropes and Nelson seen enough and stopped the fight at 1:46 into the round.