NUTLEY, NJ — In the very gymnasium where Martha Stewart once took phys. ed, Nutley native Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna TKO’d Ohio’s Daniel Crabtree igniting the hometown crowd, as well as almost starting a riot.
The first round was favorable for the taller LaManna, who showcased his impressive arsenal of offensive weapons. He worked well behind his stiff jab and pieced together crisp combinations.
The second round, however, proved to be a bit tougher for LaManna, who increasingly on the receiving end of Crabtree’s punches.
When the bell rang to signal the start of round three, LaManna once again began to press the action. Cornflake landed a hugh right hand that sent Crabtree off balance, forcing his glove to touch the canvass in order to keep him on his feet. Referee Randy Neumann, however, didn’t witness the glove scraping the mat, and never ruled the knockdown.
LaManna showed great natural instincts immediately rushing to finish off the injured Crabtree. He chased the Ohioan from corner to corner until finally, referee Randy Neumann stepped in to call a halt to the bout.
Immediately after Neumann’s stoppage, which was arguably premature, Crabtree’s trainer rushed into the ring to give the New Jersey Hall of Fame ref a piece of his mind. He then got into it with LaManna’s father, Vinny LaManna, who engaged him in a brief shoving match before authorities intervened.
With the win, Thomas Cornflake LaManna stays undefeated and improves to 7-0, 5 KO, while Crabtree falls to 3-4, 3 KO.
Richard Pierson v Anibal Acevedo — 6 Rounds, middleweight
Anibal Acevedo is a 38 year old Puerto Rican fighter who looks 48, at best. He sports a mostly-gray head of hair and a somewhat lengthy goatee for a boxer. His skin on his face, neck, and chest were wrinkled and a bit rubbery — think Ric Flair circa 1998. His opponent, Richard Pierson, although only 8 years his junior, sports a baby face and is in phenomenal shape.
The first round was rather interesting. Acevedo, a southpaw, exhibited craftiness — sneaking uppercuts here and there, landing some impressive shots along the way. But the round ultimately belonged to Pierson, who kept sticking his stiff jab in Acevedo’s face. As the round came to conclusion, Acevedo walked back to his corner, sat on his stool and immediately began wincing in pain. The referee almost instantly signaled the bout was over and motioned for the EMTs to enter the ring.
The word ringside was maybe a rib, or even his testicles. But whatever happened to Acevedo, it had him in what looked to be unbearable pain. An oxygen was placed on his face, his shorts were cut open, and he was placed on a stretcher and taken to a hospital for further examination.
Acevedo’s record now reads 13-9-1, 11 KO, while Pierson improves to 10-2, 7 KO.
John Thompson v Laureno Laracuente — 4 Rounds, middleweight
Newark’s John Thompson battered Puerto Rico’s Laureno Laracuente for twelve straight minutes en route to a TKO 3 victory. From the onset it was clear that Laracuente would be overmatched and that Thompson was the more skilled, more athletic boxer. After twelve minutes of being on the receiving end of Thompson punches, trainer Jose Rosario stepped in and saved his fighter from suffering any more punishment. With Laracuente failing to answer the bell for 4, his record fell to 7-5-1, 2 KO, while Thompson stays undefeated and moves to 6-0, 2 KO.
John Lennox v Miles Kelly — 6 Rounds, heavyweight
In an extremely strange heavyweight bout, local attraction John Lennox scored a first round KO over Arkansas’ Miles Kelly. Much like the night’s other heavyweight scrap, Lennox and Kelly came out guns-a-blazin’. About thirty seonds into the first round, Kelly sucked the air out of the Nutley High gymnasium when he landed a crushing right hand on Lennox’s left cheek that wobbled the big man’s legs. Kelly followed up until Lennox collapsed to the canvass. After beating Randy Nuemann’s ten count, Lennox still stood on wobbly legs. He moved slowly and his steps were deliberate — it was as if his feet were in two buckets of cement.
Kelly didn’t take advantage, however, and Lennox soon recovered. Towards the end of round one, Lennox landed a massive right of his own sending Kelly to the canvass where we would remain until Nuemann reached the count of ten.
The time of stoppage was 1:28 in the first round. Lennox improves to 10-1, 5 KO, while Kelly drops to 2-7, 2 KO.
Godson Noel v Satchell James — 4 Rounds, middleweight
In his professional debut, Bloomfield, New Jersey’s Godson Noel disposed of Alabama’s Satchell James via first round KO. James seemingly punched himself out in the first 90 seconds or so, and paid the price for the last 90 seconds. Noel battered James during the final minute of the first round, ultimately sending him to the canvass where he was unable to beat referee Sparkle Lee’s 10 count.
The time of the stoppage was 2:59 into the first round.
Noel’s professional career begins with a record of 1-0, 1 KO.
James, who was also making his professional debut, starts his career 0-1.
Alantez Fox v Fitzgerald Johnson — 4 Rounds, middleweight
Fitzgerald Johnson will likely have trouble sleeping tonight.
Heading into the fight — on paper — this looked like a mismatch. Alantez Fox — who is managed by Cameron Dunkin — entered the ring with at least a 4” height advantage over Fitzgerald and he also sported a perfect record of 6-0, 3 KO.
At the conclusion of the first stanza, it was clear that this wouldn’t be a one-sided fight, but Fox was in control; he was snapping his jab, maintaining distance between himself and his shorter foe.
But midway through round three everything changed with one short, crisp hook delivered on Fox’s chin courtesy of Johnson’s left fist. Fox stumbled backward, his legs turned into Jell-O. Fox’s knees bent funny and he quickly found himself with his back against the ropes. When he stepped forward, his legs almost gave out again.
Instead of immediately rushing forward to try and finish off his opposition, Johnson nonchalantly walked forward and allowed himself to get tied up. As Fox retreated to the other side of the ring, Johnson stalked him, but with no urgency. By the time Johnson let his hands go again, Fox had enough of his legs back under him to survive the round and ultimately win the fight.
All three judges had Fox winning 39-37, giving him rounds 1, 3, and 4.
Fox improves to 7-0, 3 KO, while Johnson falls to 2-6, 1 KO.
Aaron Kinch v Donnie Crawford — 4 Rounds, heavyweight
Brick City’s Aaron Kinch treated his hometown crowd to a third round KO victory over West Virginia’s Donnie Crawford. The two big men traded wild punches right from the opening bell — like two lumberjacks hacking away at a Redwood with a dull axe. Their swings were wild, aggressive, and with purpose. While both men had success at times, it was ultimately a sweeping right hands to Crawford’s gut that sent the Mountaineer down to a knee wincing in pain. Before referee Randy Nuemann could even reach the count of 10, Crawford waved Nuemann off to signal that he wouldn’t be able to continue. Kinch improves to 2-0-1, 1 KO, while Crawford drops to 1-3, 1 KO.
Jose Calderon v Jonathan Garcia — 4 Rounds, junior welterweight
In the night’s opening bout — a battle between two Boricuas — Jonathan Garcia scored a majority decision victory against Jose Calderon, who suffered his first professional loss. Judges Larry Layton and John McKaie scored the contest 39-37, while judge Julie Lederman saw the bout a draw, 38-38. With the majority decision victory, Garcia improves to 2-1, 1 KO, while Calderon tastes defeat for the first time and now possesses a record of 3-1, 3 KO.
