[kenyan_cheena]

The New York Age

WEDNESDAY, 14 JUNE, 2006

HAVANA HOSTS THE
INTERNATIONAL BOXING LEAGUE

Story by James Reynolds

The International Boxing League held its first fight card in Cuba last night with Havana's Gran Stadium hosting the opening round of the Americas Lightweight Championship tournament. The actual bouts themselves concluded what was a week-long celebration of both the Caribbean nation's proud boxing history and its anticipation and excitement over its future in the sport. However, someone forgot to give 18 year-old New Jersey native Ike Williams a copy of the script. The promising youngster created a boilover in the main event as he sent #2 seed and local favourite Doug Vaillant crashing out of the tournament, Williams taking a one-sided unanimous decision verdict (60-53, 59-54, 60-53). Williams had an outstanding amateur career but missed out on a spot on the Athens Olympics team when eventual gold medallist Pernell Whitaker defeated him in the semi-finals at the selection trials. He entered the professional ranks in November and despite bringing a perfect 4-0(4) record into the evening was not expected to trouble Vaillant (10-2-2(7)).

That assessment could not have been further from the truth, Williams comprehensively dominating the contest from the opening moments, where he connected with a crunching left hook. He punished Vaillant with some stinging body shots through the 1st round and by the time a solid right cross dropped the Cuban on his back early in the 4th the audience's pre-fight optimism had all but vanished. It was an almost sheepish Williams who apologised to the crowd for "ruining their night" after the verdict was revealed. Over the course of the six-rounder he had thrown an extraordinary 920 punches and outlanded Vaillant 203-60. Williams trains at the same North Bergen gym as fellow Garden State sluggers Joe Jeannette and Mickey Walker, Jeannette making the walk to the ring with him and working his corner as a cut man during the bout. Needless to say he had a pretty easy night.

In the evening's co-feature #1-seeded Mexican Rafael Martinez overcame an admirable challenge from Maine native Emory Cabana. It was a close fight entering the final round but Martinez landed a crucial blow early in the frame, flooring Cabana with a powerful cross that secured a unanimous decision win (57-56, 58-55, 57-56). Earlier on the card undefeated Brooklynite Steve Sullivan almost suffered an embarrassing exit from the tournament. After knocking Colombia's Alfredo Pitalua to the canvas early in round one and looking in control entering the 4th Sullivan seemingly went to sleep in the final three rounds, Pitalua storming back but falling just short as the fight ended as a draw (57-57, 57-56 (Pitalua), 57-57). Sullivan will have to avoid a similar lapse in his quarter-final bout against the Brazilian Vicente Santana, who looked sharp in scoring a 3rd round knockout of Alfredo Marcano.

Sullivan's fellow New Yorker Richie Plunkett was much more convincing in his IBL debut, the Bronx native proving far too classy for Larry Stanton. Plunkett is regarded as one of the best young lightweights in the USA, perhaps second only to Olympic gold medallist Pernell Whitaker. Against Stanton he showed why, pummelling the 18 year-old through the first four rounds and knocking him out midway through the 5th. Employing an impressive workrate, Plunkett was able to land his punches at will and was lethal with a damaging left hook, unleashing it upon his overmatched opponent without mercy. Plunkett is now 10-0(8) and faces a tougher challenge in his quarter-final bout. He'll be up against the Canadian Nicolas Fillion, who defeated Chicago's Ray Miller by split decision in a competitive affair (59-56, 57-59, 60-57).

***

(8) Mancini KO6 (9) Vasquez
(7) Amaya UD6 (10) Boardman
(11) Fillion SD6 (6) Miller
(5) Santana KO3 (12) Marcano
(4) Sullivan D6 (13) Pitalua
(3) Plunkett KO5 (14) Stanton
(1) Martinez UD6 (16) Cabana
(15) Williams UD6 (2) Vaillant

Quarter-final matchups

(7) Amaya (7-1(4)) vs (15) Williams (5-0(4))
(4) Sullivan (7-0-1(5)) vs (5) Santana (8-1-1(6))
(3) Plunkett (10-0(8)) vs (11) Fillion (6-0(1))
(1) Martinez (11-1(6)) vs (8) Mancini (7-0-1(5))

***