The Kids Are Alright
 By Coyote Duran (January 15, 2005)
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While a good amount of local fight fans climbed into the Cicero Stadium, Friday the 13th, to see local favorite (in a card promoted by Windy City KO Promotions), junior middleweight Germaine ‘Silky Smooth’ Sanders face a surprisingly game Anthony ‘The Showman’ Bowman in an eight-round main event, I (and a number of other local fight scribes were) was more interested in cruiserweight prospect Aaron Williams’ next step in his early career.
As I had mentioned in my piece regarding the young former amateur standout, Williams, 6-0-1 (5), was scheduled to face veteran journeyman ‘Gentleman’ James Johnson, 19-21-2 (11), in a 4-rounder that would showcase up close whether or not Williams, who hails from Las Vegas, was ready for more experienced players.
Ready he was, for from the opening bell, Williams started popping a very controlled jab while utilizing excellent head and side-to-side movement, immediately giving Johnson second thoughts on whether he should be in the building or not. Williams would soon start submitting Johnson, who fights out of Shreveport, LA, to powerful left hooks that would send him backpedaling, looking rather worried and breathing open-mouthed. Williams’ mix of left hooks and frequent combos would prove too much for Johnson when one last combination, a left hook-right uppercut combo, would close the show toppling the pained Johnson to the canvas, ending the fight at 2:35 into the first heat.
According to co-managers Pat Doljanin and Albert Falcon, the Jesse Reid trained cruiser will be competing next month in Ontario, CA, against the always-intriguing ‘To Be Announced’. Doljanin and Falcon also made rumblings that Williams could even see a television date in his near future (I think with about four or five fights, he might be ready for a state-sanctioned title shot or one of those youth-intercontinental-Americas title thingys.). Here’s hoping. If I had any sort of critique for Aaron, it would be that he does carry the left a little low, but does this in order to cover the body. On the other hand, you’d be surprised how relaxed and composed Williams performs. With only seven fights under his belt, you’d think the kid had more.
Another fight that caught my interest was the second-to-last fight featuring three-time Golden Gloves Champion Ninos Abraham making his pro debut in the junior middleweight division against hard-as-nails Frederick Dean Thomas, 0-1-2, in a four-rounder that would truly test the mettle of the local darling, showing him what the professional ranks truly had to offer.
Entering the ring to a wild reception, the kid known as ‘Da Champ’ (you’re young, a better nickname will come to you…I hope) would cautiously begin his new career sizing up the rugged Thomas, from Davenport, IA, by using good in-and-out movement while keeping gloves held high, praying mantis-style, peering closely between his guard as if to predict his opponent’s next move. Abraham would soon give in to the crowd’s excitement as start playing to the crowd, trying to make an impression but lowering his defenses in the process. Abraham would throw wild left hooks that would cuff Thomas but throw decent combos when he calmed himself down, scoring but taking a wild bunch of shots in a furious exchange near the end of the stanza.
In round two, Abraham would turn up the heat as Thomas would adjust to Abraham’s aggression. Abraham worked the combos better and backed up Thomas into the corner attacking the head, lowering to the body then popping a low shot which garnered a warning, releasing Thomas. Round three would see Thomas cork off rights to Abraham’s body and dome as Abraham would fire back right hands trapping Thomas against the ropes, letting the right go relentlessly into the ribs.
The fourth showcased more swagger and less defense from Abraham, but also showed off Abraham’s excellent counterpunching skills and way-underused, short, straight right hands upstairs. This round would prove to be an excellent exchange for both men due to Abraham’s sturdy chin getting a test and Thomas becoming more confident and unwavered. The battle would end at the final bell with Abraham soaking in the cheers while standing on the neutral corner’s rope strands, as Thomas remained upright and defiant. The judges’ scorecards would be soon read, revealing Ninos Abraham as the victor by unanimous decision. A solid-yet-unpolished debut by a kid with so many apparent skills (i.e. a De La Hoya-esque jab, fantastic counterpunching and underused right hands) who can really benefit by focusing his efforts solely on his opponent instead of showing the crowd so much love. Definitely a must-see again.
In other bouts Christina Christian, 3-0 (3), TKO’ed Jeanine Marie Tracy, 3-10 (3), in the first round in an absolutely insane, smothering heavyweight brawl and in the main event, junior middleweight Germaine Sanders, 26-3 (17), beat the unshakeable Anthony Bowman, 7-19-2 (2) with 2 no-contests, in a back-and-forth battle that displayed Bowman’s tenacity and a weaker defense by Sanders. Don’t get me wrong, Sanders is a terrific boxer but at 35 years old, he needs to be patient and use those skills. Sanders knows when to touch body when opponent's guard is too high and circles well and attacks well from the outside, keeping his opponent dead-center.
On a slightly amusing note, I’d like to address the idiots who were salivating Tex Avery-style over the round card girl that was moonlighting from the local gentleman’s club, PoleKats. No matter how much you lie to the local talent, they’re not just gonna strip off what little apparel because you think you’re making ‘em hot. Case in point: Nora ‘La Tigeresa’ Reyes, 1-0, a very attractive junior featherweight fighter had to suffer a cancellation when her opponent of the evening failed to make weight and subsequently dropped out of the fight. In an attempt to impress the round card girl/Mena Suvari-look-alike who had as little to wear as she had intelligence, a gaggle of guys seated behind her suggested that she should’ve fought Reyes because she (in their words) ‘would’ve >Burrrrrrp! Hic!<…beaten that ass!’ Uh-huh. When you believe that some know-nothing escort-in-training can actually beat a serious gym kid who trains to fight, new at the game or not, the it’s time for you to focus your interests in something more your speed like curling or Chutes and Ladders.
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