Steve Maestas, Bobby Dunlap and the Air Tight Boxing crew put on a great benefit show at the Denver Athletic Club (DAC).  There was a prime rib and lobster dinner served before the card, mmm.  There were also several boxing items auctioned off.  From a signed and framed Muhammed Ali robe to autographed gloves to a ride in a jet airplane!  The show was a first class fundraiser and the boxing was action packed as well.

In the main event Ayo Fadeyi continued his morph from a fighter and brawler to a slippery, skilled boxer as he easily beat Earl Allen.  Allen had dedicated the bout to his father who recently passed away.  He made his father proud in showing heart and determination by making it to the final bell.    In the first round he put Allen down with a nice 1-2.  After the round Allen walked to the wrong corner. Ayo looked like a new fighter using movement and a pesky jab to keep Allen at bay, while setting up the counter-shots.  He also slipped punches well and hid behind the shoulder, great defense.  Allen had his best round in the third when he pressured Ayo into the ropes and landed a hard right hand left hook to the body combo.  His aggression and punch output wins him the round.   Ayo goes back to work in the fourth and dominates the remainder of the bout.  Ayo hurt Allen on several occasions and was unable to finish him.  Ayo should become a better finisher as he will need it when facing the upper tier opponents.  It all seemed to come together for him tonight, with his new found skill and style.  RMB scored it 59-54 as did Garcia and Short with Waldman scoring it 59-53.

The co-main had two of my personal favorites matched up, Rob Frankel and Danny Almanza.  Almanza is a key journey man in the Colorado boxing scene, if you beat him you are ready for another little 'step-up'.  Frankel was just about due to be in with a real veteran of sorts with skill and a never quit attitude.  Frankel was tested and passed.  Frankel came into the first round and quickly established his jab, to the body and head.  He used basic boxing to put Almanza down in the first, a simple jab-right hand combo twice in a row did the trick nicely.  Almanza has new found determination since he started training with former Colorado fighter Tito 'T-N-T' Tovar.  He is actually improving at this stage of his career.  Frankel is a workhorse according to Steve Maestas, "First guy in the gym, last guy out.  Really listens and wants to learn.  Does his homework (road work) too."  He definitely listened during the bout as well as the corner shouted it, he did it.  "Move to the right"  He did it and landed a power shot that hurt Almanza.   Frankel looked to finish but was a little too eager.  He got wide and then smothered his shots.  He might have gotten the KO had he slowed down, taken a half step back and created some space for the 'bombs' he was throwing.  Almanza lands a good left hook and then has Frankel in some trouble at the end of the round.  The momentum carries over into the third and Almanza continues putting in the work lands some good shots including a left hook that stuns him.  Frankel lands a counter 1-2 after making Almanza miss with another big left hook.  Both men are landing hard punches and both are hurt at the end of the round, the best round of the night in my opinion.  The fans agreed as they came to their feet with applause. Almanza takes the round on the RMB score card.  Both men look determined to start the final round and Frankel lands a nice double jab and right hand to hurt Almanza.  Almanza gets a rest as Frankel had to have his boot tied.  Frankel lands the better shots and takes the round and fight, 39-36 on my card.  Judges Garcia and Short agreed scoring 39-36 and Waldman scored it a shut out at 40-35.  If Frankel continues to 'do his homework' and is taken slowly he maybe a guy who can make it pretty far, on more guts and determination than talent and skill.

The women's bout featured Angie Poe taking on Colorado Springs Sarina Heyden.  Heyden was billed as a big hitter and she was continually swinging for the fences with a her big right hand.  She landed a couple and won the first round.  Poe went to work in the second and started timing her on the way in, before being smothered by Heyden.  Poe continued to land shots as Heyden missed with haymakers and won the remaining rounds on my card for a 39-37 victory.  Judge Short had it even at 38-38 for a draw, Garcia scored a shut out at 40-36 and Waldman had it 39-37, for the winner by majority decision.......Angie Poe.  Someone should teach Ed Thomas about reading of the score cards for suspense, kinda killed it.  He did an admirable job in every other aspect of the show including the most important fundraising auctions.

Miguel Pasillas made his pro debut, after an exhibition on the last Air Tight Boxing card, against Mike Estrada.  He is very long and wiry with a decent jab and a little pop in the right hand.  He lets his hands go and stopped Estrada with body shots at 1:05 of the second round.  I'm not sure about the weight difference as he fought at 159 but I would like to see him and Felix Rios give it a go!  I think it would be fireworks!

Before the heavy weight bout Rick Reilly, from Sports Illustrated, was a guest auctioneer.  He did a great job.  I hope he wasn't there to write about boxing, as SI usually steers it's eye onto boxing when it involves a negative point of view.  

The bout had Augustine Trujillo in with Jose Beltran.  Trujillo showed a little more skill and boxing know how as he pounded Beltran from the opening bell until Thrasher stopped the bout at :36 of the fourth.  Beltran was only down once, ruled a slip, but I had Trujillo winning two rounds 10-8 before the stoppage, which I felt was a little late.  Beltran was deservedly given a 120 day suspension by the commission and he should use the time to get into shape if he is serious about boxing. 

The opening bout pitted trial horse Berry Basler taking on Jose 'The Goose' Ramirez from the 'Border War' state of New Mexico.  Basler did well in the first round, hurting Ramirez with a right hand but he was unable to finish.  Ramirez was committed to the body attack but he was a bit off target and got two warnings for low blows.  Basler continued in the second and won that round as well.  In the third Basler comes out aggressive and lands some good shots.  Ramirez lands a nice double right hand then a right uppercut to the body that puts Basler down.  Later in the round Ramirez has a point taken for low blows making it a 9-8 round for Ramirez on the RMB card.  In the fourth Ramirez had his moments, he kept to his body attack, causing Basler to yell out in pain at one point.  Basler, as he usually does, finishes strong with surprisingly quick combos and wins the final round and the fight on my card, 38-36.  Judge Garcia had it 37-37 a draw, while Short and Waldman scored it 38-36, for Ramirez. 

The card was evenly matched and provided some good action packed bouts, just like I like 'em.  I personally don't care if it's De LaHoya or Danny Almanza, I like to see a good fight.  Air Tight Boxing should be commended for helping with this benefit card. Steve, Bobby and the crew did a great job in selling the  card was also sold out.  Look for the next Air Tight card, an all female card featuring the very sexy Mia St. John, next month.  For tickets call Steve Maestas at 720-298-1954.