Last nite’s ESPN FNF offering featured middleweights Antwun Echols (31-5-1, 27 KOs) and Kingsley Ikeke (22-1, 12 K0s ) in a 12 round duel for the #2 vacancy in the IBF standings.

The viewer was reminded early on both veterans were putting their careers on the line, and to hear Brian "No Clue" and Joseph Tessitore tell it, the loser was expected to be dispatched to some rural stud farm.

Then the opening bell, with both in a standoff over the first four stanzas. Was Echols in role of aggressor snatching rounds one and four, and Ikeke grabbing two and three with good work from the outside - and then number five.

The taller Nigerian with the "Sharp Knuckle" sobriquet has a slight edge in five, but more importantly was a noticeable sign of damage to the Echols right orbit that had become visibly puffy.

Ikeke enjoyed the target with an increased rat-a-tat of accurate jabbing and occasional straight right hands. The hint on how this one would play out came in candle seven with the Nigerian chin holding up while on receiving end of some solid left-hooks.

It was clear Echols, on this night, was unable to sustain an offense and the writing on the wall arrived in stanza ten with Echols "taking a knee" -  the today version of the yesterday no-mas.

Ikeke then gets the win when the Echols corner calls it a nite between rounds 10 & 11.

Post Scripts: Ikeke ~ the move to number 2 among the IBF crowd fills its previous vacancy and a likely higher strand among the elite at middleweight. Next for the aging albeit young in body Nigerian, could be a Felix Sturm, Howard Eastman, Sam Soliman in the near future.
                     Echols ~ At age 33, and a relentless aggressive puncher in style, can no longer cope with the cream at 60-65, but if choosing carefully can still go on a bit against the also-ran gang out there.

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Closing thoughts: Maybe it’s just me, but this "future star prospect" label being pasted on Andre Dirrell by the ESPN gang is not only premature but insulting based on what we’ve seen after four pro fights. Is handed a gift wrapped Carl Cockerham, age 31 with a 12-9-3, 4 KOs rap sheet.  Actually, a step up in opposition from the prior faint of heart clientele. Yes, he drops the guy with a barrage of left hands in a lopsided decision win … but at times appeared confused after the pigeon failed to surrender. The 21 year old kid has more flaws than positives at this juncture.

The applauded quickness of hands are not effective hand speed but forced as in gym sparring flurries … catches the eyes of the uninitiated but that is where it ends. Jury is currently more than sequestered … is outta town!

GEL

4-16-2005