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Romultiltus · 06-30-2007, 01:29 AM

The originally scheduled 9-bout ... then 7-bout ... then 6-bout ... card at the Connecticut Expo Center ended up as a 5-bout fistic extravaganza!!!

Final Forum Boxing managed to scrounge enough local restaurants, a law firm, and a local strip club, to sponsor the event. Originally scheduled to tip off at 7:30pm, the opening bout started about 40 minutes late, and the teeming masses (about a few hundred at that time) were expecting some action.

The opening bout pitted 2 undefeated WW's in a 4-rounder. Brockton, MA native Luis Viramontes 2-0-0 (0) and Anthony Irons 1-0-0 (1), although unless you were seated within natural earshot of the ring, you wouldn't know because the cheap/portable PA system (or karioke machine) was not working too well. When the bout ended, the ring announcer proclaimed: "All three judges unanimously call the bout a Majority Draw" ??????

Great Start...

Second Bout: Journeyman HW Mike "The Hammer" Jones 5-10-0 (1) TKO'd local Hartford, CT native Peter Currin who entered the ring 5-1-0 (4). [NOTE: I can't remember if it was the 3rd or 4th round]. Again, the PA system was bad, but with a bit of tweaking, the A/V guy got it ot start making crackling sounds along with the muffled audio.

Third Bout: The pride of the Final Forum Boxing stable - HW Zuri Lawrence 20-12-4 (0), just 2 fights removed from his big upset victory over Jameel McCline, took on "Candy Man" Harvey Jolley 6-3-1 (3) in a 6-rounder. Jolley entered the ring 6'4" and listed at 200lbs (not a chance he was that heavy). Did I mention that Zuri has won 20 bouts without a single KO? Well guess what, Zuri wins #21, a 6-round UD, and surprise surprise - he still has ZERO KO's on his record.

20-minute intermission (due to the cancelled women's 4-rounder) Mike "Machine-Gun" Oliver, another Hartford native, is brought up to the ring and there is an announcement (I'm guessing - due to the bad PA) that he will fight July 18 on ESPN against Cruz Carbajal in an IBF Super Bantamweight Title Eliminator. Also, some unknown guy is brought up on the ring and presented with something and had a photo shoot (but no one could hear over the crackling PA)

Bout #4: New Haven, CT native MW Elvin Ayala 17-2-0 (8) fights for the 2nd time this month. His opponent is Jose Angel Roman 10-16-4 (5). Roman is more than just an opponent, but Ayala dominates the fight - although not that impressively, and wins an 8-round UD. During the fight, the PA system crackles loudly for no apparent reason.

Main Event: (PA System seems to work better now) Hebron, CT favorite son HW Tony "TNT" Grano 9-0-1 (8) stepped in against rugged Jedd Phipps who was announced as having an "outstanding" 17-6-0 (10) record. The opening bell rang, Grano aggressively went after Phipps and swarmed him with a barrage of punches. Phipps is givin a standing 8-count. Grano pins Phipps in the corner and again rains punches. Down Goes Phipps ... Down Goes Phipps ... Down Goes Phipps. The referee stops the contest, Phipps on the canvas, at 1:25 of Round 1.

After the decision is announced, Grano takes the microphone adn addressess the entire town of Hebron (the crowd maxed out at probably 800-1000 people, mostly Hebronites) and thanked them for their support. Then he announces that Tony Grano commerative t-shirts were on-sale in the back of the room.

Overall, a very disappointing card, horrible venue and shoddy/cheap presentation by Final Forum Boxing, but I had a good time anyways.

06-30-2007, 01:29 AM	#277 (permalink)
Romultiltus Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: East Haven, CT Posts: 11,532	"Battle At The Expo" 6-29-07 The originally scheduled 9-bout ... then 7-bout ... then 6-bout ... card at the Connecticut Expo Center ended up as a 5-bout fistic extravaganza!!! Final Forum Boxing managed to scrounge enough local restaurants, a law firm, and a local strip club, to sponsor the event. Originally scheduled to tip off at 7:30pm, the opening bout started about 40 minutes late, and the teeming masses (about a few hundred at that time) were expecting some action. The opening bout pitted 2 undefeated WW's in a 4-rounder. Brockton, MA native Luis Viramontes 2-0-0 (0) and Anthony Irons 1-0-0 (1), although unless you were seated within natural earshot of the ring, you wouldn't know because the cheap/portable PA system (or karioke machine) was not working too well. When the bout ended, the ring announcer proclaimed: "All three judges unanimously call the bout a Majority Draw" ?????? Great Start... Second Bout: Journeyman HW Mike "The Hammer" Jones 5-10-0 (1) TKO'd local Hartford, CT native Peter Currin who entered the ring 5-1-0 (4). [NOTE: I can't remember if it was the 3rd or 4th round]. Again, the PA system was bad, but with a bit of tweaking, the A/V guy got it ot start making crackling sounds along with the muffled audio. Third Bout: The pride of the Final Forum Boxing stable - HW Zuri Lawrence 20-12-4 (0), just 2 fights removed from his big upset victory over Jameel McCline, took on "Candy Man" Harvey Jolley 6-3-1 (3) in a 6-rounder. Jolley entered the ring 6'4" and listed at 200lbs (not a chance he was that heavy). Did I mention that Zuri has won 20 bouts without a single KO? Well guess what, Zuri wins #21, a 6-round UD, and surprise surprise - he still has ZERO KO's on his record. 20-minute intermission (due to the cancelled women's 4-rounder) Mike "Machine-Gun" Oliver, another Hartford native, is brought up to the ring and there is an announcement (I'm guessing - due to the bad PA) that he will fight July 18 on ESPN against Cruz Carbajal in an IBF Super Bantamweight Title Eliminator. Also, some unknown guy is brought up on the ring and presented with something and had a photo shoot (but no one could hear over the crackling PA) Bout #4: New Haven, CT native MW Elvin Ayala 17-2-0 (8) fights for the 2nd time this month. His opponent is Jose Angel Roman 10-16-4 (5). Roman is more than just an opponent, but Ayala dominates the fight - although not that impressively, and wins an 8-round UD. During the fight, the PA system crackles loudly for no apparent reason. Main Event: (PA System seems to work better now) Hebron, CT favorite son HW Tony "TNT" Grano 9-0-1 (8) stepped in against rugged Jedd Phipps who was announced as having an "outstanding" 17-6-0 (10) record. The opening bell rang, Grano aggressively went after Phipps and swarmed him with a barrage of punches. Phipps is givin a standing 8-count. Grano pins Phipps in the corner and again rains punches. Down Goes Phipps ... Down Goes Phipps ... Down Goes Phipps. The referee stops the contest, Phipps on the canvas, at 1:25 of Round 1. After the decision is announced, Grano takes the microphone adn addressess the entire town of Hebron (the crowd maxed out at probably 800-1000 people, mostly Hebronites) and thanked them for their support. Then he announces that Tony Grano commerative t-shirts were on-sale in the back of the room. Overall, a very disappointing card, horrible venue and shoddy/cheap presentation by Final Forum Boxing, but I had a good time anyways. __________________ UTBA-II Tomato City: [1-2-0] Week 1 MVP: Davey Moore 2-0-0 (1) Week 2 MVP: Paul Fujii 2-0-0 (2) Week 3 MVP: Lee Ramage 2-0-0 (0)