Salisbury, MD – In his first main event Fernando “The Salisbury Sensation” Guerrero improved to 14-0 when he made Brian Norman (17-9, 5 KOs) his twelfth knockout victim. Earlier in the night Fernando’s older brother, Alex, won his professional debut by majority decision, while Shawn Porter, Farah Ennis and Dominic Wade all picked up victories as well.
Coming into his third hometown tussle Fernando Guerrero was a man determined to give his fans a performance worthy of their overwhelming adoration. While his previous two bouts at the Wicomico County Youth and Civic Center sold more tickets, knockout starved fans were treated to a pair of eight-round decision victories and were drooling for their man to deliver a memorable performance ended via knockout. Fernando Guerrero did that and more. In what I would not hesitate to call his most complete performance to date, Guerrero showed a strong defense, blocking many of his opponent’s shots and ended the night early with a left reminiscent of Antonio Tarver’s knockout shot on Roy Jones, Jr.
This past February was the last time Guerrero fought in from of the hometown fans. The match was a much harder than anticipated victory over Gabriel Rosado (12-3, 7 KOs). At the time it was hard to fathom how a boxer of Rosado’s perceived lower caliber could land so many right hands against a premium, blue-chip prospect like Guerrero. However, two months after suffering the Guerrero loss Rosado upended former IBF light middleweight champion, Kassim Ouma (26-6-1, 16 KOs) by split decision. This fact could mean that Rosado was actually a much tougher opponent than everyone realized at the time, which in turn makes his clear unanimous decision over him a higher caliber win than was first suspected. Nevertheless, the knockout starved fans wanted to see him deliver a knockout as he had in every one of his other fights not fought in Salisbury.
For his part Brian Norman played the perfect “heel”. He seemed to relish the part professional wrestlers and Mr. T know so well. As he came down the aisle he made the “X-Pac” gesture and when entering the ring smiled widely as the crowd gave him hell, showering down vocal carpet bombs of disapproval. As Fernando Guerrero made his way to the ring members of Norman’s entourage gave a thumbs down toward the crowd. This coming after Norman, a guy with a career knockout ratio of 18.5%, had guaranteed victory via knockout.
Perhaps Brian Norman’s actions as a heel sold a few extra tickets, but once the bell sounded for round one to begin the act instantly went cold. Suddenly the man who doesn’t knock people out was being battered by a southpaw eager to punch his ticket. Norman tried to work the body and 1-2 combinations. He was even successful in backing the favored Guerrero into the ropes and the corner a few times, but couldn’t land anything significant. Instead “The Salisbury Sensation” would cover up well, block nearly every shot and return fire with harder, quicker and more accurate shots. Toss in some wicked thundering shots to the body and it didn’t take too long to figure out that barring something strange, Norman was going to see what Thomas Hauser calls “The Black Lights”.
In the first round Fernando Guerrero began to take some control. However, in the second he took his game to another level. In between rounds trainer Barry Hunter, who trains the Peterson brothers as well as Dominic Wade and Guerrero, told him Norman was “throwing wide punches and to focus on the body and getting upper cuts through the guard”. The plan took 2:35 to work. First Guerrero landed a big upper cut followed by a three punch combination and Norman went down. From my vantage point at ringside it looked as if the two became entangled just as Norman was headed downward casting doubt as to whether it was a legitimate knockdown or a slip. Later I was assured by PPV viewers that it was a knockdown. Once Brian Norman regained his feet Fernando Guerrero got back to work landing thudding body shots and straight lefts. Finally, the end came when Guerrero landed an amazingly brutal left to the chin of Norman sending him down in a heap. Courageously Norman tried to get up, but his legs were wobbly and referee Kenny Chevalier correctly stopped the fight. The estimated 4000 in attendance went nuts. For this area, 100 miles away from any professional sports teams, this knockout was on par with seeing your favorite MLB, NBA, NFL team win their first playoff match, ever. Time will tell if Fernando Guerrero really is one of “Boxing’s Future Champions” as the name attached to the card implied, but there is little doubt that the 5’9” southpaw with the electric smile and good nature is on his way upward in the middleweight division.
In the co-feature dark horse super middleweight prospect Farah Ennis (11-0, 5 KOs) overcame the challenge of Bobby Jordan (6-1-1, 2 KOs) to keep his record perfect. Ennis is rarely spoken of as a “prospect”, but possesses a slick, defense-oriented style with sneaky and effective punches. While some at ringside saw this fight as close, I thought Ennis controlled the fight throughout. Sure there were moments when Jordan seemed on the verge of putting something together, but Ennis always had an answer. While Bobby Jordan moved, slapped and switched back and forth between southpaw and orthodox, Farah Ennis dodged, ducked, dipped, dived and dodged (the 5 d’s of dodgeball). Jordan looked unsettled to me for most of the fight. He had zero ring generalship. Ennis always seemed calm and in control and even when he did get hit he was never hit flush. One judge scored it 77-75, while the other two had it 79-73, which seemed closer to reality in my opinion. In the coming months I suggest everyone look out for Farah Ennis, especially if you like watching the subtleties of the game like feints, head movement, footwork and overall defense. While he won’t make people forget Sugar Ray Robinson or even Floyd Mayweather, Jr., it is difficult for me to believe Ennis has only fought eleven fights given his skill set.
While Farah Ennis labored for all eight rounds, Shawn Porter (9-0, 7 KOs) quickly pounced on his last minute replacement Brandon Wooten (6-14, 2 KOs) knocking him down three times in the first. The final time was caused by a stunning left hook to the jaw that ended the fight giving Porter another thrilling TKO. While many writers would use this occasion to talk trash about Wooten’s woeful lack of skill, I give the guy credit for stepping up and taking a fight against a buzz saw like Shawn Porter.
The second fight of the evening saw Alex Guerrero (1-0), pick up a majority decision in his professional debut over Rodrika Ray (2-2, 1 KO). A mix of nerves and the talent of Ray nearly spoiled the evening for Fernando’s older brother, but in the end Alex won 39-37 on two card (and mine) against a 38-38 score on the other. His victory was secured by a good snapping, if sparingly used, jab and more impressive power shots.
As I predicted, Dominic Wade (3-0, 3 KOs), brutalized overmatched Anthony Cannon (4-13, 1 KO) who needs to find a better way to make some dough. Wade began the fight connecting with a few shots and Cannon went immediately into survival mode claming up like a turtle without offering many punches. This got him through the first round, but Wade’s heavy artillery started getting through Cannon’s progressively leaky guard. At 1:46 in the second referee Bill Clancy had seen enough and mercifully stopped the fight.
Derrick “Pooh” Ennis, Jr. (17-2-1, 12 KOs) was scheduled to fight, however his opponent Joshua “Poison” Onyango (14-17-1, 11 KOs) was involved in a car accident on the way to the weigh in and I’m told is currently in the hospital, but is alert and expected to recuperate. The thoughts and prayers of the 15rounds.com staff go out to Mr. Onyango and as we hope for a speedy and complete recovery!