NEWARK, NJ–In the main event of a PBC on FOX card from the Prudential Center, South Carolina’s Jonathan Rice (14-6-1, 10KO) scored an upset fifth round stoppage over previously unbeaten ex-Marine Michael Coffie (12-1, 9KO).
Rice, a late replacement for Gerald Washington who tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the week, set the tone early in round one, consistently finding a home for his right hand.
Uncomfortable with how the first three minutes played out, the orthodox Coffie switched to southpaw in the second and experienced brief success before the momentum pendulum swung back in the 34 year-old Rice’s favor who kept the right hands coming behind an active jab.
Coffie, a 35 year-old former US Marine, was unable to make the necessary adjustments to stymie Rice’s offense, and eventually, midway through round five, the dam broke. Right hands from Rice sent an exhausted and energy-zapped Coffie lazily retreating toward a neutral corner. An ensuing brief barrage of uncontested blows by Rice was enough for referee Eric Dali to step in and save Coffie from further punishment at the 2:19 mark.
Vito Mielnicki Scores TKO2 Over Noah Kidd
In the contest in which most fans in attendance came to witness, Jersey boy Vito Mielnicki Jr. (9-1, 6KO) powered his way to a TKO2 over late replacement Noah Kidd (6-4-2, 5KO).
Up until yesterday afternoon Mielnicki had his sights set on extracting revenge against James Martin, who eked out a majority decision over him in April. However, when Martin came in 4.5 pounds overweight the 147 welterweight limit on Friday, the Martin rematch was called off and in stepped Kidd.
And any frustration Mielnicki harbored toward Martin missing weight, he took out on Kidd. The 19 year-old put his power on display, landing a perfectly leveraged counter left hook that simultaneously dropped Kidd his ass while bringing hundreds of Mielnicki supporters roaring to their feet.
In the second, another Mielnicki left caused a wounded Kidd’s hands to drop as he slowly retreated. Smelling blood in the water Mielnicki turned up the heat, bullying Kidd to the ringpost where he unloaded a barrage of body shots. Moments later, after clipping Kidd once more with a left on the chin, referee Eric Dali stepped in to halt the action at the 2:32 mark of round two.
“There were no issues with the change of opponent,” Mielnicki said post-fight. “I trained for a more technical fighter. Kidd was more awkward than Martin. We got the job done in front of my hometown fans, so I’m happy.
On the hundreds of fans who flocked to downtown Newark to show support, Mielnicki said, “This is my home and these are my people. Whenever we fight in Jersey this is where we’re doing it. I’m looking forward to many more fights here.”
Spencer Cruises To Wide Decision Over Martin
In the first of three contests to be aired nationally on FOX, Joey Spencer (13-0, 9KO) battled his way to a unanimous decision victory over Philadelphia’s James Martin (7-3). At the end of eight rounds, judges cards read 79-73×2 and 80-72 all for Michigan’s Spencer.
There wasn’t much in this 24 minute “middleweight” affair…little risks (especially from Spencer) and fewer rewards. Martin, who has yet to score a win via KO in his ten fight career tried to walk down the bigger and stronger Spencer, who was more than happy to invite Martin in and pepper him with jabs and left hooks en route to his wide decision victory.
Up until about 1pm Eastern yesterday, both fighters were slated to face different opponents. Martin was penciled in to rematch Vito Mielnicki Jr., who he bested by majority decision in April, while Spencer was scheduled to square off against Pennsylvania’s Dan Karpency. However, both Martin and Spencer missed weight Friday afternoon — Martin quite egregiously, coming in 4.5 pounds over his 147 pound target, and Spencer at 156.5, 2.5 pounds over his contractually agreed to weight.
“There were one or two rounds where he was throwing and he had a lot of activity, but I was blocking,” Spencer said afterward. “I only took one or two shots and to be honest I would have thought it would be a shutout.”
Andre Dirrell Makes It 2-For-2 At Light Heavyweight; Stops Brooker In Three
Former Olympic bronze medalist and interim IBF super middleweight champion Andre “The Matrix” Dirrell (28-3, 18KO) continued his comeback at light heavyweight, scoring an impressive third round TKO over Philadelphia’s Christopher Brooker (16-8, 6KO).
It was all Dirrell from the opening bell, as the southpaw controlled the fight with his jab, rarely letting his left hand fly. Midway through the second round though, Dirrell started to use that jab to set up his left, which almost exclusively was fired at Brooker’s body. Then in the third Dirrell put all his punches together, and dropped Brooker with a body shot to the liver. Brooker beat Ricky Gonzalez’s ten-count but was dropped to a knee moments later following a barrage of punches from Dirrell. After getting back to his feet one final time, the 37 year-old Dirrell greeted Brooker with more fists of fury until Gonzalez stepped in and stopped the bout at the 2:58 mark.
Tonight marked the first time Dirrell has fought since November 2019.
Paterson’s Norman Neely Stays Perfect, Earns UD Over Juan Torres
Paterson New Jersey’s Norman Neely (9-0, KO) rewarded his patiently waiting fans and remained undefeated by earning a wide six round unanimous decision (60-52, 60-54×2) over fellow heavyweight Juan Torres (6-4-1, 3KO).
In the early rounds, the Texan Torres tried to employ a bull-rush strategy, where he continually charged Neely with the intention of making it an ugly, scrappy affair. But as the rounds wore on, the soft and doughy Torres began to tire, which allowed for Neely to better manage the distance.
In the fourth, fighting at his desired range, the 31 year-old Neely began to pick apart Torres and as the round drew to a close, viciously battered Torres who was mercifully saved by the bell.
Neely did his best to dispose of the hard-nosed Torres, but there would be no knockdowns, no Great Falls. Torres joins only Nicoy Clarke as fighters who have managed to go the distance with Silk City’s Neely.
Dargan Detonates Two Rights; Scores TKO2 Over Delgado
In the first match of the FS1 portion of tonight’s card, Philadelphia’s Karl “Dynamite” Dargan (20-1, 10KO) sent Los Angeles’s Ivan Delgado (13-4-2, 6KO) crashing to the canvas twice en route to an emphatic second round TKO victory.
Though it was Dargan’s first fight in almost three years, there was no ring rust evident. After a competitive first two rounds, Dargan uncorked a vicious counter right uppercut that nearly ripped Delgado’s head off his neck and sent him to the mat. Too brave for his own good, Delgado beat referee Harvey Dock’s ten count, but was only destined to survive another :30 seconds or so. The end came when the 36 year-old Dargan landed a right cross to the chin that collapsed Delgado to his knees. And while Delgado again made it quickly to his feet, referee Dock correctly halted the fight at the 1:09 mark.
In addition to tonight being Dargan’s first fight since November 2018, it was also his first fight without his uncle, the late Naazim Richardson in his corner.
Anderson Scores TKO When Rogers Doesn’t Answer Bell For Rd2
Newark-born Michael Anderson (21-3-1, 15KO) scored a TKO1 over Tennessee’s Demarcus Rogers (14-4-1, 5KO) when Rogers was unable to answer the bell for the second round. After a fairly competitive first three minutes, with the 40 year-old Anderson getting the better of the action, Rogers was unable to answer the bell for the second round. Acting on the advice of the ringside physician (perhaps due to a hand or shoulder injury), referee Harvey Dock stopped the contest, resulting in a TKO win for the veteran Anderson.
Jordan Rosario Ekes Out SD Over Fellow Jerseyan Nicky Vitone
In the second fight of the evening Jersey City’s Jordan Rosario (4-10) bested Pine Brook’s Nicky “The Bull” Vitone (5-1-1, 4KO) via split decision in a four round all New Jersey welterweight affair. The younger, more aggressive Vitone brought the pressure, but the 30 year-old vet Rosario dug in, slipped punches, and fired back enough scoring shots to earn the judges approval. Scores were 39-37×2 for Rosario, and 39-37 for Vitone. The decision marks the first win for Rosario, who trains out of the Ironbound Boxing Gym in Newark’s East Ward, since February 2019.
Jersey Debutant Malik Nelson Scores Fourth Rd Stoppage Over Alejandro Ramirez
In the opening contest of a ten bout PBC fight card from the Prudential Center, New Jersey’s Malik Nelson (1-0, 1KO) earned a fourth round TKO over Colorado’s Alejandro Ramirez (0-2) in his pro debut. Nelson scored two knockdowns in the first, and kept the heat on until earning the stoppage in the fourth and final round. A boxer since age five, Nelson racked up seven amateur national championships before stepping away from the sport in 2018 to pursue a college degree. Now 21 years old, Nelson can call himself a rising junior business administration student at Monmouth University, as well as an undefeated professional prizefighter.
Quadir Albright Stops Jared Tallent In Two
Philadelphia’s Quadir Albright improved to 2-0, 2KO with a second TKO over debutant Jared Tallent. Albright dropped Tallent in the second, who beat the referee’s count only to take a few more shots before Ricky Gonzalez called off the fight for good at the 1:14 mark.
