Miami Beach's beautiful Seville Hotel hosted an ambitious evening of boxing, promoted by Trevor Cedar, head of South Florida Boxing, Inc. The main event featured a title bout in the Jr. Middleweight division between current WBA FedCaribbean super-welterweight champion Charles Whittaker and challenger Colombian Alex Carrillo.

There is something to be said about boxing by the beach, folks. The gorgeous ocean view, crystal clear blue waters crested by white foam, the sea air, palm trees swaying ever so softly, the beautiful bodies with the gorgeous tans, well, I hope you get the picture. Add to that, a cavernous and posh hotel lobby leading up to a beautiful and comfortable ballroom, and you have made it to the scene of last night's boxing card.

Opening bout was of special interest, as it showcased the debut of a young Russian I have had the pleasure of following for the past three weeks. His name is Ramaz Gazashuili, and he is being trained by the legendary Pat Burns, in conjunction with Florida boxing icon Bernie Soto.

With an extensive and successful amateur career behind him, the 23-year old native of the Republic of Georgia didn't disappoint his handlers or fans. Well schooled and poised, in superb physical and mental condition, the young man nicknamed "Tiger" went after a very game Harold Lechado, who got dropped in the opener, victim of a huge right hand to the head. Nevertheless, Lechado had his moments towards the end of the assault, and it was obvious this early on these two super featherweight prospects were going to give the fans more than their money's worth.

Round 2 is fast paced, with Lechado cut over the bridge of his nose, near his left eye; however, the bout continues with the ring doctor's approval. Third candle has "Tiger" hit more than he had been hit so far in this bout, as he becomes somewhat of a target laying on the ropes. The young Russian prospect retaliates though and finishes the round strongly.

Fourth and final round has Pat Burns shouting "work Tiger" to his charge as he slips through the ropes to watch from the corner. Although both contestants seem a bit tired, and why shouldn't they be, the pace has been grueling, they still give 100% effort and the fans shout and clap their appreciation. At the end of the round, the two men hug each other in a show of respect and sportsmanship which we hope they will carry throughout their promising careers.

Pat Burns seems pleased with his pupil's performance, as does Bernie Soto. In the end, the judges saw it unanimously 40-35 for "Rocky" Gazashuili. Congratulations are in order for Tiger's team on this impressive debut, and we also wish to extend our support to Clearwater, Florida's Harold Lechado, who has the heart of a lion, but somehow seems to take the toughest fights out there.

Two Puerto Rican bantamweights now residing in the state of Florida followed, both making their first appearance in the pro ranks, and they couldn't have chosen a better card to do it in. The fans were very supportive and warm in their reception of Emanuel Medina from Ocala and 30-year old architect Javier Centeno, from Pembroke Pines, who edged out Medina in the popularity contest also known as the ring walk or ring entrance.

These two fighters were nicely matched in size and ability. There was a slight lack of polish, but no lack of effort or willingness to trade. Cut over the left eye in the last round, Javier Centeno gets a lot of support from the crowd, who shouts "JC" over and over as the fight comes to an end. It was not to be for "JC" however, as the judges scored it a majority decision, 38-38, 39-37, 40-39 for Centeno. My very unofficial card concurred with the 38 all score. Centeno trains with Victor Sanchez of South Florida Boxing Gym.

Costa Rican lightweight prospect Alex Brenes took up center stage next, against Javier Portilla from Miami, Florida.

The fast action pace continued with these two and when the dust settled we had another majority decision. The official scores: 56 all, 58-56, 59-55 in favor of the popular Nicaraguan trained by Angelo Dundee's head trainer, Luis Lagerman. Brenes also teaches boxing classes six days a week at the South Beach gym.

Luis Corps fights crime by night and trains in South Beach's South Florida Boxing Gym by day, under the watchful eye of Orlando Cuellar. Corps is a Miami Beach police officer, who made his professional debut this Thursday, May 15 at the Seville Hotel in Miami Beach.

Luis was one of the most popular fighters of the evening, with a heavy female fan base noted. Twenty-nine year old Corps is handsome, smooth and a great dancer, but more on that in a minute...

Officer Corps' opponent was also a local debutante, Adam Schwartz, from Plantation, Florida. Schwartz seemed more fit for a toughman competition than a boxing match, and he definitely was thrown to the lions here against a very polished and powerful opponent.

Police officer Corps has had the benefit of sparring with the very talented Lou del Valle -among other top notch pros- in preparation for this bout. For those of you who might have forgot, forgot, forgot, Lou del Valle is the only man to have ever put Roy Jones, Jr., on the seat of his pants inside the square circle. Both Corps and Lou del Valle now train with Orlando Cuellar out of the South Florida Boxing Gym.

In the opening round Corps rocked the Plantation man to the head several times; his right hand packs explosive power behind it, and Schwartz' bloody nose and rubbery legs at the end of the first candle were proof positive of it.

Round two started out with more of the same punishment, with Schwartz exposing his deficiencies and Corps inching ever so close to a stoppage. Just as the kitchen was heating up, a loose board was detected in the ring by referee Jorge Alonso, who immediately and correctly stopped the action to have the technical problem corrected. During the lull in the action, Luis Corps displayed fluid dancing skills, as he entertained the crowd dancing to DJ Champion's hot Latin beats.

Eventually the green light was given and the action resumed where it left off; target practice for the lawman, wild swinging and missing for his opponent, who didn't seem capable of landing a flush shot. Lo and behold, there is another loose board problem, and the action is halted again.

After several minutes, (all total 12 minutes between the two interruptions), the fight resumed and Corps went after Schwartz like he stole something, catching him with a vicious right hook to the stomach that had Schwartz on four legs, heaving and very hurt. It was over, the arrest had been made; an impressive debut for Officer Corps, who lived up to the logo on his trunks, which simply said: "Just Watch."

Next up co-main event participant heavyweight prospect Roman Greenburg, 233 lbs., against Tracy Vincent Williams, 245 lbs., who came to this dance with a 6 fights losing streak on the line. There was nothing Vincent could do to turn the tide and he succumbed to the Israeli fighter after two stanzas. Greenburg improves to 10-0, 7 KOs; Williams may want to reassess his pugilistic future.

Greenburg is a 2000 World Junior Silver Medalist of Budapest Hungary, the 2000 European Junior Silver Medalist and the 1999 Israeli National Senior Champion. His amateur record is an impressive 47-5.

The main event followed, and the folks from the Cayman Islands were ready and eager to see their champion, Charles Whittaker defend his WBA FEDECARIB Light Middleweight title for the first time. Alex Carrillo, from Colombia, had plans of his own, and came out charging Whittaker from the opening bell.

Whittaker and Carrillo exchanged jabs and felt each other out in the opener, with Whittaker's right hand finding the challenger's head with ease to finish the round strongly.

It was the right hand that would cause Carrillo's demise in the second round; a perfect, straight right hand to the head had the Colombian down and out, 2:49 into the round.

The crowd erupted in cheer and Cayman Islands' government figures, media and fans jumped into the ring to salute their champion, who also gets the nod for having worn the most elegant outfit of the night, a purple velvet set with gold sequins trim; on his trunks and robe, the tribute to his homeland, a simple "CAYMAN ISLAND."

Whittaker improves his record to 22-11-1, 14 KOs, while Carrillo drops to 15-7, 14 KOs. Trainer Norman Wilson, from Xtreme Contenders Gym in Davie, has done a great job with Whittaker, who seems a lot more confident and aggressive these days. WBC Fecarbox Welterweight champ Edwin Cassiani and Jesus Valverde helped Charles prepare for this fight, and congratulations are in order for the entire Whittaker Team.