Friday SHO-BOX offering from Fargo, North Dakota featured
unbeaten Edwin Rodriguez facing James McGirt Jr. in the
main bout with the vacant WBC-USNBC s/middle minor league
strap the bounty.
McGirt arrives at 22-2, 11 KOs to the touted undefeated
Rodriguez at 16 wins with dozen stoppages - and on paper
enjoying height/reach edge along with working from the port
side.
Still, the Sho-Box voices at ringside Curt Menefee & Steve
Farhood leaned heavily toward the hard punching transplanted
Dominican over the relocated Long Islander now calling Vero
Beach, Florida home.
Then the opening bell with Rodriguez the much busier of the
two firing serious, albeit sometimes wild offerings from
both sides of the plate - if McGirt was the much slower out
of the gate, worse yet, on this night he was much too
defensive over most stanzas.
On my unofficial, entering numero noche I had Rodriguez up
in rounds 7-1 in a scheduled ten rounder with zero chance of
winning other than a knockout.
Finally, McGirt senior working his son’s corner, was heard
loud and clear he was giving his charge one more round to
show something or he was pulling the plug - emphasized to
Jr. he was taking too much punishment.
Referee Mark Nelson then echoed McGirt Sr. sentiments, and
pulled the plug at 1:57 mark of nine when seeing no change
in the flow, with Rodriguez pitching and McGirt catching.
Post Scripts: McGirt (22-3-1, 11 KO) ~ age 27 - was never in
this one - maybe claimed rounds three and six that were slow
rounds, but most chapters saw him playing defense.
Rodriguez (17-0, 13 KO) ~ age 25 -
unloaded entire arsenal without scoring a knockdown - ripped
body punches from both sides as well as more than a few
power punches finding the target above the shoulders. Tough
Dominican now calling Worcester, Mass home. Must upgrade the
overall skills before stepping up to next level.
……………………………….....................................................................................
Show opened with young, undefeated prospect Marcus Johnson
of Houston, Texas, shooting down age 30 Kevin Engel, a tough
but unskilled hand picked opponent.
Over stanzas one and two, Johnson
displayed assorted combinations that caught the eye going to
both body and head - Engel tried countering but found little
luck finding the target.
The scheduled eight rounder was aborted with Johnson closing
the show during stanza three - drops Engel with big right
hand to the head - Engel beats the count but is quickly
battered with barrage of power punches that send him against
the ropes while on shaky underpinnings. Is given an 8-count
(courtesy of far-out Fargo, ND commission rules) but slow
thinking hack in charge Mark Nelson permits him to take
another barrage before pulling the plug.
Post Scripts: Johnson (20-0, 15 KO) ~ age 24 - well tutored
- circle the name, is ready to step up next rung to club
fight main bout status.
Engel (18-4-1ND,15 KO) ~ age 30 -
entered this one after being stopped two fights back. Takes
too much punishment. Time to search for new occupation.
Semi-final scheduled for eight rounds pitted Aaron Pryor
Jr. with Dyah Davis in a mismatch of mega proportions with
Pryor at 6’4” proving too much in size over his 6’1”
opponent.
Was surprising to see a super game Davis surviving to the
finish line after being wobbled as early as stanza two when
caught by a Pryor right hand.
Round after round it was the Pryor long left hand jab
followed by straight right hands finding the mark -
eventually during stanza six Davis would be cut over left
eye.
Still, Davis displayed true grit in making it to the final
bell.
My unofficial had it Pryor 80-72 in points (8-0 under round
by round system). Official scoring saw it unanimous Pryor
79-73 twice 78-74.
Post Scripts: Pryor Jr. (15-2, 11 KO) ~ age 32 - career club
fighter from start to finish. Pick and choose he can carry
on at club fight level.
Davis ( 18-2 9KO) ~ age 29 ~ brain
trust blew the assignment - guess is they took Pryor for pay
check alone. Never had a prayer.
Closing thoughts: Beauty in eyes of the
beholder - and this was my first peek at all the fighters on
the card, I won’t dispute the Sho-Box draping main bout
winner Edwin Rodriguez as best prospect of all super
middleweights. It’s their prerogative. But my vote for most
complete fighter on the night of Nov. 5 goes to Marcus
Johnson.
