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            December 13th 2008 Program

     KO KINGS raised the bar once again as they put together one of the most successful boxing/mixed martial arts cross promotions in Atlanta, for their December 13^th 2008 “Fight For The Cure” fight card.  The lineup featured four solid boxing matches, three of them being for titles, and four MMA bouts (three amateur and one professional).

Here’s a brief summary of how the fights went down….

Bastie “The Beast” Samir (1-0-0, 1KOs)  vs. Antonio Fanning (0-0-0) (Boxing)

Samir showed patience as he stalked his opponent for the first 30sec of the first round and he used a stiff jab to find his range.  Fanning kept moving and showing Samir difficult angles, but once Fanning tasted “The Beast’s” power he decided to go toe to toe, only to find out that he was outgunned.  Bastie Samir showed why he was The 2008 Ghana Olympic Team Captain as he used crisp combinations and laser guided bombs to force a stoppage on Antonio Fanning at 2:58 of the 1^st round.

Result:  Bastie Samir defeats Antonio Fanning by TKO 2:58 of the 1^st round.

Jeremy Wallace  vs.  Matt Blankenship (MMA Amateurs)

This was an intriguing match up as we had a standup fighter (Jeremy Wallace) against a ground and pound specialist (Matt Blankenship).  The fight started as expected, with the Wallace getting the best of the exchanges standing up and stuffing a couple of take down attempts by Blankenship, as the first round was coming to a close Blankenship was able to take Wallace down and nearly secure an armbar.  The second and third rounds were a mirror image of each other; Wallace controlled the action when standing but spent most of the round defending from the guard against Blankenship’s relentless ground and pound.  After 3 round of action the fight went to the judges, and their scores were: 30-37 for Wallace, 30-27 for Blankenship, and 30-27 for Blankenship.

Result:  Matt Blankenship defeats Jeremy Wallace by Majority Decision

Seth Richardson  vs.  Clay Bowen (MMA Amateurs)

The fight was bizarre to say the least, and the outcome was stranger still.  The fight started ordinary enough with both fighters trying to land something meaningful during their first standup exchanges.  After Bowen landed a heavy right hand cross that sent Richardson’s mouth piece flying out of his mouth, Richardson did the right thing and went to the ground and pulled guard on his opponent.  After a brief struggle on the ground and a lull in the action, the referee stood both fighters up and placed Richardson’s mouth piece back where it belonged, now here is where things get bizarre.  After the referee gave the signal to continue, every time Richardson got punched or kicked he would walk away from his opponent as if he were annoyed, then looked at his corner.  The second round saw the same bizarre behavior, and after a failed head kick attempt by Bowen (a kick that missed its intended target by about 12 inches), Richardson began to complain to the referee and refused to keep fighting.  The referee halted the fight due to Richardson refusing to engage/continue the fight. 

Result:  Clay Bowen defeats Seth Richardson by Referee Stoppage.

Anthony Greenidge (12-1-1, 5KOs) vs. John Mackey (11-1-1, 5KOs) (Boxing)

NABA US MIDDLE-WEIGHT TITLE FIGHT

With all due respect to all the fighters on this terrific card…This was the fight of the night!  Ten rounds of back and forth action with both fighters showing tremendous, heart, skill, chin, and determination.  I wish I could give you the play by play but this was a battle that kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering between rounds who had just done enough to swing the judges score in their favor.  What I can say is this, Anthony “Ice” Greenidge and John Mackey put on a chess match in fast forward.  The level of skill displayed by these two warriors was tremendous, they set traps for each other, they countered one another’s best shots, they anticipated moves, and took turns taking each other’s best.  When all was said and done, the judges score cards read:  97-93, 98-94,and 97-93 for the new NABA US MIDDLE-WEIGHT CHAMPION, Anthony “Ice” Greenidge.

ATLFightSports had this fight much closer than what the judges scored it 96 – 95 for Anthony “Ice” Greenidge.  Although this fight was a crowd pleaser and many people at ringside would like a rematch, I would not, at least not right now.  I’d rather see these two continue their career away from each other.  Why?  There is no doubt in my mind these two fighters will meet again, in a not so distant future, besides if they put on a master piece at this juncture, so early in their careers, imagine the instant classic these two will give us once they have matured as fighters and have been given a bigger stage.

Result:  Anthony Greenidge defeats John Mackey by Unanimous Decision.

Victoria Cooke vs. Jessica Ohman (Amateur Kick Boxing)

Victoria Cooke is a non stop kicking and punching machine.  This young lady set a suffocating pace from start to finish that not many kick boxers can match.  Even though Jessica Ohman gave as good as she got, the pace was too much for her and the end came at 1:47 of the 3^rd round as the referee saved her from taking unnecessary punishment.

Result:  Victoria Cooke defeats Jessica Ohman by TKO at 1:47 of the 3^rd round.

Tyrese “Head Honcho” Hendrix (14-0-1, 6KOs)  vs.  Abi Santizo (9-2-0, 4KOs)

NABA US LIGHT-WEIGHT TITLE FIGHT

Tyrese Hendrix pitched a near shut out as he used his speed, height, and reach advantage to outpoint the very resilient Abi Santizo for the NABA US Lightweight Championship.  The Judges scores were:  99-91, 99-91, 99-1, all in favor for the new NABA US Lightweight Champion, Tyrese “Head Honcho” Hendrix.

Result:  Tyrese Hendrix defeats Abi Santizo by Unanimous Decision.

Michael Jean Louis (5-0-0, 5KOs)  vs.  Ray Betancourt (5-3-0, 2KOs)  (Boxing)

This fight almost started before the first bell even rang.  The fighters had some choice words during the weigh in (the day before the fight) and the bad blood spilt over to the ring.  You could feel the excitement as the bell rang for the first round, both fighters did away with the formality of feeling each other out and got down to business.  They exchanged some heavy leather in the center of the ring for most of the first three minutes, as the bell rang signifying the end of the first round, Louis walked back to his corner with a bloody nose, while Betancourt sported a small mouse above his right eye on the way to his.

The second round was brutal, each fighter was tying to impose his will and land damaging punches.  When Louis used his jab the fight seemed easy for him, but he wasn’t looking to win the fight on points, he was looking for a knock out, and he paid the price when the shorter Betancourt would get into range and unload heavy shots to the body and head.  The exchanges in round two left the crowd electrified and anxious for the third round.

In the beginning of the third round you could see that Louis was now in control of himself as he was more patient with his punches and had a tighter defense.  During an exchange along the ropes, Louis caught Betancourt with an over hand right that rattled him and opened a gash along the right eyebrow.  Louis moved in for the kill and a few seconds later the referee mercifully stopped the fight with 0:57 seconds remaining in the 3^rd round.

Result:  Michael Jean Louis defeats Ray Betancourt by TKO at 0:57 of 3^rd round.

Clay Harvision (4-2-0)  vs.  Blake Bowman (2-1-0)   (Professional MMA)

Good match up between Clay Harvision training out of Knuckle up Fitness and former Ultimate Fighter Season 6 participant Blake Bowman training out of American Top Team.  This fight started with Clay getting the better of the standup game, Blake recognized this fact and took Clay to the ground and achieved full mount.  At this point in the fight it seemed a mere formality before Blake would win by ground and pound, but MMA is so unpredictable, you have to watch the fight develop.  After Blake achieved full mount and started his ground and pound, Clay Harvision managed to secure Bowman’s head and bring it close to him.  Blake Bowman rose up to create punching room and in the process left his left arm extended and unprotected. Harvision immediately secured the arm with his hands and swung his legs around to execute a text book armbar that finished the contest at 3:01 of the 1^st round.

Result:  Clay Harvision defeats Blake Bowman by Submission (Armbar) 1^st round.

     K.O. KINGS’ August 30^th 2008 boxing promotion at the Holiday Inn Select in downtown Atlanta, GA was a complete success!  With a solid fight card featuring up and coming boxers, boxing personalities such as Floyd Mayweather SR., and Atlanta’s very own Four Time World Champion Vernon “The Viper” Forrest lending their expert commentary during the fights, both the crowd and atmosphere were electrified. 

Here is a brief summary of the night’s action packed fights:

Main Event: 

Result:  Michael Jean Louis wins by TKO at 2:34 of the 1^st round.

This fight was over quickly and in explosive fashion as Orlando, Florida’s Michael Jean Louis pounced on his opponent from the opening bell with lightning quick hands and thunderous overhand rights.  His opponent, Miguel “M-16” Alfaro fighting out of Laurel, Mississippi was never able to generate any offense as he found himself on the canvas twice within the first minute and a half of the fight.  The main event was scheduled for six rounds but Michael Jean Louis needed less than one.  The end came at  2:34sec of the 1^st round when referee  Vincent Accoo mercifully waved the fight off as a dazed, but valiant, Miguel Alfaro was rising from his third knock down.  With this win “Blaze” Improves his professional record to (5 - 0 – 0) with all five victories coming by KO or TKO, while Miguel Alfaro drops to (3 – 5 – 0).