Missouri Boxing News

By Glenn McBrady

For The St. Louis American

As eager fight fans filed into The Family Arena in St. Charles last Thursday evening, there was the usual buzz of anticipation that accompanies a pro fight card presented on a grand stage. But even the most seasoned spectators of the sport were standing as the undercard unfolded, producing six technical knockouts in as many bouts.

The night was capped off by a main event that was a brutal battle of attrition between two rugged customers brawling for a championship belt. Some of St. Louis’ best boxers were in attendance, including young guns Lamar Harris, Danny Williams, Jamal Parram, DeAndre Latimore, and Chris Sharp, as well as former world champion William Guthrie.

Local pro Steve Vincent looked solid in his match against Jefferson City’s John Slicker. From the fading of the opening bell’s clang, Vincent was looking to time his shorter opponent on the way in with a sharp left hook in an effort to land that home run blow. With William Guthrie yelling encouragement from ringside, Vincent went to work with 1,2’s punctuated with double right hooks to the body and head.

Slicker maintained a resolute stare between rounds, even after being floored in the third round with a stern jab. By the fourth, Slicker was pawing at his bleeding nose as Vincent continued to toss urgent lead left hooks. Vincent began the sixth and final round at a frenzied pace, looking to close the show. A 1,2, hook combination buckled Slicker’s back leg near Vincent’s hostile blue corner. Slicker would fall twice more, the second time as a result of a jab followed by a hacking right hook to the ribs. The referee mercifully intervened for the TKO stoppage.

The ring entrances for the sixth fight of the night couldn’t have been more different. Nebraska’s Tyler “The Working Man” Hughes made his ring walk wearing a cowboy hat as the twang of a country music tune poured from the arena’s speakers. His counterpart, St. Louis’ Sam “The Punching Policeman” Hill, made the trip as a song by Lil’ Jon & The Eastside Boyz rumbled through the rafters.

After a cautious start, Hill settled into a rhythm with his jab, looking to block or elude Hughes’ awkward, clubbing shots. Hughes appeared to steal round two with a flurry at the end, but Hill responded with a punishing body attack in the next stanza that turned his foe’s midsection pink.

The TKO ending came at 2:39 of the third round when Hill landed a right hook to the ear that dropped Hughes to one knee.

The main event between St. Charles’ Mike Wood and Jesse Bryan from Jefferson City for the North American Midwest Association’s light heavyweight title turned into a shining example of how compelling the sport can be. The determined duo traded hurtful combinations for eight exciting rounds, each refusing to back down from the challenge.

Wood was first with his jab early, adding right uppercuts when the fight went inside. Bryan found success with his right hook at the outset, rattling Wood’s teeth and refusing to give way. After each busy round, Wood raised his gloves skyward as the crowd sprang from their chairs and cheered.

By the fifth, the blood from Wood’s nose was really leaking as he defiantly sent a slashing right hand to Bryan’s exposed chin. In rounds seven and eight Wood wisely returned to the jab as his corner warned, “Don’t fight his fight!”

By the end of the seventh Bryan had a slice above his right eye, a wound that Wood would exploit in the eighth and final frame. With Bryan’s vision impaired, the fan favorite from St. Charles landed several left hooks upstairs to seal the deal and still looked fresh as the final bell echoed through the building.

Wood emerged with a majority decision victory, and the crowd rose for a standing ovation as the title belt was wrapped around the new champion’s waist. The list of winners included not only those in the ring, but the fans who were treated to some of the best action of the year.