Briggs-Calloway full report

By Chris Perry

Promoter Jack Fulton’s International Championship Boxing Knockout Series lived up to its name during their May 28 event at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia. Heavyweight contender Shannon Briggs and rising cruiserweight Adam Seal walked away with thrilling knockout victories in their respective main event bouts. Continuing his busy schedule fighting for the third time this year, Shannon Briggs earned his third consecutive first round knockout stopping veteran Rob Calloway by TKO 1:38 into the contest. Briggs (51-5-1, 45 KOs) rushed Calloway (75-12-2, 60 KOs) ripping heavy shots from the bell. A strong right hand sent the 18 year veteran to the canvas for the first time.

Up and ready by the 8-count, Calloway fell again from a vicious left to the body. Although able to rise to his feet, Calloway tried to slip a punch which hit toward the back of his head. He fell forward to the canvas causing referee Chris Wollesen to call a halt to the bout.

“It was cool,” said Briggs, the Brooklyn, New York native, who spent many summer’s as a child in Virginia, after the fight. “I was a little anxious. I haven’t sparred in over two weeks because of the fight last week and traveling this week…I was ready to rock and I’m happy it ended the way it did. All I want to see is the knockdown anyway so the result is the only thing that matters.”

“It was terrible man, I’m sick about it,” said Calloway after the first round one knockout loss of his career. “I wanted them to let the fight continue. It takes me a couple rounds to get going anyway. My whole game plan was to get past the first round and the first minute of the second round before getting stuff together. I’m embarrassed, it’s terrible, but it is what it is.”

When asked about his future, the Kentucky native who now calls Saint Joseph, Missouri home and owns a health and fitness center there said, “I’m ready to be done, unless something happens big and I get the ample amount of time to train and get myself in fighting shape. I feel good as far as being in shape, I just need ample time to train.”

Briggs, a multi-time heavyweight champion, now moves on in his quest to reclaim the division’s top prize. With three victories since April, he plans to stay busy over the coming months. “My promoter Greg Cohen has a great plan for me. I’m fighting in June. I’m fighting in July. I may get August off if I’m lucky although he’s cracking the whip. If I get August off I’ll come back in September, hopefully at the Garden.”

Cohen, who is the founder and CEO of The Empire Sports and Entertainment Inc. management group and has been with Briggs throughout his career said, “Late September at Madison Square Garden against Vinny Maddalone is what we’re looking for. Then after that, we want the title.”

Which champion would he like to challenge first? “Somebody with the last name Klitschko,” said Briggs.

If given the chance, Calloway thinks Briggs has a shot at being champion again. “I think Shannon will always have an opportunity because he has such great power. He’ll have the opportunity to beat one of the top guys such as one of the Klitschkos or David Haye because he does have great power. I don’t know if he’ll be able to, but I think his power gives him a shot at beating any of them.”

The co-feature bout of the evening was just as explosive. Veteran Daniel Judah, looking to bounce back from a knockout loss in April, returned to the ring to challenge Caroline County, Virginia’s Adam Seal. In the biggest bout of his young career, Seal scored his biggest win knocking out the Brooklyn, New York fighter via TKO 2:40 in the fifth round.

“When I got in the corner, I heard my coach tell me to get out of the corner so I rolled out and hit him with a left hook,” said Seal about the final moments of the fight. “He went back against the ropes, but I didn’t realize he was hurt until I looked into his eyes. I saw he was hurt so I just jumped on him and tried to finish him off.”

“It hasn’t really hit me yet,” continued the rising cruiserweight. “It’s a lot of weight off my shoulders right now. We’re ready to go out, have a good time and celebrate.” Seal’s record improves to (8-1, 7 KOs) while Judah’s record now stands at (23-6-3, 10 KOs).

On the undercard, Norfolk supper middleweight Bobby Jordan, Jr. (8-2-1, 4 KOs) defeated Frank Armstrong (4-14-3, 3 KOs) by TKO 1:27 of the fourth round. Jordan scored the more effective shots sending Armstrong to a knee late in round three. The Winston Salem, North Carolina fighter’s right eye was beginning to swell and close at the start of round four. A combination of shots sent Armstrong down mid-round causing referee Chris Wollesen to call a halt to the action.

A month removed from his action-packed main event on last month’s ICB Knockout Series card, Baltimore fighter Tyrell Samuel (14-4-1, 6 KOs) challenged Washington, DC’s Ron Boyd (6-10-1, 2 KOs). The two had previously met in the ring twice with Samuel scoring a split decision victory and a unanimous decision victory respectively in 2008. This time, neither fighter allowed the other to establish a good rhythm in a bout full of clinching and holding. Samuel was knocked down by a left hook to the top of his head in round four.

Once an eight-count was administered by referee Steve Smoger and Samuel reached his feat, a point was taken away from Boyd, however, for hitting Samuel on the top of the head when he was down. The six round contest was ultimately declared a majority draw with one judge giving it to Boyd 57-54, another giving it to Samuel 57-56 and the final judge scoring it even 56-56.

Alabama native John Michael Terry (3-16-3, 1 KO), who now calls Portsmouth, Virginia home, went toe-to-toe with Virginia Beach’s Jason Wahr (1-5-2, 0 KOs) in an exciting 4 round battle of middleweights. Both started fast trading body and head shots in the first round. A body shot by Terry hurt Wahr in round two and a straight left followed by a right hook sent him down. Terry was cut over his left eye in the middle of round three, which Wahr took advantage of landing upwards of ten right hooks in the final minute. Both fighters then traded heavy shots throughout round four. In the end, Terry earned a split-decision victory with two judges scoring the bout 39-36 for the fighter nicknamed “The Baptist” and one judge scoring the bout 38-37 for Wahr. Fans cheered when ring announcer Henry “Discombobulating” Jones suggested a rematch.

Following his victory on ICB’s inaugural show last month, Chesapeake, Virginia’s Frankie Filippone (4-1, 1 KO) earned scores of 40-35 on a three judges score cards to win by unanimous decision over Hopewell, Virginia’s Taurean Edwards (0-3, 0 KOs). The “Freight Train” staggered Edwards with a left hook early in round two and soon caused referee Steve Smoger to deliver a standing-eight count in the corner. Although confronting a game challenger, Filippone controlled the remainder of the fight.

South African lightweight Cyprian Khumalo (0-1, 0 KOs) suffered a cut over his left eyelid in the second round of his bout against Norfolk’s Stephan Alexander (4-2, 4 KOs). In front of his hometown crowd, Alexander controlled the action throughout. The blood covered Khumalo’s face like a crimson mask until, before round four could begin, referee Chris Wollesen consulted with the ringside physician and stopped the bout giving Alexander a TKO victory.

In the opening bout of the evening, Norfolk heavyweight Dorsett Barnwell scored a knockout victory in his professional debut against Washington, DC’s Kareem Wilson (0-4, 0 KOs). A former under 19 national amateur champion, Barnwell knocked Wilson down with two left hooks right on target in round three. Unable to get to his feet, referee Steve Smoger called a halt to he bout 1:30 into the round. The International Championship Boxing Knockout Series returns to the Norfolk Scope Arena on June 26. More information can be found at www.ICBknockoutseries.com.

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May 31st, 2010

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