Photo by Dusty Hernandez-Harrison/RBRBoxing
Saturday, March 14, 2015, Keystone Boxing, in association with Top Rank, Inc. and USIBA introduced the first-ever professional boxing event at the historic 87-year-old Sphinx Club in Washington, D.C.
The venue is an intimate hall that offers boxing fans a great view from any seat in the house and will certainly be a great new home for the Keystone Boxing series.
Joseph “Mack” Williams vs. Jorge Alvarez
In the night’s first bout, Joseph “Mack” Williams (4-0, 4 KOs) put his undefeated record on the line against debuting Vega Baja, PR native, Jorge Alvarez (0-1, 0 KO).
The three-round bout got off to a furious start as Williams pushed his less-experienced opponent to the ropes.
Williams worked the body furiously, something that Alvarez couldn’t escape for as long as the fight lasted. Alvarez’s corner pleaded with their man to get out of the corner—where he seemed to be continually stuck–but the body blows he took left him nearly immobile.
Williams knocked Alvarez down twice, securing a TKO victory at the 2:02 mark in Round 1.
Chris “The Rock” Warden vs. Marshawn Hughes
Photo by 7th Legendary/RBRBoxing
In the second bout of the night, little big man, Chris “The Rock” Warden (1-0, 1 KO) made his professional debut against South Bend, Indiana fighter, Marshawn Hughes (0-1, 0 KO).
Warden had a lot of support from the hometown crowd and a great team working his corner, headed by Buddy Harrison and upcoming Welterweight prospect and Roc Nation Sports fighter, Dusty Hernandez-Harrison.
Warden came out aggressive and didn’t waste time trying to impose his will with sustained pressure. Warden, standing at just 5’4”, fought like the height difference was in his advantage against the 6’0” tall Hughes.
Warden walked Hughes down and launched well-placed hooks which connected with regularity.
Warden was able to land a good hook that dropped Hughes in Round 1, but the former MMA fighter was able to survive.
Round 2 started much like Round 1 ended, with Warden on the attack and Hughes retreating.
After a second knockdown, Hughes succumbed to a barrage of punches and the bout was waived off at the 2:36 mark of the second round.
Alexandru “The Spartan” Marin vs. Arturo Santiago
In the third bout of the night, Alexandru “The Spartan” Marin (6-0, 4 KOs) took on veteran Arturo Santiago (7-11-1, 4 KOs).
The bout got off to a slow start with Marin working behind a stiff jab, looking for the perfect opening to expose Santiago. Unfortunately for the Silver Spring, that perfect opening never came.
While Santiago was never really in the fight, he took Marin he distance with savvy movement and clinches in close quarters. Santiago did not unleash much offensively, but he was able to thwart the few big shots that Marin launched throughout the first couple of rounds.
Marin found some success switching into the southpaw stance midway through the bout, relying on a quick one-two combination.
In the end, Marin won a hard-fought decision 60-53, 60-54 (twice).
Albi “The Golden Goat” Sadikaj vs. Jose Alexis Rivera-Ayala
Photo by 7th Legendary/RBRBoxing
After a substantial 18-month layoff, Albi “The Golden Goat” Sadikaj got back to business against Jose Alexis Rivera-Ayala in a Crusierweight battle.
Round 1 was filled with huge, lunging shots from both men, as Rivera-Ayala did not care much for defense—opting instead to keep his hands at his waste, Sergio Martinez style.
Sadikaj came out strong and overly aggressive in the first stanza, perhaps looking for the knockout too hard.
But in Round 2, The Golden Goat settled down and worked behind his jab to set up his powerful right hand, which found a home numerous times.
After eating a big right hand, Rivera-Ayala slumped against the ropes and received a standing eight count, which he survived, only to be stopped moments later as the referee had seen enough clean connections.
Sadikaj earned a TKO victory at 1:42 of Round 2.
Mykal “The Professor” Fox vs. Thomas “The Lion” DeLeon
19-year-old southpaw technician, Mykal “The Professor” Fox (6-0, 2 KOs) took on Thomas “The Lion” DeLeon (0-2, 0 KO) in a Super Lightweight bout scheduled for four rounds.
Normally a crafty boxer who patiently waits for his openings, Fox came out aggressive, working the body with left-and-right hooks. Early on in Round 1, Fox landed a precise body punch early on that doubled DeLeon over.
DeLeon beat the count, but it was only a few seconds later that he received a number of clean shots to the head and body that prompted the referee to stop the bout.
Fox is young and still filling into his frame 6’3” ½ frame, but he looked extremely impressive and more powerful than he has in the past.
Renaldo “Misunderstood vs. Marquis Pierce
Fighting out of the talent-rich Headbangers Gym, Renaldo “Misunderstood” GAINES (6-2, 1 KO) took on Marquis Pierce (1-5, 0 KO) in a scheduled four-round bout.
Some serious leather was thrown throughout this entire bout, with Gaines really making an effort to break his man down with well-placed body shots. In the two times I’ve seen Gaines fight live, I have been really impressed by his patience and his body work.
Round 2 was a one-sided, three minute combination exhibition which was filled with more monstrous and accurate body shots by Gaines.
The gym is called Headbangers, but the way Gaines murders the body, it really reminds you of Lamont Peterson.
Pierce showed tremendous heart by absorbing Gaines’ shots and even landing a couple of good counter punches, but there was no question that Gaines was in full control throughout the fight.
Gaines won a well-deserved four-round decision over the tough-as-nails Pierce. After a long break away from the ring, Gaines has now won two bouts in a row in 2015 and shows a lot of promise.
Patrick Harris vs. Carlos Acevedo
Photo by Dusty Hernandez-Harrison
Patrick Harris (5-0, 4 KOs) is yet another Headbangers Gym fighter, trained by Barry Hunter. Harris was a decorated amateur and winner of the 2013 141-pound U.S.A Boxing National Championship.
Harris showed his pedigree, blasting his opponent Carlos Acevedo (0-3, 0 KO) in two brutal rounds.
In Round 1, Harris came out aggressive and put together stinging combinations both to the head and body.
Harris’ offense befuddled Acevedo early and often. Although he was knocked down, Acevedo made it into Round 2, albeit only for a few seconds.
A swarm of body punches dropped Acevedo and he was unable to beat the count.
The official TKO time came at 36 seconds of Round 2.
“Monster” Marq vs. Bryan Perez-Nevarez
Photo by Dusty Hernandez-Harrison
In the co-main event, heavy-hitting Marq Johns (6-0-1, 5 KOs)—who was Boxing Along the Beltway’s 2014 KO of the Year winner–took on Bryan Perez-Nevarez (2-2, 1 KO) in a bout scheduled for six rounds.
In the early going, Nevarez was game was a toe-to-toe scrap and opted to trade on the inside with Johns. But ultimately, it was Nevarez’s tough mentality that would be his downfall.
Johns has become a fixture on Keystone cards, and is quickly gaining regional fanfare for his exciting fighting style, namely his highlight-reel KOs.
Tonight was no different as he ended Nevarez’s night with a big right hand upstairs, which brought the hometown crowd to their feet. The official time of the stoppage came at 2:01 of Round 3.
Mike “Yes Indeed” Reed vs. Eddie Soto (12-7, 4 KOs)
Photo by Dusty Hernandez Harrison/RBRBoxing
In the main event of the evening, Top Rank Inc.’s undefeated Super Lightweight prospect, Mike “Yes Indeed” Reed (13-0, 7 KOs) returned home to a huge ovation as he took on New England’s, Eddie Soto (12-9, 4 KOs) in a scheduled eight-round bout.
Reed, who has fought his last three bouts out of the DMV, was anxious to return home and give the DC-area fans a crowd-pleasing show.
He didn’t disappoint.
Right from the get go, Soto seemed stuck in his tracks, unable to deal with Reeds speed and pinpoint combinations.
Reed dropped Soto four times, capped by the final knockdown that threw the crowd into a frenzy, chanting Reed’s name.
Reed looked sharp and did exactly what he was supposed to do in stopping Soto. The real question is, what’s next for Reed? The possibilities really seem endless.
