In a meeting of undefeated middleweights, it was
Daniel Edouard halting Philadelphia knockout artist Willie Gibbs in round four
of a fiercely contested barn burner.
The popular consensus going in was the one called the "Haitian Sensation" would
have to alter the crowd pleaser style with a bit of stick and move against the
advertised bigger banger in Gibbs.
But not to be … the jab was working early in opening candle when Gibbs catches
Edouard with a good punch, and from that moment on it was all "Katie bar the
door" with both battlers having their moments.
Stanza two it’s Gibbs down from an Edouard furious volley that began with a big
right hand … and then round three it’s Gibbs claiming the candle with a strong
finish.
Then number four … and it was clear this war of attrition hadn’t a prayer of
going the scheduled distance - and sure enough, a tenacious seesaw battle of rockin’-n-rollin’
would suddenly come to a close.
It’s late in the candle and Edouard scores with a big right hand … a game Gibbs
is wobbled, then while starting a counter left-hook is tagged by another Edouard
right hand and is down.
A game Gibbs beats the count , but the legs give him away, and referee Charlie
Dwyer makes the correct call in stopping it at 2:45 seconds mark of the round.
Edouard goes to 16-0-2, 9 KO’s while Gibbs drops to 17-1, 14 by knockout.
Post-fight announcement reported both fighters ordered to local hospital for
observation … it was that kind of fight.
Post Scripts: Edouard ~ credits are youth at age 24, strong body, mucho will
with a matching heart. Still, believe he gets more longevity if giving the jab a
chance … as big a plus is if learning to relax a bit, instead of the rush-hour
race to the express train in style. Wobbled on several occasions but recovered
to retake control.
Gibbs ~ gallant of heart but one dimensional in style …
the 17-0 with 14 knockouts shout of prior weak competition … fails first step up
… or more likely the chin construction failed. A big hitter short changed in the
science department. The one-dimensional style recalls flashback to 1940s
middleweight champion Rocky Graziano … as my late great Dad once described it,
"He fights like a cornered rat." No compliment intended.
Middleweights Jose Spearman (20-8-, 8 KO) and
Rasheem Brown (14-1, 12 KO’s) rumbled to an 8-round split decision affair that
was a tough one to call … and when the smoke cleared it was veteran Spearman
getting the nod.
Nothing clean or defining in this one … Rasheem in the aggressor role in quest
of a knockout … much too wild loading up on each delivery … not a single
combination from start to finis.
Jose showed better skills but was available to everything coming his way … good
news for the 34 year-old veteran was ability to handle the pressure and also
catch the eye of two judges with combination punches.
Scoring went Spearman 77-75, 76-75 and Brown 77-74. My unofficial had it
Spearman 76-75 under points system but a 4-4 in rounds standoff under round by
round method.
***Questionable
knockdown in number seven (right hand to body) gives Spearman a 10-8 round …
under round by round system we would have had a majority draw verdict that may
have sent all concerned home happier.
