Ballroom Boxing Results!

Here are the results of the Ballroom Boxing card that took place on Sept. 29. The report is filed by my Fightnews colleagues Julian Burgower and "Priceless" Steve Price.

Ballroom Boxing opened their new season with a bang on Thursday night with the return of welterweight contender Kermit Cintron and heavyweight prospect Chazz Witherspoon featured in abbreviated but successful bouts in front of the always-animated fans at Michael’s Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, MD.

Cintron, who was coming off an unsuccessful April bid to capture the WBO welterweight title from Antonio Margarito, showed a new-look style in the three rounds it took to dismantle outclassed Francisco Parra of Tijuana, Mexico.

In the first round, Cintron displayed what six months of adjustments in the gym can do for you as he jabbed Parra, 12-6 (10), and unbridled a new, more defensive-type approach to his game. Parra seemed stunned with every punch landed by “El Asesino” and although game, knew immediately that he was being outclassed.

The second saw more of the first as Cintron moved well and employed a shoulder-roll type of strategy brought to recent reemergence by fighters such as Floyd Mayweather, Bernard Hopkins and James Toney.
The third was to be Parra’s last, as Cintron opened up and let loose hard and well placed shots that connected with deadly accuracy. An overhand right dropped Parra midway through the round, with Parra dragging Kermit down to the canvass with him as he collapsed. Beating the count, Parra was briefly directed to be inspected by the ringside physician, his face having become a bloody mess. After the okay from ringside, Parra was put out of his misery as Cintron opened up a five-punch combination that connected beautifully with every shot. Parra again flopped to the ground, at which time it was said that he had had enough. The time was 2:07 as Cintron victoriously bellowed, “I’m back! I’m back!” to the crowd.

“I felt good,” exclaimed Cintron, now 25-1 (23), after the bout. “I wish he could have given me a better fight.” Citron also said that he feels comfortable in his new style and thinks that it will help him as he steps back up into major fights down the road. “I was working on it- concentrating on it more to give different fighters different looks.” Cintron expressed a desire to fight in his hometown of Reading, PA next, possibly in November before looking to challenge for another title. He said that it doesn’t matter whom he fights for a title, dropping names such as Margarito in a rematch, undisputed champion Zab Judah and Luis Collazo.

On the co-feature of the evening, heavyweight prospect Chazz Witherspoon, 8-0 (6), easily stopped 271-pound Lincoln Luke in two rounds.

Luke, who brought in a 45-pound weight advantage, proved that weight can also be a disadvantage as he was in no shape to fight. Out of breath within the first minute of the round, Luke forced the fight into a sloppy mess as he staggered around the ring with Witherspoon patiently stalking him. Witherspoon connected on several occasions resulting with Luke flopping into the ropes.

In the second round, Chazz connected with a stiff right jab that knocked Luke down for an eight-count. Upon rising, Luke was deemed not able to safely continue by referee Bill Holmes and waived the fight off at 2:00 into the round. Luke, still with little birdies flying around his head, reacted with class, twice pushing Holmes in protest before Ballroom security entered the ring to restore order. Executive Director Patrick Pannella of the Maryland State Athletic Commission declined to comment on any disciplinary actions to be taken against Luke.

In the most exciting fight of the evening, welterweights Martinus Clay and Keenan Collins fought to a six-round draw in a battle of wills.
Collins, 7-1-1 (7), came out looking to end the night early with a big right hand, stunning Clay, 9-9-1 (3), on occasion but unable to finish as he had on his seven other victims.

Clay countered Collins’ attack with a good inside game, raking a two-fisted body assault into Collins’ midsection.

As the fight wore on, the lanky Collins looked more and more to his right hand, neglecting to continue through with any follow up punches- punches that could have made a difference in the outcome.
In rounds three through five, Clay was able to back Collins into the ropes several times and dig to the body.

At the end of six, scores read 58-56 for Clay, 58-56 for Collins and 57-57, ending in a draw.

In cruiserweight action, southpaw Calvin Dixon, 2-0-1 (0) with 3 No-Contests, counterpunched his way to a split-decision victory over William Bailey by scores of 57-55 for Bailey and 58-56 (twice) in favor of Dixon.

In the show opener, John Terry improved to 1-1 (1) in stopping Michael Dickerson, 0-2, at 1:05 of round one in a super middleweight bout.

Also in attendance was Hall of Fame running back Lenny Moore and former welterweight title-challenger Derrell “Too Sweet” Coley, who affirmed he was coming out of retirement to resume his boxing career.
Ballroom Boxing is promoted by Michael and Scott Wagner of Michael’s Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, MD.