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Hometown Boxers Put on Good Show By Miguel Rodriguez
Buffalo's Excell Holmes and Guillermo Sanchez first got the crowd into a fevered pitch by earning a pair of quick knockout triumphs, while Niagara Falls' Nick Casal sent the estimated 1,700 home happy by closing the five-card event with a thoroughly dominating victory. Casal, one of the most decorated amateurs to ever come out of Western New York, fought as a pro for the first time in the area and took a good first step toward proving that he still has world-class potential by stopping veteran Shad Howard at 1:30 of the third round. The former prized prospect hit Howard at will throughout, and when the Jefferson City, Mo., resident tried to turn the bout into a brawl in an act of desperation in the third round, it proved to be a huge mistake. Casal trapped him in the corner and pummeled him into submission. "I needed this to prove I'm still in the picture," said Casal, who improved to 19-4-1 with 15 knockouts after entering the bout having lost four of his last seven fights. "It's great. I feel loved here. ... It feels good to put on a show for the fans." Holmes, a former state Golden Gloves champion, won his long anticipated pro debut over Damian Clement of Dayton, Ohio. Sanchez improved to 9-0 by earning his fourth triumph via knockout in beating Ron Boyd of Washington, D.C. Rochester's Kenny Abril (9-3-1) earned a six-round unanimous decision over super lightweight foe Sebastien Hamel (10-19-1) of Montreal. After scoring a quick knockdown in the first round, Abril secured the decision by scores of 59-55, 58-56, 59-55. The only bad bout of the night proved to be the main event for the vacant NABA lightweight title. Veteran Michael Clark (38-5) of Columbus, Ohio, got drilled in the back of the head by Meacher Major (16-3-1) during a break ending the 10-round bout in just 2:14. The referee ruled the fight a no contest when an injured Clark - who was carried out of the ring on a stretcher as a precaution due to an apparent neck injury - couldn't continue. Friday's card drew about 200 more fans than February's "Return of Buffalo Boxing" card. The second pro card in four months in the Queen City drew some superstars, including Buffalo Bills wide receiver Lee Evans and former No. 1 heavyweight title contender Joe Mesi. But Casal proved to be the real star of this show, one the fans desperately needed after the outcome of the main event. The 5-foot-7 Casal was the aggressor throughout and consistently got inside against Howard (13-15-3), who had about a 3-inch height advantage. Casal clearly hurt Howard with a body-head combination in the first round. Casal pummeled Howard to the mat late in the second round with Howard showing some heart by getting back to his feet before the bell. Howard wasn't so fortunate in the third round as he lost for the ninth time in 10 fights. "The key were the body shots," Casal said. "Once I hurt him, I knew it going to be a long night for him." Holmes looked light on his feet and fairly sharp considering he hadn't fought since last June's Nickel City Challenge. He had three potential chances at debuting scrapped at the last minute before Friday. He was clearly the aggressor throughout, as he bloodied Clement's nose with a steady diet of jabs in the second round. Clement fell to 0-2. "It took a year and it felt like 10 years. We finally got it in," Holmes said. "You only get one debut and I was glad to do it in Buffalo." Sanchez (9-0) earned his second straight win by knockout, flooring Washington D.C. native Ron Boyd (6-8-2) twice in the final minute of the first round. Sanchez ended the fight at 2:59 when he dropped Boyd after trapping him in the corner and nailing him with a flurry of combinations. "I was looking for the openings," Sanchez said. "I was going to body so I could finish him with my left hand. I'm excited.” |
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PRO BOXING: BY NATE BEUTEL Before the opening bell rang late Friday night at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center, Nick Casal had his fan section in a frenzy. After the Niagara Falls lightweight pummeled Shad Howard for nearly three rounds, the entire crowd of approximately 1,700 was on their feet cheering for the hometown fighter. Casal earned a technical knockout at 1:30 of the third round to improve to 19-4-1 with 15 KOs. “You couldn’t have asked for a better day,” his father and trainer Ray Casal said. “Nick showcased himself well in front of the hometown crowd. I think people can see that now we’re back on the right track. They’re ready to jump back on this thing. I’m proud of him.” Casal’s confidence was obvious throughout as he constantly played to the crowd, while remaining aggressive and persistent despite Howard’s tough chin. “It’s not cocky or showboating, but I like to be flashy and perform for my fans,” Casal said with a laugh. “I felt the love from my people and I wanted to show them that I still have it.” Having familiar faces in his corner along with four months of training at home also helped, he said. “I think we trained him just right for this fight,” Ray Casal added. “We put about 12 pounds on him, he got healthy and he looked a lot stronger. He was prepared for this fight.” In fact, Nick Casal said he had planned for Friday’s bout to go six or seven rounds before seeing some big openings early on. He knocked Howard off balance a few times in the opening round before sending him to the canvas at the end of round two. Then midway through the third, Casal caught Howard with a big cross and finished him off in the corner with several quick combinations. “I thought he was patient, kept a nice pace, used his jab well and capitalized on his opportunities to do some big damage,” Ray Casal said. “He looked good.” Nick Casal said he suffered only one small mark on his forehead and plans to be back in the gym Monday, preparing for his next fight, which he hopes to come in September, possibly back in Buffalo. “Everything is looking up now,” he said. “I can’t wait to get back at it. Like I said, give me two or three more tune-ups and I’ll take on anyone at 140.” In the other co-main event, former NABA lightweight champion Michael Clark left the ring on a stretcher in the opening round after taking a pair of big hits from Meacher Major. The bout, though, was declared a no contest and thus the NABA Lightweight Championship belt remains vacant. A pair of Buffalo boxers, Excell Holmes and Guillermo Sanchez, picked up knockout wins in the first two bouts of the night. Holmes, who was making his professional debut, took out Damon Clement at 3:00 of round two in heavyweight action, while Sanchez moved to 9-0 in featherweight action with a KO of Ron Boyd at 2:59 of the opening round. Rochester’s Kenny Abril beat Sebastien Hamel by unanimous decision in the card’s closest bout. Abril won, 59-55, 58-56, 59-55 on the three judge’s scorecards. Contact reporter Nate Beutel at 282-2311, ext. 2262. |
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By Bob Caico at ringside The NABA lightweight championship title fight between Meacher Major and Michael Clark ended suddenly and controversially Friday night in Buffalo, NY. The bout that began as if it would be an exciting 10-round contest turned when Major landed a blow to the back of the neck of Clark that dropped him to his knees. The referee gave Clark a few minutes to recuperate and resumed the action. Clark still seemed stunned by the blow but fought on. Seconds later as the fighters tied up, referee Hubert Earle called a break. Major landed a right hand to the jaw that knocked Clark on his back and he seemed to be in some discomfort. Earle called the bout off and emergency personnel entered the ring. Clark seemed to be ok but was carried out on a stretcher as a precaution. The bout was ruled a no-contest at 2:14 of round one from an “accidental foul.” The card promoted by X-cell Worldwide was billed as Buffalo Beatdown and that lived up to its name for the local boxers on the card. Nick “Hands of Gold” Casal of Niagara Falls, fighting near his hometown for the first time, overwhelmed game Shad Howard (13-15-3) of Jefferson City, Missouri. Casal dropped Howard near the end of round two with some well placed body shots and rights to the head. Howard, to his credit, came out slugging in the third but Casal was determined to impress in front of his fans and landed the more powerful punches that hurt Howard and backed him into the corner. Casal jumped at that chance and landed 14 unanswered shots that forced referee Charlie Fitch to halt the action at 1:30 of the third round. Casal who looked strong at 141 pounds raised his record to 19-4-1. Fast rising super featherweight Guillermo Sanchez of Buffalo improved to 9-0 with a first round TKO over Ron Boyd (6-8) of Washington DC. Sanchez had Boyd down twice in the round, the last on after a flurry of combinations. Time of the stoppage was 2:59. Excell Holmes made a triumphant debut in his hometown with a second round TKO over Damien Clement (0-2) of Dayton, Ohio. The local heavyweight looked sharp and bloodied the nose of Clement in the second round. Between rounds, Clement complained that he couldn’t breathe from a possible broken nose, and the fight was stopped before the third round bell. |
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Major's Fight Ruled a No-Contest
By DAHALIA SMITH ~ NG Sports Reporter
Meacher 'Major Pain' Major might have earned himself a top 10 World Boxing Association (WBA) ranking over the weekend, with an impressive showing against Michael 'Cold Blood' Clark from Columbus, Ohio, even though he didn't win the fight. Due to an apparent injury to Clark, the fight, which was stopped 2:44 in the opening round of a scheduled 10-rounder, was ruled a no-contest.
Apparently, Clark (38-5-1, 18 KOs) couldn't continue in that main event of the X-Cel Worldwide Promotions 'Buffalo Beatdown' card on Friday night at the Niagara Convention Center in Buffalo, New York. As for Major, the 27-year-old's ring record remains at 16-3-1. He noted that despite the no-contest ruling, his steady performance vindicates his re-location to the U.S. to train. He thanked God for just putting him in the position to win the North American Boxing Association (NABA) title. While he is satisfied with his performance, Major disagreed with the referees' final decision. He and his corner opted to file an appeal on the ruling.
"The referee made a bad call and I was very disappointed - a winner should always be granted a victory if that person won," he said. "We are protesting the decision and expect for everything to work out. I feel as if I won convincingly as I landed some good body shots and caught him with a good right hand. I knocked him down once early on in the round but the referee did not give him an eight count, he just acted like nothing happened. Then I caught him again and he was out which is when the referee called it as a no-contest saying that Clark was hurt. Many of the fans in attendance did not agree with the call either," he explained.
Major's trainers include Bahamian Nathaniel Knowles and American Anthony Wilson whom he credits for pushing his training to another level.
"This is the best shape I've ever been in. My trainers scouted Clark well and prepared me accordingly, so when I got into the ring it was like deja vu as if I knew all of the punches he was going to throw. It is also an honor to be training and sparring against world class boxers," said Major.
Earning a world title shot is the ultimate goal for Major. He signed a three-year contract with X-Cel Worldwide Promotions last year. "That was my first fight since March and I was supposed to fight in May but that was canceled. At this point, the next step is staying in shape for any card that may come up," said Major. |
The "Buffalo Beatdown" boxing card included three Western New Yorkers, and all delighted their fans Friday night by delivering a series of beatdowns at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center.
