A rookie made quite a splash during his first dip into professional waters at Rumble Time Promotions’ card last Friday evening at the Viking Conference Center.
After a highly decorated amateur career, 12th & Park product Ty Chatman laced them up for his pro debut against Thomas Staten from Indianapolis, and it was clear from the opening bell that the local southpaw’s experience sparring against pros at his home gym was paying dividends.
You could see the wheels turning in Chatman’s head as he patiently looked for an opening, and he peppered Staten’s ribs early with blunt, compact hooks.
When Staten tried walking in behind an iffy jab, Chatman caught him with a check right hook that sent his opponent south. The game visitor would rise and then commit a cardinal sin by launching an overhand right from too far away. The miss left him wide open for another perfectly timed counter.
That right hand would provide the most compelling evidence of Chatman’s dominance as the smoking glove sent Staten to the canvas with his legs as stiff as a carpenter’s 2×4, prompting the referee to wave off the contest as the ringside doctor sprang into action and attended to the injured fighter.
As the knockout victory was announced just 90 seconds in, Chatman’s family and fans moved to congratulate him at ringside. It was a great start to a promising pro campaign.
In other action, welterweight Tim Connors scored a first round TKO win over Cory Mayfield. Connors would put his counterpart down twice, once with a right hook and then with a 1, 2 upstairs that dropped Mayfield down into a bundle.
12th & Park’s slick Chris Tyler, clad in Oakland Raider black and silver, would battle to a majority draw with Alexis Hloros.
The “Irish Outlaw” Ryan Coyne would weather head butts and the awkward style of Kansas City’s Leo Pla to win a UD and move to 7-0.
Rising contender Kevin Engel did a 60-second hatchet job on the over matched Andy Utterback from Hannibal.
Berkeley’s resident light heavy Walter Foster sent Lincoln, Nebraska’s Mahir Ziga packing just 1:26 inside the first stanza.
In the main event, the relentless Hollie “Hot Stuff” Dunaway built an early lead against Sharon Gaines and boxed beautifully to capture a 10-round UD. She was rewarded for her effort with the NABF flyweight belt.
USA Championships Friday
The St. Louis Police Athletic League is sponsoring the local finals of the USA Championships tomorrow night at the South Broadway Athletic Club. The action gets under way at 7:30 and tickets are priced at $15 for table seating, $10 for general admission and $5 for children. Tables can be reserved by calling (314) 444-2580. At press time the bout sheet was still shaping up, but some of the familiar names of amateur stars that are confirmed include: Stephon Young (Gamble) vs. Jerail Singleton (Gamble), Jevon Singleton (Gamble) vs. Bennie Culpepper (12th & Park PAL), Darwin Price (NCAA) vs. Dino Oliver (Wohl), Darnell Mason (12th & Park PAL) vs. Mario Oliver (Wohl), Nathan Kempa (SBAC) vs. Richard Bobbitt (Pagedale), and Merrill Williams (Marquette) vs. Jabrel Temple (Wohl).
Ten Count
Ozark Boxing is mourning the loss of long time judge and timekeeper Tony Mascalco, who passed away on January 17. Tony was a fixture for decades at ringside, donating his time as an Ozark official.
In a press release by Ozark President Juliana Neisz, she called Tony “a dear friend who will be missed by our organization and the National body.”
On a personal note, I will miss the good-natured grief followed by disarming smiles that he tossed my way at every amateur card.
