By Brad Snyder-The Undercard
Photos by Bob Ryder

Night of Knockouts XXV, promoted by Carlos Llinas and held at the Sound Board at Motor City Casino and Hotel, was, once again, packed from wall to wall to see a card filled with local top prospects.

Cruiserweight Derick Miller Jr. (11-0, 7 KOs) headlined a card at Motor City Casino, once again. His opponent this time around was Eric Abraham (7-16, 3 KOs). After a calculated start in Round 1 by Miller, the 2nd became a nightmare fast for Abraham. Miller was able to control Abraham by bracing with his forearm to land vicious head shots, that ultimately gave him the KO at the 1:16 mark of Round 2. Abraham crumbled to the ground with the ropes barely holding his head slightly up. It is time for Miller’s name to be on the tongues of other prospects in the Cruiserweight division. He has progressed well with the next step being to level up.

Vernon Webber, another fighter with a ton of potential, wasted no time in his fight with Larry Pryor (15-27, 9 KOs). Webber improved to 7-0, 5 KOs, as the heavyweight won by unloading body shots after combination body shots. Pryor, who took a knee from the pain, shook off the Referee which gave Webber the 1:38 Round 1 TKO. Afterwards, I asked Pryor what he thought of Webber, to which he replied, “He’s not the fight I wanted. I didn’t want this fight.”

Managed by Jackie Kallen, lightweight Sam Rizzo (4-1, 4 KOs) fired a left hook in Round 2 that had his opponent throwing up in the ring. Referee Frank Garza had no choice but to wave off the fight by TKO at the 1:49 mark fo Round 2. The loss drops Jalen Woodmore to (0-3).

Fan favorite Dwane Taylor (7-0, 7 KOs) punished Junior Welterweight Carlos Nunez (0-5-1) winning by TKO at the 1:48 mark of Round 2. Taylor dropped Nunez once in Round 1. Then in Round 2, Taylor produced two more knockdowns for the win.

Junior Middleweight Matthew Niziolek won by TKO at the 1:06 mark of Round 1 over Ishmael Dixon (0-2). The win improved Niziolek to (3-1, 2 KOs).

Light Heavyweight Michael Kowalski won his debut again fellow debut, Gary Edwards (0-1). The UD scores of (40-36, 40-36, 40-36) gave Kowalski the record of (1-0).

Fight of the night belonged to Super Middleweight Joseph Gerome Hicks and Bilal Quintyne. Both put their undefeated records on the line. Round 1 finished with a great exchange by both fighters. Quintyne, then shocked the fans with a right that connected perfectly to Hicks’ head. Quintyne followed that punch with a left putting Hicks down. As Hicks gathered himself, getting to his feet, with possibly being saved by the bell at the end of the round. Although he beat the count, you could see he was hurt. Round 3 was a great comeback round for Hicks. Round 4 saw Quintyne tire slightly. Finally Rounds 5 and 6 just displayed amazing exchanges between both contenders. The UD (57-55, 57-56, 57-56) went to Hicks to improve his record to (5-0, 4 KOs), as Quintyne falls to (4-1).

Super Middleweight Ferris Dixon Jr. (4-0, 2 KOs) won by UD (60-53, 60-53, 60-53) over Gary Kovacs (8-24, 7 KOs).

Joshua James Pagan (5-0, 2 KOs) defeats Istvan Bela Orban (3-4-1, 2 KOs) by UD (40-33, 40-35, 40-35). Pagan is a Super Lightweight to look out for in the future.

Middleweight Da’Velle Smith (5-0, 3 KOs) scored 5 knockdowns over three rounds to easily defeat Gyorgy Mizsei (28-36-1, 15 KOs) by TKO in the 3rd Round.

Minimumweight David Olvera Rojas (1-0, 1 KO) won by 1:04 mark TKO in the 1st Round over Kenneth Jamerson (0-5).

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