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05/23/2004 Archived Entry: "Rain, Hail and Tornadoes Fail to Dampen Ramos’ and Simonyan’s Coming Out Victories"
Rain, Hail and Tornadoes Fail to Dampen Ramos’ and Simonyan’s Coming Out Victories
By Juan C. Ayllon
Photos by Tom Glunz
(Elk Grove Village, IL): While outside, sheets of hail and rain cascaded and a tornado touched down not two miles away, a festive suburban crowd witnessed furious firestorms of leather within the sheltering walls of the Belvedere. On Friday, May 21, 2004, Bobby Hitz and Banner Promotions collaborated to produce an entertaining fight card televised on ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights.
In the main event, Armenian Artyom (Art) Yervan Simonyan (13-0-1,) outclassed a stubborn and determined Narrongrit Pirang (18-0, 10 knockouts) in a tactical chess match by UD 119-109, 119-109 120-108.
Art Simonyan (right) lands right on charging Narongrit Pirang (left)
Round one saw Art initiate matters behind a series of jabs and rights. He landed several hard rights and a hook as he boxed smartly. A southpaw, the pony-tailed Pirang maintained a high guard, sought to counter in spots and appeared to be studying his Armenian opponent.
In round two, Simonyan resumed lead behind a jab, pecking away at his careful opponent. He pounced on Pirang with a fury of punches, catching him momentarily off balance form a missed counter. In turn, Pirang landed a single straight left that drew “oohs” from the crowd. However, his follow through was sparse, as it appeared that he was content to throw the odd straight left and right jab while he sought to solve Simonyan’s style.
Simonyan sticks a left into Pirang's neck
Round three witnessed the two exchanged jabs for the first thirty seconds or so, even connecting gloves. Suddenly Simonyan knocked Pirang off balance with a right. However, he did not appear hurt, just off balance. Both maintaining a high guard, the bout appeared to be developing into a technical battle with Simonyan sporting an edge in speed and punches landed.
In round four, Art once again knocked Pirang off balance, this time with a wide left hook and again, he did not appear hurt. Pirang’s was a conservative game, maintaining a high guard and firing hard, single shots to the chest and the occasional combination.
Art scored a flash knockdown as Pirang lunged in and got caught with a right hand. Simonyan increased his hostilities as he increasingly landed potent combinations featuring a snapping right that repeatedly sent.
Pirang swings for the fences
Near rounds end, Pirang was knocked to the ground by a looping right that caught him behind the head, drawing a ref’s warning for hitting the illegal blow.
As round five commenced, Art Simonyan landed a nice series of leading rights as Pirang pursued. A hard right knocked Priang back a step or two; a hard right jab snapped Simonyan’s head back as the two engaged. After Pirang landed several shots to his body, Simonyan landed a hard left hook to the head. The busier of the two, Simonyan carried the round.
In round six, Narongrit Pirang landed a straight left and right to Simonyan’s head. Someone in the crowd yelled, “Lets fight,” as the two continued their relatively low punch output, conservative fight plans behind tight guards. Simonyan landed lead rights, couplings of jabs and the odd hook as he ostensibly banked another round.
As round seven got underway, Pirang landed a heavy left hook that drew gasps from the crowd. However, Simonyan continued popping away with hard lead rights. Pirang landed a heavy right hook that momentarily stemmed Simonyan’s aggressions. Clearly behind on points, Pirang pressed while Simonyan tried to pick him off. The two exchanged hard rights just before the bell.
Early in round eight, it appeared that Art knocked down Narongrit. However, the referee ruled it a slip. As Pirang pressed, Simonyan countered, striking as Pirang was off balance on the follow through of reaching punches. Time and again, Simonyan landed hard rights catching Pirang coming in. Using his superior height and reach to advantage, he shrewdly managed spacing to his advantage as he adroitly slipped and ducked Pirang’s shots one moment and countered the next.
In round nine, Simonyan boxed sharply, generally avoiding his opponents lunging shots and peppering him in return. Pirang landed a straight right that drew yells of encouragement from a crowd growing impatient with Simonyan’s cagey tactics. Someone yelled out “Hit him with your purse, Simonyan,” as the round drew to a close and the crowd booed.
Round ten saw Simonyan drew cheers of approval as he lost his balance and slipped to the ground in an aborted attempt to nail an off balance Pirang. Playing crafty matador to Pirang’s bull, he continued to pepper his game, but outclassed opponent, landing crisp rights that packed some pop, but failing to follow up with sustained aggression. This safety conscious approach was winning the fight but was not winning him any fans this evening.
In round 11, Narongrit Pirang continued to pressure. The two exchanged smacking rights. Pirang landed a jarring straight right and a follow-up right hook to the back of the head that drew a mild protest from Art. Pressing stronger, Narongrit landed another hard right hook and gestured with pumping fists to Simonyan to make a fight of it. Not buying into it, Simonyan continued to peck away and landed a hard straight right that snapped Pirang’s head back at the bell.
As round 12 began, Art Simonyan landed three lard rights and received a hard straight left in return. Possessing an edge in jabs he landed single rights and a hook. Moments later, he dropped his hands to his sides, stuck his chin out and taunted Pirang, drawing boos from the unappreciative crowd. The two exchanged hard hooks in close. Then, breaking off the exchange, Simonyan danced around the ring as Pirang pursued in earnest. Getting off his bicycle, Simonyan closed the fight peppering with one twos as Pirang failed to answer effectively.
In the spirited co-main event, Brazilian lightweight Juliano Ramos (13-0-0, 11 KO’s) started slowly, but surged to win a convincing and entertaining unanimous decision over Columbian, Moises Pedroza (24-6-1).
Bearing a remarkable resemblance to Ramos’ celebrated countryman, Acelino Frietas, the chiseled Moises Pedroza easily took round one, as he landed the majority of the punches, starting off with a looping right and landing a handful of other solid blows. For his part, Ramos maintained a high guard and threw a minimum of punches. He appeared calm as he apparently studied his much busier counterpart as he stalked him about the ring.
Moises Pedroza (left) tries to fend off surging Juliano Ramos (right)
In round two, Juliano Ramos landed a heavy straight right and followed it with leaden punches as the two exchanges in spirited skirmishes. Carefully picking his places, his punch output increased. Still Pedroza appeared to dominate in terms of sheer numbers of effective punches landed.
In the third round, Pedroza landed a series of hard rights sparking spirited exchanges. Heavy rights were exchanged boy both fighters. Suddenly blood dripped ominously from Ramos’ right eye. It appeared that he sustained a cut just above his eye and under his left brow. Ramos pursued with a new sense of urgency. However, Pedroza fought back hard. This was a close round, no doubt.
Round four, Juliano Ramos sought to press the action, but was out-punched by Pedroza, who was a lot more liberal with his punches. It appeared that while Ramos sought to setup the coup de gras, Moises Pedroza took what opportunities stood quite literally in front of him. In the last minute of the round, Ramos wobbled several moments after absorbing a potent left hook. Pedroza pounced and sought to finish him, but couldn’t cash in on the momentary advantage. Ramos was rocked by another right landed just moments after the bell.
In round five, Ramos landed a great deal more, jabbing and landing rights with good effect, as Pedroza appeared to tire. Ramos jab packed a lot of pop, snapping back his opponent’s head on impact. It appeared odd that he did not use it more often. The tide shifted, as Ramos appeared to win this round.
Early in round six, the two exchanged hooks. Even as Ramos appeared to be mounting a rally, Pedroza landed a serious of hard lefts and right and appeared to be taking the round. After a minute or so passed, his attack slowed and Ramos resumed stalking his adversary behind a rejuvenated jab. Ramos had discovered what others already knew: his potent jab was extremely effective in this fight. It appeared that Ramos barely shaded Pedroza in a fairly close round.
In round seven, Pedroza repeatedly fought off the ropes as Ramos pressed hard, systematically breaking down his opponent. Using the jab to set up a mixed attack to head and body, Ramos wrested control of the round from its outset as Pedroza retreated.
Ramos continued his rally in round eight, as he consistently out-landed and outboxed his stodgy opponent. Pedroza fought back hard in spurts. With increasing frequency, Ramos drew “ooh’s” from the crowd with as he landed impressively. At rounds end, he rocked Pedrozas head back with a hard jab.
Seeking to obey his corners desperate pleas, in round nine, Pedroza fought back harder, winging looping hard lefts and rights even as Ramos surged. Blood trickling from his cut, Ramos threw straighter and landed the greater preponderance of punches as he dominated the round.
In the tenth and final round, Ramos strafed his opponent with straighter and more compact shots even as Pedroza increasingly missed with wild looping shots. A mouse developing under his right eye, Pedroza sought to stem the tide of his antagonist, but was found wanting and largely ineffective. Ramos landed a series of telling lefts ands rights that rocked Pedroza, drawing large yells from thee crowd. Fighting for survival, a spent Ramos fought back with abandon, winging hard rights and lefts of his own. As the final 30 seconds ticked off, it appeared that Ramos was close to falling. Ramos flurried hard, rocking Pedroza seconds before the final bell with a solid right. The final tally was 97-93, 96-93 and 99-91, all for a unanimous decision victory for Juliano Ilario Ramos.
In an entertaining scrap of contrasting styles, Gary Gomez (10-3-0) slugged his way to a close, unanimous decision victory over busier John Romans William (13-3-0) by scores of 77-74 twice and 76-75.
John William (right) presses while Gary Gomez (left) prepares to counter
In round one, Williams backpedaled and fired crisp jabs while Gomez pursued. Gomez landed a hard left hook on the ropes, but Williams escaped. Trying to look slick, Williams did the “Ali Shuffle,” but got caught with a hook moments later. Gomez pressured as Williams tied t maintain distance and potshot his incoming assailant with crisp one-twos. Gomez landed a looping right left combination on the ropes.
Round two, Gomez landed a pair of left hooks to William’s body on the ropes after eating a series of jabs. Williams bled from a wound at his hairline as Gomez landed a pair of hooks to the head. Williams became more aggressive, opening up with an assortment of snapping right jabs, lead straight lefts and right hooks. He appeared to win this round as well.
In round three, an aggressive Williams was warned for clashing with his head. Coming off the ropes, Williams turned Gomez and hit him blatantly behind the head, drawing a warning from the ref. Williams attacked with a vengeance scoring hard two-handed shots. Shaking his head following a sustained volley, Gomez fired back in short bursts. The attack abated, the two studied each other and took a momentary break as the round wound down. This was clearly another round for Williams.
Round four, Gomez scored a hard right, which in turn provoked a furious two handed counter attack from Williams. Backing Williams into the ropes again he landed a few clubbing shots, but let the moment pass. Gomez landed a pair of hard rights—one to the body and the other to the head—but suffered about seven punches in return. Again fighting back in spurts, Gomez absorbed a volley of return fire from both hands.
It appeared that Gomez, while possessing a reasonable chin and decent power, threw less punches due to less conditioning than his more energetic counterpart.
In round five, Williams pitched a shutout for the first minute and hit an out of position Gomez with a shot to the back of his head. However, inside, Gomez landed a pair of hard hooks to the body and a big right uppercut. Gaining some space, Williams teed off on him with a series of rights and lefts. Williams appeared to double over slightly from a walloping shot to the body. However, Williams still outscored his stodgy opponent from the outside as the round came to a close.
In round six, Williams landed a hook and a pair of rights to the head. Pressing in, Gomez landed a heavy right to the head, which drew gasps from the crowd. Gomez stalked a tiring Williams firing heavy combinations to head and body. Perhaps seeking respite from Gomez’ punishing attack, Williams threw a low blow for which he was promptly penalized one point for. Trapping Williams on the ropes, Gomez nailed him with hard lefts and rights. As was the pattern, this fired up Williams, who returned fire with a heated volley. Gomez slipped to the ground. Pressing, Williams landed a big, over hand right. Seeking to press his advantage, he came on strong. However, Gomez repelled him towards the ropes as he fired leaden lefts and rights at rounds end.
In the early moments of round seven, Williams teed off at long range with one-twos. Stalking his opponent, Gomez landed a couple one-twos of his own, as well as several hard left hooks to the body. Tired, Williams ate several hard left and rights to the head and body. Coming off the ropes, Williams landed a blatant rabbit punch to the back of the head, drawing protests from the crowd. A little later in the round while on the ropes, Williams suffered a thudding pair of right and left hooks to the body. Clearing the ropes, Williams rallied, only to slip to the ground as Gomez fired back off the ropes at the bell.
In the eighth and last round, Williams opened with jarring right jabs, but absorbed heavy hooks and a couple of hard rights in return. Gomez landed with a lead right uppercut, a left hook and a potent one two, a hard right that caused Williams right knee to dip to the canvas to avoid oncoming fire. Gomez continued to press with heavy rights landing a thudding right to the head that drew large cheers from the crowd as he closed out the final round strongly.
Weighing in at 169 pounds, ever-popular Ukrainian, Dr. Vitalyi Kopytko (23-6-0) utterly dominated his opponent, Robert Muhammed (8-30-1). Opening strongly, he initiated the first round behind a series of right jabs as Muhammed pursued. Ever threatening, Muhammed landed a ponderous looping right that drew “oh’s” from the crowd. Kopytko sought to spear his oncoming opponent as he back-pedaled and circled with sharp jabs and straight lefts to head and body. In the process, he caught two or three hooks to the head while he pitched a virtual shutout against his wild and hard swinging opponent.
MuhammedKopytko.jpg Vitaliy Kopytko(right) pummels Robert Muhammed (left)
In round two, Kopytko used movement, a quick right jab and two, three and four punch flurries to head and midsection. Muhammed landed a pair of rights to Kopytko’s head, but suffered a peppering of rights and lefts from a circling and evasive antagonist for his efforts.
This pattern continued. In round three, Kopytko dropped in sharp and straight combinations and moved—circling, dodging—reengaged, and circled again. Landing an incidental low blow, Kopytko apologized and, moments later swarmed his slower opponent. Dancing two and fro, he speared his stalking opponent with crisp jabs and one-twos as he closed the round out.
In the fourth, pursuing his fleet footed tormentor, Muhammed landed a left hook to the head and body, but ate numerous jabs, right-lefts down the pipe and to the mid section, evoking images of a punching bag session with Muhammed playing the role of the bag. Kopytko landed a hard straight left just before the bell, evoking cheers from the crowd.
Round five saw Kopytko circle to his right and torment with a stinging jab, he ducked under a wild left hook, then resumed the onslaught. Irrepressibly, Muhammed stalked, head bobbling ala Joe Frazier sans the punching. Kopytko increased his aggressions, backing him up with crisp volleys and several thumping straight lefts now, then releasing and circling moments later.
In the culminating sixth round, Kopytko dropped hard lead straight lefts to the head and a furious two-fisted effort to stop him. Befuddled, his opponent ate countless punches, prompting one of his corner men to contemplate stopping the one-sided drubbing. To his credit, Muhammed renewed his efforts seeking desperately to corner and hit his quicker adversary. He managed to land a respectable left hook near the end of the round as Kopytko danced away. The decision came as no great surprise, a unanimous decision with scores of 60-54, 60-53, 60-54 all for Kopytko.
The heavyweight bout between Harold T. Johnson (5-31-0) and Guiseppe Kidd (pro debut) proved both brief and immensely entertaining to the vociferous crowd.
Round one began as Kidd wasted no time unleashing a two handed assault firing hard rights and lefts, dropping Johnson to the ground wit a wicked right hook to the midsection. Rising, Johnson charged him and ducked under a wild, looping right to the head.
Angered, Johnson pressed Kidd into the ropes and whaled away with vengeance. Pivoting off the ropes to his left, Kidd gained some space and leverage. As Johnson continued his furious assault, he was caught with a wicked left hook to the side that dropped him to the mat, clearly in agony. Rolling over onto his side, he grimaced and gasped as the ref waved off the fight. Kidd won officially at 1:41 into the first round by KO!
The bout between junior welterweights Brazilian, Luciano Silva (1-0-0), and Wisconsin native, Gabriel Perez (0-10-0), was similarly brief.
Commencing round one, the shorter Perez fired up what appeared to be a blistering fusillade of lefts and rights and rushed in. Unfortunately, he promptly slipped to his mat as the two came together. Up again, Perez once again began winging furious lefts and rights before he was in range and—like a human threshing machine—dove back in. Unfortunately he walked into a couple of punches and—like that—collapsed to all fours where he was counted out! Time of the knockout was 58 seconds into the first round.
By the time the fight card ended, the storm had safely passed. However, the thrill of this night’s event was not lost on the enervated crowd, as it buzzed long after the last bell. Like the tornado that touched down several miles away, the collaborative efforts of Bobby Hitz and Banner Boxing Promotions left an indelible impression and would be long remembered by those in attendance at this suburban enclave.
