BENGAL BOUTS: Thompson moves one step closer to championship
By KATIE HUGHES
Sports Writer
Bengal bouts veteran Josh "The Redemon" Thompson is just one fight away from the title he's been chasing for so long. Thompson, who was favored to win, defeated Eric "Superfreak" Goulet in a unanimous decision.
Thompson had a reach advantage over Goulet, and his jab combinations dominated the entire fight. Goulet tried to push for a brawl late in the first round and early in the second, but Thompson's solid jabs shut him down.
"[Eric] has improved so much since the first time I saw him box. He came at me hard today, and I think he fought well. I landed a few straight punches in the second round, and I think that slowed him down," said Thompson.
Thompson also had the advantage of another experienced perspective in his corner.
"Having [fellow captain] Brian Hobbins in my corner really helped me a lot. He knows how I fight and what I needed to do," said Thompson.
Also in the 185 division, Scott "The Dark Horse" Duba defeated Stephen "The Angry Pirate" Pfeiffer in a unanimous decision.
Duba sent Pfeiffer over the side of the ring in the second round. It was Duba's right uppers and hooks that dominated the fight, as both boxers shed a little blood and tested each other's endurance.
Duba will face Thompson on Friday.
Light Heavyweight
It was all about the overwhelming impact of Pete "Beat the Rap" Ryan's left jab last night as Ryan defeated Benjamin "No, You're Schmoopie" Deda in a unanimous decision.
Ryan used height and reach advantage early and often in his first fight of the year. Ryan, who has won the heavyweight division championship for the last three years, took control early with his straight, solid left jabs.
Deda's put up quite a respectable defense, challenging Ryan consistently for all three rounds.
Mike "Raging Bull" Vanderpoel defeated Kevin "Hardcore" Brandl in another unanimous decision. Vanderpoel pressed for the brawl a little in the first round, then followed up with some solid one-two jabs in the second round. Vanderpoel finished the job in the third round with some high three-jab combinations and low hooks.
"I was able to come in up top, and down low to the body. I think I had a little more endurance. I could feel it in the third round," said Vanderpoel.
Vanderpoel will face Ryan in Friday's finals.
"He's the best boxer here. It will be great to get in there to see what I'm made of. I'll take the opportunity," said Vanderpoel.
Heavyweight
In a back-and-forth heavyweight battle that brought both boxers to their knees, Dan "Let Me" Adam defeated Steven "Lefty Guns" Pratico in a split decision match.
"Steve is a big, imposing guy. When he hit, I just tried to throw harder punches, but we were back and forth the whole time," said Adam.
Adam had some high impact right hooks in the second round, and Pratico came back a little with some imposing left jabs to Adam's body. In the third round, Adam stopped anticipating and went for it, sending both boxers teetering on the side of the ring and even to their knees for a moment.
"We were both sucking in wind till the end," said Adam.
In the second heavyweight fight, Carlos "The Master" Abeyta defeated Matthew "The Sasquatch" McNicholas. In the first round, Abeyta set the tone with a decisive high right hook. McNicholas had a strong series of jabs in the second round, but a few of Abeyta's well-placed jabs gave him an advantage. Abeyta finished with a few more big hooks and upper cuts.
"I think my jab helped a lot, and I was able to keep my punches straight. I was able to use a lot of combos in this fight, which I wasn't able to do in my last fight. He kept charging at me, but I wouldn't let him. That felt good," said Abeyta.
Abeyta will face Adam on Friday.
All Sports Stories for Thursday, March 1, 2001
