Minnesota Boxing News: Matt Vanda vs Teddy Muller

VANDA IMPRESSIVE IN VICTORY
By Jesse Kelley Photos By Rich Peterson
August 14th, 2009

PHOTOS COMING SHORTLY

Matt "The Predator" Vanda (41-9, 22 KO's) had a successful test run in the super middleweight division earlier tonight as he defeated game Teddy Muller (19-16-2, 9 KO's) by 8 round decision. Vanda outslugged Muller despite being outsized by keeping a high guard and moving in and out of reach with hard combinations to the head and particularly the body. Muller came close to matching Vanda's punch output but had trouble getting through the colorful East Saint Paul fighters guard. Vanda looked to be in the best condition of his career as he constantly pressured Muller, smiling throughout the bout. Muller, who came out of retirement for the fight, did his best to keep pace but hit a tattooed wall by round seven as Vanda took complete control of the fight. Vanda seemed seconds away from a knockout victory in the closing moments of the fight but Muller refused to quit as both men finished the fight throwing bombs. Vanda settled for a unanimous decision win by scores of 79-74, and 80-72 twice. Vanda fought at the highest weight of his career (168) to prepare for his showdown with super middleweight Phil "The Drill" Williams (11-1) which takes place on September 26th in Minneapolis.

In other action, Brad Patraw (6-0, 4 KO's) stopped gutsy Nebraskan Javier Segura at 2:47 of the fourth round. Patraw was busier throughout as he mixed in flashy combinations to the head and body. Segura stayed tough and has his best moments in round three as he bullied a tiring Patraw along the ropes. Patraw regrouped however in round four. Patraw landed a hard left-right to the head that sent Segura's mouth piece flying to the canvas. Referee Gary Miezwa stepped in to stop the action as Patraw was still firing. Segura took advantage of the break and fought back with urgency only to be halted again by a barrage of unanswered head punches near the end of the round. Miezwa jumped in between the two fighters to waive the fight off which was protested furiously by Segura.

Jose Hilario (1-0, 1 KO) stopped Jon Swamberg (0-1) at 1:00 of the opening round. Swamberg came out firing hard awkward uppercuts while half holding Hilario's head in the opening seconds of the fight. Hilario stayed composed and began to jab and stalk Swamberg, who holds a 13-4 mma record. A short body shot from Hilario along the ropes shook Swamberg and an uppercut to the head dropped the hurt fighter where he was counted out.

Cerresso Fort (7-0, 7 KO's) only needed one solid punch, a body shot to stop Yancy Cuellar (0-6). Cuellar rolled on the canvas afterwards where he was counted out at :56 of the opening round.

Bobby Kliewer (10-8, 5 KO's) stunned normally durable John Turner (3-12) in the opening bout. Kliewer surprised Turner with a hard left-right to the head that sent the shorter fighter timbering backwards to the canvas. Turner rose to his feet and looked to be ready to continue but Kliewer let loose with another head punch assault that was capped off with a right to the jaw that sent Turner slumping to the ropes where ref Mark Nelson jumped in to stop the fight at 2:32 of the first round.

Cousin's Derrick Winston and Antwan Robertson boxed an exhibition bout to unofficially start the night off although you never would have guessed the fight didn't count on either's record once the action started. Both Winston and Robertson engaged in a number of heated exchanges that had ringsiders questioning if the bout was real or an exhibition.