Philadelphia, PA, USA: Welter: Dusty Hernandez Harrison (30-0-1) W PTS 10 Thomas Lamanna (21-2). Heavy: Ray Edwards (12-0-1) W PTS 6 Dan Pasciolla (8-1-1). Light: Devin Haney 10-0) W TKO 5 Mike Fowler (5-3). Welter: Kenneth Sims Jr (8-0) W PTS 6 Gilbert Venegas (14-25-5).
Harrison vs. Lamanna
Harrison gets unanimous decision over Lamanna. These two had sparred together often so the opening round saw both being cagey. Harrison edged the second round as he confidently dropped his hands and landed enough rights to outscore Lamanna over the three minutes.
The fight heated up in the third with Harrison scoring well to the body and Lamanna letting his punches flow. A left hook from Harrison shook Lamanna at the end of the fourth but Lamanna was into his stride and took the fifth and sixth in what was turning into real war. Early in the seventh a right to the chin had Harrison badly hurt and holding to survive but then he did more than just survive but battled back to take the fight inside and initiated exchanges that had the crowd standing and applauding.
The eighth went the same way with Lamanna dominating the early action but with Harrison banging back and having Lamanna rocking after a hard uppercut. The fight was close at that point with Harrison probably just in front. Over the ninth and tenth Harrison outworked a tiring Lamanna and took both rounds to cement his victory. Scores 97-93 twice and 98-92 all for Harrison.
The 22-year-old from Washington DC gets back on the winning track after his 100% record was muddied by a split draw with Mike Dallas in May and wins the vacant IBF USBA title. Trained by his father Harrison has a strong team of business men behind him including famous poker player Phil Ivey and Dallas Mavericks basketball player Monta Ellis.
When he turned pro in 2011 at 17 Harrison was the youngest pro boxer in America. He has been carefully matched and now this win should get him an IBF rating. “Cornflake” Lamanna, 24, won his first 16 fights before being floored three times and stopped in six rounds by then unbeaten Antoine Douglas in 2015. He had rebounded with 5 wins and from his showing here can rebound again.
Edwards vs. Pasciolla
Edwards stays unbeaten with unanimous decision over Pasciolla. This was a slow-paced fight between two big men. Edwards had the strength and a harder punch and southpaw Pasciolla the better skills. Edwards just did enough to deserve the win and opened a cut over the right eye of Pasciolla with a punch late in the fight. Scores 60-54, 59-55 and 58-56 all for Edwards. The 31-year-old 6’5” (196cm) “Cincinnati Kid” took to boxing when his career as an NFL player with the Minnesota Vikings and Atlantic Falcons came to an end. He skipped the amateur ranks and went straight into pro boxing. He is too limited to go far. “White Chocolate” Pasciolla also 31is 6’4” (193cm). He was 8-0-1 going into this including a victory over former IBF cruiser champion Imamu Mayfield but that was Mayfield’s first fight for eight years.
Haney vs. Fowler
Although I don’t think Edwards and Pasciolla will go far I think that Haney may do. The 17-yeard-old won all the way before forcing the stoppage in the fifth round. He turned pro just three weeks after his 17th birthday and has 6 wins by KO/TKO. He was US national Youth and Junior champion and a quarter-finalist at the World Junior championships in 2013. A couple of his bios credit him with a gold medal at the World Youth championships but the records don’t support that but he is one to watch. Two losses in a row for Fowler.
Sims vs. Venegas
Sims continues his winning way. The tall Sims had things easy over the first four rounds as he used his height and reach and some flashing combinations to outscore experienced Venegas. He made it harder than it needed to be over the last two rounds by standing in the pocket and trading and got caught with a few needless right hands but won every round. Scores 60-54 from all three judges. The 22-year-old “Bossman” is a former Chicago Golden Gloves champion who at national level was twice a National PAL champion and won bronze medals at both the US national Championships and the NGG’s. A loss to Toka Khan-Clary at the US Trials ended his Olympic hopes but he represented the USA at the World Championships and is also one to follow.
