Locals, guests and a visiting Olympian mix it up
By Glenn McBrady
For the St. Louis American
The crowd that filled the cavernous space of rooms four and five at the America’s Center this past weekend for the 2005 Missouri Black Expo had the opportunity to see some great amateur boxing action at the Black Expo Championships. Coach Buddy Shaw summoned top talent from across the Midwest to test some of our town’s finest fighters, and the fans were treated to some impressive performances, including one by a former Olympian.
As I followed the cardinal-red carpet cutting diagonally through the room to the ring, I was bombarded with the sounds of live music, radio broadcasts, and demonstrations by a wide array of businesses and organizations. I stopped for a tour of the Negro League Baseball Pavilion and studied a wall of old team photos that included the 1928 St. Louis Stars and the 1945 Kansas City Monarchs.
The gloving area for the tournament was just forty yards away, beside rows of gleaming gold hardware on the trophy table. I settled in at ringside in anticipation of watching Bennie Culpepper from 12th & Park face Tandy’s Alexander Cunningham. Culpepper stalked the taller Cunningham and dug to the body, looking to deflate his opponent’s tires and slow his retreat.
By the end of the second stanza, the strategy seemed to be working as Cunningham looked discouraged with his legs straight and stiff on his stool. He rose for round three and used his jab effectively in an attempt to halt his foe’s charge, but Culpepper advanced and followed a vicious right hook to the body with a stern left hook to the head that led to a standing eight count.
Culpepper then dropped Cunningham with another left hook upstairs and, after another standing eight, the referee waved off the contest at 1:14 of the final frame. Culpepper then added some bonus style points by donning a pair of thick black sunglasses before clutching his trophy and ducking through the ropes.
West End’s Juzzton Hill looked impressive in his 141 lb. battle with Midwest Warriors’ Versail Kennell in the senior division. The two southpaws went back and forth for three blistering rounds, with Hill scoring effective 1,2,1 combinations and Kennell countering with an aggressive, smothering style.
As the pair awaited the judges’ decision, Hill drifted over to a neutral corner and peered down over the ropes at me with an expression that said, “What did you think?” I offered up a complimentary, “Good job” and seconds later Hill’s left hand was raised in victory.
In Sunday afternoon’s only female fight, Dyenecha Robinson from Midwest Warriors dug deep and gutted out a split decision win over Shanika Smith from Memphis. After a first round that seemed to last forever, Robinson scored with a smoking straight left hand in the second and looked fresher than her larger counterpart.
Robinson decided to skip the jab in the third and barreled in on Smith, landing a boatload of straight punches. It was enough to secure the win, and an exhausted Robinson managed to crack a wide smile as one of her supporters in the crowd teased her about being so winded.
A true treat of the tournament was watching 2004 Olympian RauShee Warren from Cincinnati. Warren faced Tandy’s Darrick Murray, and the hometown boxer held his own with his elite opponent in the 119 lb. division. Warren is a scary-fast southpaw who fights in a style similar to Floyd Mayweather. Both keep their jab hand pinned to the hip and their chins tucked tight, relying on razor sharp reflexes and subtle head movement to spare them from harm.
Warren wore purple crushed velvet trunks with his nickname “Nuke” in reflective silver letters on the waistband. In the first round, Murray seemed a little leery of Warren’s lighting-quick combinations and defense, but he pressed on in a relentless face-first attack. After four sizzling rounds, Warren took the decision win and added another award to his collection.
The success of the tournament was sealed by the hard work of Buddy Shaw and Ozark Boxing, as well as the teams from Arkansas, Memphis, Cincinnati and Kansas that spent the weekend in St. Louis.
Amateur show Saturday
Ozark Boxing member Chuck Zelsman mentioned that the local commission needs volunteers to help officiate matches in St. Louis and neighboring areas. Those interested should contact one of the ringside officials at the amateur show this Saturday, August 27 at the South Broadway Athletic Club, located at 2301 South 7th Street. The card gets underway at 2 p.m., and potential officials can take the first step towards training for a position as a judge or referee.
Title bout Sept. 8
Loyal fans of professional boxing in our area are continuing the countdown to the title bout on Thursday, September 8 between local light heavyweight hero Mike Wood and Jesse Bryan for the North American Midwest Association’s championship belt. The action will unfold in the big-time venue setting of The Family Arena in St. Charles. Local rising lightweight contender Cornell Jackson will be in action, as well as knockout artist Shawn Hammack. In addition, amateur standout Robbie Cannon will be making his pro debut.
This is a must-see event for fight fans hungry for pro boxing in an electric atmosphere. Individual reserved tickets are $32, and ringside tables of 10 are available for $420.00. For ticket information call Metrotix at (314) 534-1111, The Family Arena at (636) 896-4200, or Steve Holley at (314) 495-0820.
