By Kurt Wolfheimer 


Friday night at the near sold out Arena in South Philadelphia, local boxing fans witnessed a classic Philly war as Derek “Pooh” Ennis (22-2-1, 13 KOs) of Philadelphia, PA successfully defended his USBA junior middleweight title in a back and forth war, scoring in an impressive twelve round majority decision victory over cross-town rival “King” Gabriel (14-5, 8 KOs) by scores of 117-111, 116-112 and 114-114. Ennis proved that not only is he the best junior middleweight in Philadelphia, but has the guts and determination to take on any of the top contenders in the division. In the co-feature of the eight bout card promoted by Peltz Boxing Promotions, “Flawless Anthony Flores (9-1-1, 6 KOs) got back on the winning track with a one sided beat down of a game, but out gunned Gustavo Dailey (4-9, 1 KO), stopping him at forty-three seconds of the sixth and final round.

There was electricity in the air the moment the contract was signed for the fight between Derek “Pooh” Ennis and “King” Gabriel Rosado. The two rising Philly junior middleweights were willing put their pride on the line in a battle for Ennis’s USBA title strap. Fans all over the Philly area were taking sides as both fighters looked to take that next step up into the top ten in the world.

Each fighter had questions to be answered.

Ennis of the Germantown section of Philadelphia had to see if he could take the pressure and power of a much bigger fighter like Rosado possessed. Though he had recently defeated Eromosele Albert (22-4-1, 10 KOs) and Jose Adelaydo Gonzalez (13-8-1, 11 KOs), neither possessed the raw power and size of Rosado.

Rosado of North Philadelphia, who had learned most of his trade in the ring as a pro, with a limited amateur career had to answer the question “Did he have the ability to defeat a slick boxer puncher.” He had trouble in the early stages of his career losing to a slick boxer in Chris Gray. With each fight though Rosado had improved under the teachings of Billy Briscoe and was he ready to take it up to the next level. Rosado has that Philly attitude of willing to take on anybody, anytime as shown in his recent victory over Saul Roman (32-7, 27 KOs) at Ballys Casino in Atlantic City New Jersey.

Both fighters entered the squared circle to huge applauses from the near capacity crowd and you could feel the tension in the air as each fighter was introduced.

In the opening round, the smaller but well chiseled Ennis started the action with a leaping right hand which had Rosado covering for a moment. Rosado turned the tide with a hard right of his own, that kept Ennis from attacking and pressing forward. The back and forth exchanges seemed to amp the crowd and set the tone for the impending battle between the two cross town rivals.

Ennis started pick his shots early in the second behind left jabs and a couple overhand rights, but was caught after a missed right by a Rosado right hand. Rosado gained confidence and jumped on the stunned Ennis and backed him to the ropes with an explosive four punch combination. Ennis was smart and clinched, forcing a separation, but it was clear that Rosado was finding his mark and it looked like he might wear down the smaller Ennis.

The fight turned again in the third as Ennis under the guidance of his trainer and father “Bozey” Ennis, resorted back to boxing and using angles. Ennis began to crouch down with his jaw tucked behind his right shoulder and picked his spots with jabs to the body and head. Rosado tried to return fire, but many were blocked or missed the mark as Ennis stepped out of trouble. Ennis also began to find the mark with a few overhand rights which reddened the left check of Rosado.

Ennis gained control of the fight in the middle rounds like a scorpion stinging his much larger predator with sharp left jabs. Rosado resembled a mongoose trying to probe and break down the guard of the scorpion like Ennis with two and three punch combinations, but most bounced of the guard of man nicknamed “Pooh”. The attack from Rosado allowed Ennis time to counter with more overhand rights which seemed to frustrate Rosado. Late in round five Ennis uncorked a left right combination which backed Rosado to the ropes.

Ennis began to sharp shoot on the inside in the sixth with sharp rights up top and jabs to the body which forced Rosado to look down. He seemed to be setting spots for the heavy overhand rights which were landing more frequently. Rosado still found room for a few heavy right hands, but Ennis immediately answered back rights of his own. A straight right from King Rosado in the sixth forced Ennis on the retreat as the round came to a close.

The fight heated up in the seventh as Rosado stepped up the attack with heavy hooks, but Ennis blocked most and held his own with sharp counters.

Ennis gained control in the eighth round with overhand rights which opened a cut over Rosado’s left eye. Gabriel Rosado would not back off and both traded big right hands as the round came to a close.

“Pooh: used his superior hand speed to take rounds nine and ten gain a substantial lead in the fight.

Noticeably behind on the scorecards, Rosado’s veteran trainer, Billie Briscoe urged his fighter go after Ennis and open up. Gabriel went right out and opened with a flurry. Ennis blocked many in the guard and even was walking Rosado down. All of a sudden in the final minute of the round Rosado uncorked a huge right on the button which hurt Ennis, who clinched immediately. Rosado swung away with a heavy four punch combination in the final ten-seconds as Ennis retreated.

Both fighters went toe-to-toe in the early goings of the final round. This was not a good move for Ennis who was ahead on the scorecards and could’ve boxed his way to the decision. Rosado was the first to find the mark and again stunned Ennis. He was banging away and looked to close the show, but a big counter right caught him on the button. Rosado looked hurt as he retreated. Ennis seized the moment planted a deep body shot, which had Rosado stumbling across the ring. Ennis was tired though and each fighter went into a fire fight. Rosado seemed to regain his composure just moments later and again stunned Ennis with a heavy right. Ennis fought back though and both fighters closed the final ten seconds swinging away. Neither landed the significant shot as the final bell sounded. The crowd rose to their feet in the appreciation of the efforts of both combatants.

After several moments, the scorecards were read. Surprisingly to most at ringside, the first judge saw it 114-114 even. The other two seemed more in line with scores of 117-111 and 116-112 which gave Derek Ennis the majority decision victory.

Ennis with the victory showed he has the heart and will to take on the best in the junior middleweight. His pinpoint strikes, movement and hand speed, could give anybody in the top ten problems.

Gabriel Rosado fought like a warrior throughout and put up an effort which would beat many of the best but just not on this night. Hopefully we will see Rosado back on the winning track in the very near future.

Flores batters Dailey

North Philly super featherweight “Flawless” Anthony Flores was able to get back on the winning track with a nearly flawless performance, battering West Philly’s Gustavo Dailey, en-route to a one sided sixth round stoppage.

Coming off a defeat to Victor Valenzuela and his most recent draw with the dangerous Carlos Vinan in his last bout, Flores knew a win was vital to his career and he went after it with a fury. In round two, he wobbled the game but outgunned Dailey with a left hand counter on the chin. Flores immediately jumped on him with multiple combinations, but Dailey clinched to buy time to clear his head. Flores became frustrated with the constant clinches and threw him down to the mat. Referee Blair Talmadge picked Dailey up and gave him significant time to recover. Flores would not let him go and uncorked a right hand-left uppercut which forced Dailey to the corner in the final seconds of round two.

Dailey tried to change the momentum early in the third as he unloaded a flurry of punches, but Flores was patient and waited his turn before regaining control with several big lefts of his own.

Rounds four and five were all Flores, who battered the game but out gunned Dailey around the ring. Dailey is the kind of fighter that you almost have to pin to the canvas to get him to quit and he wouldn’t give up. Flores had huge advantage in reach and used it to pound away from distance late in the fifth round. Dailey tried to cover and counter out of it, but a huge left hand on the button had him wavering in the corner. Anthony would not let him off the hook and just continued to pound away as Dailey covered as many shots found their mark. Dailey was badly hurt and clearly had nothing left in the tank, but neither his corner nor the referee would stop the fight and he barely survived the round. It was clear that he was finished and had no chance of winning the fight, but his corner sent him out anyway. Flores didn’t waste much time and floored him moments later with two successive uppercuts on the button. Dailey rose to his feet, but was in no shape to continue as referee Blair Talmadge reluctantly waived the bout off.

Anthony Flores ups his record to (9-1-1, 6 KOs) while Gustavo Dailey falls to (4-9, 1 KO.

Hasson outpoints Mercedes

Undefeated super middleweight Dennis Hasson of the Kensington section of Philadelphia raised his record to ten wins without a defeat, scoring an impressive six round unanimous decision victory over thirty fight veteran Alberto Mercedes of Milwaukee Wisconsin.

Hasson, who lives on Tusculum Street which also was the home to the fictitious Rocky Balboa, showed some of the signs of movie pugilist as he took a few hard shots on the button from Mercedes in the early going but never faltered. However the man from Kensington was just too much for Mercedes as he continually landed combination after combination which had him easily winning the fight.

All three judges saw the bout in favor of Dennis Hasson by scores of 60-54 x2 and 59-55 respectively.

Dennis Hasson moves to (10-0, 3 KOs) while Alberto Mercedes falls to (14-16-1, 10 KOs).


Ennis destroys Davis

The younger brother of Derek Ennis, Farah “The Quiet Storm” Ennis (15-0, 9 KOs) is quickly becoming a fan favorite as he blasted out Demetrius Davis (20-24-5, 8 KOs) in the third round of their scheduled six round bout.

Having recently fought back into the Philly under E and M management, Farah Ennis has quietly taken the fans by storm, scoring knockouts in his last three bouts, going into the fight with veteran Demetrius Davis. Tonight’s fight wasn’t much different as Farah put Davis to the canvas for the count at twenty seven seconds of the third round.

Ennis looked sharp in the early going with fundamentally sound combinations from distance. The normally dangerous and late replacement Demetrius Davis appeared to be in survival mode by round two. He looked like he wanted to land the big right hand, but covered and retreated whenever possible. The quiet storm was cautious, but seized his moment early in the third round. “I jabbed down to the body and then I came over the top with the right hand and it was right on the money,” said Ennis. The combination put Davis out before he hit the canvas and he did not come close to beating the count. The bout was stopped at 27 seconds of the third round.

Hemphill decisions Pietrantonio

In a battle of veterans, Andre “Da Heat” Hemphill scored a resounding six round unanimous decision victory over fellow journeyman Tony Pietrantonio.

Hemphill out of Philadelphia showed flashes of talent with bristling combinations and a good movement behind jabs which kept his opponent off balance throughout much of the bout, but also had several lulls where he just stayed too long in punching range. Pietrantonio of Youngstown Ohio just didn’t have the power to take advantage in the lulls of action which allowed Hemphill to capture the six round unanimous decision victory by scores of 60-54 and 59-55 x 2.

Andre Hemphill climbs to (9-16-2, 5 KOs) while Tony Pietrantonio even his record at (6-6-1, 5 KOs).

Ocasio obliterates Blocker

North Philly lightweight sensation Angel “The Razor” Ocasio (3-0, 1 KO) needed just two rounds to stop hard luck Sidell Blocker (0-3) of Pleasantville New Jersey in their scheduled four contest.

Ocasio looked at home right from the opening bell, as he calmly walked his opponent down with hard straight combinations while Blocker looked to counter and hold. Though Blocker was still dangerous late in the first, Ocasio stepped fearlessly into punching range and landed a right hand which put Blocker in survival mode. Angel continued to attack as Blocker covered and clinched, but was not able to land the finishing blow.

The second round started with Ocasio forgetting the jab and loading up on every shot, which Blocker was able to avoid as he tried to recover. It was to no avail, as Ocasio found his range and unloaded a picture perfect left hand on the chin of Blocker, who fell to the canvas as if he was shot by a cannon. There was no way he was going to reach his feet as the count reached ten at 1:24 of the second round.

Ocasio will be back in action at the very same Arena on Friday August 13th.

Jennings decisions Stewart

Unbeaten Philly heavyweight Bryant Jennings (4-0, 2 KOs) won a workmanlike unanimous decision over former national golden Gloves champion Bernell Stewart (1-2) of Columbus Ohio In the opening bout of the evening.

Jennings controlled the bout throughout with big right hands and mixing in two punch combos to the body in the head. Bernell Stewart still knew all the tricks of the trade and countered well, but tired from the heavy hands of Jennings, as he clinched and covered through most of the final round.

All three judges saw the bout in favor of Jennings by scores of 40-36 x 2 and 39-37 respectively.

Wilson wallops Scott

The walkout bout looked to be a highly competitive four round rematch between two Philly cruiserweights Garrett “The Ultimate Warrior” Wilson and Reshawn Scott.

Garrett Wilson squeezed out a majority decision victory in the original match in 2008. This one would be much different though.

Scott showed a big left jab which he hadn’t showed in his previous fights in the opening moments and it looked like it might cause the much shorter Wilson trouble as the fight wore on. Wilson somehow found his way under the jabs by mid round and was working on the inside. Just as Scott went to clinch, Wilson shot a straight right to his chin and it was lights out. Reshawn Scott fell face forward like a ton of bricks. The time of the knockout occurred at one minute and twenty nine seconds of the opening round

Garrett Wilson ups his record to (8-5, 3 KOs) while Reshawn Scott drops to (2-5).