‘HBO Boxing After Dark’ Undercard Results From the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, New York

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    Live from the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, New York, in the first bout of the night Eric “Danger” Fields from Ardmore, Oklahoma (21-1-14KO’s) took on Kevin “Golden Arms” Franklin from Charleston, WV (4-5-0, 1KO’s). Fields started the fight off jabbing and controlling the tempo quickly landing a left hook immediately swelling the eye of Franklin.

    Round two saw Franklin coming out working furiously to the body, but Fields being the more experienced fighter adjusted and began to turn the tide easily.

    The fight would become more grueling and less of a miss match then was expected, given Franklin’s less than stellar record. Both fighters traded in some good  back and forth action with Fields being somewhat troubled by Franklin’s pressure. Ultimately Fields would take a unimpressive unanimous decision by the scores 60-54, 60-54, and 59-55, in a fight that was not expected to go the distance.

    Ryon McKenzie (11-0-0, 10KO’s) the local favorite from the Bahamas fighting out of  Canastota went head to head with Eric Watkins (7-2-0, 4KO’s). Someone forgot to tell Watkins that this was supposed to be McKenzie’s showcase fight, as he took full control from the opening round, applying pressure and working to the body very well. McKenzie the taller longer man would control the action at times with his reach, but the heart and determination of Watkins was on full display tonight.

    Watkins make a stand in the third and fourth rounds, clearly taking the rounds on accuracy, activity, and a high out put of punches. McKenzie started to put more steam on his punches landing numerous over hand rights. The sixth and final round was a  war with tons of back and forth action with both men making a good account of themselves. The home town hero pulled away with a unanimous decision victory by the scores of 59-55, 59-55, and 58-56.

    Javier “El Chino” Flores the power punching southpaw from Aguadilla, Puerto Rico was  involved a brutal war with tough man Albert Herrera from Riverside, California. Flores was put to the test tonight, as he was out to prove that his power is for real and not just a product of good match making.

    This was a little scrap that needed to be televised for sure. Herrera a game underdog came in as an opponent but didn’t play the role of one, not by a long shot. The fourth round would bring lots of action, but there would be a special moment in which Flores would land four straight left hooks consecutively, and Herrera would take them and keep coming forward in true Mexican fashion.

    It should be noted that Herrera has been in with some very talented fighters and not many of them can claim a knockout victory over the warrior. 76-76 77-75 77-75 were the final scores of the bout with Flores winning a majority decision. A lesson was learned here today for Flores that not all of his victories will end in a knockout. Hats off to Herrera for putting on a amazing show.

    Undefeated featherweight Joel Brunker (24-0, 13 KOs), who is ranked No. 3 by the WBO and hailing from South Wales, Australia, retained his perfect record finishing his opponent Carlos Fulgencio at 1:40 of the first round with a left hook to the body that left Fulgencio unable to continue. Brunker made his USA debut with a splash tonight.