Results from “Rugby Night at the Fights”
Rugby Night at the Fights V
Top of the IDS Center – Thursday April 1st, 2010
Lisa Bauch always promotes high class boxing shows and this one was just a little higher class than some of the others, 50 stories higher to be specific!!!!! And we might say the boxing was at a higher level as well……..50 stories up higher!
This show undoubtedly had the best view of any I have ever attended. Thursday night was the Annual Fund Raiser “Rugby Night at the Fights.” The event raises money for the Metropolis Foundation and the Upper Midwest Golden Gloves and is sponsored by RugbyLaw.com a civil action group.
The Metropolis foundation supports youth athletics and of particular note this evening were the sports of Rugby and Amateur Boxing. Dan Johnson, a former Minneapolis and Upper-Midwest Golden Gloves Champion, has been an active Rugby participant and advocate for years. Johnson, along with supporters like Michael Clements (President of Rugby Law) and Tony Mills, Don Johnson and Mark Dalton (IBM) and others, have organized this annual Black Tie Fine Dining fundraiser. They called on Lisa Bauch, from Upper-Cut Gym to orchestrate, promote and make the matches. She did not disappoint with all in attendance enjoying an excellent night of boxing.
This event brought in both teams from other areas of the country (New York) and a team from Canada adding an international flair and featured a Region II 152 lbs. Championship bout as well.
#1. Kuo Vang (Uppercut Gym) 118lbs. Demetrius Leigno (New York)
Leigno came out fast in this one and let go with both hands trying to back up Vang who was in his first bout. Vang responded by setting up a couple of nice counter punches but was repeatedly backed up by the on rushing Leigno, who scored an 8 count on Vang in the second round in route to a decision victory. Leigno decision in 3.
#2. Ben Musha (White Bear Lake) 152lbs. Oscar Soto (Rice Street Gym)
This was the Region II final at this weight and what a showing these guys made! From the opening bell Soto was intent on landing his big right hand and did so repeatedly early on to the body and the head backing up Musha and giving him a standing 8 count in the first round. But I have to give Musha a lot of credit. Despite taking several hard shots he rallied late in the second and third and was valiant trying to land his own combination’s. Soto now had his opponent in front of him firing back and there were several exchanges between the two in the 3rd round. Soto seemed to land not only the harder punches but definitely the cleaner blows on his way to a Regional Championship and to the Upper Midwest Tournament. Soto decision 3.
#3. Anthony Rose (Uppercut Gym) 167lbs. Andrew Greco (New York)
Greco like his teammates from New York came here with no intentions of getting beat. New York came to win. This one started out with Rose and Greco displaying a lightweight pace and both repeatedly scoring on the other with both hands. This see-saw battle went back and forth and not only was every round close, but every minute was close until Rose started to display some aggressive ring generalship backing up Greco with some quick scoring combination’s that swung the bout in his favor. Rose by decision 3.
#4. Armando Gonzales (Uppercut Gym) 152lbs. Jesse Vazquez (Uppercut Gym)
What is Lisa Bauch feeding these guys?? Two boxers from the same gym boxing each other, what I expected was a sparring session what I got was a great bout! Both guys were busy and in the first Gonzales seemed to be controlling the pace but Vazquez was quietly and unassumingly scoring with some very nice inside punching that was not going un-noticed by the judges. Both guys came out strong going into the third. Vazquez was seemingly ahead throwing some crisp counter punching and then Gonzales found the mark landing a beautiful right hand that put Vazquez to the canvas on one knee, he quickly recovered and went on to win a decision in an action packed bout! Vazquez decision 3.
#5. Jarred Hale (Rochester) 165lbs. Chris Chichon (The Cellar, Mpls)
I have seen Hale in the past and he is a solid experienced boxer. I had never seen Cichon before, but I thought anyone who comes from a place called The Cellar could be dangerous. These guys, along with the other middleweights on the show, started fast and early on. It was a very even bout with both boxers effectively landing punches. But all that changed in the third round as if out of nowhere Chicon came alive landing vicious shots with both hands forcing Hale into the ropes where he was given a standing 8 count. Chicon immediately resumed his assault, landing repeatedly with both hands until the referee waived this one off! Chicon RSC 3.
#6. Allen Layeni (Anoka) 165lbs. Henry Keaster (New York)
Keaster definitely ate his Wheaties for breakfast because he came out firing from the opening bell. Layeni, who has a long reach was trying to catch Keaster coming in. But when Keaster broke through Layeni paid the price as Keaster backed him up landing with both hands. Layeni did land some impressive combination’s when he sat down on his punches. For every combination he landed, the on rushing Keaster would respond with a combination of his own. In the third round, Layeni made his last stand, a quick combination on the inside. Then Keaster backed Layeni up with a good left hook. Keaster by decision in 3.
#7. Payton Lee (Rochester) 140lbs. Flavio Becerra (White Bear Lake)
Lee is a very experienced junior who boxes like a pro. He is patient, listens to the O’Connor’s in his corner and executes. This night he was facing Becarra, a skilled tactician, who has a great left hand and a long reach. Becarra was using his jab followed by a straight right and was effective early. But in the second, Lee started to land a sneaky little left uppercut followed either by his right hand or a left hook making it a double left hand… pretty savvy and effective!!!! Lee came back in the last half of the bout and although it was close Lee surged ahead late. Lee by decision in 3.
#8. Veshawn Owens (Uppercut) 170lbs. Kelly Page (Canada)
Page is no stranger to this country or this area; he has traveled here in the past and successfully walked away the winner as a nationally ranked Canadian. In the locker room he was confident and his coach said he was well prepared. Owens on the other hand was as relaxed as you could get, smiling and enjoying this high class affair. When I asked him about his experience, he said he had boxed Robert Brant recently (Brant is the current #1 ranked 178lb boxer in the country) and he lost but held his own…..?? Now, boxing a ranked Canadian I felt sorry for him….No Need! Page came out looking to do damage and went after Owens with quick short combination’s. Page was scoring effectively but Owens has alley cat like reflexes and even though at times awkward he was effectively landing with both hands and with power! Page responded and tried to utilize his speed but in the third, Owens landed repeated combination’s and had Page in the corner and gave him a “shoe shine”. The crowd was going wild as these two came down the stretch with Page desperately trying to rally and Owens throwing despite being exhausted at the final bell with the crowd urging them on!!!! Owens in what was an upset and a big win for this young man who has a lot of talent and carries himself with the poise and grace of a champion! Owens by decision in 3.
#9. Tim Kelly (New York) 150lbs. Roberto Mendoza (Canada)
It was only fitting after the last bout that an exclamation point had to be put on the show and these two must have been hungry after watching the guests eat a very nice four course meal!!! Kelly is aggressive as are his teammates and he started off landing some big punches in bunches backing up Mendoza early giving him a standing eight count in the first round.
Mendoza came back in the second as each of these guys threw caution to the wind loading up at times and settling in to score inside at times. Mendoza was trying to set up a long straight right and did, landing a great shot in the second giving Kelly a standing eight! In the third these guys let it go and Kelly was applying tremendous pressure backing up Mendoza, Mendoza landed shots of his own but it seemed to this scribe that Kelly was in control. This was a very close bout that could have gone either way. Mendoza by decision in 3.
This was an excellent night of National and International boxing! My hat is off to Lisa Bauch who, despite this being in the middle of tournament time, was able to put together a great show for this event. It reminded me of the days of the old Minneapolis Athletic Club and The Decathlon Club dinner shows which, like this one, were classy affairs and reached out to a group of fans that might not normally get to see amateur boxing. I was impressed by how the boxers, coaches and officials worked together to make the night special for Rugby Law and the attendees. Bernie Barco and his band of traveling warriors from New York were an excellent team and represented their state well as were John Kozlawski and the United Team from Canada who carried their flag proudly. The Minnesota coaches and their boxers always seem well prepared, we really have a region that is not only active, but handles themselves well, are prepared and our boxers boxed and did very well.
Referees were Bobby Brunette – USA and Claude Plante – Canada, Physician – Dr. Calvin Nemdi (SP?) with Lisa Bauch Promoter and Matchmaker.
“live from ringside for livefromringside.com”
Todd “Tbone” Webb.
