It took a while for Britain's Audley Harrison to get going, but when he finally did, he did it in a big way, stopping veteran Robert Davis in the seventh round. The fight was the main event hosted by the Pechanga Resort & Casino from Temecula, California.  

Harrison, who is hoping to make a big splash in the United States, did little to impress as he fought six uneventful rounds before finally kicking it in gear and stopping Davis in the seventh. The crowd booed often throughout the fight, and both fighters seemed very tentative.

Harrison scored a knockdown in the first round, but it looked more of a slip with Davis off balance. The opening two rounds looked more like feeling out rounds with Harrison doing slightly more than Davis did.

The third round was actually a good round for Davis, who was able to land some solid jabs, and midway in he landed a solid left hook. Harrison looked a bit better in round four, and he started to jab effectively. The 'A-Force' landed a hard right cross late in the round, but Davis actually closed the round with a flurry capped by a solid uppercut.

Harrison seemed to get going in round five, landing a good straight left which snapped Davis' head back, but Davis again ended strong with a good left-right flurry to finish.

There was little action in round six, and boos were heard once again. It seemed as both fighters were looking to counter, which can make for a less than pleasing fight for the eye.

The seventh round also started slowly and boos began to file in again. Finally, towards the last minute of the round, Harrison landed a hard straight left, which seemed to stun Davis. He followed it up with another straight left that sent Davis stumbling back. Harrison continued to  punish his opponent with a number of left crosses that sent Davis stumbling into the corner, and that's where referee Raul Caíz, Jr. jumped in and stopped the fight.

Harrison wins by TKO at 2:21 of round seven. A fairly close fight until Harrison awoke, and finished Davis. The scores going into the final round were 58-55, 57-56, and 57-56 in favor of Harrison. Harrison improves to 18-0 with 13 KOs, while Davis falls to 31-7.    

Former heavyweight contender Kirk Johnson continued on the comeback trail dropping Yanqui Diaz three times before winning a technical decision. The bout was stopped after five rounds due to an accidental head butt to Diaz. Johnson was in better shape than in some past fights, and seemed to overpower the smaller Diaz.  

The opening round was very busy, with both fighters throwing many punches, but only landing a few. Johnson seemed to be a bit more accurate, but both landed good shots. In round two, Johnson dropped Diaz with a right cross; however, he had been penalized a point for a low blow.

The third round was fairly even, with both fighters landing some good shots. Late in the round, Johnson connected a solid overhand right which staggered Diaz, but Diaz came back with a good straight hand to the cheek. Johnson, as has been his forte in the past, was countering well in the fight, but in round four Diaz turned into the counter puncher. Late in the round Diaz landed a solid combo to cap the round.

Round five was all Johnson, who rushed at Diaz and never stayed off him. Johnson dropped Diaz early in the round, a delayed knockdown from an excellent left hook-right uppercut combo. Diaz beat the count and later went down again, from what looked to be a slip. Diaz hung in for the rest of the round as Johnson pounded away until the sound of the bell. Towards the end of the round, the two fighters clashed heads, and blood flowed from Diaz's forehead.

The fight was stopped on the doctor’s advice, and it went to the judges, who had Johnson winning by the scores of 49-43, and 49-42 twice. BRC scored the fight 48-44 for Johnson. Johnson looks better and improves to 36-2-1.

In another heavyweight attraction, Malcolm Tann and Derek Bryant stole the show in an eight round bout. The fight was easily the fight of the night, and one of the better heavyweight fights you'll see this year.

Tann was able to avoid the upset and defeat Bryant by a very tight unanimous decision. Bryant has the nickname "One man Riot" and in the opening rounds, he looked just that. Most of the bout was fought at close quarters, with both fighters trading bombs. Midway into the opening round, Bryant dropped Tann with a short left cross, which Tann said later he never saw. Tann spent the rest of the round just trying to survive.

The second round started well for Tann, as he landed a good lead right to the body. Later in the round it appeared as if Bryant took a thumb to the eye, and as he pulled away, Tann jumped on him, landing two big right crosses to the head. Bryant came back and landed a hard chopping right which appeared to stun Tann again.  

The third round was a close round. While in close Bryant landed a hard left uppercut followed by a left cross. Tann landed some good shots also, but Bryant's seemed to do more damage. Tann was stunned again in the fourth round, and while he kept coming forward, it was a good round for Bryant.

Tann looked to be dominating round five as he appeared to have Bryant stunned, but as Tann was working on him, Bryant again suckered him and fought back. In the midst of Tann launching away, Bryant landed a huge left hook to the cheek, which backed Tann up, however, Tann probably did enough to win the round.  

Bryant appeared to be tiring in round six as Tann had his best round landing up and downstairs. Just as it looked like Bryant was tiring, he came right back in the seventh. Bryant closed the round strong with a big flurry on the ropes, but up until that point Tann did good work with his jab.

Tann came out jabbing in round eight, and then landed a good right cross to open the round. The fight went to close quarters again with each fighter landing some big shots. In the last 30 seconds Malcolm Tann looked like a featherweight as he wouldn't stop punching. His pace alone probably won Tann the round, and a close fight went to the cards. Tann won by the scores of 76-75, and 77-74 twice. BRC scored the fight 76-75 for Bryant. A great fight as Tann improves to 16-1, while Bryant falls to 18-4.

There were three other fights on the card. Heavyweight prospect Travis Walker made quick work of Carlton Johnson, knocking him out in 48 seconds of the first round. Walker landed a devastating chopping overhand right to Johnson’s temple, which had Johnson's knees buckling. Johnson managed to beat the count, but he was still feeling the effects. Walker went right after him and after a three-punch left-right-left combo to the head, referee Jose Cubillan jumped in to save Johnson. Walker of Colorado Springs improves to 11-0 with 9 KOs, while Johnson of Portsmouth, Virginia falls to 15-12-2.

Heavyweight prospect Rafael Butler of Rochester, Minnesota survived a late scare to beat Kerry Biles of Springfield, Missouri by a four round unanimous decision. Butler devastated Biles through the first 3 rounds, and even dropped him in the opening round. However, in the final round Biles landed a stiff left jab, which stunned Butler. Biles tried valiantly to finish Butler, and pull off the upset but couldn't.  Butler won by the score of 39-36 on every card. Despite the late scare, Butler improves to 11-1, while Biles falls to 6-7-1.

In the only non-heavyweight fight on the card, undefeated Lorenzo Reynolds of Saginaw, Michigan pounded out a six round unanimous decision win over the spirited Carlos Barragan of Guaymas, Mexico. Reynolds displayed a solid quick jab throughout the fight, and boxed well from the outside against Barragan’s awkward style. Reynolds dropped Barragan in the second round with a stunning straight left to the chin, but Barragan was able to beat the count and survive. Reynolds with the win improves to 6-0, while Barragan falls to 3-15.

The Harrison-Davis and Tann-Bryant fights were televised on Fox's "The Best Damn Sports Show Period," and were brought to you by Goossen-Tutor promotions. Pechanga Resort and Casino from Temecula, California hosted the event.

.6-9-2005

Brought to you by Saratogamist copyright 2001-2005