World Fight Products Inc.

Buxton Promotions.
Professional Boxing
Sat- July 19th- 2008

Bringing boxing back to Belleville after over twenty years, Buxton promotions picked the ideal venue. Close to the 401 highway with ample parking. The show was held at the Quinte Sports Centre. With an hour till show time the ring girls practiced there mandatory poses to the delight of the media members who arrived early. The floor seats were filled, leaving the masses to filter into this hockey arena’s stands.       As hands were being wrapped I was able to grab a few words with opening bout participant Brock Arthur. When asked if he had any nerves coming into his pro debt? He replied “There’s always nerves” And as to his knowledge of his opponent Ray Kovinic, “The guy’s taller than me that’s all I know, I’m hoping for a quick stoppage” And that’s exactly what he gave. The referee stopped the fight with 21 seconds left in the opening round. After some vicious body shots followed by left, right hooks to head the bout was over.

The second match was Hamilton Ontario’s Justin Fountain taking on the only import of the evening Tom Joseph of Akron Ohio. Fountain came out swinging like he had somewhere else to be, winning the opening frame convincingly. His work rate slowed threw the second and third rounds, which saw both fighters trading power shots. Joseph seemed to win the fourth and last round with impressive work inside, especially the uppercuts. One judge gave each fighter the win with the third scoring it even. The draw left both fighters with 3-1-1 records.

Paul Scott showed superior skills against Aboualye Coulibaly cutting off the ring, picking clean shots against a willing opponent making his pro debut. Coulibaly came in wildly with looping left hooks only to be countered by a peppering of straight jabs. As the rounds progressed the Montréal based fighter training under Otis Grant, had little answer to Scott’s work rate. Following a flurry in the final frame Coulibaly’s knee brushed the canvas. After the mandatory eight count, the final bell rang leaving Scott with a win via unanimous decision.

Lindsay Garbatt of Motor City Gym Oshawa stalked Lucia Larinese. Pressing the action from the opening bell with powerful body shots, only to be countered by the Montreal native’s stiff jab. Although Lindsay won all rounds, Lucia never looked overly shaken. In the final round after being backed onto the ropes with a single head shot, followed by several punches (none of which appeared to connect) the referee stopped the contest. This early ending to what some were calling the fight of the night brought vocal distain from the crowds in attendance. Rack up another TKO for team Motor City.
Two Ontario fighters made up the sixth bout, in a rematch with Phil Boudreault and Tebor Brosch. Tebor came out the aggressor whilst Phil seamed happy to use the entire ring, throwing fast combinations and avoiding the clinch. A wise move considering on one brief inside encounter he came away with a cut eye. Caused by what seemed a clash of heads. The blood continued to flow for Phil throughout round two, and from the third round on Tebor appeared frustrated. Pushing off with elbows, shoulders and at one point hitting his opponent in the knees, quite simply he was out boxed. Boudreault won via decision.

Home town favorite Harrison McBain took on Montreal’s Jorge Banos in the main event. Banos inactive in over a year looked unfazed to be fighting in the McBain’s Bellville backyard. Good jabs and right crosses saw him take the first round. McBain cut Banos eye with a terrific left hook almost a minute into the second, leaving the stunned opponent to back peddle for the remaining two minutes. Whilst the crowed cheered on, Banos took points with a good jab and straight right. And McBain controlled the inside work, utilizing some impressive body shots. When all was said and done the fans seemed to think there man had done enough to earn the victory. However the judges saw it different one judge gave it to McBain by two rounds. The other two had it even leaving us with a main event draw.

In showing the dedication and commitment in bringing boxing back to an area starved for so many years, Buxton Promotions deserves a hell of a lot of credit. Whoever was the match maker for Bellville this night got it right. All the fights were entertaining. All too often fight cards are padded with so-so bouts to make the event seem grander. Happily tonight this was not the case.
A great singer for the national anthems, six strong bouts, no beer brawls. Oh and did I mention those card girls!