Report/Photos: Boxing Bob Newman

Billy Blea’s ITK Boxing Promotions and Southpaw Boxing Promotions, along with Matt Young’s Tri-Star Boxing Promotions, put on Bourbon And Boxing- an 8-bout fight card, at the Renasant Convention Center in Downtown Memphis Friday night.

Junior Middles Eric Draper and Rakim Johnson squared off in the 6 round main event. in a bout that resembled two daddy-long-legs going at it, Draper dropped Johnson thrice each in the first and second rounds for a stoppage at 2:29 of the second. With the win, Draper moves to 24-10-1, 15 KOs, while Johnson falls to 7-24-1, 5 KOs.

Jackson Rhodes took on Tyrrell Evans in a scheduled 4 round light heavyweight scrap. This bout was a no holds barred war with both men hammering away, defense be damned! Rhodes dropped Evans twice via right hand after right hand in the opening stanza. Hearing the 10 second warning, Evans decided to rise and finish the round. It was all for naught as Rhodes returned to the right hand hammer and dropped Evans again in the second, this time for the full count, ending matters at 0:59 of the round. Rhodes moves to 2-0-1, 2 KOs, while Evans falls to 0-3, all 3 losses via KO.

Big boys James Tanksley and Jalyn Anthony faced each other in a scheduled 4 round heavyweight opener. After seemingly winning the first round on his jab, Anthony touched a glove to the canvas in the second, courtesy of a grazing Tanksley right, then took a knee late in the second with an injured right arm. He told his corner he could go on which he did quite well. He apparently won the next two rounds again with the jab. The judges saw it 37-37 and 38-36 twice for the winner by majority decision, James Tanksley. With the win, Tanksley goes to 7-0, 4 KOs, while Anthony falls to 3-21, 2 KOs.

Super Middles Jacob Miller and Eric Hadley met in a 4 round tactical battle. While Miller pressed ever forward, with jab-hooks, looking to drop the right hand bomb, Hadley pawed in a defensive posture. When under pressure against the ropes, Hadley was able to avoid trouble with good head movement or clinches, but he wasn’t scoring points, just saving himself from punishment. Miller pressed and pressed, making the fight entertaining. In the end, the judges saw it 40-36 and 39-37 twice, all for Miller, who wins his debut at 1-0, while Hadley drops to 1-8, 1 KO.

Junior Middles Dedrick Bell and Izale Kimble met in a scheduled 4 rounder.
This one started out very technical with a lot of feeling out jabs. The second round ended all that and the fight, as Bell landed a vicious right to the body putting Kimble down and out for the count at 0:59. Bell moves to 32-39-1, 18 KOs. Kimble drops to 1-6, 1 KO.

Featherweights Hunter Turbyfill and N’dira Spearman met in a scheduled 4 rounder. Both men showed skill in the opening round with nice combinations and hard shots. Spearman landed the best shot of the opening stanza- a hard right to the pit of Turbyfill’s stomach, which froze his foe, but was unable to follow up. Turbyfill somehow turned the tables in the second, upping his work rate, strafing Spearman with power combos from one side of the ring to the other. An overhand left in the third, forced Spearman to take a knee, but he survived the round. Turbyfill tried to finish matters in the fourth, but to his credit, Spearman fought his way to the end. The judges saw it 40-35 and 39-36 twice, all for Turbyfill, who moves to 5-2, 1 KO. Spearman drops to 1-15.

Terance Reed and Sirarminius Williams threw down in a 4 round middleweight clash.
Reed appeared to be fearless of whatever Williams tried. Williams used a stick and move approach, occasionally mixing in uppercuts, hooks to the body and head. For his part, Reed, was almost too patient, relying on single, powerful shots, often shaking Williams to his boots. Would the judges favor the volume of Williams’ work or the singular power output of Reed? The scores were 38-38 and 39-37 twice for…Reed, who moves to 7-1, 4 KOs. Williams falls to 4-6, 2 KOs.

Dyron Words and Aaron Anderson went at it in a 4 round middleweight punishment clinic. Words teed off on Anderson at will. Anderson kept a high guard, but many blows landed cleanly to his body and head. In the second, Anderson’s mouthpiece went flying out of the ring, courtesy of Words’ power. One would wonder, how Words didn’t collapse from hitting Anderson so often. It was no surprise that all three judges had it 40-36 for Words, who moves to 5-0, 4 KOs. Anderson declined to 3-54, 1 KO! Anderson’s claim to fame is making his pro debut against pound-for-pound great, Terence Crawford and going the four round distance.