The CBZ Newswire

 Photos and report by Juan C. Ayllon at ringside

CHICAGO – Donovan George is a good looking and likeable – if somewhat brash – 25-year-old kid who does back flips after he wins.  He really buys into his nickname, “Da Bomb,” but in all fairness, he’s an undefeated knockout artist who improves with every fight.   

Surveying the boxing ring in his street clothes several hours before tonight’s match, the lanky fighter who stands about an even six foot tall says of his opponent, Phil “The Drill” Williams, “He’s made for me.  He said that he’d knock me out in the second round. (With me) at 18 and oh, he’s not going to be the one to do it!”  He smiles.  Leaning in closer, he says, “He’s slow.  He’s going to walk into something when he comes forward (to knock me out).”

His theme song, Rick James, “You Drop the Bomb on Me” – had scarcely subsided following his ring entrance, when he whipped up an estimated crowd of 2,600 at the UIC Pavilion with his frenzied fists.

Following a cautious first round in which both combatants jabbed and threw probing blows, in the second, George upped his work rate. Maintaining a high guard, he began ripping rights and lefts, unleashing a torrent near rounds end that drove Williams back like a cork in a series of sea swells.

As George predicted, Williams was indeed slow.  In the third round, he threw several ponderous, slow looping rights that were effectively blocked, whereas George threw straight lefts and rights and the occasional thumping hook to the side.  Stepping up his attack, George unloaded on him along the ropes, staggering Williams with a right to the jaw. 

And then the end came.

Like pistons in an accelerating engine, George’s fists rammed straight into Williams’ head, driving him to the opposite ropes. The crowd roared as blows battered his cowering hulk.  Williams collapsed.  Referee Celestino Ruiz counted over him.  Rising to one knee, it appeared that he might beat the ten count.  However, his facial expression was one of resigned defeat.  He wasn’t fully standing when Ruiz tolled “ten.”   Nor did he protest afterwards.  Donovan George had knocked him out at 2:43 into the third round.  

“I went into this fight knowing he was a great puncher,” George said afterwards.  “We went in with a great game plan, I came in top physical condition, and it turned out that I was the much harder puncher.”    

Energized and wearing the broad smile of a kid who’d won a world crown, George (who weighed 167 lbs. at weigh-in) celebrated with his customary back flip, as his record rose to 19-0-1 with 17 knockouts, while Williams (169 lbs.), who hails from Minneapolis, Minnesota, dropped to 11-3 with 10 knockouts.   

Summing up, George says, “In the first round, we tested each other, and I passed the test – he failed.  He was fighting all those stiffs in Minnesota.  Up to the fight, there was a lot of talking…(but) he had a drill, I had a bomb.  I won!  I’m a nuke!”

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Advisor Mike Michael of Cestus Management, which manages Donovan George, had the following to say after the fight: 

“I thought the fight would be a test for Don, but I felt very comfortable and thought Don would knock the guy out.  However, I thought the guy would give more resistance than he did.  Don is fighting with more confidence each fight.  I think he’s ready to fight some of the better fighters in the world.  We’re getting ready to get him a championship fight. 

“In his next fight, he’s going to fight for a national title, which will automatically get him a world rating.  As you’ve seen, his past two fights – Jason Naugler (whom Donovan stopped) went 12 rounds with Chad Dawson and now with Williams, a formidable fighter that had 10 knockouts in 11 wins – Donovan now is ready to take on world-ranked super middleweights on TV. 

“Our company, Cestus, and our promoters, Warriors Boxing and 8 Count Productions are working to obtain a TV date in Donovan’s next fight.  I just want to thank all the fans that always come out and support us and we will deliver in our next fight another great performance.”

For further information go to www.cestusboxing.com

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They say that hard work pays off, and Chicago’s popular junior welterweight, Ivan Popoca (141 lbs., 12-0-1, 8 KOs) proved that axiom true tonight as he administered a steady and fierce thumping in prevailing over Hart, Michigan’s Federico Flores (140 lbs., 6-3, 2 KOs) in the undercard. 

Walking into the ring holding Popoca’s spit bucket was another hard worker, his friend, sometime sparring partner and former World Boxing Council champion David Diaz.  Was this a sign of future ring laurels? 

Maybe, maybe not, but characteristically, Popoca came out very aggressive in the first round, driving Flores – who flicked his jab and occasional counters with little effect – about the ring with a steady diet of lefts and rights over and under. Flores caught Popoca with a single potent right. 

Unlike his last bout against former prospect Mike Gonzalez, Popoca showed little respect for Flores’ punching power, and as a result was caught with several combinations to the head in the second round that drew roars from the crowd.  However, as with his bout versus Gonzalez, he was also administering a steady and fierce beating.

The pounding continued into the third round at a rate of four body blows to every two to Flores’ head.  Popoca found him evasive; he scampered, circled, covered, and landed occasional crisp rights to the head.  Trapped him on the ropes, suddenly, a right crashed home on the chin.  Flores’ face slammed hard on the canvas.  He appeared finished, lying face down, his legs splayed and arms extended over his head.  Yet, he surprised, rising at about the eight count.  Referee Celestino cleared him to fight on. 

However, Popoca changed his mind with several crunching follow-up blows to Flores’ head.  Ruiz waved it off at 2:10 into the third round.  Popoca, whose record rose to 13-0-1 with 9 knockouts, had won by technical knockout.

Donovan George and his team mug for the cameras.

 

 

 

Donovan George with his friend, David Latoria, who didn't get to fight on the undercard tonight, due to medical issues with his opponent.

 

 

 

 

David Latoria with an admiring ring card girl, whose name escapes me.

 

 

 

 

A former student of mine, Elizabeth Victoria (left) -- who surprised me at ringside -- with her friend, the ringcard girl, and Mike Jiminez -- a friend of Donovan George.

 

 

 

 

Kenny Gallarza (center), an undefeated junior welterweight prospect who won earlier in the undercard, with Jorge Hernandez (left) and a friend following the fights.

 

 

 

 

Kenny Gallarza (right), seen here with Jorge Hernandez, looks to fight again in March in his native Puerto Rico for a world ranking.

Here’s a link to Kerstin Broockmann’s coverage of the undercard:

http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/blog/?p=4019#more-4019 

 

 

 

Promoter:  8 Count Productions.