By Rick Scharmberg at Ringside
Photos: Courtney Gale Photography

Dante “The Comet” Cox (9-2, 6 KOs) won the ABF lightweight title with a destructive second round TKO over game but outgunned Raekwon Butler (5-3, 3 KOs) in the scheduled eight round main event on Saturday night at the Chase Fieldhouse in Wilmington, DE.

In the co-feature, Jessica “The Cobra” Camara (10-3, 2 KOs) also had an early night, stopping Maria Vega (9-5, 4 KOs) 20 seconds into the opening round of a scheduled six round lightweight bout. A brutal left hook from Camara dropped Vega on her back, and the bout was stopped without a count.

The entertaining seven bout card was promoted by Dee Lee Promotions in association with Family Legacy Finest. This was the first fight card held in Delaware since 2018.

It was a battle of lefties, with Raekwon Butler having a height advantage. Dante Cox used his shorter stature to his advantage, burrowing under Butler’s longer shots, and landed counter right hands, which started landing flush as the opening round progressed.
Butler was busy, and landed several two and three punch combinations. Butler more than held his own, and took the close round.

Round two saw Butler firing to the body, but Cox wound up his right hook, and started putting his punches together. A four punch combination shook Butler, and his follow up attack put him down for a short count. It was the beginning of the end, as Butler gamely fired back, but Cox was zeroed in. He fired short power shots, which included straight lefts, uppercuts and big right hooks that left Butler a bloody mess. A right hook visibly staggered Butler, and referee Eric Dali made a timely stop at 2:58 of the second round.

Camara stops Vega

World ranked Jessica Camara struck in cobra-like fashion. After a short feeling out process, Camara uncoiled a big left hook that left the shorter Vega on her back. She gamely pulled herself up, but the bout was stopped immediately.

Camara, of Canada, is making some noise in her division. She lost by split decision to stable mate Kali Reis in a title challenge, and owns a win over Heather Hardy, who was 26-1 at the time.

Owusu gets by Williams

Eslih Owusu (8-1, 4 KOs) won the ABF middleweight belt with a narrow unanimous decision over Philly’s Dewayne Williams (3-5, 1 KO) in an exciting six round battle which contained nice two way action. After a close first round, narrowly won by Williams, Owusu, a southpaw, began working his left in round two. He landed left uppercuts and straight lefts to the head and body. Williams went down early in the round, which was ruled a slip. A straight left, followed by a right hook forced Williams to hold. Owusu landed a booming right hook at the bell, but Williams absorbed it well.

Owusu went to work in round three, continuing to work his left to the head and body. Just like it looked like Owusu was taking over, Williams responded with a big left-right combination at the bell. Williams went to work on the body to start the fourth, but a big right hook followed by a left from Owusu dropped Williams for a short count. This knockdown would prove to be the difference in the fight.

Knowing he was down on the cards, Williams roared back and outworked Owusu to take the final two rounds. The scores were 57-56 (twice) and 58-55, all in favor of Owusu.

Gerula schools Holler

Forty-one fight veteran Olivia “The Predator” Gerula (19-19-3, 3 KOs) had something to prove against Logan “Golden Girl” Holler (9-2-1, 3 KOs) in a four round middleweight contest. Gerula has fought everyone from Amanda Serrano to hall of famers Brooke Dierdorf and Kathy Collins (twice) and practically everyone in between.

Originally scheduled for eight rounds, the fight was reduced to six and then four rounds. Normally a slow starter, Gerula knew she had to get busy right away. Logan Holler had the flashier record and the stylish outfit, but Gerula had the grit. She stood right in front of Holler from the beginning, countering Holler’s jabs with short, chopping right hands right out of the gate.

The second round saw Holler jabbing and feinting, but Gerula didn’t blink. This round was very close, with the edge going to Gerula. Round three was huge for Gerula. In addition to continuous right hands, both to the head and body, Gerula introduced her left hook, which caused a swelling over Holler’s right eye. The round closed with Gerula landing a big combination of power shots at the bell.

The lesson continued in round four, where a big right hand bloodied Holler’s nose. Gerula continued the onslaught until the final bell. The decision was never in doubt. Gerula took the fight by the scores of 40-36 (twice) and 39-37.

The Pennsylvania boxing commission takes a hard look at fighters over the age of 40, both male and female, and Olivia Gerula is no exception.

“The fight was originally for eight rounds, and was reduced to six,” stated Gerula afterwards. “Then it was reduced to four rounds because of my age. I had to prove myself to the commission. This was a heavier weight for me, but I felt stronger and had more power. If I had two more rounds, I would have stopped her.”

Holden dominates Clark

Local favorite Jalique Holden (2-0, 1 KO) pleased the crowd with a one-sided decision over slippery veteran Charles Clark (3-13-1, 1 KO) in a four round junior lightweight bout.

After losing his mouthpiece early in the opening round, Holden began firing a fast jab to the head and body of Clark. He also worked Clark’s body with right hands. Clark was in survival mode as early as the second round. He was able to make Holden miss with right hands, and rode with the punches that landed to minimize any damage.

Clark remained elusive in the third, but was reluctant to punch. Holden loaded up and dominated the final round with a body attack in a final attempt to finish it, but Clark remained cagey to the end and survived. All three judges favored Holden by the scores of 40-36.

Gonzales destroys Lucaine

Carlos Gonzales (2-0, 2 KOs) stopped Antonio Lucaine (0-6) at 21 seconds of the opening round of a scheduled four round feather weight bout. It was defense be damned for Lucaine. He charged out and began trading with Gonzales from the opening bell. He was wailing away. Gonzales took full advantage, dropping him with a three punch combination. He dropped Lucaine again seconds later with a big right hand, and the bout was stopped immediately.

Green decisions Rezene

In the opener, Philly favorite Tariq Green (2-1) took a unanimous decision over debuting Yohannes Rezene (0-1) in a four round light heavyweight contest. Green displayed methodical boxing with good ring movement, and handily won the first two rounds. Some trash talking to open the third seemed to fire Rezene up. Green seemed to tire, but still won the round. Green opened the last round with a series of jabs, and then worked on Rezene’s body. Green took this round also, as well as the fight, by three 40-36 scores.

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