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11/20/2004 Archived Entry: "Jakubowski, White Prevail in Sizzling Pre-Thanksgiving Showdown!"
Jakubowski, White Prevail in Sizzling Pre-Thanksgiving Showdown!
By Juan C. Ayllon at Ringside
Jakubowski (left) lands multiple jabs on Payne
(Merrillville, IN): What does a park district superintendent, a first grade school teacher and a steel salesman have in common? In this case, they nightlight as professional fighters: Marty Jakubowski is a park district superintendent, Jimmy Holmes is a first grade teacher and Matthew McCarthy is a steel salesman. Last night, all three joined Jermaine White and other boxers in producing a memorable night of boxing at One in a Million's "Pre-Thanksgiving Showdown" at the Star Plaza.
Legendary welterweight Marty Jakubowski (146 lbs., 109-7-0, 32 KO’s) proved once again why he draws crowds, as he out-sped, out-boxed, out-punched and ultimately stopped rugged Kevin Payne (147 lbs., 13-4-1, 6 KO’s) as the mainliner of an action packed fight card.
Jakubowski (R) easily dodges Payne's left hook
Round one witnessed a spry Jakubowski circle and land crisp double and triple jabs, along with sneaky lead rights as Payne slogged vainly in pursuit. For his part, Payne mostly caught punches and air with his swings as he vainly sought to cut the ring off.
In round two, Jakubowski continued to outspeed Payne, increasingly dropping in potent rights following two or three jabs. Payne pursued throughout, but did not have an answer for Jakubowski’s speed.
In round three, Payne began connecting with some body shots. However, Jakubowski began dropping in lead rights and landed a big right that drew a collective gasp from the crowd.
Round four saw things end abruptly as Jakubowski began pot-shotting Payne with impunity. A nasty lump and cut developed on Payne’s cheek. A big right all but had Payne out on his feet. As the ref stepped in between the two, Payne landed a big left hook on the referee! The ref not only withstood the shot, but subsequently issued Payne a standing eight count. At 2:26 into the round, the referee stopped the fight. Afterwards, Referee Bill Page said, “That’s a hell of a hook he threw. But, it was too little, too late!”
When asked about future plans, Marty Jakubowski said, “I’m happy with my life now. I’ve got a great job as a park district superintendent, I’ve got a lovely wife and a great kid. I’m happy with where things are at with my career right now. I’m not sure that I want to make the sacrifices anymore to get to the top again. I’ve had title shots before the first time around in my career. I’m just enjoying life right now.”
White (R) smothers Paul's counter attempts
Merrillville’s very own Jermaine White (140, 5-0-0, 3 KO’s) utterly dominated Brian Paul (147, 4-11-0, 3 KO’s), who was eventually disqualified by the referee.
Prior to the fight, Jermaine said, “I had a little confrontation regarding weight; I’m coming in at 140 and the other guy’s coming in at welterweight. That’s a whole ‘nother weight class! Why not pay me extra money for that? But, I’m a fighter. That’s what I do.”
In round one, White pitched a virtual shutout, as Paul largely covered, blocked and sought to survive. To be fair, he fought back in spots.
Round two, the referee gave repeated warnings and then deducted two points—one each on two different occasions. Pouncing, White battered Paul, knocking him down twice, once at rounds end.
Round three saw White cast all care to the wind seeking to end matters. As he pressed Paul into a corner, he caught a right that left him blinking momentarily as they fell into a clinch. No matter. He continued the slaughter, Paul kept holding and at 54 seconds into round three the ref stopped the contest for excessive holding and disregarding the ref’s instructions.
Afterwards, a confident and exuberant Jermaine White said, “I’ve still got learning to do. But, I’m going to keep winning! Nothing's going to stop me. I’m going to the top!”
Solis (R) pounds Taylor mercilessly along the ropes
Light heavyweight Guy Solis (176, 9-3-1, 3 KO’s) won a lopsided decision against reluctant warrior Chad Taylor (0-2-0). In round one, Solis chased Taylor about the ring seeking to land something of significance, but finding a reluctant opponent. Round two was more of the same as Solis played predator to Taylor’s prey. To his credit, Taylor countered in one or two spots before getting on his bicycle again.
In round three, Solis kept a steady stream of hooks, uppercuts and rights pouring in as he pressured, all the while chasing his prey about the ring. As Solis tired, Taylor mounted an attack of his own. However, Solis covered well and resumed his attack shortly thereafter.
Taylor was deducted a point in round four for going too low with his head. He was subsequently warned again for keeping his head up by the ref; if he didn’t comply, he’d be disqualified. As in the previous round, Taylor mounted an offensive when Solis became arm weary and took a break. However, Solis again regrouped and closed as he’d been doing throughout the fight, banging away at Taylor from pillar to post.
The judges scored the fight 40-34 thrice for a unanimous decision victory by Solis. Upon being congratulated for his victory, Solis tersely said, “He didn’t come to fight.”
Referee Eric Fetzer said, “I was going to disqualify him [Taylor]; I warned him two times for not putting forth an effort. Every now and then he threw a punch or two, so I didn’t disqualify him.”
Mobley (R) attacks Vaughn with a vengeance
Super Middleweights Shay Mobley (161, 6-4-1, 2 KO’s) and John Vaughn (160, 2-1-1, 2 KO’s) put up a barn-burner of a fight, with Mobley prevailing in the end.
Wild and wooly looking Vaughn, wearing camouflage trunks, unshaven face and unkempt hair came out swinging for the fences in round one, head hunting with wanton abandon. Mobley came back with hard shots of his own, digging some big shots to the body as well. Vaughn landed a big left that snapped Mobley’s head back and drew “oohs” from the crowd as he fought like a man possessed, while Mobley fought back hard, banked some more good bodywork inside and solid combinations of his own.
The non-stop action spilled over into round three, as Mobley appeared to assert himself, landing some good shots of his own and appearing to hurt Vaughn at one point.
Round six became a guttural brawl as both fighters snapped each other’s heads back. Seemingly the more experienced and developed boxer, Mobley eschewed his jab as he sought to stop his sturdy antagonist. Vaughn’s mouthpiece was knocked from his mouth, gaining him momentary respite as Mobley appeared on the cusp of ending matters. However, Vaughn lasted the distance as the two slugged it out until the final bell.
The judges scored it 39-38, 39-38 and 40-36 for a UD victory for Shaw Mobley.
Holmes (L) pounces on Rice
Popular super middleweight local, Jimmy “The Fighting School Teacher” Holmes (160, 7-0-1, 6 KO’s), traded with, bombed and schooled rugged “Rick” James Rice (160, 5-40-5, 1 KO) in an all action bout.
In round one, Rice started off aggressively, landing shots in close against Holmes. However, Holmes took the shots well and took control of the round at about the midway mark. He appeared to rock Rice while pressing him against the ropes.
Round two saw Rice again land well initially on the inside, only to have Holmes storm back and land some stunning shots as he drove him hard into the ropes.
In round three, Holmes began asserting his superiority. While Rice saw some success in close, he increasingly began sustaining hard shots to head and body, especially when he found himself with his back to the ropes, which happened with increasing regularity.
Round four was total domination from Holmes as he battered about Rice about the ring with compact rights and lefts in close and pounded on Rice with thudding long blows along the ropes. Twice, he gestured to the enthusiastic audience to cheer him on. Buoyed by the thunderous response, he pressed very hard for the kayo. However, Rice managed to last the fight. The announced victory was a mere formality, the judges scoring it 40-36 thrice for a unanimous decision victory by Jimmy Holmes.
Hayes (R) stalks Murphy
Hailing from Chicago, Kenny “The Bandit” Murphy (222, 22-19-2, 15 KO’s) put forth a reasonable effort, but came up short in losing a decision to fellow Chicagoan Thomas Hayes (240, 16-1-0, 11 KO’s).
Both fighters seemed content to peck and pop away in workman like fashion without any clear dominating—or inspiring—action in rounds one and two. In round three, Hayes appeared to edge slightly as he upped his aggressive output and asserted himself a bit. In the fourth, it appeared that Hayes began building on this foundation, increasingly landing stinging rights and lefts on his pudgy opponent. In the fifth, Kenny’s corner exhorted him, “C’mon, Kenny, you need a knockout!” Never the less, Hayes closed out the fight banging away on Murphy along the ropes of three consecutive sides of the ring, rousing hopes in the audience of an impending knockout. However, it was not to be. The fight went to the cards for a unanimous decision win with scores of 60-54 thrice for Thomas Hayes.
Middleweights “Irish” Matt McCarthy (158, 0-1-1) vs. Chris “Ice” Patterson (163, 1-12-0) electrified the crowd in a fight that Patterson prevailed by decision.
McCarthy throws a heavy right at Patterson
Eschewing any semblance of a feeling out process, both fighters immediately took turns landing crackling shots on one another, McCarthy attacking first like a pit bull—momentarily shaking Patterson—then Patterson fighting back in return. Their frenetic pace energized the crowd as both set upon one another to end the night early.
Round two settled down slightly as the two continued winging bombs with malevolence, but with more forethought and setup.
Round three saw heated give and take, McCarthy pressing hard behind big rights and thudding hooks whilst Patterson countered with sneaky rights and hooks. At rounds end, McCarthy had Patterson holding on.
Round four picked up a notch as both redoubled their efforts to make their case. McCarthy sought to bang away with crackling definitiveness and Patterson circled and boxed, spearing with his jab and countering well in spots. In the end, the judges scored it 38-38, and 40-36 twice for Patterson, garnering him a majority decision victory.
Afterwards, a clearly disappointed McCarthy said regarding future plans, "We'll have to see. It's hard to think about it after a hard loss like that." McCarthy, who--according to manager Pat Doljanin--makes over $100,000 a year as a steel salesman and whose employer generously donated boxing gloves signed by last nights boxer in a charity raffle, also coaches high school wrestling in Pennsylvania and hopes to one day become a boxing judge or referee.
All in all, the mood was festive and light-hearted. In between fights, affable announcer Joe York said, “I’m freshly divorced and available. I have my own house, ringside seats and…” he comes with his own tux! Rubin Galvan stopped by ringside, along with Indiana State Light Heavyweight Champ, Jeff Baker and Indiana State Lightweight Champ, Johnny Novak. Michael "The Midnight Stalker" Walker joined Jermaine Marks, Guy Solis and others at the “Official After Party” at the WoodHollow Loft Bar and Grill, which promoter Octavius James is now famous for in these parts. What better way to throw a pre-Thanksgiving celebration?
Marty Jakubowski visits with Ref Page share a moment after his victory
Jakubowski and Ref Page console Payne's inconsolate boy as Galvan (far left) looks on
Jakubowski and Payne's pose with Payne's boy
Jermaine White (L) stalks Brian Paul...
Jermaine White poses proudly with his daughter after his victory
Popular fighter, Rubin Galvan (L), and Indiana State Light
Heavyweight Champ, Jeff Baker visit.
Jimmy Holmes and his significant other say hello
Indiana State Lightweight Champ, Johnny Novak
Michael "The Midnight Stalker" Walker sits with a friend at the
"After Party"
Michael Walker (R) and Jermaine White lounge at the party
Hey, all you single gals out there:
fight announcer Joe York is now available!
For additional photos, click on:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/juancayllon/album?.dir=88e6&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/juancayllon/my_photos
All photos by Juan C. Ayllon
