By: William Holmes
Main Events Promotions in association with Peltz Boxing Promotions put on their first NBC Sports Network Fight Night event at the Asylum Arena in South Philadelphia. A last minute injury to Eddie Chambers caused a change in the main event, featuring undefeated heavyweights Bryant Jennings and Maurice Byarm. Outside Asylum Arena reminded you of a scene from the movie Rocky, with snow on the ground as you walked through an highway overpass, and the arena was packed at the beginning of the opening bout.
The undercard featured some up and coming local prospects, with welterweight Jose Peralta Alejo having the most impressive performance. He was able to use nice body and head movement to stay out of trouble and aggressive combinations to take the victory.
Junior Middleweight Gabriel Rosado wowed the crowd in an exciting five round TKO victory over the iron chinned Jesus Soto-Karass. Roasdo’s performance was the most impressive of the night, and his name may come up as a potential challenger for other highly ranked junior middleweights. After his fight, Rosada said this to boxinginsider, “I hope to fight anybody next…Canelo, Kirkland, anybody. I want to fight the top guys.”
The televised light heavyweight matchup featured an undefeated Damar Singleton and undefeated Cuban Sullivan Barrera. This bout was not as exciting as the rest, but Barrera was able to keep his undefeated record intact, with some encouragement from Yuriorkis Gamboa.
The last minute heavyweight main event between Maurice Byarm and Bryant Jennings was surprisingly entertaining. Jennings was able to get the victory over the tough Maurice Byarm and stay undefeated. Jennings might not be quite ready for the top tier heavyweights out there, but his career is on the right track.
Main Events Promoter Kathy Duva was pleased with the effort from the two last minute replacements in the heavyweight match. She stated,“For two heavyweights to take a fight on five days notice and put on the action that they did was amazing.”
The undercard quick results, and round by round main card results are as follows:
Undercard Quick Results:
Naim Nelson (4-0) defeated Pedro Andres (0-1) by decision with official scores of 40-36, 40-36, and 40-36 in the lightweight division.
Jose Peralta Alejo (6-1) defeated Lenwood Dozier (7-4-1) by decision with official scores of 60-54, 60-54, 60-54 in the welterweight division.
Ray Robinson (13-2) defeated Doel Carrasquillo (16-19-1) by decision with official scores of 79-73, 78-74, and 78-74.
Main Card Round by Round Results:
Jesus Soto-Karass (24-7-3) vs. Gabriel Rosado (19-5); Junior Middleweight
Round 1:
Rosado lands an early lead right hand on Soto-Karass. A left hook, right hook combination lands by Roasado. Soto-Karass answers with two shots to the body. Rosado connects with an overhand right, only to eat an overhand right in response by Soto-Karass. Rosado lands an uppercut to the body then Soto-Karass battles back with a head body combination. Rosado lands a nice uppercut and a very hard right hook by the ropes. Another hard uppercut lands for Rosado and Soto-Karass fights his way out of the corner. Most of Soto-Karass’s punches are blocked, and Rosada lands multiple jabs and finishes with a hard left hook near the end of the round. 10-9 round for Rosada.
Round 2:
Soto-Karass starts off round two by applying the pressure and coming forward. Rosada lands a double jab, and Soto-Karass jabs to the body of Rosada. Rosada easily slips some punches from Soto-Karass and tags him with a straight lead right. Rosada works behind his double jab and follows with with a two punch combination. Soto-Karass catches Rosada with a hook, and Rosada immediately answers with a solid combination. Lots of action this round. Rosada lands some solid body punches then turns out of the corner and lands a quick two punch combination. Rosada finishes the round with a flurry of punches. 10-9 round for Rosada.
Round 3:
Rosada leads off with a double jab, and Soto-Karass responds with an overhand right. Soto-Karass walks through the punches of Rosada and answers with a combination of his own. Rosada lands a hard right cross while Soto-Karass stays on the body of Rosada. Rosada is throwing wild uppercut, but landing the harder shots when the fighters exchange. A small cut forms over the right eye of Soto-Karass. More furious exchanges between the fighters with Rosada landing the harder and crisper shots. Rosada rocks Soto-Karass with a hard uppercut and a straight right hand near the end of the eye. 10-9 round for Rosada.
Round 4:
Soto-Karass bangs some hooks to the body of Rosada early in round four and comes forward on Rosada with heavy pressure. Rosada lands a short uppercut by the corner. Rosada is landing multiple power shots upstairs, and Soto-Karass fires an uppercut of his own. Soto-Karass eats several hard upper cuts leaving many wondering how is he still standing?! Soto-Karass is trapped near the ropes but is able to escape after landing a straight right hand. Rosada lands a beautiful uppercut that brings the crowd to its feet. Hard blows are exchanged near the end of the round. 10-9 round for Rosada.
Round 5:
Before the round starts, some ice is spilled in the corner and stalls the start of the round. A ringside official is seen yelling at the corner of Soto-Karass to not stall, and what they did was the oldest trick in the book to give their fighter more time to recover. Soto-Karass comes out aggressive in round five and lands some shots to the body. Rosada comes roaring back with a hard straight right hand and more combinations. Rosada seems to be landing at will, truly testing out the chin of Soto-Karass. Soto-Karass is able to land a few jabs and hooks to the body, but Rosada is landing hard hooks by the corner that has Soto-Karass hurt badly. The referee steps in to stop the fight.
Gabriel Rosado wins by 5th round TKO at 2:06.
Damar Singleton (7-0) vs. Sullivan Barrera (8-0); Light Heavyweight
Round 1:
Both fighters exchange early jabs, and Barrera misses with a right hand. Barrerra lands a jab to the body, and follows it with a cross to the body. Singleton lands a jab upstairs, but misses with a wildhook. Barrera stabs a jab to the body of Singleton. Singleton ducks under a hook, but Barrera is able to land a heavy jab. Barrera lands some solid body shots, and a left hook to the temple. Singleton misses with a looping right hand but eats a right uppercut. Barrera tags Singleton with a straight right hand and a right hook. 10-9 round for Barrera.
Round 2:
Singleton lands a jab early in round two, and Barrera paws his jab at Singleton trying to find his range. Barrera lands a double jab, and then an overhand right followed by a right cross. Singleton connects with a jab. Singleton’s corner can be heard yelling at him to throw the double jab. Barrera thuds some good body shots on Singleton and a left hook upstairs. A double jab from Singleton lands, but Barrera is able to follow it with a two punch combination upstairs near the end of the round. 10-9 round for Barrera. Gamboa can be seen cheering on Singleton at ringside.
Round 3:
Barrera slips a combination from Singleton, and lands an overhand right. A stiff jab follows for Barrera. Singleton lands a jab, and Barrera lands a cross to the body and a jab upstairs. Singleton dances out of danger, but eats a hard hook by Barrerra. Singleton gets warned for low blows by the referee. A cross and a jab land to the bdy by Barrera. A left uppercut lands for Barrerra and the fighters than clinch. Singleton throws out a jab, and misses a wild right hand. Barrera finishes the round with a combination. 10-9 round for Barrera.
Round 4:
Barrerra and Singleton exchange jabs. Singleton lands some decent hooks to the body of Barrera. Barrera tags Singleton with an uppercut and a stiff jab. A straight right hand finds it’s target for Singleton. A thudding straight right hand lands for Barrera. A combination is partially blocked by Barrerra . A much slower round and the crowd is starting to get restless. 10-9 round for Barrera.
Round 5:
Barrera and Singleton quickly clinch in the round. Singleton works a body head combination, and Barrera throws out a cross to the body. Barrera hits Singleton with a heavy jab and an overhand right. Both fighters exchange sloppy combinations in the center of the ring. They clinch, and separate. Barrera lands a two punch combinations, and the fighters then clinch and separate. Barrera lands a few shots, they clinch, and separate over, and over again. The crowd starts to boo the fighters as the round ends. 10-9 for Barrera.
Round 6:
Singleton needs a KO for the victory. They clinch early and short combinations are exchanged. Barrera connects with the harder shots, but Singleton throws more punches. Barrera punches Singleton with hooks to the head and body. Barrera headlocks Singleton while they are in close, and they are separated. Barrera lands a right hook, and then Singleton clinches again. Singleton’s corner can be heard imploring him to punch and let his hands loose. A two punch combination lands for Barrera near the end of the round. 10-9 for Barrera.
Sullivan Barrera wins by decision with official scores of 59-55, 60-54, 60-54.
Maurice Byarm (13-0-1) vs Bryant Jennings (11-0); Heavyweight
Round 1:
Byarm lands an early left hook upstairs to Jennings. Jennings connects with a cross and a jab to keep Byarm at bay. They clinch, and when they separate Jennings throws out a double jab. Jennings lands a three punch combination by the ropes. Jennings lands a jab, and Byarm answers with a straight right hand by the corner. Jennings connects with a lead right hand and three punch combination by the corner. Jennings unleashes a combination by the ropes. 10-9 round for Jennings.
Round 2:
Jennings stands behind his jab, and circles to the left of Byarm. Jennings jab is able to keep Byarm at bay. Byarm lands hook to the body of Jennings by the corner. Jennings lands a hard hook upstairs on Byarm, and Byarm answers with a hard hook upstairs. Jennings lands a hook upstairs, and Byarm answers with a hook of his own. Jennings lands a quick four punch combination, then uses his jab to keep a distance from Byarm. A three punch combination connects by Jennings near the end of the round. Close round, but 10-9 for Jennings.
Round 3:
Jennings lands an early jab, and an uppercut lands for Byarm. Jennings responds to the uppercut with hard hooks upstairs. Byarm answers with a 1-2 comibnation and short hooks. Jennings begins to work the body of Byarm and has him in the corner. Byarm is hurt in the corner with shots from Jennings. Jennings tags Byarm with a stiff combination, and Byarm responds with a combination of his own. Jennings lands a jab and a right cross upstairs by the ropes. Jennings finishes the round by landing a hard uppercut. 10-9 round for Jennings.
Round 4:
Jennings begins the round by circling and staying light on his feet. Jennings lands some jabs and ducks under a cross from Byarm. Jennings has Byarm near the ropes and lands several head shots. Byarm lands a hard upper cut to the body, and Jennings responds with three jabs in a row. Byarm punishes Jennings with uppercuts to the body. Jennings leands in on Byarm by the ropes and they then separate. Byarm lands a jab, and Jennings has his back to the ropes but lands a combination. Two right hooks land for Jennings upstairs. Jennings has Byarm in the corner and lands a hard right cross. 10-9 round for Jennings.
Round 5:
Byarm starts off round five with an uppercut to the body. Byarm has Jennings by the corner working his body. Jennings fights out of it with hooks to the head of Byarm. Byarm continues to work the body of Jennings by the corner but Jennings is able to spin out. Byarm misses with a combination, and Byarm ands a hook and an uppercut. Jenning connects with two jobs and a quick combination. Byarm bangs on the body of Jennings. Byarm is having a much better round. 10-9 round for Byarm.
Round 6:
Jennings starts off with a cross to the body, and Byarm lands a jab upstairs. Byarm blows out snot in the center of the ring, and then lands an uppercut to the body. Jennings unleashes a combinations by the opres, and Byarm is trapped in the corner. Byarm eats a right uppercut. Jennings lands jabs at will and Byarm attempts to bang at the body of Jennings. Jennings lands a solid left hook upstairs but is beginning to breathe heavily. 10-9 round for Jennings.
Round 7:
Byarm bacsk Jennings up to the corner with a jab, but Jennings is able to spin out. Jennings lands a straight right hand and some heavy jabs. Jennings misses with a wild right. Byarm lands short hooks on Jennings, and Jennings responds by spinning away and landing a jab. Byarm connects with a body head combination and a 1-2 combination by the corner. 10-9 round for Jennings.
Round 8:
Jennings tags Byarm with a hard right hand by the ropes. Jennings unleashes a hard combination by the ropes. Byarm answers with a combination of his own. Jennings lands a lead left hook and a right cross upstairs by the corner of the ring. Byarm is landing body shots, and a brutal right hand lands to the temple of Byarm from Jennings. Jennings lands a two punch combination, and finishes the round with strong hooks upstairs. 10-9 round for Jennings.
Round 9:
Byarm starts off round nine by landing an early jab. Jennings answers with a harder cross. Jennings wings wildly and misses causing his body to spin 360 degrees. Jennings connects with a right cross. Jennings is fighting backing up this round landing an occasional jab. Jennings continues to jab, and Byarm lands a two punch combination. The jab is working effectively for Jennings this round. They exchange body shots by the ropes, the Jennings landing the harder shots. 10-9 round for Jennings.
Round 10:
Byarm comes out aggressive, and they exchange in a wild exchange by te ropes. Jennigns falls and pushes Byarm down. The referee stands him back up, and Jennings catches Byarm coming in with a check left hook. Byarm lands shots to the body. Jennings lands a vicious right hook. Byarm is throwing hooks to the head of Jennings but is missing most of them. Pennings presses Byarm to the corner and lands short shots and hooks. Jennings lands a two punch combination and a hard uppercut by the ropes. Jennings eats a right uppercut from Byarm. 10-9 round for Jennings.
Bryant Jennings wins by decision with official scores of 97-93, 96-94, and 96-94.
