Weekend combinations: George wins title, Avila continues to rise
 By John J. Raspanti, Doghouse Boxing (Aug 25, 2014)
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Don “Da Bomb” George |
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Don “Da Bomb” George achieved something that even he would admit was something of a long shot. George, fighting in front of fans and family, won a hard-fought, 12-round, unanimous decision over Dyah Davis Saturday night at the U.S. Cellular Park in Chicago, Illinois.
The scores were 115-113 (twice) and 116-112.
The victory earned George, 29, the IBO super middleweight title.
“This is the greatest day of my life,” said an emotional George in the ring after the fight.
George (26-4-2, 22 KOs) is one of the most likeable fighters that this writer has interviewed. Brutally honest in assessing both himself and his style, George, as he says, “Always keeps it real.”
“I thought that maybe I’d win a regional title or something like that, but I never thought I’d win a world championship,” said George. "I went to jail and was a loser, but now I’m here and I’m a world champion.”
Soon to become a first-time father, George admitted before his fight with Davis that it was do-or-die-time.
“August twenty-third is definitely the biggest night of my life,” George said. “I’ve been doing this for ten years. I love my city. I’m finally getting an opportunity to make something out of my career instead of being some Chicago bum club fighter."
The fight with Davis (22-5, 10 KOs) wasn’t easy. George almost stopped the son of Olympic gold medalist Howard Davis in round two, but the crafty boxer survived.
George confessed after the bout that he broke his hand a few days before the fight. But there was no way he would back out.
That in a nutshell tells you everything you need to know about George the fighter, and person.
He’s got moxie in more ways than one.
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Despite injures to both hands, hometown hero Manuel “Tino” Avila remained undefeated with an emphatic eighth round stoppage of Sergio Frias at a sold out Allan Witt Center in Fairfield, CA. Friday night.
Avila (16-0, 7 KOs), usually a slow starter, attacked Frias from the get-go. His jab snapped his opponent's head back. A minute into the stanza, a big left hook floored Rios. Obviously hurt, Frias (15-4, 8 KOs) tried to stay away, but Avila was intent on giving his fans a thrilling knockout. A rapid-fire combination put the embattled Frias down for a second time.
The bout looked to be over, but Frias pulled himself up and made it to the bell.
Frias, who resides in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, battled back in the next few rounds. The knockdowns gave the fighter a wake-up call.
Avila, 22, was still finding his taller opponent with shots, but wasn’t punching as much. His right continued to connect, but his left hook, so effective in the early going, was limited.
“I hurt my left hand in the first round, and my right in round four,” Avila revealed after the fight.
Avila fought through the pain. Instead of stalking, he boxed more in rounds five, six and seven with constant jabs. In round eight, Avila flipped the switch and became the aggressor again. He walked through whatever Frias attempted. A number of shots went to the body and head. Frias looked tired.
As the young fighter languished on the ropes, referee Ed Collantes studied him closely.
“I told him in Spanish to show me something,” said Collantes. “He responded, but I could see he was hurt.”
Yes, he was.
Another punch rattled Frias--sending him stumbling to the ropes. Avila ended matters with a blistering combination--punctuated by a left hook to the side. Frias crumbled to the canvas. Collantes waved off the contest.
The time was 2:27 of round eight.
“Injuries are part of the sport,” Avila said.
“I’ll fight whoever they put in front of me.”
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Guy Robb (14-1, 6 KOs) knocked out Ronel Green (10-1, 5 KOs) in round three in a scheduled eight-round featherweight bout. The super aggressive Robb chased Green from the opening bell. His knockout scored points for drama.
“It was a right hand-left hook,” said Robb after the fight, describing the punches that sent Green to the canvas. “I hurt him with a body shot in round three.”
Robb, from nearby Sacramento, always gives the fans a good show.
Hopefully he’ll get a crack at a top-rated opponent. The twenty-five-year old can fight.
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