“Pound For Pound” Kovalev vs. Ward: Prelims Results Recap
Darmani Rock (6-0) vs. Brice Ritani-Coe (4-5-1)Heavyweight Bout – 4 Rounds
A little bit better than a sparring session took place as Rock easily dispatched of Ritani-Coe via a points decision in the final bout before the live card was underway. The more talented and usually more active heavyweight landed the cleaner, crisper and more damaging shots over the course of 12 minutes. Ritani-Coe stood in tough and would not go quietly into the night taking some clean blows in every side of the ring but in the end Rock was able to get four rounds of work to sharpen his jab and footwork against an out matched opponent.
RESULTS: Darmani ‘Rock Solid’ Rock defeats Brice Ritani-Coe via Unanimous Decision. Scores were 40-36, 40-36 and 40-35.
Claressa Shields (1-0) vs. Franchon Crews (0-1)
Women’s Super Middleweight Bout – 4 Rounds (2 minutes)
Former 2-time Olympian, Shields made a successful professional debut taking on a very game Crews who put her on early notice that this would be a fire fight and the most entertaining and action-packed bout of the preliminaries. The two started out rough and rugged, and willingly traded heavy leather in the pocket throughout each of the 4 rounds. Combinations flew as neither warrior backed down using deadly rights, stiff jabs and rapid fire hooks. Rarely was there even an inkling of a dull moment as both ladies exchanged hard shots at close range, matching one another’s power shots
In the second half of the battle, ‘The Heavy Hitting Diva’ Crews had lived up to her moniker and was visibly spent. Still, throwing big bombs but they were far and few in-between in comparison to the first 4 minutes that she curned out blow after blow. Now, the former 2-time Olympian took over with her better conditioning and relentless approach to bang it out and prove that in her professional debut she was ready for the big stage. Shields landed often and controlled the center of the ring and barely took a step back before answering with a few punches.
RESULTS: Claressa ‘T-Rex’ Shields makes a solid professional boxing debut via Unanimous Decision over Franchon Crews. Scores we 40-36, 40-36 and 40-36.
Tyler McCreary (12-0) vs. Vincent Jennings (5-3-1)
Featherweight Bout – 8 Rounds
Behind his Adrien Broneresque or Mayweather-like stance, (whichever you prefer), ‘Golden Child’ McCreary slipped, slid, and glided his way to a surprisingly close points verdict using his better foot work, pot shots and short and sharp left hook at close range. McCreary jabbed and circled out or retreated just long enough to plant his feet and launch a hook and catch his man coming in using a slick shoulder roll defense.
‘Pooh Bear’ Jennings held his own by continuously coming forward eager to land something big. The Michigan native had a few moments of success when he did get his man trapped along the ropes, working the body and then head thus taking away his legs. Had Jennings pressed forward a little bit more and doubled his output, a couple of those rounds towards the end of the bout would have easily made this a majority draw.
RESULTS: Tyler McCreary remains unbeaten defeating Vincent Jennings via Majority Decision. Scores were 57-57, 58-56 and 59-55.
Sonny Fredrickson (15-0) vs. Gabriel Duluc (11-2)
Junior Welterweight Bout – 8 Rounds
Up and coming 140-pound fighters collided in this high-paced battle. In the beginning, Duluc had his moments as he marched bravely towards his man chopping him down with jabs and overhand shots for the first two or three rounds. But, towards the middle of the match Fredrickson easily took over with his cleaner and more effective punches. His right hand straight found a home and opened up a slight cut above the left eye of Duluc. By rounds 5 and 6, the Bostonian was missing wide since his punches became loopy and his shots were almost doubled by his opponent. Fredrickson kept pushing the right hand counter and also led with it, at times Duluc would finish a combination and from visible fatigue keep his hands very low eating a straight right punch from the Ohio native.
To his credit, Duluc never gave up on coming forward even landing a clean left hand early in the 7th round when he managed to pin Fredrickson up along the corner of the ring. In the 8th and final round a fire fight ensued with both men winging heavy leather inside the pocket in the middle of the ring for the first minute and change. During the final 50 seconds Duluc landed a wicked right hand down the middle that Fredrickson just walked through before they traded a few more shots to end the match.
RESULTS: Sonny Fredrickson remains undefeated beating Gabriel Duluc by Unanimous Decision. Scores were 78-74, 77-75 and 78-74.
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