By Troy Ondrizek

At the Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida, undefeated heavyweight prospect Tor Hamer took on undisciplined journeyman Samuel Brown.  Hamer came out firing the jab early on in the first.  The Penn State alum has an educated fight game early on in his career, up on his toes and working behind the jab; he nullified any aggression that Brown offered.  At the end of round one, pinned along the ropes, Brown was floored by a left hook and was lucky that the bell tolled to signal the end of the round.  Second round started as the first ended, left hooks and overhand rights flowed freely from Hamer putting Brown to a knee.  He beat the count of 8, but was soon backed into the ropes and dropped by a double jab.  The referee stepped in and waved it off.  Time of stoppage was 1:10 of rd 2, Hamer improves to 6-0 5Ko and got some much appreciated advice from Lennox Lewis at ringside; meanwhile Brown fell to 4-6-2.

 The in-house heavyweight, 2004 Olympian Wilmer Vasquez (9-0-1 5Ko) might lack the boxing refinement that Tor Hamer possesses, but he makes up for it with some significant pop.  Andrew Greeley (14-27-2 8Ko) looks like a stubby pudgy Danny Williams, and was brought in for “The Latin Hammer” to pound on.  Completely forgetting a jab, Vasquez was getting caught by counter left hooks from the much smaller Greeley.  With the crowd behind the out-of-town fighter, Andrew grew bolder and stronger and finished the round strong with a flurry while trapped in the corner.  Realizing that Andrew wasn’t going to be bullied, Wilmer decided to go to the body in the 2nd, problem was he forgot to use the jab and nothing else really followed from either fighter.  There was nothing much in the way of action over the 3rd and 4th rounds, Greeley countered with left hooks every time Vasquez threw a punch.  Andrew was easily the more accurate puncher while Wilmer the more powerful, but the power was wasted.  In the 5th, Greeley landed the most telling blow so far, a counter overhand right snapped Vasquez’ head back and the crowd woke back up, as did Vasquez.  Sensing a close fight Vasquez came out firing jabs for the first time.  Greeley was the busier and more accurate man in this listless affair.  The best part of the fight was the ringcard girls; Vasquez got the majority decision nod by score of 57-57, 58-56, and 60-54.  The crowd booed loudly at the result.  Boxingscene had it 59-55 for Greeley

2008 Olympian Johnathan Gonzalez (3-0 3Ko) took very little time to pick apart his handpicked foe Laquel Fleming (1-3-2).  The two welterweights stood nose to nose trading shots, Flemings to the gloves of Gonzalez, and “Mantequilla” to Fleming’s body.  A counter right to the temple of Fleming sent him to the ropes, and the accuracy of Gonzalez had him out on his feet within a few moments.  Nice looking first round knockout for the young Gonzalez.

In a ten round light heavyweight attraction former title contender DeAndrey Abron (15-5 10Ko) looks to get back in the win column against the surging Yusaf Mack (28-2 17Ko).  Mack picked up this fight from where he left off against Chris Henry, busier, quicker, stronger, and more creative; Mack picked apart Abron early with combinations to the body and kept him at bay with a stiff jab.  DeAndrey tried to use his reach advantage to dictate the distance, but Yusaf ducked under the cumbersome jab and stuck several hard rights to Abron’s ribs.  Heading into the 4th the bodywork slowed Abron’s workrate and made him think twice about letting that jab go.  It also changed his eye level and Mack started to land a greater number of right hands and counter left hooks to the head of the game Abron.  Abron did the absolute worst thing. He landed a big left hand that got the crowd going and pissed Mack off at the same time.  Yusaf started firing combinations with a fury that Abron could not handle.  A huge right hand sent Abron down but he beat the count.  Jumping on his hurt foe, Mack cornered him where Abron fought back, but a counter left hook on the chin of Abron sent him face first through the bottom rope and the fight was over.  An impressive statement made by Yusaf Mack to the HBO crew on hand and to the light heavyweights around the world.