The FNF ShoBox "New Generation" offering wasn’t pretty, but did qualify as
entertaining - main event saw "Bad" Chad Dawson snatching the super middleweight
NABO strap by TKO 11 over Ian "Cobra" Gardner, while Marteze "Too Sweet" Logan
decisioned Americo Santos in prelim 8-rounder.
The undefeated Dawson improved to 19-0, 14 KO’s by virtue of a full court
press from start to finish that would eventually reduce the cobra to a
non-venomous garter snake variety - the end came following knockdown three of
stanza eleven.
Both worked the port side but that is where similarity ends - Dawson has some
visible skills and decent power from both sides. Gardner’s modus operandi best
described by Dawson during post-fight presser - quoted as saying "the guy is
no boxer or puncher, he’s weird is what he is, runs around inside the ring
doing weird things" - and he gets no argument here.
Gardner, for the most part worked more to survive than to win, but the
constant pressure from the bigger puncher Dawson eventually got the job done -
the handwriting surfaced during stanza eight when Gardner took time off to
genuflect and was charged with a knockdown - final trio of canvas visits were
combination of Dawson combos and a Gardner willingness to surrender.
Post Scripts: Chad Dawson ~ young at age 23 and a tall 6' 3" while working
from port side - hard to judge the punch potency off this outing but does toss
in combinations.
Ian Gardner ~ The now 19-3, 7 KO’s job application more
a fib than reality check. Still, until the pressure slowed him to a walk he
was entertaining to watch - strictly club fight talent.
………………………………..........................................................................
The televised semi-final welter attraction saw
youngsters Marteze Logan (age 21) and Americo Santos (age 22) in a non-stop
sizzler that somehow went the full eight stanzas.
Santos (the favorite) undefeated in 23 priors with 19 arriving by stoppage -
Logan takes the fight on week notice toting an albatross of 21-19-2 with 5
knockouts.
The shouts over the magic lantern was all Santos with them 19 scalps - and
then the bell with a taller Santos on the attack - both hands firing away to
both body and head, with Logan showing some defense coupled with occasional
power punches from both sides.
Expected this one hadn’t a prayer of going to the scorers but that it did
after eight rounds of give and take - tough one to call, although the
unanimous decision went to Logan 79-74, 78-73, 77-74 - this unofficial had
Logan 76-75 in points and all square at 4-4 under the rounds method. Decider
on my sheet was questionable knockdown in stanza five, a Logan right hand to
chest resulting in 10-8 round.
Closing comments: Marteze Logan ~ Brain(less) trust could be culprit in the
ugly resumé that now reads 22-19-2, 5 KO’s - in style is something of a poor
man’s Emmanuel Augustus - has some of them mesmerizing moves that baffle the
enemy but is in need of fine tuning in skills, unlike Augustus. Still, wild
guess here is he’s being burned out much too quickly at age 21 and 43 outings.
Not to mention the quick call to arms … two fights in two weeks is too many.
Americo Santos ~ Early knockout success facing
gimmes thus the banzai approach. Kid tall and lanky, very game, but not a clue
when Logan refused to fold early on. A jab, move and counter style would
likely have earned the "W" - at age 22 could still develop. But the
knockouts to number of outings ratio is a fib. Kid strictly a volume arm
puncher at this point.
P.S. Referee Dan Schiavonne in need of assignment transfer from referee to
scorer - wannabe macho man without a clue. Michael Ortega in main event a
slight improvement. Once showed great promise … never materialized.
GEL
Questions? Comments? Email
George Elsasser
11-19-05
