McDaniel, Dalphone and Prograis Win in New Orleans

By Michael Campbell at ringside

Landmark Hotel in Metairie, Louisiana - Longtime icon in the New Orleans boxing scene, Leslie Bonano brought ballroom boxing back to the Landmark Hotel which once hosted bouts featuring the up and coming careers of the likes of Evander Holyfield and Pernell Whitaker.  Using a solid mix of local natives, rising prospects, brawling ladies, heavy handed big men and accomplished veterans, matchmaker JT Klump gave the fight fans competitive exciting bouts that gave them plenty to cheer.

In a stately ballroom under the light of elegant chandeliers, a local product in his professional debut opened up the action taking on a 27 bout veteran. Terry Young from the greater New Orleans area had difficulty at first engaging his veteran opponent, but just as his jab started to find its range early in the 2nd he landed a solid left hand shot sending Cunningham sprawling to the mat.  Then with his confidence level raised, the young’un began to methodically break through the survivor’s shell defense and dominate the action again putting Cunningham down in the 4th, this time the punch cutting him over the eyebrow prompting the corner to surrender.

Light Heavyweights Terry “Tornado” Young, 177 lbs, 1-0 (1 KO) from Gretna, Louisiana over Billy Cunningham, 181 lbs, 6-21-1 (5 KOs) from Jackson, Mississippi by TKO at 1:43 of the 4th round.

Another local resident James Harrison was next up taking on Asa Dalphone, an undefeated visitor from Florida who didn’t come to take a blemish on his ledger.  Dalphone entered the ring to the “Marine Corps Hymn” while his cornerman waved the USMC flag.  Harrison began the bout immediately winging right hands which Dalphone weathered and then was able to establish his height and reach advantage.  More steady pressure with wild action from Harrison made the bout into a crowd pleaser, but Dalphone’s superior skills shined through as he established his jab to set up combinations as Harrison tired and began to retreat.  By the 3rd round, Harrison sensed that he was falling behind and resumed coming forward, which presented Dalphone with an easier time and he started to pummel Harrison, landing his varied arsenal of punches which continued through the 4th to finish the bout.

Welterweights Asa “White Tornado” Dalphone, 140 lbs, 2-0 (1 KO) from Navarre, Florida over James “Tuna” Harrison, 141 lbs, 2-2-1 (1 KO) from Marrero, Louisiana by Unanimous Decision with judges’ scores of 40-36 on two cards and 39-37 on the other.

Next up were the big boys with “Bobo” O’Bannon who rarely needs judges to decide the outcome of his bouts.  They began with a cautious feeling out process, O’Bannon wading in under cover from his gloves held high and Marbra looking to pick places to sink his jab. Following up off the jab, he momentarily stuned “Bobo” which made an opportunity to land a multiple shot combo of heavy artillery.  More openings ensued for Marbra who now had O’Bannon figured out and was able to break thru his defensive shell, bloodying his mouth and then opening a cut on the bridge of the nose which drained into his gasping for air mouth.  “Bobo” wasn’t ready to quit though and got in his own licks at the end of the 3rd and then shrugged off the doc’s concerns to begin the 4th.  The high output seemed to have taken Marbra’s steam and O’Bannon came on to control the 5th round action, delighting those in attendance with his blood and will.  Marbra sensed victory was within reach in the 5th stanza and got back to his distance picking the placement of his shots.  With his cut bleeding profusely, O’Bannon’s corner decided that he’d had enough and he was unable to answer the bell for the final round.

Heavyweights Terrance Marbra, 238 lbs, 7-3 (6 KOs) from Dade City, Florida over Bobby “Bobo” O’Bannon, 268 lbs, 10-6-0 (10 KOs) from Mobile, Alabama by TKO at the end of the 5th round.

Local Police Officer Will McIntyre got back into the ring after having recently celebrated his 38th birthday.  The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff once fought Joe Calzaghe in Denmark and has held NABA and IBA regional title belts.  “Kid Fire” began strong trying to regain some past glory, and figuratively “sets the place on fire” as the hotel’s fire alarm was temporarily set off in between the 1st and 2nd rounds.  Rayford Johnson is known as a tough trial horse in the Lone Star state willingly facing any Texas prospect set before him.

McIntyre showed veteran savvy, putting in his body work in the early on setting up overhand rights which rocked Johnson when they hit their mark.  Johnson came on strong in the 3rd, getting in his own licks, sending Kid Fire into a shell and opening a wicked cut high on McIntyre’s left crown.  Sensing the upset victory could be had, “Iron Jaw” Johnson went on the all-out attack to start the 4th sending the veteran back into his defensive posture.  As the punches began to land freely, the referee decided to intervene to stop the onslaught.

Light Heavyweights Rayford “Iron Jaw” Johnson, 185 lbs, 8-9 (4 KOs) from Austin, Texas over Will “Kid Fire” McIntyre, 181 lbs, 40-6-1 (14 KOs) from Covington, Louisiana by TKO at 0:33 in the 4th round.

New Orleans East product Regis Prograis made his debut in his hometown city.  Prograis, now relocated to Houston, Texas, was a National Ringside Champion and USA Olympic Trials participant as an amateur standout.  Gonzalez is a durable ring veteran and should have proved to be a good test for the southpaw Prograis at this stage of his career.  But as he tried to rattle the younger foe with antics, Gonzalez showed he realized his disadvantages in speed, age and technique and needed something else to gain favor with the judges and fans.  With Olympic Gold medalist Frank Tate in his corner, Prograis was focused and steadily worked to find his range from which to land the jab and then followed with crushing left hand power punches.  With Prograis dominating the effective punch count, Gonzales resorted to dancing, holding, & pushing, for which he was scolded by the referee.  In the final round, Adauto proved durable but dejected as Regis showed off a varied arsenal of punches going both upstairs and downstairs.

Light Welterweights Regis Prograis, 141 lbs, 5-0 (4 KOs) from New Orleans, Louisiana over Adauto Gonzalez, 139 lbs, 10-9 (3 KOs) from Austin, Texas by Unanimous Decision with all three judges’ scores of 40-36.

The ladies took to the ring next with local resident Ginger LeBlanc having great support in attendance.  Giving up size, Burton came out boxing while LeBlanc held her hands low looking for damaging blows.  Burton used the ring so LeBlanc stalked her, but Burton’s bad habits of moving straight backwards combined with little to no head movement, often landed her in hot water as LeBlanc landed with power, gaining confidence and then taking over the pace and momentum.  Both girls were out of breath to begin the final round but that didn’t stop them from giving their all, but LeBlanc dominated the upright Burton with her haymakers which landed often.  Both finished the bout strong thrilling the capacity crowd.

Super Middleweights Sydney “Ginger” LeBlanc, 164 lbs, 3-0-1 from Gretna, Louisiana over Latasha Burton, 158 lbs, 1-1 from Houma, Louisiana by Unanimous Decision with all three judges’ scores of 39-37.

In the main event, Bonano’s groomed prospect local product Marcus McDaniel took on the stiffest test thus far in his career versus Tristan Todd from Memphis.  McDaniel partially prepped for this bout sparring in Houston with Ronnie Shields’ camp and the likes of the Charlo brothers and Erislandy Lara.  The standing room only crowd recognized the raised skill level of the two combatants and a great raucous atmosphere ensued.  Todd asserted himself early on trying to dictate how the fight would be fought, but McDaniel showed that he has game and eluded the attacks with defense that produced openings of his own to land.  The crowd roared at the action to close the 3rd round, and McDaniel’s corner implored him to use his jab and then go to the body.  Todd was still the aggressor but McDaniel was elusive and found openings, now in his zone and Todd seemed dejected at the close of the 4th.

Feeling superior and confident, McDaniel used the entire ring and now effectively added check hooks.  Todd still landed his shots though when he was able to get inside on McDaniel or press him into the ropes.  In the final round, McDaniel swayed by the crowd, wanted to put on a show and allowed the fight to take place in tight quarters, giving the fans what they want to see, but giving the taller Todd the advantage.  After the decision was announced, McDaniel and his many fans broke into a dancing celebration.

Middleweights Marcus McDaniel, 161 lbs, 9-0 (1 KO) from New Orleans, Louisiana over Tristan “T.N.T.” Todd, 161 lbs, 8-3 (5 KO) from Memphis, Tennessee by Majority Decision with judges’ scores of 59-55, 57-57, & 58-56.

The show was just what promoter Bonano had promised and Klump again delivered well matched, exciting action while also allowing fans to bear witness to the rise of the next crop of boxers from The Big Easy.  The area is rich with boxing history and many ring veterans came out and their careers were celebrated, adding further triumph to the return of pro boxing to this historic ballroom.

Thursday, June 6th, 2013

Referees & Judges: Larry Burger, Russell Naquin, Bruce McDaniel, & Kevin Babineaux