FIght night at The Sands: The storm after the storm

24 hours after feeling the ill effects of a powerful pre-Thanksgiving storm that dropped 7.4 inches of snow along with sleet and freezing rain on the Lehigh Valley, The Sands Event Center in Bethlehem, PA got hit with yet another storm. A storm of punches that is as pro boxing returned to The Sands with an entertaining nine fight card.

The main card was headlined by a scheduled eight round bout for the WBF Silver International Super Featherweight (130 lbs.) Championship between Anvar Yunosov (6-0, 3 KO's) and Jose Salinas (10-4-1, 5 KO's). Yunosov, (pictured above with black trunks) a former three time Olympian out of Tajikistan, who now fights out of Philadelphia, PA, showed superior boxing skills throughout the fight, which are clearly a product of his pedigree from a top flight amateur career.

Salinas out of Las Cruces, NM, a late replacement in this fight, was game, but had no answer for the southpaw Yunosov's constant barrage and assault, which resulted in a seventh round stoppage by the referee. Yunosov, though only six fights as a pro, is already fighting eight rounders and looks ready for a step up in competition. With a championship belt now around his waist and his polished crowd pleasing style, I can see him getting it in higher profile fights in and around the City of Brotherly Love. 

The co-main event featured hometown kid and crowd favorite Jonathan Torres (1-0) as he made his professional coming out party a successful one with a four round win against tough Steven Lopez (0-3) out of Philadelphia. Torres, (pictured below right) displaying some beautiful boxing skills, shows much promise as a professional. After the fight I spoke with co-manager Jimmy Deoria who told me, "I was very pleased with his performance, considering this was his first pro fight. He needs to work just a little more behind his jab next time, but that will come with more and more experience."

With a year that saw him win the Pennsylvania State Golden Gloves title as an amateur and his pro debut in his hometown, he has much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving holiday.

Another hometown favorite, junior middleweight (154 lbs.) Ricky 'Numero Uno' Nuno (2-2, 1 KO), had the Christmas City crowd in his corner, but it just wasn't enough as Vincent Floyd out of Philadelphia won a unanimous decision and upped his record to (4-5-1, 2 KO's). Nuno clearly had the crowd and fought with fury, but he just couldn't rebound from a couple of early knockdowns that Floyd scored in the first two rounds.

The crowd was amped when light heavyweights (175 lbs.) Travis 'Holy' Toledo and Kendall Cannida (2-1) stepped into the ring and the two prospects did not disappoint. They traded fast and furious right from the opening bell and being from Washington Heights, NY and Philadelphia, PA respectively, they had their fair share of fans in the audience cheering them on. In the end, it was Toledo improving to (3-0, 2 KO's) via a majority decision.

Light heavyweights Christian Montano (8-0, 7 KO's) and Paul Holley (6-2-1, 5 KO's) were scheduled for six rounds, but it didn't even last six minutes as Montano forced the referee to step in and say enough after he dropped Holley three times in the first round. The end came with a devastating body blow to the mid-section that folded Holley at 2:05 of the first.

Another rock'em/sock'em slugfest that had the crowd all in for six rounds was an early super middleweight (168 lbs.) tilt between "The Phenom" Joseph George (8-0, 6 KO's) out of Houston, TX and Mexican Josue Obando (16-25-1, 12 KO's) all the way from Jalisco, MX. No matter what George hit him with, Obando took it and responded right back, which had the majority of the crowd rooting for the underdog by midway of the fight. George had to settle for a unanimous decision against the crafty veteran. 

A pair of heavyweights got the party started with a surprisingly busy and crowd pleasing affair as undefeated up and comer Michael Coffie from Brooklyn, NY improved his record to (5-0, 4 KO's) with a TKO victory over journeyman Jamal Woods (18-44-7, 12 KO's) out of Forrest City, AL. While Coffie appeared in control throughout, Woods was giving him all he could handle till a bevy of uppercuts from Coffie to Woods jaw forced Woods corner to throw in the towel at 2:51 of the fourth round.

Other results included Alejandro Jimenez (4-0, 1 KO) by UD over Desmond Moore (1-1-1, 1 KO) and Yueri Andujar (2-0, 2 KO's) over Haziz Self (0-1) via first round KO. The nine bout card was promoted as a coming out party for future prospects and contenders and it did not disappoint. As a matter of fact, judging by the crowd's reaction throughout the entire fight card it delivered with fireworks and devastation, much like the storm that hit the Lehigh Valley the night before.

25 years ago today: Dawn of a new era in combat sports

It was 25 years ago today in 1993, when the dawn of a new era in combat sports was born as UFC 1 took place at McNichols Arena in Denver, CO. While it may be hard to believe 25 years have passed, a look back at how things were then versus now and it seems more like a century has gone by than a quarter of that.

UFC 1 was a tournament style format that featured eight fighters from various disciplines. That meant the eventual winner, UFC Hall of Famer Royce Gracie (Pictured above throwing the kick), would have to fight and win three bouts in one night. Not the easiest of tasks, especially considering there were no time limits, weight classes or rounds set for the scheduled fights. 

From that perspective, the fact that Gracie was in the Octagon a total of 4:59 for all three of his fights combined, just adds to his dominance and legend. However, as great as he was, it can’t be overstated that his skill in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, commonly referred to today as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and his opponents lack thereof was the overwhelming factor in his victories. So much so, that it changed the culture of martial arts forever.

Before UFC 1, if the term martial art was used here in the states, it either evoked thoughts of Bruce Lee throwing high flying kicks and “fists of fury” or David Carradine in the TV series ‘Kung-Fu’ spreading wisdom through his teachings from the Shaolin Temple. Any thought of grappling in martial arts solely referred to American wrestling. More importantly, a fight where a smaller man took on a larger man was always considered a mismatch. UFC 1 and Gracie’s exploits dispelled all that.  

25 years ago, the Ultimate Fighting Championship was looked at as something from out of the stone age with a carnival sideshow atmosphere to it. The combatants ranging from 175 pounds to over 400. Some wearing traditional martial arts uniforms, while others wore trunks. Some barefoot, while others wore wrestling or boxing shoes and one, though a boxer, wearing just one glove; as though he was Michael Jackson in the ‘Beat it’ music video. (See photo above)

The late senator John McCain referred to it as “human cockfighting” and even attempted to end it before the term Mixed Martial Arts even became part of the English lexicon. However, somehow it persevered; through events in southern cities like Duluth, Alabama and Indian Reservations alike, along with a period known as the dark age, it emerged to a new beginning.

Zuffa Entertainment purchased the rights to it in January 2001 and later that year with unified rules, including timed rounds, weight classes and universal equipment, including gloves, UFC 33 came out of the shadows. Though it was only a little more than seven years later, the evolution of both the sport and the athlete was clearly evident; and yet while that was only 17 years ago the evolving changes in the sport have continued at a rapid pace.

Pre-1993, most martial arts schools were referred to by their primary discipline; Karate, Taekwondo, Kung-Fu etc.  Today, you find "Mixed Martial Arts" schools and gyms in most every community. The athletes are considered some of the greatest and most skilled in any sport and that includes women who have become a major fixture. 

There are numerous MMA organizations both regional and worldwide that have arisen, but the UFC remains not only the granddaddy of them all, but also the most renowned. In 2016 Zuffa Entertainment, which originally bought the rights to it for two million dollars, sold it for over four billion. 

It has gone from farm show arenas to Madison Square Garden. It has progressed from channels such as Spike TV and ION Television to the Fox Network and in 2019 to a partnership with ESPN, the worldwide leader in sports. Since that fateful night 25 years ago, the UFC has gone on to produce over 450 events.

I can’t imagine the sport advancing any further than it is right now, but just when I think like that, a fight like the main event this past weekend between Chan Sung Jung ‘The Korean Zombie’ and Yair Rodriguez takes place. One for the ages, with a finish via a technique that has never been seen before; a ducking, no look, swing back elbow strike. I only hope I’m around 25 years from today on it’s 50^th birthday to witness the evolution. 

Boyz II Men = Prospects to Contenders

Boyz II Men are coming to Bethlehem, but not to sing. No, these boys are going to dance; in the ring that is. Professional boxing returns to the Sands Event Center in Bethlehem, PA on Friday November 16, 2018 with an entertaining card that features a number of undefeated young prospects.

Besides an intriguing main event, which features a three time undefeated Olympian, there is also the debut of a 2018 Pennsylvania Golden Gloves Champion who just happens to be a hometown kid. The card is being presented and promoted by KINGS Promotions out of Reading, PA.

As stated above, the main event will feature three time Olympian Anvar Yunosov (5-0, 2 KO's) vs. Joshua Davis (11-3, 5 KO's) in a matchup of up and coming super featherweight (126 lbs.) contenders. Yunosov, though 31 years old, may be old as a professional with only five fights on his record, but he's hardly new to the boxing game. It is solely because of his extensive career as an amateur.

He represented his native country Tajikistan in the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympic games, where he had the honor of being the flag bearer for his country at the 2016 closing ceremonies. He also competed in multiple world championships where he holds a distinctive win over Violito Payla, former Asian Games winner, giving him his first ever stoppage defeat in 2007. He now fights out of Reading, PA.

However, he'll need all those amateur accolades as he'll have his professional hands full with Davis. Fighting out of Washington, D.C., his record is a little deceiving. Though coming off two successive losses, he was (11-1) prior to those, with a seven fight win streak. The defeats came at the hands of two undefeated fighters themselves who have a combined record of 17-0. Davis wants nothing more than to get back to his winnings ways and to do it against a decorated fighter like Yunosov would just be icing on the cake.

Also featured on the undercard are three other undefeated prospects in Martino Jules (5-0), Joshafat Ortiz (5-0, 3 KO's) and Kendall Cannida (2-0). All three are from Pennsylvania with Jules and Ortiz having local ties from Allentown and Reading, PA respectively. Jules will be featured in the co-main event in what could end up being the fight of the night. His opponent, who is also undefeated, will be Daron Williams (7-0, 4 KO's) out of Washington, D.C in a battle of promising featherweights (122 lbs.).

If this weren't enough, ironically the biggest draw on the card may very well be a young man making his pro debut. Jonathan Torres, who is from Bethlehem, PA and fights out of Indio's Boxing Gym in Bethlehem, will ride the wave of his 2018 Pennsylvania Golden Gloves Championship into the prize fight arena. There he'll face Steven Lopez (0-2) who comes from the fighting city of Philadelphia, PA.

All world champions and Hall of Famers begin there careers on cards just like this one. With so many young hot prospects on this bill, the chance to possibly see a future one is coming to The Christmas City. With the holiday season literally around the corner, let the festivities and fireworks begin.