Show:696010

PROMO

Weights from Philadelphia[1]
FightNews Photos: Rich Graessle/Main Events October 17th, 2014
Steve Cunningham 205 vs. Natu Visinia 278
Edner Cherry 132.5 vs. Osumanu Akaba 134.5
Tyrone Brunson 158 vs. Decarlo Perez 158
Victor Vasquez 136.5 vs. Gerald Smith 140
Ryan Bivins 174 vs. Darryl Gause 169.5
Roberto Lopez 159 vs. Robert Sweeney 155
Anthony Abbruzzese 150 vs. Anthony Prescott 147.5
Venue: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Promoter: Main Events TV: NBCSN

REPORT

Cunningham stops Visinia; Cherry bombs Aqaba[2]
By John DiSanto at ringside; FightNews October 18th, 2014
Heavyweight Steve “USS” Cunningham (28-6, 12 KOs) scored a seventh round TKO over previously unbeaten 
Natu “The Truth” Visinia (10-1, 8 KOs) on Saturday night at the 2300 Arena in South Philadelphia. 
Outweighed by 73 lbs, the two-time cruiserweight champion was ruled down in round five. Cunningham 
laid a beating on Visinia in rounds six and seven. The bout was stopped by the ring doctor after round 
seven.
In the scheduled 10-round junior lightweight co-feature, IBF #11, WBC #15 contender Edner Cherry, 
33-6-2, 18 KOs, dropped Osumanu Akaba, 24-7, 19 KOs, three times in round two, and won by TKO at 2:15 
of that round.
In a scheduled eight-round middleweight bout, DeCarlo Perez, 13-3-1, 5 KOs, stopped Tyrone Brunson, 
22-3-1, 21 KOs, at 2:29 of round five. Brunson, who opened his career with a then-record 19 consecutive 
first round KOs, has now lost three of his last four, dating back to 2009.
Jr welterweight Victor Vasquez (17-9-1, 7 KOs) won a six round unanimous decision over Gerald Smith 
(3-2, 1 KO). Jr middleweight Anthony Prescott (5-3-2, 2 KOs) won a four round decision over previously 
unbeaten Anthony Abbruzzese (3-1, 2 KOs) Light heavyweight Darryl Gause (1-0) outpointed Ryan Bivins 
(0-1) over four rounds.

Cunningham-Visinia full report[3]
By Kurt Wolfheimer at ringside; FightNews October 20th, 2014
Saturday night at the 2300 Arena in South Philadelphia, PA former two time cruiserweight champion and 
USBA heavyweight champion Steve “USS” Cunningham (28-6, 13KOs) continued his rise up into the 
heavyweight ratings with a dominant seventh round stoppage of formerly undefeated Natu Visinia (10-1, 
8KOs). In the co-feature of the seven bout card promoted by promoted by Main Events and Peltz Boxing 
in association with Bam Boxing, veteran lightweight contender Edner ‘Cherry Bomb” Cherry (33-6-2, 
18KOs) bombed out Osumanu Akaba 24-7, 19KOs), dropping him three times en-route to a second round
TKO victory. It was another coming of age for heavyweight Steve “USS” Cunningham (28-6, 13KOs), who 
was able to box and bang his way to a big seventh round stoppage of former MMA top rated amateur and 
formerly undefeated heavyweight slugger Natu Visinia (10-1, 8KOs).
Natu Visinia lacked the experience of Cunningham, but he outweighed him by seventy-three pounds and 
had knocked out eight of his ten opponents as a professional, albeit lesser competition.
Cunningham, the former two time cruiserweight champion was almost knocked out and had to get off the 
canvas twice in his last fight in which he chose at certain points to slug with Amir “Hardcore” 
Mansour. This time it was clear right the get go what his game plan was as he circled the ring and 
jabbed in the opening round.
Visinia was also football player at Southern Illinois University and he looked like a linebacker, 
moving to tackle the slick Cunningham in the opening round. Late in the round, Visinia found his 
mark with a good hook to the body. Cunningham started to step in and out of the pocket with sharp 
combination behind hard left jabs. Visinia did not have the greatest footwork as he plodded forward, 
but he trapped Cunningham against the ropes and caught him with a good right hand. Cunningham tried 
to punch him off, but Visinia continued to bang away and there was swelling under Cunningham’s right 
eye as he went to the corner. Cunningham went back to work in the third and his quicker hands allowed 
him to counter Visinia’s wide hooks with solid counters. By mid round, Cunningham was peppering 
Visinia and blood was dripping from his mouth. It looked like Cunningham was in complete control, 
until he got caught with a huge right hand on the button as the bell sounded to end the round.
It was a battle of wills in the fifth as Visinia pressed forward working the body, while Cunningham 
was on the retreat, but finding his mark with a variety of shots including an early uppercut.
Cunningham was in control in the late in the fifth as he was setting down on his combinations and 
blood was all over the face of Visinia, but he was banging as well when he could. Cunningham was 
taking his shots though now and it looked like their power of Visinia was losing steam. Both 
fighters traded late and Cunningham’s power at the end took the round.
The crowd began to chant USS to push the Philadelphian on to victory in the sixth round. Visinia 
looked tired, but found his mark with two hard right hands up top. Cunningham pushed through them 
and then hurt Visinia with a right hand. Visinia wobbled, but was standing right in there taking 
shots while looking to land a right of his own. Cunningham again banged a big right on the chin 
of Natu that forced a clinch. Referee Gary Rosato broke the clinch and Cunningham’s right hand kept 
popping up the face of Visinia and his left eye began to swell.
Cunningham was in control in the seventh as Visinia, who had never been past six rounds looked dead 
tired. Cunningham caught him with a left hand and it angered the former amateur MMA standout, who 
then swung away. Cunningham was on his feet and peppering his opponent with combinations. Visinia 
couldn’t return fire and looked beaten and bloodied as he went to the corner.
While in the corner, Natu Visinia couldn’t continue due to a cut in his mouth and the fight was 
waived off, giving Steve “USS” Cunningham the welled deserved TKO victory at the three minute mark 
of round seven.
“People are always saying what you can’t do,” said Cunningham afterward.” He was two hundred and 
seventy eight pounds and I was two hundred and five pounds. People were saying that I was in trouble. 
I proved tonight that size doesn’t matter.”
Cherry bombs Akaba
In the co-feature of the evening lightweight contender Edner “Cherry Bomb” Cherry (33-6-2, 18KOs) 
continued his run for a world title shot alive, by dropping Accra, Ghana’s Osumanu Akaba (24-7 19Ko’s) 
three times on his way to a second round TKO victory.
Cherry looked surprised in the early part of the first round that Akaba was a southpaw and each 
fighter looked wary of the other’s power in a true feeling out round. Akaba was strong and landed 
a few right hands in a round with little action. Cherry popped a good overhand right behind a left 
jab that forced Akaba toward the ropes. Akaba decided this was his chance and let loose with a flurry. 
Cherry stood right there and went toe to toe with the tough Ghanaian. Cherry went to the body and then 
hurt Akaba with a left hook. Akaba tried to fight back, but another left up top sent him face first to 
the canvas. Akaba rose to his feet and started to trade, but another left hand forced him to the canvas 
for a second time. Akaba looked really hurt, but was ready to go at the eight count. Cherry pounced on 
him like a tiger on his wounded prey, bombing away with a five punch combination. The last punch during 
the combination was another left that sent Akaba to the canvas for the third and final time. The bout 
was waived of without a count by Shawn Clark at 2:15 of the second round.
“I tried to feel him out in the first round because I didn’t know much about him,” said Edner Cherry. 
“That was the first time I found out that he was a southpaw. We changed up in the second and started to 
set the right hand and looked to catch him with a left and that set up the ending.”
“I trust my Promoter Russell Peltz to do my matchmaking and I am ready for anybody in the 130lb weight 
division that he puts in front of me,” said a satisfied Cherry afterward
Sweeney outworks Perez
Sicklerville, New Jersey middleweight Robert Sweeney (3-1) rebounded from the first loss of his career 
with a hard fought four round unanimous decision victory over a game, but outclassed Roberto “Heat” 
Lopez 4-8-2,1KO. Sweeney looked good early, targeting the body Lopez in the opening round. Lopez tried 
to punch back but couldn’t match the hand speed of Sweeney and suffered a cut over his right eye late, 
from a right hand.
Lopez finally found his range on the inside in the second round as he pushed into Sweeney’s chest 
constantly and pounded away with arm punches. Sweeney returned the favor in the third, as he boxed his 
way on the outside and landed the sharper punches on the inside. The more skilled Sweeney should have 
boxed his way to the bell, but he chose to slug with Lopez, but got away with it without getting caught 
with any real shots. All three judges saw the fight the in favor of Robert Sweeney by scores of 39-37 
x 2 and 40-36 respectively for the unanimous decision victory.
Perez stops Brunson in battle of middleweights with something to prove!!!
It was a scheduled eight round crossroads middleweight battle featuring two fighters with great local 
interest. Decarlo Perez of Atlantic City, New Jersey had manhandled many of the up and coming fighters 
and was becoming a fighter to be feared in the Casino venues in Atlantic City, when he was lost a split 
decision to Wilky Comfort. Tyrone Brunson had a lot of power as he set a record for the number of first 
round knockouts with nineteen straight as a professional. However, many of those were against subpar 
competition and in his two subsequent bouts against better competition he was stopped by Carson Jones 
and he lost a decision to James De la Rosa. Both Perez and Brunson had bounced back with victories in 
their last bouts, but who would be the one to get back into fighting as one of the middleweights to be 
on the rise in the east coast? The question would be answered as the two combatants stepped into the 
ring, each looking confident that victory would be theirs.
Brunson looked good in the opening round as he used his superior hand speed to box and control the ring.
In the second Brunson hurt Decarlo Perez with a left hook up top. Perez wobbled to the ropes and covered. 
Brunson went after him looking to get things done early as he unloaded with twenty unanswered shots. 
Several hooks landed, but Perez caught or dodged many of the volleys. Brunson backed off to not 
completely punch herself out.
The fight changed in the third as Perez snapped Brunson had around with a sharp left and followed up with 
two successive lefts. Brunson appeared to be tired and looked to gain his second wind.
Perez continued his attack in the forth. Brunson would only land a couple of lazy left hands. The 
poundings continued as the powerful Decarlo Perez wouldn’t relent. A right hand hurt Brunson and Perez 
released a torrid mixture of unanswered uppercuts and combinations. Brunson was Referee getting hit clean 
and referee Shawn Clark to waived off the fight at the 2:29 mark of the fifth round.
Decarlo Perez ups his record to 13-3-1, 5KOs, while Tyrone Brunson slips to 22-3-1, 21KOs.
Vasquez decisions Smith
Popular blood and guts Philly lightweight Victor Vasquez (17-9-1,7KOs) didn’t have to survive any cuts 
this time, but he did have to overcome a scored knockdown in the third round to capture a six round 
unanimous decision victory over Gerald Smith (3-2,1KO). Vasquez, who has become known for his wars in 
Philly that leave the fans satisfied every time he fights, looked a bit different this time as he was 
throwing combinations in the opening two rounds that had Smith on the defensive.
Smith looked tentative and rusty in the early going, since his last victory in the ring came back in 2008. 
In his only recent bout in March, he lost a unanimous decision to Wellington Romero.
Vasquez was dominating much to the pleasure of his local fan base in the third round. It all almost 
changed in a moment just before the final bell as he was banging away at Smith who had his back to the 
ropes. Smith landed a right hand that had Vasquez hurt and he stumbled into the ropes. Referee Gary 
Rosato ruled it a knockdown and the bell sounded before any more real damage could be inflicted.
Vasquez recovered in the corner and out boxed Smith in the fourth round. Smith had a few moments but was 
caught with a big shot up top just before the bell. Vasquez pushed the attack and had Smith on the 
retreat. In the final minute of the round, Smith tried to fight his way off the ropes, but Vasquez caught 
him again with a good left up top. Vasquez jumped on him as the local contingent roared for a knockout. 
Smith clinched, but Vasquez mixed in axe handle rights and uppercuts. Smith recovered, but took more 
punishment in the fifth.
Vasquez controlled the sixth and final round, even buckling the knees of Gerald Smith with a right hand, 
but he made sure he wasn’t caught again and boxed safely all the way to the final bell. All three judges 
saw it in favor of Victor Vasquez by large margins, 59-55 and 58-55 x 2 respectively for the unanimous 
decision victory.
Prescott upsets Abbruzzese
Anthony “Put him down” Prescott (5-3-2, 2KOs) of Cherry Hill, New Jersey upset the formerly undefeated 
Anthony “AK 15″ Abbruzzese (3-1, 2KOs) of Philadelphia, PA, scoring a four round unanimous decision victory.
Abbruzzese started the fight, targeting the body early in the opening round. Prescott found his mark by 
stepping back and landing straight counters. Late in the round Prescott rocked Abbruzzese with a left 
hand and backed him up with two more subsequent lefts on jaw of the powerful Philadelphian.
Abbruzese was busier early in the second round, but he left himself open and Prescott caught him again, 
with a left hook as he bent down to target the body. Prescott went on the attack as Abbruzzese got caught 
in the corner. Prescott landed several good shots before Abbruzzese fought his way out of the corner. 
Abbruzzese actually found his mark with a left up top, that had Prescott squinting as the round came to a close.
Prescott let off the gas early in the third as Abbruzzese seemed to squeak out the round with good body work.
Prescott was busier throughout the fourth and final round to take the fight. All three judges saw it 39-37 
in favor of Anthony Prescott for the unanimous decision victory.
Gause outduels Bivins
The opening bout of the evening was a light heavyweight four round affair featuring local boxing scribe and 
debuting boxer Ryan Bivins of Philadelphia, PA who took on fellow debutant Darryl “Red Nosed Pit Bull” Gause 
out of Vineland, New Jersey. Bivins, a local boxing writer who covers the Philly boxing scene came out jabbing 
and throwing the occasional right hand up top. Darryl Gause came into the fight with a chiseled physique and 
targeted Bivins body early.
Gause took over in the second and third rounds as using relentless pressure to take over. Bivins would land 
a couple of good right hand but Gauze would not relent. Bivins stood his ground in the fourth and final round 
trying to land the shots that would turn the tide but Gauze also had his moment with solid shots. As they 
tired the clinches became more apparent, but both fighters finish unharmed and on their feet.
All three judges saw the bout in favor of Darryl “The Red Nosed Pit Bull” Gauze by scores of 40-36 x 2 and 
39-37 respectively, giving him the well-deserved four round unanimous decision victory.