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06/18/2005 Archived Entry: "Spina Decisions Daniels"
Spina Decisions Daniels
Local Prospects, Estrada, Godfrey & Clampitt Clean Up
By J.D. Vena at ringside
There comes a time in a young boxer’s career when he or she must step up to the plate and face big league pitching. Spit or get off the pot as some say. Last night at the Dunkin Donut Center in Providence many local New England boxers took turns spitting at the face of adversity and to the delight of the 1,380 in attendance, all passed their respective tests. In the main event of a CES boxing event, Providence native, Joey “KO Kid” Spina, 167, overcame the vast experience of former WBA jr. middleweight champion, Carl Daniels of St. Louis, MO, to earn a unanimous 10-round decision.
Spina, who has spent most of his career at light heavyweight couldn’t match skills with Daniels who used crisp punches to keep Spina on the outside. So the powerful KO Kid resorted to what he’s been accustomed to – bull his opponent into submission. In what appeared to be a very close fight, Spina took the 10th and final round by hurting Daniels, 167, with his powerful hooks and body shots. Though some at ringside felt that Daniels may have done enough to pull off the minor upset, the judges sure didn’t.
Judges Robert Paolino (98-92), Walter Stone (97-94) and Clark Samartino (99-91) clearly felt that Spina’s approach was winning out the rounds. The CBZ had Spina winning by a tally of 96-94. Spina, already ranked 15th by the NABF, improved to 16-0 with 11 KO’s while Daniels, who has lost to three undefeated prospects in a row, fell to 49-7-1 with 31 KO’s.
The choice of opposition for 2004 U.S. Olympian, Jason “Big Six” Estrada of Providence may have warranted some unjust criticism. Though the 2003 Pan Am Games Gold Medalist hadn’t previously fought boxers with several losses, there was never a doubt of him winning any of his previous two bouts. Some call it “padding the record,” but some feel that this is necessary for even the most decorated of amateur turned professional prospects. This easy path however has seemed to have come to an abrupt end for Big Six. For Estrada’s opponent last night, Demetrice King, a 260-pound monster from Flint, MI could not be confused with a tomato can. King not only sported a modest record of 7-7 with 5 KO’s, he nearly upset unbeaten (13-0-2) Canadian Art Binkowski last month over 8 rounds.
The durable King can not only resist, he can fight and he can punch, which is why many promoters and fighters don’t take this kind of fight this early in a fighter’s career. Not the case for Jason Estrada or CES. Showing his enormous potential, Big Six, 248, comfortably boxed and fought his way to winning an exciting 4-round unanimous decision over King (40-36 twice and 40-37). During the bout, Estrada now 3-0 (1 KO), displayed an abundance of skill and the ability to absorb some heavy blows and it’s becoming more and more clear that if Estrada keeps this up, could develop into what most had foreseen of him.
Estrada’s longtime, smaller buddy and stable mate from Manfredo’s Gym, Matt Godfrey was also put to the task last night. In fact he may have had the tallest order of the bunch. Godfrey, 204, squared off against the experienced Jermell “The Truth” Barnes, a former NABO cruiserweight champion who has swapped blows in 12-rounders with the likes of Robert Daniels, Dale Brown and Felix Cora among others. None of Barnes’ previous conquerors however had only seven bouts under their belt.
Going in to their 8-round bout, Barnes, 202, a high school teacher from Rochester, NY seemed to have had all of the advantages except the hometown crowd behind him. But in a one-sided bout, which displayed Godfrey’s budding potential, “the teacher was taken to school” as publicist Bob Trieger so aptly declared from ringside.
Godfrey’s speed, arguably the best weapon against experience, was clearly disrupting Barnes, but Godfrey’s counterpunching skill was also impressive and something you’d expect from Barnes’ previous foes. Godfrey, now 8-0 with 5 KO’s won by three scores of 80-72. Barnes fell to 17-9 with 4 KO’s.
Though every New Englander is sick and tired of the rain, the local boxing fans still can’t get enough of local favorite “Hurricane” Jaime Clampitt. The Canadian native Clampitt, a former IWBF world light welterweight champion from Naragansett, RI looked very impressive in knocking out “Lightning” Leona Jackson of Memphis, TN at 1:44 of the 3rd round. After scoring a standing 8-count of Jackson, 142, in the 2nd round, the Hurricane poured it on in the third dropping Jackson with a right hand, which had a delayed effect.
Clampitt, rated number 4 by the IFBA and appears ready for another shot at the title improved to 15-3-1 with 5 KO’s.
Other Results:
Middleweights: “Lightning” Les Ralston, 163, Buffalo, NY TKO4 (3:00) Shawn Williams, 160 ½, Columbus, OH
Female Super-Featherweights: Missy “The Fury” Fiorentino, 126, Cranston, RI WU4 (40-36 x3) Lisa “Lil’ Warrior” Lewis, 130, Fresno, CA
Matt “Sharp Shooter” Remillard, 126, Manchester, CT WM4 (39-38, 39-38, 38-38) Yamin Mohammad, 126, West Carrolton, OH
Eddie Soto, 138 ½, Pawtucket, RI TKO3 Jorge Hernandez, 143 ½, Miami, FL
Promoter – Classic Entertainment & Sports
Network – Cox Cable
Attendance – 1,380
