Michigan’s top boxers delivered winning performances in Salita Promotions' “Big Time Boxing USA” event in Flint on Dec. 12.
The night of boxing was held at the Dort Financial Center in Flint, MI and was televised live on DAZN.
Recommended Videos
Kahmel Makled of Macomb, MI got the card started making his pro debut against Dominique Dunning of Kalamazoo, MI who also made his pro debut.
The light heavyweight bout was scheduled for four rounds but only lasted one. Makled sent his opponent to the canvas twice in the first round. The second time, Dunning was counted out and Makled won by KO.
The next bout saw Hunter Lee of Windsor, Ontario, Canada against Derrick Shreeves of Port Huron, MI in a four-round super welterweight bout. This fight was a pro debut for both fighters.
Lee applied pressure behind his jab that forced Shreeves to back up. Lee then unleashed a combination against the ropes that dropped his opponent down and out. Lee won by knockout in the first round.
The night continued with a 10-round title fight in the women’s featherweight division. Caroline Veyre of Montreal, Canada faced Gabriela Bouvier of Maldanado, Uruguay.
Veyre started the fight at a slow pace as she circled around the ring fired her jab from long range.
Veyre picked up the pace as the fight went on, out-boxing the over aggressive Bouvier with a fast jab, solid lead hook and excellent ring generalship.
Veyre dealt a lot of damage but Bouvier was tough. The bout went to the judges' scorecards with Veyre winning 100-90 on all three cards.
The next bout saw an 8-round super flyweight bout between Byron Rojas of Holland, MI and Robin Ellis Jr. of Hempstead, NY.
The fight started out competitive as Ellis Jr. had a solid opening round boxing from long range.
Rojas responded with a better round two as he closed the distance and applied pressure. The pressure would cause Ellis Jr.‘s movement and punch output to slow down over the course of eight rounds.
Rojas landed a left hook to the body in the fifth round that send Ellis Jr. down and he was unable to beat the count. Rojas won by knockout.
Televised portion of the card opened with a heavyweight bout between Salita Promotions' newest heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor of Brooklyn, NY and KeShawn Jackson of Kalamazoo, MI.
Taylor immediately found success applying forward pressure and landing to the body of Jackson. Jackson tried to circle around the ring but was unable to keep Taylor at a safe distance.
At the end of the second round, Taylor unloaded a powerful combination with Jackson against the ropes. Jackson fell to the canvas but got up as the bell sounded.
In the third round, Taylor dropped Jackson again. Jackson displayed heart by rising to his feet but he was quickly floored again by a Taylor combination. Jackson couldn’t beat the count and Taylor won by knockout.
The next bout saw Detroit prospect Da’Velle Smith against William Townsel of Virginia Beach in a highly competitive eight-round super middleweight fight.
Smith got off to a great start, using his long jab to keep the distance. When Townsel got impatient and lunged in, Smith countered with a lightning-quick right-hand that sent Townsel to the canvas. Townsel quickly rose to his feet after the flash knockdown.
Smith landed solid counter right-hands throughout the second round that kept Townsel at bay but Townsel started building momentum midway through the fight.
In round four, Townsel landed a big overhand left on Smith that staggered him. Smith responded with a combination at the end of a competitive round.
Townsel picked up the pace in round five as Smith appeared to slow down.
Smith responded with a solid round six as he repeatedly met the over-aggressive Townsel with counters.
Townsel clearly won the seventh round as he found success landing the overhand hook. Smith appeared to be slowing down but displayed heart as he valiantly fought back.
Smith weathered the “Turbo” Townsel storm through the eighth round and edged out a majority decision on the judges' scorecards. One judge scored it 76-76 draw while the other two scored it 77-75 Smith and 78-74 Smith.
“William [Townsel] was a tough opponent,” Smith said. “There were some things that I couldn’t stop that he was doing. I couldn’t time his left hand the way I wanted to counter it. But he was a great fighter coming forward and I just need to go back to the drawing board, make some adjustments and come back better. This was my first tough opponent and step up in competition. He was 8-1 and he came out to put on a great fight and he did just that.”
The next bout was a 6-round super lightweight bout between Samantha Worthington of Folsom, CA and Jaica Pavilus of New York City.
Worthington, who is promoted by Claressa Shields' ‘T-Rex Promotions’, wasted no time applying forward pressure from the opening round.
The fight began at a frenetic pace with Worthington backing Pavilus up with combinations.
This theme would play out for the remainder of the fight as Worthington simply overwhelmed Pavilus with pressure and punch output.
The bout went to the judges' scorecards with all three scoring it 59-55 Worthington. Worthington won by unanimous decision.
“I’m very happy with my win. I’m now 10-0 and ending the year on a high note,” said Worthington. “I know what I was created to do. I showed about 60% of the fighter I am tonight. There’s so much more left in the tank and we’re just getting started. Each fight I learn something. I was able to learn from this fight and now look forward to the future. I’ll be back in the ring very soon and I’m excited to show more of who “The Heat” truly is.”
The co-main event was a highly competitive 10-round middleweight bout between Joey Spencer of Linden, MI and undefeated Miguel Angel Hernandez of Dallas, TX.
From the opening bell, Spencer used his superior hand and foot speed to contend with the size advantage of Hernandez.
Hernandez applied forward pressure behind his jab while Spencer circled around the ring using his jab and quick combinations.
At the end of the second round, Hernandez backed Spencer against the ropes and unloaded combinations for the last minute of the round. Most of the punches were blocked or dodge due to Spencer’s slick Philly Shell defense.
The rest of the fight saw close rounds with both fighters having their moments. Most of Spencer’s success was found in mid-to-close range after dodging Hernandez’s jab and unleashing quick combinations.
Hernandez remained committed to backing Spencer up with the jab and threw combinations with Spencer against the ropes.
The bout went to the judges' scorecards with Spencer scoring a majority decision victory. One judge scored it 95-95 while the other two scored it 97-93 Spencer and 98-92 Spencer.
“Hernandez is a very tough opponent. Tougher than expected,” said Spencer. “I am very grateful to have a very tough warrior in there with me tonight to perform. I felt like this was a close fight. Obviously, I can’t judge it when I’m inside the ring. Based on how I felt, I think the rounds that he won, he won pretty convincingly. The rounds that I won might’ve been a little closer. I think I landed the cleaner shots and the ring generalship and defense I displayed in the rounds that I won is what separated us.”
The night of boxing was headlined by Flint’s rising super welterweight contender Ardreal Holmes Jr. against Edwin Junior Jimenez of Springfield, MA.
As the opening bell sounded, Holmes immediately dominated the range and pace of the fight with his jab, smooth feet and head movement.
Jimenez was aggressive and heavy on his front foot while trying to land punches against Holmes. Holmes countered him repeatedly throughout the bout.
Jimenez appeared to throw every punch with knockout intentions but whiffed often which made him tired by the second half the fight.
Holmes found a rhythm landing counters and evading Jimenez’s attacks throughout the fight. Jimenez never took a step backwards and kept throwing punches but Holmes' skills were superior.
The bout went to the judge’s scorecards with Holmes scoring the unanimous decision victory. (97-93 all three judges)
After the fight, Holmes said he struggled to prepare for this fight.
“The lead up to this was pretty difficult,” said Holmes. “They kept switching my opponent because nobody wanted to fight me. I was preparing to fight a short guy and Jimenez was like six-foot.”
Holmes Jr. now has the opportunity to face the number 3-ranked super welterweight contender and former WBC silver champion Erickson Lubin for the number one rank and mandatory position for the IBF 154-pound world title.
“It wasn’t his style holding me back. It’s just that not every night will be your best. We’ll keep growing. We are only 17 fights in, so we have a long way to go. A lot to learn. We’re just taking it step by step. This fight just got me more prepared for the next fight. Every time we step into the ring we get better. So, when we get Lubin, we’ll be that much better. Just prepared to be surprised. I am going to shock the world. Sink or swim. I’ll get in there with anybody.”