Team Cannon Blasts Opposition!

Andre Courtemanche

www.fightnews.com

Promoter/matchmaker Gerald Evans and 1World Productions returned tonight to their customary venue for another sold out and entertaining night at the fights.  Evans’ insistence on quality has turned Detroit’s Club International into one of the few boxing places on earth where the fighters on the right side of the bout sheet have a chance. 

In the main event, Team Cannon knockout artist Rubin Williams, 4-0 (3), continued his undefeated run in the super middleweight division by scoring a brutal first-round TKO over “Stormin’” Norman Johnson of Columbus, MS.

Johnson crumbled under the weight of Williams’ power for the third and final time at 2:15.  The ending sequence was started by another perfect left hook on the point of the chin by the talented Detroiter and the delayed reaction knockdown it produced was the main factor in creating two more eight counts and the final result.  Johnson never found his legs after that first punch and tried bravely, but unsuccessfully to recover from it in time.

Heavyweight giant killer Leo “Paco” Nolan showed the diversity of his skills by unanimously decisioning Willie Driver of St. Petersburg, Florida.  Nolan said later that adjusting to the 5’8 height of Driver was a difficult task because of all the training he had done before beating 7’2 Julius Long in his last fight. 

True to his word, Nolan appeared to have improved his punching power and was able to drop the durable Driver twice in round three.   The judges scored the fight 60-52 and 60-53 twice.  Nolan is now 10-0 (4) and ready for the next step.

Team Cannon member Tommy Robinson must have been shaking his head at the end of his welterweight fight.  His opponent, Chris Regular of Wichita, Kansas had to be the worst named fighter he has ever met.  Regular is anything but regular when it comes to boxing. 

Fighting like a PCP addict the police are having trouble subduing, Regular herked and jerked and managed to confuse the Detroiter long enough to earn a majority draw over four rounds.  Robinson tried to solve the incredibly high-energy and unpredictable Regular’s style, but no amateur credentials, or professional sparring could prepare a fighter to take on the boxing equivalent of a hiccup.  Regular jumps in wildly with his hands down, throws fast combinations, ties up, falls down, and confuses opponents badly with his sporadic rhythm.  Tommy Robinson is now 2-1-1 (1).  Regular is 3-4-1 (1). 

Schoolteacher Kathy Drotos, 4-1 (3), returned to winning form by bludgeoning Stacy Trimble of Richmond, KY.  Trimble had no answer for an opponent like Drotos, who fights out of a tight shell and throws straight, nicely placed punches.  She remained game throughout the entire fight, but took so many hard punches her legs began to betray her.  By 1:38 of the second, Trimble fell for the third time and was finished. 

Crowd favorite Ken Clark, 3-2 (2), of Taylor; Michigan won a unanimous, four-round decision over too-tough Kolmage Harris, 1-4, of Lansing, Michigan.  As usual, Harris landed heavy blows, but ate up scary amounts of return fire.  Clark is well schooled and his educated style had Harris down once and nearly out several times. 

Clark rebounded with the kind of dazzling win he needed after losing his last fight in a squeaker.  Harris needs to retire, or be retired by the Michigan Commission, right now.  This is the fourth time Harris has been in over his head and taking a pounding.  Will someone please save Kolmage from himself before he is walking on his heels like too many others?

Keith Lee and Chad Wigle have done an excellent job with Clark.  His defense is excellent and with is proposed drop in weight from light heavyweight to junior middle, his already good power will be even more effective. 

Pontiac, Michigan lightweight Pete Cantu, 4-2 (4), pulled one out of the fire when he was able to stop slippery Anthony “Ice Cold” Molson, 1-2 (1), with a single bodyshot in round three.  Fighting out of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Molson was winning the exchanges with his pesky southpaw style until the power of Cantu caught up to him.  Cantu can bang and a single shot to the pit of the stomach left Molson unable to catch his breath within eight seconds, thus necessitating the technical knockout win.

In the opening fight of the night, Altor Breaux, 3-0 (1), of Fort Worth, Texas was declared a winner when Charles “Hitman Hinkle, 2-2, took too many shots and was stopped by the ringside physician from continuing before round four.  Hinkle, of Flint, MI, fought well against the sharp southpaw Breaux, but tired badly and began taking the type of headshots boxing no longer allows.  Good stop.

	“Hurricane” Steve Daher, the Michigan heavyweight, stopped in to say that he is now being trained by Papa Joe Byrd, father of Chris, and is hoping to be back in action soon.  Daher is a kill-or-be-killed fighter with a 3-2 (3) record and every fight a knockout, either way.
	The Garza family was well represented tonight.  Not only was referee/judge Frank again doing his splendid job of ring announcing, but also his youngest daughter served as booty-shaking ring card girl.  Frank is a very funny man and his snide comments while daughter did her thing were hysterical
	This reporter had the pleasure of meeting Michigan State Athletic Inspector Jim Kuzemka, whose pleasant demeanor was a nice change from the usual 95-year-old man insisting you are in his chair.
	Gerald Evans announced he is working on having Marlon Thomas defend his NBA welterweight title against Frankie “The Surgeon” Randall at his next show, tentatively scheduled for January
	Author Lindy Lindell was at his usual ringside perch, tonight he was signing his new book “Metro Detroit Boxing.”  Look for a full review of the excellent novel on Monday.