Wilkins-Johnson ends in draw

By Bob Caico at ringside

At scenic Presque Isle Downs Casino in Erie, Pennsylvania a terrific summer-like Saturday night was the perfect setting for an outdoor boxing event. That is what Bizzarro Promotions hoped it would be for their third show at this impressive venue. On paper, the six-round main event seemed like a mismatch. Wilkins Santiago of Lorain, OH had an impressive 12-1-2 record going against Justin Johnson of Pittsburgh, PA who came it at 6-12-4 while losing eight of his last nine bouts. But the matchmaker must have done his homework because a barnburner ensued.

In the second round, Johnson landed a body shot followed by a blow to the head that shook Santiago. Johnson followed that up with digging body shots and seemed to have complete control. Santiago though was experienced enough to fight back and survived the round. “I felt the punch but I wasn’t too worried about it, I been in the game long enough, you get punched, regain your composure and go from there,” said Santiago. Over the next four rounds Santiago was the aggressor and every time he threw a solid punch Johnson knew enough to hold. While Santiago was scoring better Johnson did have his moments especially to the body that made for exciting exchanges. Both fighters threw everything they had at each other in the final seconds of the bout until the bell rang to a standing ovation from the impressive crowd. There was nervous anticipation from the fans and fighters as the scores were read: 58-56 for Santiago and 57-57 twice for a majority draw.

The co-main event of six rounds featured undefeated Thomas Mattice of Cleveland, OH taking on Edgardo Rivera of Caguas, PR. Mattice opened the second round with stinging, stiff jabs that had Rivera backing up. Two quick jabs followed by an overhand right floored Rivera for a short count. Rivera was up quickly but Mattice refused to let his foe back in the fight. He continued to use his jab and rights to the head in the following round. This strategy came to its fruition in the fourth round. Rivera was looking for more jabs from Mattice, who fooled him and went to the body. A perfectly placed body shot to the solar plexus dropped Rivera to his knees and bent over at the waist. Referee Riskus counted to ten without a movement from Rivera at the time of 57 seconds. Mattice scored his fourth stoppage to go with his fifth win while Rivera drops to 7-3-2.

Super-lightweight Wilfredo Flores of Dunkirk, now residing in Buffalo dismantled Danny Rosenberger of St. Pete, FL in a four-round contest. Flores dropped Rosenberger in the first round with a body shot and also in the second round after a flurry of body and heads shots had Rosenberger taking a knee. The onslaught continued in round three as again Rosenberger hit the canvas after numerous lefts and rights. Flores made it four for four as body shots again forced Rosenberger down on the mat. Gamely he got up and lasted to the final bell. Flores improved to 4-0, 1 KO while Rosenberger slides to 0-2-2 after identical scores of 40-32.
Isiah Steen of Cleveland barely broke a sweat as he flattened Jamaal Williams of Brooklyn, NY at 48 seconds of the first round. Steen dropped Williams with an overhand right early in the round and his follow up flurry had Williams out on his feet has he fell face first to the canvass. Steen scored his second stoppage to raise his record to 2-0 while Williams evens out at 1-1.

Alex Dedovets of Buffalo, NY and Steve Tyner of Akron, OH staged a heavyweight 4-round contest that resulted in a draw. Both fighters came in overweight from their usually weight classes and at times it showed. Fighting in close range both boxers had their moments. Dedovets suffered a nasty cut from a head butt in the third but was able to last the four rounds. The judges were split with scores of 39-37, 37-39 and 38-38 leaving Dedovets with a 1-1-2 record and Tyner at 3-13-3.
Daywaun Roseberry of Cleveland, OH had a rousing pro debut as he overwhelmed Jeffery Hayslett (1-2) of Atlanta, GA. The southpaw Roseberry threw vicious body and head shots in the first round that Hayslett somehow weathered. In the second round, Roseberry continued the assault with thundering body shots that forced Hayslett to take a knee. Like a seasoned pro, Roseberry continued working the weakened body and Hayslett took another knee, this time remaining there until the count of ten. Time was 1:27 of the second round in the scheduled 4-round welterweight contest.

In the opening 4-round middleweight contest Erik Plumeri (0-1-1) of Lockport, NY and Khali Thorn (0-0-1) of Akron, OH staged an old fashioned slugfest. Thorn controlled the first round with quick and precise punching that had Plumeri reeling. In the second round, Plumeri landed an overhand right that rocked thorn and he had him backing up and holding for the rest of the round. The last two rounds slowed a bit but both fighters exchanged heavy leather with Plumeri landing the more telling blows. The judges though were split and a draw was declared after scores of 39-37 Thorn, 39-36 Plumeri and 38-38.