Philly Fighters Shine in Latest Installment of Xcite Fight Night

By Matt Ward, Ringside

Joe Hand Promotions in conjunction with Peltz Boxing Promotions and BAM Boxing Promotions returned to the Xcite Center at Parx Casino for the sixth installment of Xcite Fight Night. The full house of fight fans were treated to an entertaining night of boxing featuring a number of Philadelphia area boxers.

The main event featured an eight round bout in the lightweight division between Victor Padilla (8-0, 7 KOs) and Israel Suarez-Olmeda (4-8-3, 1 KO).  This fight failed to live up to expectations as Suarez-Olmeda did not survive the first round of the contest. Suarez-Olmeda, who fought Gervonta Davis in 2015, was knocked down by Padilla, a southpaw prospect from Camden, in the opening frame. Despite recovering from this early meeting with the canvas, Suarez-Olmeda looked like a scared and dazed man for his final seconds in the bout. Another hard left hand to the head by Padilla ended Suarez-Olmeda's night at the 2:46 mark of the first round. Referee Gary Rosato, seeing the writing on the wall, stepped in to prevent any further damage to the Puerto Rican southpaw who has now not won a fight since 2011. Padilla has now won two fights in a row by technical knockout.

Wise Came to Fight

In the junior middleweight division, Isaiah Wise (8-2-2, 5 KOs), Philadelphia, faced off against Enver Halili (10-3, 3 KOs), the Bronx, in a bout that was scheduled for six rounds. Both men looked to bounce back in their professional campaigns with a victory on Friday night, however, it was Wise who got the "W." Wise, who looked to be in excellent fighting shape, landed big left hands to Halili's head and body in the opening round. A hard Wise left hand to the head scored a knockdown against Halili during this frame. As the round neared its end, Wise landed hammering right hooks to Halili's head. Halili stumbled backwards, but managed to stay on his feet as the bell marking the end of the round rang. A brutal right hand from Wise at the 1:27 mark of the second round sealed the TKO victory for the 27-year-old Philadelphian. 

The Fight of the Night 

Those who witnessed the spectacle of fisticuffs that was Christopher Burgos (3-4-1, 1 KO) vs. Sheldon Deverteuil (2-1-2) last night should all agree that this was the fight of the night, and a clear front runner for "Philadelphia Fight of the Year." In this bout, two journeymen caliber fighters stepped into the ring to put on a show full of offensive fireworks for an appreciative crowd. As soon as the bell rang starting the six round lightweight contest, Burgos moved forward aggressively, effectively using the right hand to pound away at Deverteuil. Despite walking down and landing big shots on Deverteuil throughout the first and second rounds, Deverteuil refused to play the part of the victim in this all-North Philly classic. As Burgos landed punches, Deverteuil fired back on all cylinders in what became a slug fest from start to finish. 

At some points in the third round, it appeared that the fighters were going punch-for-punch. Deverteuil lost his mouthpiece twice during this round as his momentum appeared to slow down. In the fourth, Burgos was again Deverteuil's stalker. As Burgos landed shots on Deverteuil, he became the recipient of effective counterpunches from his opponent. 

The fifth round was highlighted by big right and left hands to the body by both fighters. The round ended with both men putting their heads together, in a telephone booth style exchange, to pound away at one another's heads and bodies. To the amazement of this writer, both men stayed on their feet! The sixth and final round opened with a continuation of the close combat that ended the fifth. The only pause to the action in this contest came in the final ten seconds of the bout when both men coasted to the final bell. Rightfully so, the crowd roared with approval as both men and their corners embraced following the ring war. All three judges scored the bout 59-55 for the winner by unanimous decision, Christopher Burgos.

Tyhler Emerges Winner of All-Williams Bout

In an all-Philly and all-Williams matchup, Tyhler Williams (4-0, 3 KOs) continued his winning ways as a professional by defeating the 45-year-old Demetris Williams (1-7) by TKO. In the opening round, Tyhler put his speed on display. Demetris, overwhelmed by a barrage of straight right and left hands, desperately tried to escape the onslaught by backpedaling into the ropes, but was unable to escape the non-stop pressure. The referee saw enough of the junior welterweight beat down at 1:48 of the first round. 

Son of a Philly Legend Wins Pro Debut

Charles Brewer, Jr. (1-0, 1 KO) and Kyl Fritz (0-1) both made their professional debuts last night in Bensalem. Brewer, the son of former middleweight world champion Charles Brewer, was escorted to the ring in front of a roaring crowd by his father-trainer. Fritz, of Phoenix, AZ, landed two nice straight right hands to the head of Brewer in the first round. Brewer, clearly having a case of the butterflies, fought very cautiously in the first round against his awkward stanced and taller opponent. Appearing more comfortable and adjusted to Fritz in the second round, Brewer pummeled his opponent into a neutral corner with multiple left and right hooks. Referee Shawn Clark saw enough of the beat down at 1:17 of the second round, and waived off the fight to the protest of Fritz, who at this point, appeared to still have some fight left in him. 

Taylor Sent to the Showers Early by Stevens 

In cruiserweight action, David Stevens (3-0, 2 KO) made quick work of Tahlik Taylor (3-13-1, 1 KO). Taylor was down early in the first round after being slammed by a Stevens' left hook to the head. Taylor recovered from the knockdown but was on very shaky legs. Stevens, smelling blood in the water, used the same punch he had success with seconds earlier to end the evening's work early at 1:02 of the opening frame. 

Atoev Cruises to Four Round Victory

The card opened up with a four round super featherweight bout between Shakhzod Atoev (1-0) and Juan Ibarra (0-3). Atoev answered the bell teeing off on Ibarra, who was visibly hurt from the shots. Atoev landed a hard right uppercut that snapped Ibarra's head back. Despite Atoev's low guard for most of the fight, Ibarra was unable to land any meaningful shots. As the second round progressed, Atoev pushed Ibarra into a neutral corner with hard straight right and left hands

In the third round, Atoev continued to control the pace of the fight, but was unable to land the big punch that would have honored the repeated requests of his corner to "finish him." Atoev landed several big left hands to the head and body of Ibarra in the fourth round. Ibarra responded by pushing Atoev into the ropes with shots that had little to no effect on his opponent. Atoev, confident he was ahead on cards, began to deliberately wind up on uppercuts as the fourth round neared its end. All three judges scored the bout 40-36 in favor of Atoev.  

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David Stevens Interview

By Luis A. Cortes III

During Friday night's Joe Hand's Xcite Fight Night 6 from the Xcite Center at Parx Casino, I had the opportunity to speak with Reading's David Stevens (3-0, 2 KOs) following his first round KO victory over Tahlik Taylor (3-13-1, 1 KO). Following a highly successful amateur career, Stevens looks to find similar success as a professional in the cruiserweight and light heavyweight divisions. 

You can stream our interview on both SoundCloud and iTunes.

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Joe Hand Promotions Returns to Parx Casino with Seven Fight Card

By Matt Ward

Joe Hand Promotions returns to the Parx Casino Xcite Center on Friday, July 31st for the sixth installment of their popular boxing series Xcite Fight Night. The seven fight card will be headlined by an eight round lightweight bout between Victor Padilla (7-0, 6 KOs) and Israel Suarez-Olmeda (4-7-3, 1 KO).  

Padilla, a rising prospect in the lightweight division from South Jersey, has won six of his seven fights as a professional by way of knockout. The 21-year-old southpaw last fought on December 5, 2019, a fifth round TKO victory over Fredric Bowen at Terminal 5 in New York. Suarez-Olmeda is winless in his last six bouts. 

Super welterweights Enver Halili (10-2, 3 KOs) will face off against Isaiah Wise (7-2-2, 4 KOs) in a six round contest. Both men look to bounce back in their professional campaigns with victories on Friday night. Halili has lost his last two fights, while Wise fought to a draw last October. Halili, who resides in the Bronx, was defeated by Raymond Serrano in 2017 and Jimmy Williams in 2018. Philadelphia's Wise and Roque Zapata drew in a six round fight at the 2300 Arena on October 4, 2019. 

A full cast of Philadelphia area fighters will also be in action on the card including, Christopher Burgos, Sheldon Deverteuil, Demetris Williams, Tyhler Williams, Shahkzod Atoev, and Charles Brewer, Jr.. 

Brewer is the son of former Philly great Charles "The Hatchet" Brewer, who held the IBF Super Middleweight Title between June 1997 and October 1998. The younger Brewer will make his professional debut in the light heavyweight division against another rookie fighter, North Carolina's Kyl Fritz. 

For more information and to purchase tickets to this great night of boxing, visit the Parx Casino Xcite Center official website.

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Howard and Conquest Win on Xcite Fight Night 3 Card

By Matt Ward, Ringside

On an explosive, multiple boxing card night in the greater Philadelphia area, professional prizefighting made its triumphant return to the Xcite Center at Parx Casino in Bensalem, PA.

The main event of Joe Hand Promotions Presents Xcite Fight Night III pitted veteran big men, cruiserweights Garrett Wilson (18-16-1, 9 KOs), South Philadelphia, against Brian Howard (14-2, 11 KOs), Philadelphia, in a fight scheduled for eight frames. Unfortunately for Wilson, this fight did not last anywhere near that...

Early in the opening round, Howard landed a big right hand to the side of Wilson's head that sent him crashing to the canvas. Wilson was able to raise from the mat by referee Eric Dali's count of six, but looked like a drunken man trying to keep his balance. Despite still being visibly hurt from the knockdown, the fight continued. The end came at 2:31 of the first round when Howard hit Wilson with a hard straight right hand to the head that caused him to collapse to the canvas. Wilson was counted out on his back. This KO victory was Howard's first win since being knocked out by Russian light heavyweight Umar Salamov last June.

The co-main event of the evening pitted Jerome Conquest (10-3, 1 KO), 135.2 lbs., against Vinnie Denierio (3-6, 1 KO), 135.2 lbs., in a six round contest for the vacant USBF North American Lightweight Title. This bout, which could be described as a battle between awkward fighters, was entertaining from the outset. Denierio, who has a three inch height advantage on Conquest, made "jerky" movements between punches to avoid Conquest's steady counterpunches for much of the first round. In the second round, Denierio threw hammering overhand lefts that pushed Conquest into the ropes and forced him to clinch his gangly opponent. Conquest answered this attack by landing several nice body shots that clearly slowed down Denierio's offense. Conquest continued to control the round by landing big left and right hooks to Denierio's head that visibly hurt the native of Elmira, NY. Denierio appeared to be in survival mode as the bell marking the end of the second rang.

Conquest answered the third round bell by connecting with a hammering right hook to his opponent's head, a shot that sent perspiration flying all over those seated ringside. Denierio tried to press the attack during this round, but Conquest repeatedly backed him up with effective hooks to the head and body. Denierio, clearly frustrated with his opponent, landed the first of many rabbit punches to Conquest's head during this round. In the fourth frame, Conquest popped Denierio with a hard right hand to the jaw. Denierio responded to Conquest's quality punches by landing more rabbit punches out of the clinch. As the round neared its end, Denierio appeared to push more than punch, as he tried to bully his shorter opponent.

In rounds five and six, a clearly frustrated Vinnie Denierio began to lead with his head, and continued to fight dirty. Denierio worked Conquest's body towards the end of the fifth with left and right uppercuts that put the Philadelphian on his heels against the ropes. In the sixth, Denierio, realizing he was behind on the cards, threw rabbit punches at Conquest during multiple wrap ups. Surprisingly, referee Shawn Clark turned a blind eye to these illegal punches. Late in the round, Denierio looking to be gifted a knockdown, connected with a low blow on Conquest, and pushed the fighter down to the ground in the corner. Conquest bounced up from the canvas and the fight continued until the final bell. The judges scored the bout 60-54 and 59-55, twice, for the winner by unanimous decision, Jerome "The Conqueror" Conquest.

Northeast Philadelphia's Tyhler Williams (1-0, 1 KO) in his professional debut scored a second round knockout on fellow Philadelphian Nyrome Lynch (0-4). Williams, a successful amateur fighter, spent much of the first round chasing Lynch around the ring. Lynch, who looked like he was running laps instead of boxing, refused to allow the highly touted rookie junior welterweight land a meaningful punch in the opening frame. In the second round, Lynch's strategy in the first made him look like a brilliant ring tactician, as Williams put his power on display. Williams answered the second round bell firing big body shots that ended Lynch's running for the evening. Williams went on to trap the incapacitated fighter, and land multi-punch combos at will to his head and body. A devastating right upper cut to the head ended Lynch's night at the 1:45 mark of the second. By this point, referee Eric Dali had seen enough of the massacre that unfolded in the second, and waived off the fight.

Omar Kabary Salem (8-0, 4 KOs), Brooklyn, made quick work of Jacob Fox (3-8, 2 KOs), Bismarck, in a super middleweight contest. After connecting to the head and body of his opponent with a big multi-punch combo, Salem sent Fox crashing to the canvas with repeated left hands to the head. Fox valiantly picked himself up from the mat only to be crushed into the ropes with a barrage of punches that left his opponent defenseless and dazed. Referee Shawn Clark saw enough of the one-sided fight at 2:27 of the first round, when he stepped in and stopped the Salem offensive onslaught.

In an all Philadelphia area junior welterweight showdown, Daiyann Butt (3-0, 1 KO) fought Tyree Arnold (DEBUT) in a four round bout. Butt, who stepped into the ring with a clear height and reach advantage, effectively connected with several big right hands to the head. Early in the second round, Arnold let his hands go, and landed a multi-punch combo that forced Butt to wrap him up in order to halt the attack. Butt responded by landing hard left hands to Arnold’s body. As the second round neared its end, Butt unloaded on Arnold with a punishing multi-punch combo to the head and body. Surprisingly, Arnold stayed on his feet, but was clearly damaged as he stumbled back to his corner after the round.

Butt aggressively worked his opponent’s body in the third round, by landing left and right shots to Arnold’s abdomen throughout the round. This body work slowed the wheels of the speedy Arnold, and made him an easy target for Butt in the fourth and final round. Arnold desperately went head hunting in the fourth, but was unable to find his mark. Butt went on to punish Arnold’s body as the fourth progressed, and at one point rocked Arnold with a well-placed left hook to the head. Butt went on to score the knockout with a series of big right hands that forced referee Eric Dali to stop the fight at 2:22 of the fourth round.

Sammy Berman (2-0, 1 KO), who fights out of the Manayunk Boxing Club, defeated North Philadelphia’s Corey Weekley (0-2) by unanimous decision in a four round, middleweight matchup. Although only 22-years-old, Berman has not fought professionally since 2014. Berman answered the opening bell by pushing his opponent into the ropes with a hard left hand to the body. Weekley was clearly banged up in the second round after Berman stuck a left hand into his jaw, and proceeded to rock him with multiple shots to the body and head. Weekley looked like he was in trouble later in the round, when Berman trapped him in the neutral corner with a series of hard shots. Fortunately for Weekley, he was able to box his way out of this trap and stop Berman from walking him down.

In the third round, Berman kept moving forward on his inexperienced opponent who was unable to mount any type of meaningful offense. In the fourth round, Weekley, who appeared exhausted and beat up, spit out his mouthpiece twice, which resulted in the deduction of a point by referee Shawn Clark. A hard Berman left hand to the head later sent Weekley’s mouthpiece flying for the third time in the round. Berman and Weekley wrestled for the final ten seconds of the contest as Shawn Clark tried to pull the men apart with no success. The judges scored the bout 39-37 and 40-36, twice, for Berman.

In an all New York junior middleweight bout, Ismael Villareal (5-0, 2 KOs) defeated Lashawn Alcocks (1-5) by third round technical knockout. Villareal unloaded three big right hands on Alcocks in the first frame, but struggled to establish follow up shots. In the second round, Villareal bullied Alcocks with big multi-punch combos, highlighted by heavy straight right hands and hooks to the head and body. Alcocks demonstrated toughness in the second round by absorbing damage, staying on his feet, and battling back before the bell marking the end of the second rang. A vicious Villareal right hand to the head sent Alcocks crashing to the canvas in the third round. This knockdown occurred after referee Eric Dali called a pause to the action, and warned Villareal for rabbit punches in the round. Despite recovering from the knockdown, Arnold was crushed under a series of left hooks to the body that forced Eric Dali to stop the action at 2:36 of the third round.

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