In a crossroads battle of sorts, heavyweight Dominick Guinn handed British heavyweight Audley Harrison his second straight loss. In a fight between two struggling highly touted heavyweights, Guinn showed that he wanted it more, as he was able to out hustle Harrison in what was mostly an uneventful fight. The fight was the main event on ESPN's Friday Night Fights from the Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage, California.

    Dominick Guinn did not invoke any resemblances to Muhammad Ali or Joe Frazier, but he did get the job done against a very inactive Audley Harrison. Guinn was able to control most of the fight, and was able to do his best work to the body. Harrison tried to invoke a pecking jab, but again like in past fights just failed to let his hands go. Once again it would cost him. Guinn was not exactly impressive, but was able to control the fight. The best action in the fight came in the final minute of the final round when both fighters finally let their hands fly. For a moment it looked like Guinn wobbled Harrison, but the Brit was able to survive. But, he was not able to survive another defeat in another fight in which Harrison looked very passive.

    Guinn won by scores of 97-93, 97-93 and 98-92, and gets back on the winning path after having gone winless in his last three fights. Now, Harrison a former gold medalist has to look in the mirror, and make some serious changes if he hopes to live up to anything near his hype since he has turned pro. With the loss, Harrison drops to 19-2.

    Highly touted prospect Andre Berto continued to impress on Friday night as he scored a 3rd round TKO over tough veteran Horatio Garcia. Berto, a former Haitian Olympian who trains in Winter Haven, Florida was one of the more sought after fighters coming out of the Olympics. So far he has failed to disappoint as he showed superior speed and power in defeating Garcia, who quit on his stool at the end of round three. Berto improves to 11-0 with 9 KOs, while Garcia of San Diego falls to 14-7-1.

    In a very entertaining heavyweight scrap, Jason Gavern defeated late sub Rafael Butler by unanimous decision. Gavern has made a knack out of fighting
young heavyweight prospects. He fought and lost to Malcolm Tann by a close decision, and drew with undefeated Travis Walker. He was scheduled to fight another undefeated fighter in Teke Oruh, who pulled out. Instead Gavern fought Butler, who came in with a good reputation and a solid 17-3 record.

   The hardnosed Gavern had his problems in the opening round, but then turned the fight his way. Gavern got the fight in close, and dominated from the second round on. Butler would have been more suited to fight from the outside, but got sucked inside and the fight turned bad for him there. Gavern was able to land hard potshots inside, and even stagger Butler in the final round with a hard straight right. Gavern with the win improves to 9-1-2, while Butler falls to 17-4.

4-15-2006