Professional boxing made a grand return to the Viking Hotel and Conference Center last Saturday evening at a thrilling Rumble Time Promotions’ card that featured several talented local products, as well as the return of The Contender series veteran Ryan Coyne.
Southpaw Tommy Moore traveled from Pine Bluff, Arkansas to face hometown junior middleweight Lamarr “Prince of Pain” Harris, the hard-charging power puncher who had his sights set on cutting Moore’s pro debut short.
A pair of power punches put the Arkansas native down in round one, as a Harris left hook connected up top, followed by a searing right to the body that sent Moore south once again. A double left hook upstairs in round two would spell the end for Moore, who climbed to his feet and pled his case to the referee at the 51 second mark, but it was obvious his circuits were shorted and he was unable to continue.
Tim Reynolds also made the road trip from Arkansas for his first paid outing, but he would meet a similar fate as he clashed with former 12th & Park amateur star Tyrone Chatman.
The awkward Reynolds proved to be elusive at first, but a patient Chatman drew on his wealth of experience and stayed composed, finally stringing his strikes together in a display that started with surgical precision and ended in a curb stomping TKO with one lean second left in the first frame.
“Dangerous” Dannie Williams lived up to his nickname in his bout with Tuscaloosa, Alabama’s Michael Williams during a one-sided lightweight meeting.
It was a barrage of hooks early and often by the undefeated Dannie Williams that left his counterpart looking to his corner for help, but all his chief second and cut man could do was gaze blankly back like they were watching a doomed swimmer being swept away from safety by a riptide.
The TKO victory at 1:08 was short and sweet for Williams, who told me after his performance that he has a date with Showtime’s ShoBox series on August 7 before a national audience.
For a portion of his match with Fort Wayne’s Reggie Sanders, the lanky Prenice Brewer from Cleveland settled into a comfort zone, knowing that he was out of his shorter opponent’s range and had little to worry about as Sanders feinted and flicked out a jab without stepping into range.
Midway through round three, Brewer seemed to be channeling veteran workhorse Emanuel Augustus’ “drunken master” style as he swayed back and forth to the delight of the crowd.
The final summation on Brewer’s unanimous decision win was that he used his superior reach to keep Sanders at the end of longer, straighter punches while using his wheels to steer clear of harm’s way.
In the main event, Ryan “The Irish Outlaw” Coyne clamped down on his mouthpiece and weathered a nasty cut above his eye on the way to stopping the very durable and gutsy Kevin Bookout.
It was clear by the reaction of the fans at the conclusion of Coyne’s impressive showing that he and Rumble Time delivered in a big way, along with the rest of the young St. Louis contenders.
ESPN to broadcast from Chaifetz
Rumble Time Promotions announced on Saturday that ESPN’s Friday Night Fights will air live on August 28 from the new Chaifetz Arena at Saint Louis University and will feature the return of Deandre “The Bull” Latimore. More information about the event that already has fans buzzing will be available in the coming weeks.
Lumiere Hosts Inaugural Boxing Card
The first “Fight Night at Lumiere Place” will take place this Friday, June 19 and will feature WBF welterweight titlist Brandon Baue against challenger Keon Johnson. There will also be four matches on the undercard of this exciting show at the opulent downtown casino and resort. Tickets are $25 and are available inside Lumiere Place, at all Ticketmaster locations and at www.ticketmaster.com.
