Joey Gilbert Pulls Out on Philly’s Dhafir “No Fear” Smith Saturday! By Ken Hissner (Oct 29, 2009) DoghouseBoxing
TKO Promotions “Fright Night Fights” was to feature Joey Gilbert, 18-2 (14), of Reno, and Philly’s Dhafir “No Fear” Smith, 22-19-6 (4), at the Johnstown War Memorial Arena as a co-feature to Johnstown’s Andres “Taylor Made” Taylor, 10-1-1 (6), in a rematch with Leo Bercier, 8-10-1 (4), of Great Falls, Montana, to whom he lost to in June.
Gilbert personally told me earlier in the week he was over the flu and feeling fine. I have a feeling he saw more than one tape of Smith. I hope I am wrong and if Smith can defeat substitute Cory Cummings, 17-4 (13), of Baltimore, Maryland, the Pennsylvania commission, lead by Greg Sirb, will enforce Gilbert to fight the winner before Gilbert can enter any contest, anywhere.
If I said I was surprised getting the news via telephone from Smith I would be lying. I thought the opportunity for Smith was too good to be true anyway. The matchmaker, Chris Middendorf, is known to put his TKO boxers in tough at times and this would have been one of them.
“I just got over a bout with the flu and feel better now,” said Gilbert. “I have only seen one film of Smith against Rayco Saunders and couldn’t tell too much from that,” he added. That was right from Gilbert’s mouth on Monday of this week. He is supposed to be in a hospital in Nevada and medical proof should be requested and insisted by the commission.
Smith defeated Jonathan Reid and lost to Wayne Johnson, both formerly of “The Contender.” In his last two bouts he defeated William Gill, 9-22, and Demetrius Davis, 19-15-5. Both bouts have been under new management of Ivan Cohen, who guided Buster Drayton to the light middleweight title. Cummings last fight was also with Davis, whom he stopped in 9 rounds in May of 2009. Like Smith, Cummings got off to a good start winning his first 15 fights.
Jimmy Shedrick, a former boxer, 5-0-3, is his coach and runs the gym at the West Philly Recreation Center in Cobbs Creek section of the city. “Coach, has been working with me for five years,” said Smith.
Even though Taylor and Bercier may be on top, Gilbert and still may be the main event. I look for a very good fight between the two who will be coming in at 172 which will favor Cummings who a year ago fought for the NABF light heavyweight title losing to world rated Chris Henry in 12 rounds.
