FULL FIGHT REPORT: December 4th Target Center
By Ray Kilgore
Photos By Jesse Kelley

Reporting live from the Target Center in MN- The title fight that was supposed to settle the score of who was the best heavyweight in MN between, Joey Abell 25-4 (24 KO’s) of Coon Rapids, MN and archrival Raphael Butler 35-8 (28 KO’s) of Rochester, MN ended in controversy as Abell was initially disqualified in round one for hammering a defenseless Butler after the bell.The punch left Butler unconscious before he hit the canvas.

Both Butler and fans left the ring thinking he was the new Minnesota Heavyweight champion after it was announced that Abell was disqualified; however, shortly after the fight, The Minnesota Boxing Commission changed the result from a DQ to a NC when referee Bobby Brunette stated he didn’t hear the bell and had instructed Abell and Butler to keep fighting.

Butler, 25, entered the fight coming off a second round knockout of Marcus Rhode 34-39-2 (29 KO’s) this past September while Abell 28, crushed Larry White 3-7 ( 2 KO’s) by TKO this past June in two rounds.

The fight was scheduled for ten rounds. Abell had only fought that distance once in November 2007, while Butler had only been eight rounds throughout his professional career that started in 2004.

From the outset it was evident that neither boxer planned to go all ten rounds as they had bad intentions behind each blow.

At 10:36 PM Butler made his way to the ring and exhibited confidence as he briefly scanned the arena and bobbed his head to his ring entrance song. When Abell came out, fans went wild.

From the start, Butler moved forward as he enjoyed a 34-pound weight advantage. But it was Abell who got things going with several authoritative jabs and lateral movement as he attempted to set Butler up with a mega shot.

They both exchanged good blows in the center of the ring. As they moved towards Butler’s corner, his trainer yelled, “Watch them [Abell’s] short arms” Butler responded, “Yup Yup” while looking intensely at Abell as the two men sized each other up.

Early in Abell’s career, he seemed interested in only one goal: The KO. But overtime he developed a jab along with movement, and he effectively gave Butler angles eventually finding an opening to land a hard right that Butler absorbed well.

Both boxers controlled their impulse to let bombs fly early, albeit that didn’t last long.

50 seconds before the round was to end, Butler showed why several outside promoters took an interest in him years ago. He landed a snappy jab trailed by a right that stung the betting favorite Abell and forced him to back into the ropes.

Abell bobbed and weaved to avoid further punches and wisely clinched.

With ten seconds left, Abell, who disclosed that part of his preparation for the fight consisted of pushing cars up hills, harvested a right followed up by several blows that sent the 6’3” 279 pound Butler down near Abell’s corner.

Butler beat the mandatory count and seemed OK but soon controversy erupted.

The round ended shortly after Brunette wiped Butler’s gloves. Abell, still in the neutral corner, came towards Butler and for a split second, both men stood face to face with Brunette in the middle of them.

Apparently, Brunette didn’t hear the bell because he never motioned the fighters to their respective corners.

The traditional ten second warning tap on the canvas to forewarn the referee and fighters the round will end never happened.

Given all this, Abell, 6’5” 245 pounds, looked uncertain so he hit Butler first with a light punch followed by a murderous right that knocked Butler cold. The blow came at least five seconds after the bell.

While Butler lay in a prone position unresponsive, his trainer stormed the ring and headed directly towards Abell. The fighter kept saying, “I didn’t hear the bell. I didn’t hear the bell!”

Soon thereafter, both corners roared the ring and a mêlée pursued as blows were thrown and bodies wrestled to the canvas. All this took place as Butler continued to lay on the canvas being attended to by the ring doctor.

When security finally got control in the ring, the aftermath spilled outside the ropes as several fans picked up where the boxers’ corners left off and engaged in fisticuffs before local police intervened.

In a show of good sportsmanship, Abell was apologetic to Butler who sat on his stool.

“I never heard the bell. I never heard it. I am sorry man.”

A fan yelled, “Don’t be sorry. You have nothing to be sorry for.”

Had the DQ stood, that would mark Abell’s second in a professional career that started in 2005. In November 2008, he was disqualified against Jason Nicholson 18-25-2 (10 KO’s) in round one.

In Abell’s professional debut, he suffered a NC in September 2005 against Ritchie Goosehead 7-22-1 (3 KO’s) in round one.

Leading up to the fight, both men said there were no bad feelings. They embraced several times after the fight. Although Abell and Butler seemed to patch things up, Butler felt differently about a fan who yelled something as the fighter left the ring. Bulter then responded with profanities and told the person to meet him outside.

Zach Walters vs. Larry Sharpe
Light Heavyweights 8 rounds

In the co-feature bout, Light Heavy weight Zach“Jungleboy” Walters 24-5 (19 KO’s) of Duluth MN was upset 56 seconds into round one as Larry Sharpe, 24-7 (11 KO’s) of Canada landed a hard body shot to Walters’ rib cage that put a halt to the match and maybe the fighter’s future.

Going into the fight, Walters had TKO’d James Morrow 11-15-3 (KO’s 5) in the second round this past June while Sharpe KO’d Bruce Rumbolz 22 19-2 (15 KO’s) in the first round in October of this year.

From the start, Sharpe, who entered the ring at 170 pounds, jumped on Walters, never giving the fan favorite a chance to respond.

Sharpe landed thunderous right hands and uppercuts to Walters’ head and body forcing the pride of Duluth to take an eight count at 2:30 into the round.

As referee Bobby Brunette gave the mandatory eight, Walters told Brunette he was able to continue.

Sharpe quickly jumped on his foe ending the contest with a devastating rib blow.

As Walters kneeled and listened for the eight count; he got up but appeared in pain as shook his head and grimaced to Brunette he wanted no more.

In the past several days, rumors circulated that Team Walters accepted Matt “The Predator” Vanda’s invitation to square off sometime next year. Vanda defeated Walters’ archrival Phil “The Drill” Williams last month to halt a potential showdown between Williams-Walters at the time. Walters has now announced his retirement from the sport after seven exciting years in the pro ranks.

After the fight, a jubilant Sharpe called out Vanda.

 

Ronnie Peterson vs. Tomi Archambault
Featherweights 4 rounds

In a rematch from their October 3rd fight of this year, Tomi Archambault 1-1 (1 KO) handed Ronnie Peterson, 3-1-(3 KO’s) his first defeat. On the advice of the Doctor, Peterson could not make the start of round three of the scheduled four rounder due to a shoulder injury.

When Peterson and Archambault originally clashed in North Dakota, Peterson scored two knockdowns in round four but found himself on the losing end when Archambault, who lost his professional debut in May of 2008, was declared the winner by way of majority decision.

But, as Minnneasotaboxing.com reported on October 29th, North Dakota boxing commission reversed the decision and the fight was ruled a no contest.

Peterson entered the ring Friday night confident as he jabbed and moved his way around while Archambault kept the pressure on. Peterson kept his hands dangerously low as he bobbed and weaved Archambault’s assault for most of round one.

Early in round two, Peterson connected with a 1-2 of his own but Archambault pushed the action and Peterson continued to circle and throw in spurts.

A few minutes before the round ended, Archambault backed Peterson to the far ropes and landed a blow while Peterson attempted to counter and raised his glove to his shoulder in pain.

In between rounds the Dr. examined Peterson and ruled the fight could not continue.

Gary Eyer vs Levi Cortes
Light Welterweights 6 rounds

Gary “Stone Cold” Eyer 7-0-1 (5 KO’s) of Duluth MN took a six round unanimous decision over Levi Cortes 3-1 (2 KO’s) in what was the best fight of the night.

The official scores were: 58-54 /57-55 / 57-56.

From round one on Eyer and Cortes fought as if their records were a matter of life and death as they traded sleep inducing blows to the head and body. Eyer took tons of shots that snapped his head stiffly back several times.

By round two fans were in for a treat as Eyer lived up to his alias “Stone Cold” as he took Cortes’ best and gave in return.

2:19 into round three, Eyer, who entered the fight coming off two wins over Scott Robinson 3-10-1 (2 KO’s) by TKOs in round two, hit Cortes with a shot that buzzed him and followed up seconds later with a counter right that sent Cortes tumbling to the canvas.

Cortes beat the count, but his mouth was a bloody mess so much that referee Bobby Brunette called a time and asked the doctor to examine the wound.

He was cleared to fight and amazingly got Eyer’s attention with several hard looping rights, before he attempted a leaping right hook and was countered and hit the canvas again. Cortes rose and fought on.

Round four looked much the same as both men held nothing back. In round five, the fans went wild when Cortes missed a telegraphed right and was countered by Eyer and hit the canvas this time very hurt. Once again, he made the count and fought on.

By round six both boxers looked spent as the action slowed. Eyer knew the fight was his if he avoided a knock-out punch.

Dave Peterson vs. Silas Ortley
Super Welterweights 6 rounds

Dave “The Prodigy” Peterson, 12-0 (7 KO’s) put on an impressive performance earning a TKO over Silas Ortley, 4-9 (4 KO’s) at 1:22 in round four of a scheduled six rounder.

Ortley was knocked out in round two in August of this year by Dante Moore 6-0 (4 KO’s) while Peterson took a majority decision victory over solid professional Corey Rodriquez 4-1 (3 KO’s) this past September.

Peterson took just a round to size up Ortley’s bad habit of throwing clubbing right hands.

After Peterson saw the best of Ortley, he took control. With 32 seconds left in round one, Peterson hit his foe with a head shot and body blow that sent Ortley down.

Ortley would go down two more times in round two and another body blow did Ortely in as referee Gary Miezwa stopped the contest.

 

Tony Lee vs. Hector Orozco
Lightweights 4 rounds

Tony Lee 1-0 (O KO’s) won his first professional fight over Hector Orozco 1-4 (O KO’s) by unanimous decision. Official scores were: 39-36/ 40-35 /39-36.

Lee, coming off a good amateur career, got the job done although Orozco had his moments. At 2:50 in round one, Orozco landed a jab that sent Lee’s mouthpiece flying. Lee appeared somewhat tight early but relaxed and took control as he landed a hard right at 1:30 into round one that sent Orozco down but not hurt.

After the count, Lee jumped on Orozco but the game fighter survived.

Lee continued to use all around boxing skills: jabbing, body shots, and movement to keep Orozco at bay for most of the night.

However, in the final round, Orozco landed a right that appeared to knock Lee down, but referee Gary Miezwa ruled it a slip. Regardless, Lee built up a solid lead and was headed for a clear win in a good performance.

Boris Shishporenok vs. Will Gillette
Heavyweights 4 rounds

Boris Shishporenok 7-1(6 KOs) took a round and a half to end things against former MMA fighter from California Will Gillette 0-1-(0 KO’s).

Gillette made his professional debut, and it was clear Shishporenok had too much.

Shishporenok started slow his punches had little zap. Gillette took an aggressive approach but showed no game plan as Shishporenok warmed up and jabbed and circled while Gillette’s blows were petty-pats.

Gillette pressed forward but at 2:14 of the second round, Shishporenok put an end to Gillette’s confidence with a left hook that sent the Californian down causing referee Gary Miezwa to waive the fight off.

Saverino Garcia vs Jacob Dobbe
Junior Middleweights 4 rounds

Saverino Garcia improved his record to 1-0-1 (O KO’s) defeating Jacob Dobbe in his professional debut 0-1-0 (O KO’s) by unanimous decision.

The official scores were: 40-36 / 40-36/ 39-37.

Round one started slow as both men sized each other up until Dobbe, fighting out of Wisconsin, landed three right hands in a row forcing Garcia to hit the accelerator and respond by landing hard jabs and body blows that eventually zapped Dobbe’s energy as the contest went on.

Garcia had the better overall skills and looked the fresher of the two fighters when the final bell sounded.