Results from Detroit

By Brad Snyder at ringside
Photos: Bob Ryder

Featherweight Muheeb Fazeldin, of Yemen, was quick to show the boxing fans at the “Eastern Market Massacre” why his nickname is “Flashy.” Last Saturday night at Eastern Market Shed 5 in Detroit, Michigan, Muheeb dazzled the crowd with dance moves and ring showmanship. He started off quickly with showboating, displaying his hands behind his back in the First Round against opponent Antoney Napunyi of Africa. Round two saw Fazeldin able to fight off the ropes. The third round showed him weathering the best storm Napunyi could produce. It was in round four that Fazeldin had more punches than dance moves as a right hook took center stage. Napunyi was forced to take a knee due to the punches. Rounds five and six had a wild, chanting crowd guiding Fazeldin to an easy UD (60-53, 60-53, 60-53) victory over Napunyi. The win improved Muheed Fazeldin to (8-0-1, 3 KOs) as Napunyi fell to (14-20).

Middleweight Winfred “Hot Boy” Harris punished a charging Brandon Priest for four rounds. Harris showed a strong, straight jab to the body early in the fight. Later, as round one closed, the constant left hooks to Priest’s body began to take a toll. All four rounds were a display of “Hot Boy’s” arsenal and firepower. The bout had all three judges scoring it (40-36) in favor of Harris (4-0). The decision loss has Brandon Priest falling to (1-2) overall.

The heavyweight bout between Craig Lewis and Jamal Woods bout offered a rematch to a previous draw decision on both fighter’s records. The six round contest had both boxers coming out swinging. The fight produced great jabs from Lewis, followed by strong body work from Woods. As the fight continued, you realized, some fighters have opponents who are just bad fits for their style. Woods appeared quicker and hungry, as Lewis was the more sound and technical boxer. The battle lasted all six rounds with a split decision victory going to Lewis (10-0-1) (58-56-Lewis, 58-56-Woods, 58-56-Lewis). Jamal Woods now is (8-29-6).

Jr middleweight John “Florida Keys Kid” Chalbeck was tested against Jeremy Czarnecki. An MMA fighter with 19 professional matches, Czarnecki provided the necessary skills to push the fight to a decision in his pro boxing debut. Chalbeck’s right hand was the star of the show, as it produced enough scoring power to improve him to (5-0) with a UD victory over Czarnecki (0-1).

What appeared to be a non-relevant fight on paper turned into a highly contested boxing match. Super middleweight Delvery Wofford entered his fight on Saturday night with 10 pro fights and not one win under his belt. A (0-10) boxer against Alexis Hloros (17-5-2) does not seem like a matchup that should ever get a spot on a card. But promoter, Carlos Llinas, and Michigan Boxing Commission member, Bronco McKart (Former World Champion), proved they know best, again. “I sparred with the guy. How many Commission people do you know would spar a guy to see if he is fit to box still? Wofford is ready,” said McKart. The fight saw Wofford, who was fighting for respect and his first win, taking Hloros to all four rounds. All three judges had the bout (40-36) for Alexis Hloros, but somewhere in the fight Delvery should have won a round.

Other highlights saw cruiserweight Marcus Maulding (1-0) winning his pro debut over Brian Jackson (0-2) by 2nd Round KO. Amateur star, Gino Jones (1-0) won his debut in quick fashion with a knockout win at the 2:02 mark of round one over John Amerson (0-3) in a lightweight bout. Super welterweight Waseem El-sinawi, from Windsor, also, joined in on the parade of debut wins with a 33 second 1st Round TKO over Dean Walsh (0-4). Heavyweight Robert Sims came back after a 1st Round knockdown to beat Jovan Blakely. Sims argued to referee Ansel Stewart that he was pushed to the canvas. The knockdown did not matter as Sims (3-0) wins by TKO at the 1:53 mark of the first. Blakely, still searching for his first win, fell to (0-2). The evening started off with super welterweight Andrea Holmes (1-0) winning his debut over Rakim Johnson (0-3) with a TKO at the 1:46 mark of the 1st Round.