The ESPN Friday Night Fights returned with a colossal bomb from “Oh Canada” country of Vancouver, BC - not nearly far enough out of town for favorite Dominick Guinn in quest of regaining the lost luster he had once enjoyed.

Ironic indeed that the likable Guinn has continued wearing “The Southern Disaster” sobriquet from his early years of undefeated 24 kept appointments - had earned heavyweight prospect/contender recognition in fight 21 with a TKO7 over then touted contender Michael Grant.

The win caught the eye, but more importantly was the manner he got the job done - methodic while aggressive in style, and showing major league power with short explosive two-punch combinations - then the first debit, courtesy of Monte Barrett in fight number 25 - and the “Southern Disaster” would take on a whole different meaning.

Guinn entered last night’s atrocity with a respectable 28-5, 19 KO’s - his short notice opponent Robert Hawkins of 22-10, 7 KO’s infamy arrives on a six losses in last seven outings - and a DOB having him at age 37.

The ESPN chatterbox duo Atlas-Tessitore saw this pairing the ideal stage for Guinn to recoup some glitter with a sparkling KO win - not to be, as it was Guinn in style and substance, appearing the far older of the two combatants.

The brain trust, namely trainer Ronnie Shields, was wired for the anticipated “return” of his charge Guinn - in chats with talkative Teddy Atlas, was in agreement that Guinn should make the fight from the outside - problem is a shot entity, for whatever the reason, can no longer execute a pre-fight game plan - nor squeeze off a round before the target is MIA.

Scoring went unanimous Hawkins 100-90, 99-91, 97-93 - my unofficial benevolence had it Hawkins 97-93 in points and 7-3 under the round by round method.

Post Scripts: Guinn (28-6, 19 KOs) ~ age 32 not the problem. Never once added to the arsenal that had brought him the promise label. At 6-3 and 220 pounds at prime time a major league stinger would have benefited his chances once moving up in quality foes. Today, the jab has zero snap to it and Dominick will wear club fighter to the bitter end.
                   Hawkins(23-10, 7 KOs) ~ hard not to applaud this age 37, at 5-11 and 240 pounds for a gutsy performance. Not pretty, made his fight a ten stanzas of hold and hit affair at close quarters. Deserved the win but the future is miles in the rear view mirror.
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Announced co-feature saw s/middleweights Darrel Woods (26-11, 18 KOs) and Louis Sargeant (8-11-2, 1 KOs) - and how about that for scraping the bottom of the proverbial boxing barrel. Woods, age 40, a tall southpaw reported as the favorite over age 36 Sargeant - then the unexpected with Woods walking into a straight right hand and down on his derriere - and with it the second guessing begins with Teddy book of knowledge questioning why the southpaw stance when a right hand is the only answer for Sargeant.

Come round three Woods switches to the orthodox but fails to use the height and reach advantage - and bingo - come stanza four “Durable Darrel” is in trouble with no legs and wobbled - also getting hammered by the wild swinging attacker Sargeant  - and where is the third man hack in charge you ask?

Waiting for the bell to ring, so he could close his assignment in style - for both the camera and twin commentator approvals - is heard telling the Woods corner he’s calling it no-mas since he didn’t want Woods taking anymore punishment.

Sargeant goes to 9-11-2, 2 KO’s - referred to by Tessitore as fan favorite, should also ride off into the proverbial sunset - he too an accident waiting to happen - and to Atlas credit he did make it clear prior to the fight the commission should not have cleared Sargeant with a six-seven bout losing streak without a suspension for the body to recover.
Woods at age 40 and no chin or anything resembling technique should be retired by somebody. The brain trust has no problem collecting the small change he brings to the table.
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Fill in scheduled six round mismatch went the “DQ” route with Byron Tyson getting the win at 1:26 mark of stanza four when opponent Claudio Ortiz capped a pitiful performance by entertaining the paying clientele with assorted violations.

First, lets set the stage: Tyson age 28 arrives at 8-0 with 4 KO’s - Ortiz age 36 enters with ugly rap sheet of 6-14-1, 2 KO’s - question, what’s a guy gonna do?

Begins with intentional head butt - next it’s a wicked elbow - finally the coup de grace a barrage of rabbit punches with comedy man in charge Paul Field declaring a disqualification.

Rest of the story:   The referees: Bobby Howard captured both main event and co-feature. Must be his style that captivates the “Oh Canada” commission, Have seen his act before. First time the reaction was a flashback to when I was just a kid and watching the “Wizard of Oz. Not sure but he just may well have played the role of either “Tin Man” or “Straw Man.” This guy and his partner Paul Field both qualify if the old Judy Garland  flick returns as a boxing movie.                     

                               Howard, with choreographed animations, peering in at both fighters  as if in search of a box cutter - not to mention the non-stop chatter - never once saw the obvious, first it was  both Hawkins gloves with strips of tape dangling, and later it was Guinn with the loose tape, and “Bobby” not once reacting. Next stanza it resumes with no fresh tape.
                               Paul Field a carbon copy in style … ongoing cautions over perceived and legitimate violations - finally, the finis was not one, or two, or three, but  handful of rabbit punches before aborting the fiasco.