The ESPN2 Tuesday nite road show grabbed itself the brass ring in tank town Hammond, Indiana last evening with new kid on the block Courtney Burton (#15 IBF) upsetting the proverbial apple cart with an 8th round KO of IBF #3 ranked Angel Manfredy.

Pace was quick with technical boxing skills on display over rounds one and two ... action picks up in stanza three with Burton rocking Angel with big right hand ... and someone with a more astute eye than I may well have seen a hint of something.

Rounds four, five and six gave us a bit of this a little of that ... in number four Burton introduces something different ... and closes candle in impressive form from the southpaw stance ... in five it's Burton early and Manfredy late.

Now candle six ... Manfredy hurts Burton with big left hook to body in taking the round ... but come number seven it would be Burton time ... both exchanging when it arrives from the southpaw stance ... a left hand bomb and Angel is down and in trouble.

Between seven and eight the camera zooms into Manfredy corner ... clear he's a finished entity ... also a proven warrior that would go out with his boots on ... end arrives following a furious volley at 2:59 of round eight.

Burton goes to 19 wins, 1 loss and 11 knockouts while the veteran of 50 ring wars, Angel Manfredy drops to 42-7-1 with 31 whacks.

Comments:

BURTON ~ Couldn't have caught the eye any better were it choreographed ... the 25 year old has size and excellent speed of hand and feet ... is unique in ability and gives up nothing when doing biz from starboard or portside ... good power. Question is did he do in a shot veteran of fifty ring wars, or is he the real McCoy at 135?

MANFREDY ~ No visible signs of age over most of an action affair ... troubled by Burton turning southpaw ala Spadafora ... but a lack of power was evident ... other than body punch in round six ... come seven and the southpaw bomb, there would be no coming back.

Semper fi,

GEL

07-29-03

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