First off, I want to give credit where credit is due. MSC, RDS company, and Hinckley Grand Casino held what has to be one of the years best cards. I want to specifically congratulate Cory Rapacz on the best matched card of the year in my opinion, there was only one fight where the judges were not needed. All but two fights were close in my mind.
Vanda landing on Williams, courtesy SnapLocally.com
This night belonged to Matt Vanda, he is a Minnesota boxing superstar. There is just something about Skeletor/The Predator that feels almost bigger than the fights. His walk to the ring with loud heavy music blaring is really something to be seen in person. Once that first bell rang, this fight pretty much belonged to the teacher. Vanda stalked, landed, joked, taunted, and defended with the aggression and control of guy who knew he was just too much for the less experienced foe.
Vanda took my keys to the fight and threw them out the window. Guess there is a reason he has a MUCH greater boxing mind in his corner, Ron Lyke. Vanda acted and looked to be the stronger man. He landed the much more meaningful punches and was pressing and pushing Williams around the ring with what looked to me to be EASE. This fight was pretty much the exact opposite of what I thought it would be. During the 8th round Vandas corner was yelling “He can’t hurt you”. Phil Williams just looked like he never got started. The Drill maybe let two or three of his bombs fly in this fight, and against a guy with as much experience and understanding of the ring as Matt Vanda, that’s just never going to work for somebody who’s game depends on power. As a guy who sat ringside for Williams fight against Echols, I was baffalled and frustrated at the way The Drill approached this one. Matt Vanda deserves credit for how he outclassed Williams from start to finish. In what to me was a big surprise, the judges scored this a split decision, thankfully the right guy won. (SD, 97,93/ 96,95/ 97,94/ Matt Vanda winner) After the fight I started to ask Phil Williams why he never let his hands go? Before I got the words out of my mouth, Williams said “I know I should have let my hands go”.
Wilton Hilario (left), Courtesy SnapLocally.com
The co main event was Wilton Hilario vs Leon Bobo and this one had no chance of being pretty. Hilario came to fight, but you need two to tango. Bobo was fast and allusive, but that is pretty much it. I give credit to Hilario for doing all he could to make it a fight and watchable for the fans. (UD, 78,74/ 78,74/ 79,73/ Wilton Hilario winner)
Cerresso Fort (right), Courtesy SnapLocally.com
Lamar Harris vs Cerresso Fort was the fight of the night. Well, the fight of the night if you love toe to toe slug fests, and I do. You could see the bad blood Jesse Kelley of MinnesotaBoxing.com had reported yesterday. These guys were throwing home run swings from the start. Both Harris and Fort had the other hurt at several points. After this fight there should be no question about the chins of either of these guys. Handling the shots of Harris should leave no question that Fort is strongly in the mix a middle. (UD, 59,56/ 58,54/ 59,55/ Cerresso Fort winner)
The take down, Courtesy SnapLocally.com
Cory Rapacz (right) with Javontae Starks, Courtesy SnapLocally.com
Javontae Starks vs Dan Copp was pretty much what all expected it to be, a great debut for Starks. The first round was mostly just testing out the waters. Round two was ended by the vicious body blows Starks was known for as an amateur. (TKO 1:29 of the second, Javontae Starks winner)
Sam Morales (left), Courtesy SnapLocally.com
The night started with a with a pretty exciting fight. Tim Taggart vs Sam Morales was a slug fest, not much in the way of defense. (MD, 38,38/ 38,38/ 39,37/ last judge scoring for Taggart)
Also on the card was Zach Schumach vs Don Tierney (MD, 38,38/ 39,38/ 39,37/ Zach Schumach winner)
Stay tuned for Laura Zink’s fight report and comments from Vanda and Williams.
Fort landing big, Courtesy SnapLocally.com
I couldnt find a way to put it totaly in my report, but I just dont think we saw Phil Williams last night. But that doesnt change the outcome or how great Matt Vanda looked. The way Vanda was fighting, it may not have mattered. But I was really bummed Williams was content to live off the jab and leave his power at home.
Vanda just straight out beat him. I dont think he was at all ready for somebody that ring tested. Kato had it right yesterday.
couldnt agree with you more todd, it wasnt the same phil. im dissapointed because phil can hurt vanda, he just didnt. he tried to outbox a superior seasoned boxer and gave an admirable effort, but should have focused on knocking him out. hats off to vanda who boxed masterfully, however i dont thik phil was exposed in this fight, a less gun shy approach would do wonders in the presumed rematch
I could watch Fort and Harris over and over and over. Ballz to the wallz power. I thought Nelson may get knocked out at one point.
Brett, “gun shy” That is Phil’s fight in a nut shell.
TRoy, I told Laura Zink the same thing after the fights. I dont think I would want to be the ref in a fight like that.
Decent card and i had a lot of fun there…got to meet Common Man( just as funny in real life) And met wilton, phil and vanda but i got 3 questions for debate…
1. How many people quit watching on TV when the Hilario fight put them to sleep??
2. How did they get off calling this a sellout– there were at least 1000 empty seats?
3. How will MN boxing get respect it wants, when there are ridiculous hometown decisions..(Fort & Taggart)…Taggart’s dad was a judge for his own fight… CMON
Taggarts dad didnt judge that fight. He did judges others though. The Hilario/Bobo fight probably wasnt the best to be on TV, but cant really know that till it was fought. The only problem I had with the Fort fight was the knock down that wasnt. But according to the scores that wouldnt have changed things. Fort had a wide enough margin of victory without that gift. I watched the FSN telecast just now and Bonsante said he didnt give credit to Fort for that one and still had him winning almost all rounds. To me it was a close fight, but I too had Fort winning.
Were is 612 at i told him Vanda by Dec. I’m a little upset though that they compared Vanda to Ali what a joke.
If Marky Mark Nelson didn’t do a poor job in that fight i’d have it a draw. Wilton did what he could good win. Starks was in a different style im use to seeing him in good debut. Other fights didn’t care for.
Draw for the Fort fight. But either hometown guy you gotta bring it if ur not local.
Oh, I think Harris brought it. I wouldnt have argued with a draw, but like I said, I did think Fort won. I agree took way too many shots. The cool thing with Fort, he said he has a lot to work on after the fight. Thats the kind of stuff champs are made of.
Javontae will be ready for Dave Peterson by the Spring. Will Dave step up?
will kolle fight vanda again?
I think Kolle would. Although, it wouldnt make a whole lot of sence since he already has the win against him and there are other higher ranked middles in state to fight. Not to mention, I agree with what Jake Wegner and Bonsante when they were saying about how Vanda may be looking better than he ever has.
Will Javontae be ready for Dave is the Q&A Mr.Ron Peterson said he wants Vanda for DP. Dave to me is #1 in the Prodigy/Young fighters under 25 list so i believe it should be said will Starks step up.
Any word on Wilton vs Wil fight?
A great am career means NOTHING…! in pros.
Ron wants Vanda for Dave? I like!
I am dead serious!! When i talked to him last night he said that DP will give Vanda a boxing lesson only problem he said it have to be 158 or lower because DP walks around there supposably. But he really seemed to really want that fight.
I really do think that would be a fun one. I think the styles would make that really great.
I would agree. I would like to see if DP is as slick as they say.
Because Vanda will be up in his GRILL!!!!
Ive never even thought about that one. But I like the sounds of it.
Trust me when i heard this i shit my pants. If it were to happen and DP wins BIG for him. I believe it will put him right under Litzau on the p4p with Kolle. If he losses we find out that the kid was all hype.
Dave Peterson is not a ticket seller. Let him carry a show by himself, that’s not at an old fleet farm, before he calls out Vanda.
I’m pretty sure it be just as BIG as Phil and Matt if not bigger. And it would create many fans period. Also it seems to me that DP’s camp isn’t worried about the $$$ coming out of there pocket. A win opens bigger fights more $$$ even if he loses a close fight. Fighting and beating Vanda will 1. Create fans and respect 2. open bigger and Higher paying fights 3. the show itself in my opinion would be one of the best matchups in MN boxing history…….. Young vs Old Future vs Past Boxer vs Brawler
Sr. just told me he is 100% posstive he will lock the Vanda fight for dave within the next 6 Mounth’s. On any card if not there own
I wanted to add Fort showed a GREAT!!! chin and heart.
I think that would be one of the more interesting MN fights for Vanda. Ticket wise, nobody is really going to come close to him so it may just depend on who he wants to help by granting a fight. I have to think Vandas win against Williams may have him looking outside of MN. But what do I know. I would love to see it though.
Vanda’s win over Williams does NOTHING!!! same if he beats DP. Williams is no one maybe in MN but not nationally at all look at the ppl he has fought DP is the same as Phil. Vanda was suppose to win with Phil getting a step up match Vanda is a step up PERIODDDDD beating Phil or Dave at this point means nothing. If they win it’s a BIG win.
What i’m saying is Vanda’s the divider If you can beat him you’ll get bigger fights. If you lose ur off in the sunset. Vanda is right below a champion fighter. The MN guys we hype are good/great in minnesota but there is only 3 MN fighters getting looked at nationally 2 of them being opponents.
Can anyone else see how pathetic they are trying to get Dave in the Vanda conversation? NOT A F’N CHANCE!
We like to sell tickets, unlike the Target Center show coming up.
“Replace ‘Kobe’ with ‘Ron!’”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLJ65x0mbv0
I think Todd’s right. Vanda can pretty much pick who he wants to fight. He is the ticket seller. I think he and Peterson would be nice, but there are a ton of guys it would be fun to watch him fight.
Vanda is the draw against whoever. Im not working to get any fight. I like Vanda against a number of MN fighters. Match up wise, I do think DP/Vanda would be fun, but again, Vanda has earned the right to fight whoever he chooses. And he will sell tickets. If Walters wins on the 4th, thats probably the biggest gate a MN vs MN fight could get right now.
the way vanda fought fri i dont think any mn guy could beat him
The way Vanda fought friday i see a number of guys beating him. Cory you might want to check your source again all tablels sold and all $50 tickets a up are gone. I heard your Target Center didn’t do so well. After this being said i think your full of shit your always talking down DP and telling him to step up. Now he and his camp wants to and you bad mouth him for it. I dont get you the way you talk on here and your forum you would NEVER EVER talk to these people that way in person
Here’s what I am able to purchase on Ticketmaster for the Target Center show:
$98 seats: Floor 1 – Row 9 – Seats 8 and 9
$73 seats: Section 131 – Row 4 – Seats 7 and 8
$48 seats: Section 111 – Row E – Seats 1 and 2
So Ron, you are a liar. Check your source! The truth is these ticket numbers haven’t moved since you guys signed out tickets to have fighters sell them. The information is right there online for everyone to see. Spin that however you want. Aren’t tables sold out too? I can buy those online as well! http://www.ticketmaster.com! How can you be talking shit about our shows and fighters when you’re sitting here with only 4 rows up in your seats sold?
Nobody is hating on Dave, but explain what is in it for Vanda? Dave brings no money to the table. Nobody at MSC is particularly interested in having to work with you or O’Connor…….So what’s the deal? Why not add Andy Kolle vs. Dave Peterson to the Target Center show if you guys are selling tickets like crazy? State jr middleweight title right there!
Ron? everything in Rons hands is sold idk about ticket master’s side and Ron added he would pay vanda out of pocket so he’ll get just as much as he did for your show.
i have no interest in Vanda/Peterson or Vanda/Kolle 2. I still think that Vanda/Walters and Truax/Kolle are the money makers…..
I agree completely. Although I wouldnt mind Vanda vs Peterson. But it makes no sense for Kolle to fight Vanda again.
from the friday card: i was impressed with Starks, disappointed with Hillario and got exactly what I expected from Vanda….all in all it did not stack up to be the card I had hoped for…that was my fear when i heard it was gonna be televised. People wanted to see Williams throw bombs and he wasn’t up to the challenge.
This again is why i say that these young guys that look impressvie but are unproven do not make good fights for big cards!!