Minnesota Boxing News: Anthony Bonsante vs Andy Kolle

KOLLE DETHRONES BONSANTE
By: Ramon Hough, Photos By Jesse Kelley
March 30th, 2009

Andy 'Kaos' Kolle became the Minnesota middleweight champion with a spectacular one-punch knockout of Anthony 'the Bullet' Bonsante on Saturday night at the Grand Casino in Hinckley, MN. Many people questioned if Kolle had recovered from his disappointing loss to world titlist and pound-for-pound entrant Paul Williams. But Kolle silenced any doubters with a devastating straight left hand that may have ended the 38-year-old Bonsante's career.
Both fighters opened the fight throwing jabs and measuring each other. The southpaw Kolle, who had a clear height advantage, was looking to keep Bonsante on the end of his jab. He also tried to mix in straight left hands to the body and head. Bonsante, on the other hand, was looking to land a straight right hand up the middle and it seemed like he wanted to get inside and impose his will on Kolle. The first two rounds were very close as both men landed their share of punches, but Kolle seemed to have a slight edge with his jab and straight left hand that was landing with regularity.
The fight came to a sudden end in the middle of the third round when Kolle landed a powerful straight left hand to Bonsante's head. Bonsante went down face first and didn't move for the first few seconds of referee Mark Nelson's count. Bonsante was able to beat the count, but he rose on unsteady legs with blood gushing from his nose. Nelson asked Bonsante if he was ok to continue and Bonsante replied "no". The time of the stoppage was 1:37 of the third round.
For the Fergus Falls native, the win could possibly open the door for some intriguing fights with Kenny Kost, Caleb Truax, or a rematch with Matt Vanda. Kolle spoke to the crowd after the fight and said he also wants to campaign in the 154 pound division.
Following the defeat, Bonsante informed Minnesotaboxing.com that he would be putting an end to a 13-year career as he announced his retirement.
The 26-year-old Kolle improves his record to 18-2, 13 KO's. While Bonsante drops to 32-11-3, 18 KO's.

In a showdown of two undefeated young bantamweights, 'Bad' Brad Patraw won a convincing six-round unanimous decision over Antwan Robertson. Sporting a mohawk, Patraw, of Saint Paul, stalked Robertson throughout the fight. His best weapon was a hard right hand to Robertson's body. Robertson showed solid defense, but spent most of the fight backing up and never seemed comfortable letting his hands go. Robertson did land an occasional right hand, but not with enough consistency to keep Patraw from coming forward.
One judge scored the fight 60-54, while the other two judges saw it 59-55. Patraw is now 5-0, 3 KOs. Robertson, who came to the ring in Superman gear, falls to 4-1, 3 KO's.

22-year-old middleweight Cerresso Fort kept his undefeated record alive with a brutal fourth round TKO over the tough Joshua Rodriguez. Fort was looking to unload power shots throughout the fight, but he showed a lot of patience for a young power puncher. Rodriguez, who is a better fighter than his 4-7 record indicates, never stopped trying but had a badly bloodied nose by the third round.
The end came when Fort backed Rodriguez into the ropes and landed a huge right hand to the head. The follow-up assault had Rodriguez out on his feet, forcing referee Mark Nelson to stop the fight. Rodriguez never went down, but was clearly out on his feet. Fort, who is scheduled to fight Bobby Kliewer at the Target Center on April 18th, is now 5-0, 5 KO's.
In what is already a stacked middleweight division in Minnesota, Fort served notice that he is another middleweight to watch.

Duluth's Gary 'Stone Cold' Eyer TKO'd Scott Robinson with only seconds to spare in the first round. Eyer, who entered the ring to the 1980's song Do You Really Want to Hurt Me, hurt the 39-year old Robinson throughout the round with ripping shots to the body and head. Eyer, a welterweight, ups his record to 5-0, 4 KO's. Robinson falls to 3-9, 2 KO's.

In a bloodbath, Patrick Cape knocked out 'Durable' Dan Schlienz in the third round of the card's opening bout. Schlienz was a bloody mess throughout the fight, but as Minnesota fight fans have seen over the years, Schlienz never gave up. Cape improves to 5-4, 3 KO's. Schlienz falls to 7-16-1.