ESPN Friday Night Fights Results

by Matthew N. Becher

Tonight at the Mohegan Sun ,Casino in Uncasville, CT, another installment of the famed ESPN Friday Night Fights was broadcast.

Unfortunately with each passing week, we are inching closer to its last boxing card.

Since being bought by power advisor Al Haymon, the program that has debuted many a young prospect will be closing shop later this summer. But on this spring night on the east coast, we got another look at some young and upcoming talent.

The Co-Main Event pit Ryan Kielczewski (22-0, 6 KOs) against Danny Aquino (16-2, 10 KOs) in the Jr. Featherweight division.

Ryan Kielczewski (22-0, 6KO) vs. Danny Aquino (16-2, 10KO) (Jr. Featherweight) (8 rounds)

These two met 10 years ago as amateurs, with Aquino coming out the victor. Kielczewski looked to get his revenge in the professional ranks.

Aquino started off fast while Kielczewski left the early rounds to feel out his smaller opponent. Aquino continued with combinations, working the body as well as the head.

Kielczewski bounced around the ring, throwing out his jab, looking to land a big shot here and there. By the third round, Kielczewski started to step up his pace to meet Aquino’s. Kielczewski started to land some big shots, while Aquino showed that he has a very strong chin and continued to trade and walk the bigger Kielczewski down.

Through the middle rounds, both fighters traded heavy shots, Kielczewski pumping out his jab from his back foot, waiting for Aquino to tire out by the later rounds. The tiring just never came.

In the final round, Aquino pinned Kielczewski against the ropes and started throwing everything he had left in him. Kielczewski seemed tired from his constant back peddling. Aquino then began throwing punches like a fighter who knew he needed not only the round for a win but possibly a knockdown.

Both fighters put on a very entertaining fight with Aquino taking the split decision victory and giving Kielczewski his first professional loss

Two judges had it 78-74 and 78-74 Aquino while one judge gave it to Kielczewski, 78-74.

The main event was a showcase for rising, top prospect Tony Harrison (20-0 17KO). Harrison fought only 42 days ago, but is looking to stay busy and possibly begin to throw his name around with the big boys of the Jr. Middleweight division. A 24-year-old Detroit native, fighting out of the famed Kronk Gym, Harrison looked to add to his nine straight knockout decisions against Mexican veteran Pablo Munguia (20-6, 11 KOs)

The first thing you noticed as these two stepped into the ring was the height advantage. Harrison stood at least 7-8 inches taller then the 36-year-old Munguia, who also looked to be in terrible shape.

Mungia came out of the opening bell throwing very wide looping shots. It looked extremely comical for the veteran Mexican trying to connect against a fighter with such a great height and athletic difference.

Harrison took the first round moving around the ring, while Munguia kept throwing his unorthodox wild punches to Harrison’s body. Late in the 2nd round Harrison began to walk Munguia down put his foe on the canvas, for only the second time in the veteran’s career, with 10 seconds left in the round.

The doctors checked Munguia in the corner and allowed him to continue. But 11 seconds into the 3rd, Arthur Mercante Jr. jumped in after Harrison started landing shots.

Harrison wins by TKO 0:11 seconds into the third round.

Undercard:

Angel Luna (11-0-1 7 KOs) vs.Tevin Farmer, great great nephew of Joe Gans, (18-4-1 4 KOs), Jr. lightweight

Both fighters skipped the feeling out process and came out at a fast pace. Farmer used his jab to keep Luna at bay, while Luna looked to load up on his right hand.

Luna decided to never set up a jab and constantly try and barrage his way to in fight with Farmer. And once that worked Farmer changed his plan and began his own in-fighting assault. By the third round, both fighters stopped boxing and looked to just trade shots. Farmer landed his uppercut while Luna continued to miss with his power punches.

During the middle rounds, Farmer began pumping and landing his jab more, and once Luna finally cut the distance, he tired and Farmer was able to bang away at Lunas’ body and head.

Luna threw reckless for most of the fight, and started to tire out in the later rounds.

In a fight that was very exciting, Farmer dominated from the opening to closing bells, giving Luna his first professional loss.

Tevin Farmer won an unanimous decidion by scores of 80-72, 79-73 (twice).