Show:699844

REPORT

Gavern lands USBC heavyweight title[1]
Herb Smith; Scranton Times-Tribune Published: October 19, 2014
DUNMORE — Jason Gavern said it wasn’t his best fight, but it was more than enough Saturday.
The veteran heavyweight controlled the bout from the opening bell and cruised to a unanimous decision 
victory over Hassan Lee to win the USBC heavyweight championship at Dunmore Fall Brawl at the Dunmore 
Community Center. “It was a terrible fight on my part,” Gavern said. “I think I tried too hard.”
The Scranton native used the early rounds to rake Lee to the body, landing several thudding right hands 
just above Lee’s hip. In the later rounds, he started to land heavy shots upstairs to earn the decision 
win. Gavern, who is a former Scranton police officer, said he was happy to be a part of the card in 
which some of the proceeds from ticket sales went to PSP Strong. PSP Strong T-shirts were also on sale 
at the event. “I’m happy to support them,” Gavern said. “At the end of the day, it’s all for them.”
In the main event, Stephon Burgette of Dunmore was defeated by Anthony Miller by TKO in the fourth round. 
It was a close fight throughout and Burgette appeared to be seizing control with several hard punches 
upstairs in the third and fourth rounds. In Round 4, he landed a few strong rights to the head. Miller 
backed up near the ropes and Burgette charged in. Miller caught him flush with an uppercut that sent him  
 to the canvas. Burgette got to his feet but appeared dazed and the refereed waived it off. 
Nick Senofonte of Scranton Boxing took his time in feeling out his opponent, Matthew Mather of the Irish 
Boxing Club. But once Senofonte got going, he rolled to a win on points in an amateur fight.
“I just wanted to get a feel for him and see what his gameplan was,” Senofonte said.
In the second round, Senonte backed up Mather with a strong left and then a big right hand drew an eight 
count from the referee. Senofonte continued to unload lefts and rights throughout the round.
“It was tough to stay focused, especially because for me it was like seeing red,” Senofonte said. “I just 
wanted to keep going forward. I got a little wild but that’s all the experience factor.”
Norman Kahn of the Irish Boxing Club won his amateur fight on points over Dawri Aquino of Jim’s Warriors 
in Old Forge. Kahn was the taller fighter and was able to use his jab to keep Aquino at a distance.
“The plan was to pump a lot of jabs at him,” Kahn said.
Aquino was able to connect with a few strong hooks throughout the three-round fight, but Kahn was able to 
weather the shots and earn his third win.
Vinny Scarantino def. Wayne Higgins on points
Norman Kahn def. Dawri Aquino on points
Zack Padilla def. Rocky Marzan on points
Howard Sweeny def. Jawanza Dillard on points
Nick Senofonte def. Matthew Mather on points
Professionals
Aaron Bratton def. Chin Achebe by TKO at 2:31 of Round 4
Patrick Boozer def. Anthony Young by majority decision
Jason Gavern def. Hassan Lee by unanimous decision, USBC heavyweight championship
Anthony Miller def. Stephon Burgette by TKO at 2:02 of Round 4

Undercard Saves Dunmore Show[2]
J. R. Jowett reporting from ringside: Max Boxing October 19, 2014
Boxing in the Scranton area moved from the downtown Hilton to the Dunmore Community Center in the contiguous 
municipality of the same name. With Robert Sockwell’s headline bout off the show, promoter Chris Coyne 
(Northeast Boxing) remained undaunted and went on with the 10/18/14 pro-am show that ended with a sensational 
contest. In a venue slightly bigger than the Hilton ballroom, the crowd didn’t quite fill, but was around 400. 
Renee Aiken as usual was matchmaker. Ed Kunkle supervised for the PA State Athletic Commission.

The final bout was only a scheduled four, but produced a thrilling and explosive contest. It also showcased 
local hero Stephon Burgette as the only Dunmore boxer on the show, giving him a chance to fight before his 
home community. Unfortunately, it didn’t produce a storybook outcome.
Burgette, 153 ½, 4-2-1, faced unheralded and untested Anthony Miller, 152 ¼, Wilmington, 2-1 (2). But Miller 
brought in a solid amateur background under trainer Doug Pettiford. The contest was a slam-banger from first 
bell, with the frenetic local favorite setting the pace while the southpaw visitor faded back and threw 
straight counters. All the rounds were tight and left little between the two after constant trading. But 
Burgette was on the attack and taking the initiative, giving him the lead going into the final round, 29-28 
on two cards and 30-27 on the third. With the bout on the line, final-round action was furious and fans were 
going crazy. Miller went on the attack more than he had in previous rounds but Burgette battled back vigorously. 
With sharper punches, Anthony was winning the round when Stephon increased his attack, only to walk into a 
crushing right counter that sprawled him flat on his back. He gamely beat the count, but turned away dazedly 
toward his corner, and referee Hurley McCall (all bouts) rightly stopped it, at 2:02.

Though one-sided, the crowd enjoyed a punishing six between another local favorite, Jason Gavern, 233 ¾, 
Scranton, and Hassan Lee, 211 ½, Charlotte. Gavern, 26-17-4 (11), has traveled extensively and fought many 
top heavyweights, so he well deserved a rare local appearance in a favorable match. The lanky visitor, 5-4 (1), 
didn’t have the size or strength to hold off the rugged favorite, who quickly took control with a thudding body 
attack in the first and added some jarring overhand rights to the head in the second. By the third it appeared 
that the underdog was wilting and on his way out. Lee circled and boxed in survival mode to get through the 
fourth, and by the fifth Gavern was talking to him and seemed to be trying to lure Hassan into a slugfest so as 
to land a finisher. Jason went over to Hassan’s corner and tried to taunt him out for round six, but Hurley 
shooed him back. The final round got a bit chippy as the underdog, realizing he was likely to last the distance, 
offered more offense than in earlier rounds. After hitting on the break, McCall penalized Lee, who argued back 
that Jason was fouling him in the clinches. Another similar brief melee produced more debate between ref and 
visitor, but Lee finished on his feet as all scores went to Gavern, 60-53.

Another six produced a surprise in both a good fight and an upset. Patrick Boozer, 149 ½, Ann Arbor, 7-3 (2), 
faced unbeaten Anthony Young, 150 ¼, Atlantic City, 10-1 (5), in what initially looked to be a rust-buster for 
the returning prospect. But Patrick had other ideas and, with a vigorously exhortative corner, did anything but 
play ‘possum. As in the Burgette-Miller battle, all rounds were close and hard-fought, with back-and-forth 
advantages. The underdog was bigger and employed a difficult southpaw style. Young exhibited good defensive 
skills with artful dodging, then coming back with counters. But whether winning or losing the exchanges, Patrick 
was always right back after him so that Anthony spent time on defense and circling, looking for openings. This 
tactic kept the fight close, but Patrick was gaining momentum in the closing rounds. Boozer went for the big 
finish with the crowd in high excitement, and late in the sixth Young went down while trying to back-pedal. It 
 was ruled a slip,but spurred Boozer on to a crescendo at the final bell. Dave Greer scored 57-57, but Mike 
Somma had 59-55 and Bernard Bruni 60-54, giving Boozer the majority decision. Although the scores were spread, 
none were harshly out of line, as the contest was that tight. But Boozer took it to Young in the decisive closing 
rounds and deserved the nod.
A heavyweight huff-and-puffer opened the pro portion and didn’t produce much except mauling for three rounds 
before providing a dramatic ending in the fourth and final. 
Debuting Chin Echebe, 256 ½, Bethlehem, faced Aaron Bratton, 232, Balto., 2-2 (1). Although muscular and menacing 
almost to a fault, Echebe lacked fundamental skills and tended to lunge off balance. Going into the last round, 
the judges had him ahead by way of forcing the fight although it produced little in way of clean punching. Echebe 
tried to become more aggressive and was winning the round, but it cost him. Lunging as Bratton retreated, Echebe 
got smacked by a chopping right, knees buckled and he sagged briefly to canvas before righting himself. McCall 
rightly gave a count. An enlivened Bratton then poured it on with both hands and as Echebe lacked defensive 
skills, twice turning sideways as a means of escape while getting bombarded, the referee rightly called a TKO, at 
2:31.
Amateur results:
120 Open – Vinnie Scarantino, Jim’s Warriors, Old Forge, dec Wayne Higgins, Irish Boxing, Scranton, 2-1, 3 rds.
135 – Numan Kahn, Irish, dec Davri Aquino, Jim’s, 3-0, 3 rds.
124 Open – Zach Padilla, Reading Inner City, dec Rocky Marzan, Scranton BC, 3-0, 3 rds.
140 – Howard Sweeny, Scranton BC, dec Jawanza Dillard, Tobyhanna BC, 3-0, 3 rds.
150 – Nick Senefonte, Scranton BC, dec Matt Mather, Irish, 2-1, 3 rds.