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Williams earns decision over Halili; hard-charging Lenk outworks Soto in exciting co-feature

MASHANTUCKET, Conn. (Oct. 20th, 2018)– WelterweightJimmy Williamsof New Haven, Conn., started a new win streak Saturday with a controversial unanimous decision win at Foxwoods Resort Casino. 

Headlining in an exciting pro-am card promoted by CES Boxing at the Fox Theater, Williams (16-1-1) earned a 78-74 win on all three scorecards over Enver Halili(10-2) of the Bronx, much to the dismay of the sold-out crowd, which felt Halili had done enough to get the nod.

JudgesEddie Scuncio, Richard Flahertyand Peter Haryscored the fight, a back-and-forth battle between two regional veterans who continued to scrap until the final bell. Williams had the height advantage, but didn’t do enough to establish his jab, allowing Halili to cut off the ring brilliantly and work the body effectively in the middle rounds. 

Williams had a hard time using his distance to his advantage and Halili stayed aggressive throughout, fighting his way through glancing blows by Williams to land cleanly on the inside. The win was Williams’ second in a row since suffering his first career loss early in 2018, a setback that ended his previous 11-fight unbeaten streak. 

Anchored by a sturdy chin and a relentless, come-forward attack, junior middleweight Anthony Lenk(16-5) of Niagara Falls proved to be too much down the stretch for New Haven’s Edwin Soto(13-4-2), earning a unanimous decision win, 78-74 on all three scorecards.

Soto looked sharp in the opening round, landing short, but effective, hooks upstairs, but Lenk walked through everything, which became a reoccurring theme as the fight progressed. Lenk pressed the action from the opening bell, which left him open for some hard counterpunches by Soto, but Lenk never wavered, taking Soto’s best for eight rounds. Soto regained his composure momentarily in the sixth, but Lenk remained unharmed, having built up enough of a lead in the middle rounds to earn the win on the cards.

Soto lost for the first time since 2014, snapping a four-fight win streak, while Lenk won for the first time since last September. 

Stealing the show on the undercard, Springfield, Mass., welterweight Derrick Whitley(4-0-1) and Sharad Collier(1-0-1) of Hartford, Conn., fought to draw in a close-knit six-round war. Eddie Scunciohad it 59-55 in favor of Collier, Richard Flahertyscored it 58-56 in favor of Whitley and Peter Haryhad it even. 

In just his second pro fight, Collier stood toe-to-toe with the more experienced Whitley and began to find his groove after losing the opening round. Neither fighter tried to establish much distance, leading to an entertaining, back-and-forth battle featuring several high-powered exchanges in the center of the ring.

Whitley got head-butted accidentally in the third round, opening a cut over his right eye. The ringside physician examined it closely and allowed Whitley to continue. The last two rounds were so close that neither of the three judges had the same card. Scuncio gave the final two rounds to Collier, Flaherty gave the edge to Whitley and Hary had it split with Whitley winning the fifth and Collier earning the draw by squeezing out the final round.  

The knockout of the night belonged to New Haven super middleweight Elvis Figueroa(6-0, 3 KOs), who pieced together his most complete performance with a third-round stoppage against previously Leemont Johnson(6-1). Figueroa dominated from the opening bell, working the body and backing Johnson against the ropes with overhand rights. In the third, Figueroa came out firing again with a right hook to the ribs and more combinations upstairs. Johnson found himself on the ropes a second time, but had no answer for Figueroa’s flurries, prompting referee Al LoBiancoto stop the bout 49 seconds into the round. 

The female bantamweight showcase also did not disappoint as Ledyard, Conn., native Marcia Agripino(3-1-1) earned her second consecutive win, narrowly defeating Canada’s Stephanie Essensa(3-2-1) by majority decision, 60-54, 58-56, 57-57. As expected, the two exchanged haymakers for six hard rounds, with Agripino closing the fight with a spirited rally in the sixth. Hary had Agripino winning all six, while Scuncio and Lombardi agreed on Essensa taking rounds two and five. Agripino won for the second time since June while Essensa suffered only her second pro defeat and first since 2016. 

Making his Foxwoods debut, Taunton, Mass., welterweight Marqus Bates(5-2) won his third consecutive bout in a wildly-entertaining slugfest with Bridgeport, Conn., vet Carlos Hernandez(3-3-1), earning a 59-55, 58-56, 57-57 majority decision win. 

Bates landed cleaner, more effective blows in spurts, but Hernandez continued to press forward, landing occasional counter shots to keep himself within striking distance. Bates was at his best in the first three rounds and Hernandez found his second wind in the fourth before Bates regained control in the fifth and final round. Flaherty and Frank Lombardiscored it in favor of Bates while Hary again had it even, giving Hernandez two of the final three rounds, including the sixth. 

Fighting for the first time professional, Danbury, Conn., native Geoffrey Then(1-0, 1 KO) scored the upset of Providence’s Nicky DeQuattro(3-2), stopping DeQuattro 41 seconds in the second round. A professional Muay Thai and mixed martial arts fighter, Then looked comfortable in the ring, landing at will in the opening round as DeQuattro failed to establish his defense. Then opened the second equally as aggressive and eventually backed DeQuattro into a corner, unloading with combinations before LoBianco stopped the bout. 

DebutsCalixto Cruz(1-0) of Springfield, Mass., and Joseph Santana(0-1) of Providence opened the nine-bout card with a thrilling, back-and-forth lightweight bout with Cruz winning by unanimous decision, 39-37, 40-36, 39-37. 

Cruz, the more accomplished amateur, got off to a fast start, stalking down Santana as he tried to circle the ring and box from a distance, but Cruz remained persistent and eventually worked with his way to the inside, where he landed effective body shots to soften Santana’s defense. Santana had his best round in the third, but Cruz closed the show with a strong final three minutes to earn his first career win.

Also making his professional debut, Bridgeport’s Jacob Marrero(1-0, 1 KO) dominated California’s Fierce Taylor(0-3), scoring the win by knockout at the 2:30 mark of the second round. Marrero outworked his opponent in the opening round and then closed with a flurry along the ropes, the last series of shots sending Taylor crashing to the canvas just as referee Benjy Esteveswaved it off. 

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Photo by Kelly MacDonald
JUNIOR MIDDLEWEIGHT JIMMY Williams of New Haven, Conn., right, will battle Christian Lao of nearby Meriden for the vacant Connecticut State Junior Middleweight Title Saturday, May 31st, 2014 at Mohegan Sun. Williams is 5-0-1 since turning pro in January of 2013 while Lao is coming off a draw and a win since his return to boxing in October.

Jimmy Williams always knew he and Christian Lao would cross paths at some point.
Christian Lao of Meriden, Conn., is coming off a win over fellow Connecticut native Joe Wilson Jr. in November. (CES photo by Kelly MacDonald)

As professional boxers from neighboring towns in Connecticut, they've fought on the same card before and have even sparred against one another. They consider each other friends.
 
Pleasantries aside, Saturday night won't be another run-of-the-mill sparring session when Lao and Williams step foot inside the same ring. This time, the fight counts. No headgear, no boundaries - just a throwback border war with more than state bragging rights on the line.
 
On Saturday, May 31st, 2014, Lao and Williams will face one another for the Connecticut Junior Middleweight State Title in the six-round co-feature of Classic Entertainment & Sports' pro-am boxing event at Mohegan Sun Arena, a fight several years in the making since Williams turned pro in 2013.
 
Tickets for the event are priced at $40, $65 and $125 (VIP) and can be purchased by calling 401-724-2253/2254, online at www.cesboxing.com or www.ticketmaster.com, or at the Mohegan Sun Box Office. All fights and fighters are subject to change.
 
"If I want to be the best in the world, I have to start in Connecticut," said Williams, a New Jersey native who now lives in New Haven. "Once I dominate here, I can move on to bigger and better things. The time is now.
 
"This is what you live for. To fight the guy next door, with all that pressure on you, it's what you dream of."
 
This will be an interesting contrast in styles between two fighters moving up in weight to meet at 154 pounds. A former college football player at Southern Connecticut State, Williams (5-0-1, 2 KOs) relies mostly on his power, while Lao (5-2-1, 2 KOs) is more of a finesse fighter who'd prefer to outbox his opponent rather than get into a slugfest in the middle of the ring.
 
"I'm more of a counterpuncher," Lao admits.
 
In recent fights, Lao has shown the ability to keep his distance and pick his spots, most notably in his win over fellow Connecticut native Joe Wilson Jr. in November. It's Williams who needs to prove he can handle an elusive opponent with fancy footwork. The last time he fought someone similar to Lao, he wound up with a draw against Atlantic City's Greg Jackson, a frustrating night for Williams, who failed to cut off the ring and impose his will.
 
"That's something I've worked on for hours and hours in the gym," Williams said. "I know guys want to avoid my power, so they'll try to outbox me. I need to be more physical and learn to trap guys in the corner."
 
"I move around on my toes, and I'm flashy, but I can mix it up and fight on the inside, too," Lao added. "His advantage is his body size. He's taller and longer. He likes to keep his distance."
 
Williams knows he needs to use his height and reach to keep Lao at the end of his jab while also being wary of Lao's ability to counterpunch. He also has to cut off the ring better than he did against Jackson. It's all part of a game plan he's been implementing beyond the border, spending his weekends for the past two months in Brooklyn sparring with unbeaten prospects Sadam Ali and Frank Galarza.
 
"To go into their backyard and spar, it helps me make a name for myself," Williams said. "I did eight rounds with Galarza the other day. They keep inviting me back. I got in the ring with Ali. These guys are hungry. They're at the point in their career that when they spar they give it their all. I've learned so much.
 
"I can't wait to show everyone what I've been working on these past few months."
 
For Lao, a Meriden native who trains under the guidance of East Hartford's Mike Conroy, it's about being the best in Connecticut once that final bell rings. He has a draw and a win since his return in October, erasing the memory of his lopsided loss to Gabriel Duluc in 2012, while Williams continues to climb the ladder in Connecticut following his win over Evincii Dixon in November, the same Dixon who fought Lao to draw a month before losing to Williams.
 
They knew they'd meet up at some point. They just never figured it'd be this soon.
 
"I'm really excited for this," Williams said. "I know some of his weaknesses and I know what he brings to the table, but I also know this will be a totally different fight.
 
"I'm ready for whatever he's got. I've seen him at his worst, and I've seen him get the best of me in sparring. I've got a good feeling. I'm going to adjust to whatever he tries to do."
 
Said Lao: "Once that bell rings, I'm here for business. I'm here to fight. It doesn't matter who it is. This is about proving who wants it the most. Who deserves to be in that spot, to own that belt and represent Connecticut? This will put my name out there. Who's the best in Connecticut? My name will pop up. That's what I want."
 
Saturday's main event features world-rated lightweight Hank Lundy (24-3-1, 11 KOs) of Philadelphia battling Mexican challenger Pipino Cuevas Jr. in a 10-round bout. Coming off back-to-back wins, Lundy is now ranked No. 9 in the World Boxing Council (WBC).
 
Lundy's 10-round fight against Cuevas Jr. headlines a dynamic card that also features the return of female bantamweight sensation Shelito Vincent and light heavyweight slugger Kevin Cobbs, plus the addition of an exciting amateur undercard replete with the region's most sought-after talent, including Gary Balletto Jr. and Ray Oliveira Jr., sons of two well-respected fighters who dominated the regional circuit at the turn of the 21st century.
 
Cobbs (7-1, 2 KOs), a veteran from Willimantic, Conn., will face Willis Lockett (13-13-5, 5 KOs) of Maryland in a four-round bout in Cobbs' first fight in more than a year, while Vincent (10-0, 1 KO) battles Philadelphia's Lakeysha Williams, a veteran of 30 fights, in a six-round bout. Also on the undercard, female welterweight Aleksandra Magdziak-Lopes (10-2-1, 1 KO), a former world-title challenger, will face Althea Saunders (3-0-1) of Atlantic City in a six-round bout. In other regional action, Hartford's Wilson Jr. (1-1) faces Ethan Pena (2-1, 1 KO) of Providence, R.I., in a four-round bout.
 
On the amateur portion of the show, Oliveira Jr., a 165-pounder who trains out of On Point Boxing in New Bedford, Mass., will face Khiary Gray of Camp Get Right in Worcester, Mass. Also from Camp Get Right, 140-pounder Phil Davis will battle Cranston, R.I., amateur Javier Nieves of 401 Boxing, and Kendrick Ball Jr. of Worcester and Camp Get Right will face Edmond Worley of Lowell, Mass., in a 185-pound bout.
 
New Haven, Conn., middleweight Godfrey Campbell faces Miguel Teo of Marlboro, Mass.; and Smithfield, R.I., light welterweight Anthony Marsella Jr. battles New Bedford's Scott Sullivan. Balletto Jr., a middleweight also fighting out of Cranston, will face New Haven's Eric Anderson of Elephant In The Room Boxing Club. All amateur bouts are three rounds, unless otherwise noted.

 
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Moore dominates Fernandez to remain unbeaten; Ramsey upsets Soto in wild co-feature

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (Oct. 5th, 2013) – Light middleweight prospect Michael Moore of New Haven, Conn., kept his perfect record intact Saturday with a hard-fought win over game veteran Antonio Fernandes at Mohegan Sun Casino.

The unbeaten Moore (13-0), originally from Cleveland, calmly controlled the fight from start to finish, at times staggering the crafty, elusive Fernandes (3-13-2) over the course of 10 rounds. Fernandes’ awkward defensive style frustrated Moore early on, but as Fernandes (Brockton, Mass.) began to tire, Moore got his second win in latter half of the bout and closed out the fight in style, earning a 98-92, 100-90, 98-92 unanimous-decision win in the main event.

The battle of unbeaten welterweight prospects in the eight-round co-feature lived up to the billing as Zack Ramsey (6-0) of Hartford, Conn., and Edwin Soto (9-1-2) of New Haven waged a back-and-forth battle with both sides jockeying for the upper hand throughout the fight. Ramsey utilized his superior speed, coupled with his ability to weave in and out of trouble, to pull off the upset win by unanimous decision, 78-74, on all three cards.

Picking his spots while fighting on the outside for most of the night, Ramsey dominated the early rounds until Soto mounted a late surge, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the slick boxing by Ramsey in the first half of the fight. After beating Fernandes in September by unanimous decision, Ramsey has now won three fights in a five-month span in 2013, cementing his status as one of the elite, up-and-coming welterweights in the region.

Returning to New England for the second time in less than a month, Lancaster, Pa., welterweight Evincii Dixon (2-2-2) fought to a majority draw against New Haven’s Christian Lao (4-2-1). Dixon previously fought at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, R.I., losing a six-round decision to Nick DeLomba. Last night’s fight was much closer as he and Lao – fighting for the first time in 15 months – exchanged blows throughout four competitive rounds.

Judges Bill Morande and Clark Sammartino scored the bout 38-38 while judge Don Trella scored it 39-37 in favor of Lao. The difference was the opening round, which Trella scored in favor of Lao while Morande and Sammartino awarded it to Dixon.

In the opening bout, New Haven light middleweight David Wilson (2-0) won for the second time in as many bouts, beating tough veteran Danny Lugo (2-5) of Harrisburg, Pa., by unanimous decision, 40-36, on all three scorecards. Lugo absorbed his share of punishment from the taller, faster Wilson, but kept coming forward, making for a fast-paced between the two combatants. Lugo was effective when fighting on the inside, but Wilson’s significant reach advantage and subsequent ability to keep Lugo at bat turned out to be the difference.

Fighting for the first time in more than a year, New England light heavyweight Charles Foster (5-0) kept his perfect record intact with a hard-fought, unanimous-decision win over Philadelphia veteran Greg Hackett (2-13), 40-36, on all three scorecards. Foster was originally supposed to face fellow Philadelphia light heavyweight Taneal Goyco, but Goyco suffered a shoulder injury two days before the weigh-in and Hackett agreed to take the fight on short notice.

Undersized at 5-foot-6 against the taller, leaner Foster, Hackett gave it his all and showed no fear fighting on the inside, but Foster made the most of his short, quick punches to soften Hackett and, like Wilson in the previous bout, used his reach to frustrate his opponent.

In the final bout, heavyweight Solomon Maye (1-0, 1 KO) of New Haven, Conn., making his pro debut, stopped the overmatched John Desmond (0-1) of Duxbury, Mass., thirty-seven seconds into the opening round. Maye came out swinging and Desmond failed to defend himself, prompting the referee to stop the bout.

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Boxer moves to Connecticut to become a champion

Boxer Michael Moore-thinks he has a chance to make it big, so does his boxing family, which has given him a chance of a lifetime.