Chicago Fight Night III Report

By Bill Hillman; photo by John Booz

Legendary warrior Mickey Ward poses with manager Wasfi Tolaymat at Friday’s CFC Promotions “Chicago Fight Night III” event at the Club Chicago in Burbank, Illinois. Ward – and former trainer/step brother Dickie Eklund – were in Chicago to work the corners of their fighters, jr welterweight Sean Eklund (10-4, 2 KOs) and super middleweight “Irish” Joe McCreedy (13-5-2, 6 KOs).

A healthy crowd attended the CFC Promotions “Chicago Fight Night III” event Friday evening at the Club Chicago in Burbank, Illinois. It was the third card presented by promoter Cynthia Tolaymat during her rookie year.

The main-event of the evening was an IBF middleweight title eliminator that featured former IBF jr middleweight champion Roman Karmazin (40-5-2, 26 KOs) from Russia and now fighting out Los Angeles, squaring off with current IBO Intercontinental and USBA middleweight champion Osumanu Adama (20-2, 15 KOs) of Ghana. The big question going into the bout was if the inexperienced Adama could overcome worldliness of Karmazin.

Adama won the early rounds with sheer energy. The fight shifted into a chess match which seemed to favor Karmazin. Adama adjusted and actually out-slicked the former champion. In the fourth Adama out-worked Karmazin. Midway through the round Adama was caught reaching in by Karmazin. Karmazin countered with a right-cross left-hook that got the attention of Adama.

In the fifth, Adama lunged in with a lead left-hook that buckled the knees of Karmazin. Karmazin rallied and established ring-generalship that probably won him round five. Adama was dominant in the sixth and seventh rounds which inspired a joyful mob of Ghanaian supporters to dance and sing at ringside.

Early in the eight, another Adama lead left-hook hurt Karmazin that motivated a line of dancing African immigrants to parade through the stands. Just after the ten-second warning in the eighth, Adama landed an overhand right which hurt Karmazin and staggered him into the ropes. Karmazin was saved by the bell.

Early in the ninth, Adama unleashed a left-hook right-hand combination that discombobulated Karmazin. Karmazin fell against the far ropes and his trainer threw in the towel from the near corner. The towel landed behind referee Gerald Scott as pandemonium erupted. Karmazin made a strong-stand with his back against the ropes. There was a break in the action and Adama smirked and pointed to the white-towel lying in the center of the ring. The bout was stopped at 59 seconds of the ninth round.

After the bout, FightNews caught up with promoter Cynthia Tolaymat of CFC Promotions. She was pleased with Adama’s performance and progression.

“Adama works so hard,” said Tolaymat. “I always have faith in him. When I first put him on a card he was ranked 68 in the IBF. After my first card with him, he was number seven and now (with the vacancy’s) it looks like he’s No. 1.”

Like Adama, Tolaymat doesn’t feel outclassed even though she may lack the experience of other promoters.

“Every day I learn something new but I feel like I know more than some people who’ve been in the business twenty years,” said the promoter.

As for the future, Tolaymat isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

“My goal is to continue to put on great shows. I love it. I don’t know what I’d do without it.”

MCCREEDY OUTSCORES MYERS

Super middleweight Irish Joe McCreedy (13-5-2, 6 KOs) entered the ring with two boxing legends behind him: Mickey Ward and Dicke Eklund. Creedy’s opponent Loren Myers entered the ring with a record of (8-12-1, 2 KOs). McCreedy had the busier hands early. Myers pursued McCreedy and landed the more meaningful punches through the middle rounds. The judges scored it unanimously for McCreedy 77-75, 79-73 and 78-74.

MITCHELL TRUMPS FINDLEY

In an interesting ten-rounder, middleweight Eric “Murder” Mitchell (23-7-1, 11 KOs) took a split decision over local favorite Derrick “Superman” Findley (18-7, 11 KOs). Scores were 95-94, 96-93 for Mitchell, 95-94 for Findley.

EKLUND OVER BUTERBAUGH

Sean Eklund (10-4, 2 KOs) – nephew of Mickey Ward and Dickey Eklund – faced off with Terry Buterbaugh (6-6-2, 3 KOs). Eklund boxed smoothly through the six round jr welterweight bout even though he injured his left hand in the opening round. Buterbaugh seemed better than his record showed and gave a valiant, losing effort. Scores were 59-57, 60-54 and 58-56 all in favor of Eklund.

CANAS WINS TOUGH!

Antonio Canas (6-0, 3 KOs) won a hard fought decision over Christopher Finley (1-3-0, 1 KO) in a jr welterweight encounter. Early on Canas landed devastating combinations to the body and head which sent Finley reeling. Finley stayed busy and made for an interesting contest. The judges scored it 39-37 across the board.

SIMIC STOPS GRUMET

In a heavyweight clash the burly; Boban Simic (1-0, 1 KO) stopped a game Caleb Grumet (1-2-1, 1 KO). Grumet won the early action as Boban warmed up. Boban later established a slick jab and that later turned into a lead left-hook. In the third Boban appeased the crowd landing a left-hook that floored Grumet and opened a deep laceration above his eye. Ringside physician Eric Vaughn was immediately called in and advised the bout be stopped at 1:20 of the third.

VALENSUELA DECISIONS GURLEY

Middleweight Ramone Valensuela Jr. improved to (6-0, 1 KO) by way of majority decision over strong prospect Sindey Gurley now (5-2, 4 KOs). Gurley gave Valensuela fits with his fast combinations and lateral movement. Valensuela pursued with a chopping left-hook to the body. In the late rounds Valensuela took control with right-cross, left-hook combinations. The final scores were 38-38 40-36 39-37.

WRIGHT PUMMELS FLETCHER

Former nationally ranked, Chicago Golden Gloves Champion, Junior Wright (1-0, 1 KO) started the evening with a burst of lighting. Less than a minute into his pro-debut Wright landed a potent left-hook that deadened his opponent Darrion Fletcher (1-2, 1 KO) during a cruiserweight bout. Referee Dave Smith called an end to the contest at 58 seconds of the first round.

HARRIS-WHITE BOUT CANCELED

Sadly the bout featuring former jr welterweight champion Vivian Harris against Jermaine White was canceled due to White’s blood-work. White’s blood-work was not dirty but the third test result arrived late. The commission canceled the bout even though neither the fighters, nor the promoter, were at fault.

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Bill Hillman is a former Chicago Golden Gloves champion and the co-founder plus the co-host of Chi-Box Radio on Vocalo FM, a new boxing radio show devoted to the Chicago boxing community, with a podcast at: http://chiboxnewsradio.wordpress.com/

For more about the Chicago boxing scene, visit Bill’s blog at: https://thebutchersblog.wordpress.com/2011/08/28/597/

October 8th, 2011

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