BENGAL BOUTS: Newburg adds to winning legacy with victory
By KEVIN BERCHOU
Sports Writer
In winning the 125-pound weight division as a freshman last year, Shawn "Old Dog, New Tricks" Newburg established himself as a dominant fighter in the ring.
Wednesday night, in his 2001 debut in the 130-pound division, Newburg only added to his legacy — scoring a unanimous decision victory over Tom "Gun" Steinbach.
In a fight that went just as he wanted it to, Newburg was able to dictate the pace for the first two rounds before unleashing a bag of new tricks in the third.
"I came out aggressive in the first," Newburg said. "Then in the second, I wanted to save something, so I was a bit more technical."
Steinbach, trying to capitalize on his opponents more casual second round style, made his run only to be rebuked by Newburg's defensive skill.
"I thought I blocked well," Newburg said. "I saved energy in the second so I had plenty left to use my power in the third."
On the other side of the 130-pound bracket, the experienced Camilo Rueda outdueled junior Derrick Bravo. The taller Rueda used his slight reach advantage expertly, and each time Bravo ducked inside he was met with a staggering right hand.
"That's all experience," Rueda said. "I've been doing this for four years so I have a pretty good idea of what to do."
135 Pounds
Tony Hollowell was never even supposed to be here. Few gave him a shot at upsetting top seed Matt Fumagalli in Monday's quarterfinals, but that's just what he did.
Wednesday the freshman sensation was impressive again in gaining a grueling split decision over Ryan "The Quiet Man" Duffey.
In a bout highlighted by brilliant flurries from both combatants, Hallowell hit Duffey with a right in the third round that drew blood, forcing him to retreat to his corner.
Hallowell thought that was when the fight changed in his favor.
"It was pretty even, I thought, until that point," he said. "He fought an awesome fight and I just feel lucky to go to the Big Dance."
Hallowell's dance partner Friday night will be sophomore Joshua Coleman, who narrowly beat Jason McMahon in a split decision.
"I knew it was going to be really close,"" Coleman said of the outcome. "I just thought maybe I got a few more punches in in the first round and that would be enough to swing things in my favor."
145-pounds
The clash that pitted Michael "Mad Man"" Waldo against Andrew "The Golden Arms"" Harms was supposed to be one of the night's best, but a dominating Waldo had other ideas.
After a close first round, Waldo went mad in the second connecting on a series of devastating blows that had Harms bleeding badly.
"I was pissed off that he got me in the first so I came out hard in the second,"" Waldo said.
The third round was a mere formality, with Harms forced back to his corner several times for treatment of his battle scars. In a fight the referee considered ending early, Waldo continued his assault landing vicious shot after vicious shot.
The night's other semifinal bout featured a controversial decision as Jamar Tisby split over Jason Voss. Tisby controlled the mostly uneventful first two rounds, before Voss rallied in the third knocking down his foe with a booming right hand.
"He's a real tough opponent," Tisby said. "He surprised me in the third when he knocked me down, but I knew it wasn't over then so I went hard until the bell."
All Sports Stories for Thursday, March 1, 2001
