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Walters, Kolle Shine in Superior!
Report by Jesse Kelley
Photos by Rich Peterson

***For Rich Peterson's huge photo gallery from Superior and more CLICK HERE ****

Boxing fans packed the Mertz Mortorelli Gym in Superior, Wisconsin on Saturday night despite severe winds and blowing snow.
Making his return to the ring in the nights main-event was light heavyweight "JungleBoy" Zach Walters of nearby Duluth, MN. Walters was set to face Preston Kenny of Columbia, MO but his opponent was almost ko'ed before it even started when Kenny had trouble making weight and then later when he complained about being too sick to fight. Kenny would eventually decide to get in the ring although he might have been better off packing his bags too leave Superior early had he known what was in store for him. Walters dropped Kenny with a hard right hand to the body that crumbled him to the floor only seconds into the bout. It was the first punch landed in the fight and would prove to be the first of two times he would visit the canvas due to a Walters right hand to the body.
Walters hinted in an interview with us prior to the bout that he had added some new features to his boxing style and the most obvious change early on was his movement. Walters appeared to be lighter on his toes as he circled his opponent. Kenny didn't look like he wanted anymore after the first knockdown but actually appeared to be encouraged to rise to his feet by Walters' coach!
Sensing that his opponent was ready to go in the second round, Walters upped the pressure and landed a hard right-left combination to the head that dropped Kenny face first. Kenny beat the ten count but had clearly given up on the fight and the referee stopped the bout 41 seconds into the second round. With the win Walters moves to 16-2, 12 ko's but more importantly gained the satisfaction of beating a southpaw. Walters' only two losses were to southpaws with the most recent being to Hugo Pineda last November. Preston Kenny drops to 6-15, 5 ko's.

Andy "Kaos" Kolle of Fergus Falls, MN also had a short nights work in the co-feature against Corey Budd of Lima, OH. Both fighters traded hard shots early in the first round. Moments later Kolle landed a hard left-right to the head of Budd that sent him back to a corner. Kolle followed up with a barrage of punches that sent his opponent to the floor. Budd looked shaken but rose to his feet seemingly ready and able to continue but his corner stopped the fight much to the protest of Budd.
The tko win for Kolle came at 1:35 of the first round. Kolle moves to 12-1, 10 ko's while Budd falls to 7-15, 7 ko's.

Heavyweight Raphael Butler (25-3, 20 ko's) of Rochester, MN demolished "The Vanilla Gorilla" Brad Bowers (5-7, 5 ko's) of Houston, TX 29 seconds into the first round. Before the bout, Bowers said he was going to go right after Butler and he kept his promise as he rushed Butler at the sound of the opening bell. Butler chose to stand and trade with Bowers and landed a huge left hook to the head that sent the Big Texan down where he was counted out.

Bobby Kliewer (2-2-2, 2 ko's) of Maplewood, MN and Duluth MN's Andson Griggs (pro debut) staged an exciting four round Jr. Middleweight bout.
Kliewer boxed intelligently in the first round and controlled the action with his jab and movement. The shorter, stockier Griggs must have decided he couldn't box with the taller and rangier Kliewer because he came out in the second looking to turn things into a dog fight. The strategy seemed to work as he had success rushing inside the longer arms of Kliewer to land his shots.
Things continued to seesaw in the third when Kliewer started to open up more. Kliewer rocked Griggs with four big right hands to the head that sent his aggressive opponent back to the ropes.
However, Griggs' bullying seemed to work again in the fourth round as he got inside and had success landing punches in the fourth and final round. It seemed like a close fight and the judges scores reflected it. The scores read 39-37 for Kliewer, 39-37 for Griggs and 38-38. The fight was ruled a draw. Hopefully we will see these guys go at it again, preferably in a six rounder.

Gary Eyer of Duluth, MN had an impressive pro debut against Minneapolis, MN's Raphael Magdaleno. Eyer controlled the fight with better combinations and movement but Magdalano never stopped pressing forward even when he looked tired and had success landing hard looping shots throughout. Scores were 40-36, 39-37, 39-37 all in favor of Eyer. Magdaleno's record now stands at 0-4.

Featherweights Robert Miller of East Grand Forks, MN and Jesus Velasquez of Minneapolis, MN also put on an exciting four round bout in the nights opener. Things were going Miller's way in the first round and most of the second. However things changed in round two when Velasquez was credited with a knockdown after landing a hard straight left to the head of an off balance Miller. From there, both guys traded as Velasquez grew in confidence and pressed forward. Surprisingly, all three judges saw Miller winning easily 38-35, 38-37, 38-37. Miller moves to 2-0 while Velasquez drops to 0-8