Namauu Beats Godfrey at the Boat

By Shamus Young at ringside

Cruiserweight Henry Namauu improved to 10-4 with a unanimous decision over Joell Godfrey (now 13-6-1) over ten rounds at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, WA. Godfrey had a reach advantage and could win exchanges in the middle of the ring, but he chose to rope –a-dope for long stretches of rounds. Perhaps Godfrey was doing rope-a-dope as a tribute to Ali’s 70th birthday, but it was an ineffective tribute. Godfrey’s defense wasn’t tight enough, so plenty of scoring blows came through. And when he wasn’t on the roles, Godfrey just wasn’t moving his hands often enough to win the round. Namauu just piled up points. Scores were 99-91, 97-93, and 96-94. Fightnews had it 96-95 for Namauu.

The co-main event was the fight of the night, featuring Nate Serrano boring into Roberto Crespo over 6 rounds at Welterweight. Crespo had the reach advantage and knew how to use it, so he made Serrano pay each time he came in. In the middle rounds of the fight, Serrano’s swarming attack was winning. But in the 5th round, Crespo found his distance again and kept Serrano at the end of his punches until the end of the fight. The judges had it a 57-57 draw, and 58-56 for Crespo twice. Fightnews had it a draw. With the win, Crespo is now 3-1. Serrano now has the same record, 3-1.

In the undercard, local Supermiddleweight Ken Bentley failed to keep his undefeated record intact against Adrian Herman (now 3-2-1). Herman started slow, but used his reach and straighter punches to punish Bentley over the four rounds and eventually drop him with an overhand right to the temple with seconds left in the last round. It could have been a KO, but the generous ref let it continue to the bell. Scores were 40-35 and 40-36 twice. Fightnews had it 40-35.

At Welterweight, Randell Corpuz, 2-1-1, fought to a draw against Rashad Hughes, 0-2-1. Hughes started out slow, and Corpuz banked a couple of rounds. Then a headbutt cut on Corpuz seemed to spur Hughes and have him outwork Hughes in the last two. Scores were 39-37 for Hughes, 39-37 for Corpuz, and 38-38. Fightnews had it 38-38.

At Light Heavyweight, Josh Hewson won his debut over Jose Rico, now 0-2, in a difficult fight. Rico may have been a southpaw. He switched stances and spent a lot of time just squared up, throwing odd arm punches from strange angles. Hewson survived that annoyance and ended up stunning his opponent several times in the last two rounds. Scores were 40-36 twice, and 39-37. Fightnews scored it 39-37, all for Hewson.

In the opener, Middleweight Brandon Adams stopped Dave Courchalane in two rounds. It was clear from the start that Courchalane was overmatched, but the first round passed by on a long break from a questionable low blow. In the second, Adams’ straight right hands settled it. The first was set up off a jab. The second off a missed uppercut. Adams is now 5-0, and Courchalane 0-2.

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January 22nd, 2012

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