Kolle Edges Vanda
By Jesse Kelley
November 18th, 2007

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Minnesotan's Andy Kolle and Matt Vanda engaged in an classic seesaw battle Saturday night at the Myth Nightclub in Maplewood, MN. Neither fighter gave an inch as they took turns hammering each other in a bout that saw the momentum change at any given time.
Vanda, who made the jump once again to middleweight began the fight rushing and bullying Kolle into a street fight in the first. Vanda's best punches were to the body early on while the southpaw Kolle's straight 1-2's down the middle were finding their target.
As the fight went into the middle rounds, the size advantage of Kolle seemed to start paying off. Both men exchanged big shots but Kolle's punches seemed to have the power advantage.
That all changed however when Vanda ripped a hard left hook to the head of Kolle on the inside in the seventh round. Kolle was shocked for a split second and then fell to the canvas where referee Mark Nelson began his count. Kolle made it to his feet on some what shaky legs and Vanda charged after him unloading big punches with the intent to end the fight. The round ended with Kolle surviving and Vanda a little winded but fired up.
With the fight up in the air in the final round, both fighters threw everything they had at each other.
Kolle looked strong and had recovered from what took place in the previous round and backed a tiring Vanda up with hard left and rights to the head as the fight came to a close. The fight ended fittingly with both fighters embracing after the bell to acknowledge the war that had just taken place.
The judges saw the fight unanimously in favor of Kolle by scores of 77-75 twice and 77-76.
Kolle's trainer Chuck Horton said it best after the fight stating "Minnesota boxing fans were the real winners tonight".
Andy Kolle of Fergus Falls, MN moves to (16-1, 12 ko's) while Saint Paul's Matt Vanda now stands at (37-5, 21ko's)

Southpaws Phil Williams (6-0, 6 ko's) and Missouri's Quince Miner (2-2 1 ko) exchanged more verbal punches then actual blows in the ring in a light heavyweight match.
Both men looked to land single big shots when they weren't jawing at each other in the first as they fought cautiously.
Williams landed a hard punch in the second round that dropped Miner to one knee where he grabbed at his eye as referee Mark Nelson began his count. Miner gave no impression he wanted to continue and Nelson was forced to waive the fight off.

"Golden" Caleb Truax of Minneapolis, MN (4-0 4 ko's) stayed unbeaten with a hard fought unanimous decision over work horse Jeffery Osborne (4-7-2, 1 ko) of Davenport, Iowa.
Osborne was able to keep a constant pressure on Truax all fight but Truax stood his ground and landed the better punches, particularly on the inside. Truax sealed the victory with a strong showing in the final round.

Innocent "Until Proven Guilty" Otukwu (13-11, 2 ko's) shocked returning heavyweight Brad Laffin (4-2, 4 ko's) by way of four round split decision. Otukwu effectively boxed out of the southpaw stance but switched to orthodox at times which confused Laffin. Laffin was the aggressor but had difficulty stopping the right hand of Otukwu.
Two consecutive right hands to the head started things off for Otukwu early. Near the end of the round, a thudding right hand to the head sent Laffin to all fours at the bell.
Laffin's best round came in the third as he looked to take control of the fight behind strong combinations.
Otukwu continued to time in well placed right hands as the fight came to a close.
judges saw it 39-37 twice for Otukwu while Laffin was ahead with one judge 38-37.

Jon Schmidt (4-1, 3 ko's) won a unanimous decision over Nick Whiting (0-6) in a slugfest.
Schmidt controlled most of the fight working behind a hard jab that Whiting had no answer for.
Schmidt hurt Whiting early to the body but head hunted from that point on allowing the sturdy chinned Whiting to stay in the fight. With bloody noses, both fighters ended an exciting fight exchanging hard punches.

3 time Upper Midwest Golden Gloves champion Wilshaun Boxley made easy work of Reymundo Hernanez (1-4) in his long awaited pro debut.
Hernandez came out stalking early but ran into a brutal body attack. Boxley continued to intelligently outbox and rock Hernandez into the third. After taking a solid right to the head, and angered Boxley opened up with left and rights to the head of Hernandez. A chopping left to the head sent Hernandez to the canvas. Hernandez rose but shook his head no when asked if he wanted to continue. The time of the stoppage was 1:25 of the third round.