Four fighters from local gym notch wins
By Glenn McBrady
For the St. Louis American
Rumble Time Promotions attracted a huge, diverse crowd to the Hilton Ballpark Hotel last Friday for a thrilling evening of pro boxing action and set the bar very high for future cards as a result of some brilliant matchmaking.
Many of the names synonymous with St. Louis boxing were either working or in attendance among an audience consisting of businessmen, Rams players, local celebrities and fans loyal to their fighters.
The stable that was most represented on the bout sheet was 12th & Park, and with trainers Harold Petty, Kenny Loehr, Jerry Leyshock and Jesse Finney taking turns in the blue corner, four hometown products provided some of the most excitement as they sailed to success.
Jamal “The Mailman” Parram got things started against Anthony Camper from Memphis and from the opening bell, Parram’s performance included a prime example of dominant ring generalship.
It seemed as though the crimson canvas was tilted in the southpaw Parram’s favor as he marched downhill, cutting off and condemning sections of real estate by stringing up invisible lines of barbed wire until his opponent had nowhere to run.
A counter left to Camper’s head was the beginning of the end, and after a volley of right hooks upstairs and downstairs punctuated by a textbook left to the jaw, the referee stepped in and Parram had an A-plus TKO win at 1:24 of the first round.
Chris “Too Sharp” Sharp was next up from 12th & Park, and the fans exploded early when his opponent Willie Diamond dropped his left hand and Sharp landed a counter right hook that sent the Arkansas native down sideways like he was wearing water skis.
But the durable Diamond would rise and dust himself off and Sharp would use another thudding counter right hand to score a knock down in the fourth and secure a unanimous decision victory.
When light heavyweight Joe Evans from Omaha climbed through the ropes to face St. Louis’ Kevin Engle, he brought a high and tight military buzz cut, a carved frame and the smoldering, vacant gaze of a drifter wrapping up the final leg of a tri-state killing spree.
But the icy Engle looked unimpressed, and he used a busy jab to measure and back Evans up before landing a power punch that softened and confused that pointed stare and lead to a sensational first round TKO win. Engle celebrated with his team as his tipsy counterpart was ushered back to his corner.
When Deandre “The Bull” Latimore made his ring walk to Yung Joc’s ubiquitous single “It’s Goin’ Down” for his junior middleweight Missouri Championship match, all of the energy and electricity of Cory Spinks’ entrance on July 8 inside the Savvis Center was duplicated inside the smaller confines at the Hilton.
For six of the scheduled eight rounds, Latimore punished Jesse Davis from Savannah, Tennessee with right hooks to the ribs that echoed through the room like a baseball bat striking a leather sofa.
“The Bull” started doubling up those shots and mixed in some straight lefts, batting the super tough Davis around like a cat toying with an injured mouse before finishing the job.
By the time referee Mike England pulled the plug, Davis was sporting shades of purple and yellow around both eyes and his airflow was restricted by a busted beak.
The fans praised Latimore as the first of many future title belts was wrapped around his waist.
It was just one of many moments that made the event stand out, and the first class show was the result of the efforts of Rumble Time Promotions and the cooperation of all the top talent working together.
It was a reminder that when the city’s best trainers, managers, and boxers join forces, St. Louis can go toe to toe with any “fight town” in the nation.
In other action
St. Louis’ Steve Vincent dropped the bomb on Topeka’s John “Da Bomb” Vaughan, using right crosses to cloud his opponent’s eyes and force a stoppage.
Joell Godfrey, a heavyweight from East St. Louis trained by Buddy Shaw, used a counter punching style and potent hooks to subdue Springfield, Mo.’s Dana MacGregor in the fourth and final round.
Robbie Cannon of Festus put in his best pro performance thus far by turning up the heat on Omaha’s Laron Stewart and landing several sharp 1,2’s over two one-sided rounds before clinching an impressive TKO win.
Local heavyweight workhorse Joe Stofle turned in another one of his patented performances, pursuing and slugging with Springfield, Mo.’s Kerry Biles for eight exhausting rounds before the judges ruled it a draw.
In the bout between St. Louis’ Lavell Finger and Kansas City’s Richard Grant, an accidental head butt prompted the ringside physician to halt the contest between rounds 2 & 3.