Missouri Boxing News

Boxing At The Plaza
October 27th, 2005
JEFFERSON CITY, MO – The Capitol Plaza Hotel in downtown Jefferson City played host to an onslaught of Professional Boxing this fine evening. With Fall in the air, and a crispness to the night outside, the 1000+ who showed up for ringside seating, and standing room only, were in for a 9 fight treat that saw everything from Professional debuts, to some of the toughest women fighters in all of Missouri. The inside showroom to the Plaza is big and beautiful. Accommodations and seating were some of the better I have seen for a local event. This evening was not to disappoint even the harshest of local boxing critics, and the hopes for more events at this venue is one that this writer is definitely game for!

The 9-bout evening started off exciting, and never quit from there. Early knockout victories going to Jefferson City locals Steve Buckner (3-0, 2KO’s) and Felipe Villegas (4-1, 2KO’s) got things started off. The only spoilers for the Jefferson City fans came from out of town fighters JeRay Cunningham, Susan Winter, and Brock Stodden. Cunningham and Stodden with respective victories by TKO over Preston Essex and Brad Ekstam, and a Draw between Winter and local talent Kristin Rambo.

The first 6 bouts prior to a brief intermission were all very exciting, but the most exciting match went to local New Bloomfield, MO Cruiserweight Ryan White. In the 5th bout of the evening – White matched his talent against Kansas City, MO product Payton Parks. Parks making his Professional debut did just about everything possible to villanize himself to the crowd. The fight only lasted 1 round, but in the beginning it seemed as though White might be in for a rough evening as Parks was wailing away with wide and often wild shots that for whatever reason – were hitting the mark. White waited until nearly the midpoint of the round (after a brisk taunting from Parks left nearly everyone in the Plaza begging White to knock his man out). White did not disappoint because 1 stiff straight right hand later – Parks was reeling to the other side of the ring, and the full capacity crowd stood up and cheered! It was the most electric moment to the first part of the evening. Parks – seeming dazed and confused – perhaps believing he was about to be given a standing 8 count – looked oddly at the crowd from within the ring. However a standing 8 was not to be given, and White unleashed a 2-punch combination that prompted Referee Mike England to step in and stop the bout at 2:36 in Round 1.

Gamal Collier wrapped the first half of the evening up with a 3-punch combination in the 1st round that left his opponent – Alvin Smith – lying flat on is back. Collier (a native of West Africa) was making his pro debut, and there is no better way to do that than with the quickest knockout of the evening (.19 seconds into the 1st round).

After the intermission things once again got underway with one of the toughest ladies in all of Missouri – Liz Drew (ranked 14th in the United States at Lightweight) who made good on her promise of an early knockout by absolutely destroying last minute replacement Jasmine Davis – at 1:03 of the 1st round. Drew now goes to 10-8 with 3KO’s while Davis now drops to 1-4.

After Stodden’s TKO upset over Ekstam stymied the crowd – it was time for the main event of the evening. Jesse Bryan coming off a disappointing defeat at the hand of Mike Woods this past September for the NAMA Light Heavyweight Championship was looking for a little redemption. It came in the name of Donnie Davis. Davis started out fast – clubbing Bryan to a point that the crowd became concerned over Bryan’s would-be inactivity. Bryan obviously had his own ideas here as he allowed the overly hyper Davis to punch himself out, and then began an onslaught of bodywork and shots to the head that welted Davis’s right eye, and had his opponent reeling at nearly every exchange. Bryan put Davis into the corner near the midpoint of round 4, and Referee Mike England had seen enough. Bryan comes out victorious with a TKO in the 4th.

The fine people of Jefferson City, MO is one that I will not forget anytime soon. The venue was fantastic, and as I opened this piece with – my hopes are for more promotions in the future to showcase the talents of these fine men and women to and around the Jefferson City area.
Rich Yarger is an independent writer from the camp of Team Hinds – St. Louis, MO