By Brad Snyder-The Undercard
Photos by Bob Ryder
Detroit Promoter Carlos Llinas worked his magic, again. Llinas continues to throw boxing and mma shows with the Soundboard at Motor City Casino as a partner. On Friday, another show in the series had undefeated Derick Miller (12-0, 7 KOs) in his toughest challenge yet. Facing off versus a quicker and, possibly, a more powerful Crusierweight in Isaiah Thompson (7-3-2, 6 KOs). Round 1 looked like Thompson could produce the first loss for Miller. Thompson looked for combos and had a stronger jab in Round 1. Thompson looked quick. In the 2nd Round, Miller landed his first good right versus the southpaw, Thompson. The round finished with a good exchange with Miller landing the more accurate shots. In Round 3, Miller showcased his uppercuts, easily winning the round. In the 4th, Miller controlled the round the entire time, except in the last 30 seconds. Thompson, finally, picked up his pace trying to steal the round. For the 5th, Thompson, sensing urgency, just started throwing haymakers that could not land. The last round Miller controlled the center and just boxed. Miller beat an impressive opponent by UD (59-55, 59-55, 58-56).
The co-main event featured two Heavyweights battling over six rounds. Prospect Vernon Webber (8-0, 5 KOs) was able to survive stumbling from a left jab thrown by Twon Smith (3-7, 2 KOs) in the first. When the pace slowed later in the fight, Webber looked strong. Easily the toughest test to date for Webber. With strong management and good promotion, Webber may have a big future in the sport. The 1st Round was wild, as both boxers were throwing everything they had. In the end, Webber came out victorious (60-54, 60-54, 59-55) with a UD.
Super Middleweight Justin Johnson (1-0, 1 KO) won his debut over debut Shermin Williams (0-1) by TKO at teh 2:19 mark of the 1st Round.
Sam Rizzo (5-1, 5 KOs) beat Lightweight Carlos Ovando (0-4) by TKO at the 1:51 mark of the 3rd Round. Rizzo scored two knockdowns in the fight.
Minimumweight Alonzo Littlejohn (0-3) was shot three times in his lifetime. Two of the shots hit near the bottom back of his head and neck. Then, six months later, the man was hit by a truck. Littlejohn showed his toughness in the ring, as well, being able to go the distance with opponent David Rojas (2-0, 1 KO). Rojas, who scored often, could not put away the tough kid. Rojas won the 4-Round contest (40-36, 40-36, 40-36).
Junior Middleweight Matt Niziolek (4-1, 3 KOs) scored a 1:10 TKO win over Donquay White (0-1).
Joseph Hicks (6-0, 5 KOs) looked sharp with his TKO victory at the 3:00 minute mark of the 2nd Round. Hicks beat Noah Kidd (6-8-2, 5 KOs) by Kidd not being able to answer the 3rd Round bell. The Super Middleweight contest keeps Hicks moving along on the early days of his career.
Welterweight Luis Quintero (4-0, 4 KOs) won by TKO at the 1:38 mark of the 1st Round. Quintero easily defeated Joshua Bourdreaux (0-6), who acted uncomfortable in the ring.
The Fight of the Night award goes to the Super Lightweight Joshua Pagan (6-0, 2 KOs) and Wesley Rivers (1-1). This was not an easy fight to score, as in the 1st Round, you could have made a case for either fighter. Both the 2nd and 3rd Rounds belonged to Pagan. But Rivers appeared to win the 4th Round. Pagan ended up winning the Majority Decision contest with scores (38-38, 40-36, 39-38).
Junior Middleweight Joseph Bonas started the night off with a 2:26 2nd Round TKO victory over Anthony Smith (1-5, 1 KO). The win Improved Bonas to (8-1, 7 KOs).
The fights were promoted with longtime promoter Carlos Llinas. The fights were matched by Lina Kurylyuk, Steve Clemente, and Carlos Llinas. The bouts were refereed by first time Referee Eric Hall and long time ref Steve Daher.
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Nice job of matchmaking by Steve
Clemente and Lina Kurylyuk….

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The 32-year-old Strickland, who made a stir with controversial comments before the fight, wins unanimous five-round decision.
American Sean Strickland has stunned Nigerian-born New Zealander Israel Adesanya to take the middleweight title by unanimous decision in the main event of UFC 293, the first Ultimate Fighting Championship event in Australia’s largest city in six years.
The 32-year-old Strickland (28-5), who caused a stir in the lead-up to the fight with sexist and misogynistic comments at a news conference promoting the bout, won a five-round decision with all three judges scoring it 49-46.
“Am I dreaming? Am I going to wake up? Someone hit me … I don’t cry much but I’m trying to keep it together right now,” an emotional Strickland said immediately after the bout. “I give up so many brain cells to the MMA gods … I thought I’d be walking away a little bloody, a little broken up. I’m a little shocked that didn’t happen.”
Backed by strong vocal support at Qudos Bank Arena, Adesanya (24-3) was a clear favourite to subdue his controversial American opponent and retain the title he won from Alex Pereira at UFC 281 in April.
But the 32-year-old Strickland’s counterattacking style was brutally effective with the American landing the more telling shots throughout the fight with Adesanya struggling to find a way to hurt Strickland.

After a patient start by both fighters which saw Adesanya probing Strickland’s unusual style, it was the American who found the first telling strike with a clean straight shot that felled Adesanya. Strickland quickly moved in on the 34-year-old New Zealander’s back with a flurry of strikes to close out the first round in the American’s favour.
Adesanya was more assertive in the second and third rounds, finding his range with his kicks and right-hand shots but continued to leave himself open for Strickland to strike at his body and head.
The final rounds saw Adesanya move more into his shell as the New Zealander struggled to make an imprint on the American’s defence. Strickland sensed the opportunity to go after the champion and a flurry of punches and kicks in the final minute helped ensure the decision and the middleweight title.
“You don’t fight that guy with that many highlight-reel knockouts,” Strickland said about Adesanya. “The majority of my friends, he’s beat pretty easily. I was even kind of doubting myself at times.”
“But I’ve got to say, the fans in Australia, you guys motivated me. When I’m walking in here and I heard you guys yelling. In that fourth round, I heard you guys yelling. It fuelled me.”

The UFC fight made news in the New South Wales state legislature, where the leading government politician was forced to defend his state’s payment of about $10m to help ensure the UFC event came to Sydney, for the first time since 2017, after Strickland made sexist and misogynistic comments about putting women back in the kitchen.
Strickland had agreed to fight on late notice after Adesanya’s South African rival Dricus du Plessis was unavailable due to injury. The fifth-ranked American earned his title shot after wins over Abus Magomedov and Nassourdine Imavov.
In the co-main event, Alexander Volkov (37-10) won his heavyweight bout by submission in the second round against 30-year-old Sydney-born Tai Tuivasa.
The 34-year-old Russian dominated the fight despite an injury to his front leg which Tuivasa had targeted earlier in the round, with a lopsided strike count as he landed hit after hit on the Australian before trapping him in a choke hold which forced Tuivasa to tap out.
“[He took] so many punches and he was still on his legs. This guy is very tough,” said 34-year-old Volkov, who won by submission for the first time since 2016.
Australian Tyson Pedro opened the main card knocking out Sweden’s Anton Turkalj in the first round before New Zealander Justin Tafa did the same to American Austen Lane in a heavyweight bout and Manel Kape beat Felipe dos Santos by a five-round unanimous decision in an entertaining flyweight match.

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In a clash between former heavyweight title challengers, Derek Chisora (34-12, 23 KOs) scored a ten round unanimous decision over Gerald Washington (20-6-1, 13 KOs). 39-year-old Chisora, coming off a WBC title shot against Tyson Fury in December, pressed the action against 41-year-old Washington in a slow-paced fight. Scores were 98-93, 97-94, 96-94.

Unbeaten heavyweight Johnny “The Romford Bull” Fisher (10-0, 9 KOs) stopped Harry Armstrong (5-2-1, 0 KOs) in round seven to claim the vacant English Southern Area title. Fisher dropped Armstrong in the first ten seconds, then seemingly punched himself out a bit trying unsuccessfully to get the finish. Fisher finally broke through again in round seven, dropping Armstrong, and getting the stoppage with his follow up barrage as Armstrong’s corner threw in the towel. Time was 1:19.

Super lightweight Campbell Hatton (13-0, 5 KOs), son of ring legend Ricky Hatton, outpointed Tom Ansell (10-5, 2 KOs) over eight rounds by a score of 78-74.
Other Results:
George Liddard W6 Bas Oosterweghel (middleweight)
Brandon Scott W6 Louis Norman (featherweight)
Maiseyrose Courtney W6 Gemma Ruegg (female super flyweight)
Liddard – Oosterweghel was an awesome fight! Tons of action and big heart from both guys, Ooster in particular.
Hatton vs. Ansell was a one-dimensional and one speed fight. Anemic at best…
sounds like a terrible fight, as chisora gets a predictable win. i guess, good for him
Chisora got a cherry-picked paycheck last December fighting Fury as a personal favor to line his pocket. Oddly, this matchup was a dud. Chisora, I doubt has any tools left to regain a legit belt unless he gets lucky by the skin of his teeth. Washington fought more defensive than offensive making this fight even more boring.
Understand your opinion Scooby…but Chisora is actually a skilled fighter just old..,in shape Chisora can be deadly…good body puncher for a heavyweight…see a lot of decent skills in Chisora…again he is just old…he is a good draw…that is why he continues to get fights…even if the competition is C level….can be fun to watch…
Yes, I agree, he is a durable and experienced fighter. However, now, I am simply stating my current assessment of his status. What is scary is… Advanced aging means higher risk for injuries in the ring. He has young daughters and needs to take that into consideration in my opinion.
Chisora and Washington need to retired it no shame both had great careers fought for world heavyweight titles unfortunately father time catch up.
I smell dell boy vs AJ on the horizon
Chisora is a tough fighter.
Still dangerous if he really wants it. But, I think he just love to fight anyone and really doesnt care enough of his career. A warrior. You got to respect that.

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