Boxing Results: Rayco "War" Saunders and Andres "Taylor Made" Taylor turn in Impressive Victories

Boxing Results: Rayco "War" Saunders and Andres "Taylor Made" Taylor turn in Impressive Victories

By Brian Gorman at ringside, Doghouse Boxing (May 22, 2010) Doghouse Boxing

Despite facing opponents uninterested in cooperating with the plan to appease and excite the hometwon crowd, co-headliners Rayco "War" Saunders of Pittsburgh and Andres "Taylor Made" Taylor of Johnstown each turned in impressive victories Friday night at the terrific new venue at the Monroeville Convention Center located just east of Pittsburgh.

Saunders (19-12-2, 8 KOs), 171, dominated from start to finish en route to a TKO at 0:57 of the eighth and final round in

the main event. Saunders, trained by Rick Manning, stalked behind a high guard, pelting the visiting Bruce "the Rage" Rumbolz (22-20-2, 15 KOs) throughout, while Rumbolz retreated and flung much lighter counters behind a low guard.

After a deliberate first round, Saunders began to put his combinations together and broke Rumbolz down. Two left hooks to the body dropped the Illinois veteran in the fourth, and Saunders closed the show in the eighth when he trapped Rumbolz in his own corner and unleashed a barrage, prompting Referee Rick Steigerwald to wave it off. Rumbolz mildly protested, perhaps knowing that he could have finished on his feet but was on his way to a shutout loss.

Taylor (14-1-1, 6 KOs), 197, pulled out a sloppy but exciting unanimous decision over the tough Chris "Cold Steel" Thomas (17-12-2, 14 KOs), 193, of Illinois. A rocky first round for Taylor culminated in two big uppercuts that rocked him. However, he regrouped in the second round and physically wore down Thomas with thudding, looping lead rights and left hooks.

The physical, brawling style suited Taylor, who won by scores of 60-54 and 59-55 (twice). I had it 58-56, giving Thomas the first and fifth but Taylor the rest, since he commendably adjusted to the game Thomas after a rough beginning.

Taylor and Saunders plan to hook up again for a co-feature on June 10 in Johnstown, with details still in the works.

On the undercard:

Akron's Keon Graham, 200.5, improved to 2-1 after outboxing Pittsburgh's Joe Divosevic, 222, 40-36 (all three cards).

Toledo's Demar Singleton, 174, floored Akron's Jadell Wells for the count with body shots at 2:43 in the first to improve to 2-0.

Pittsburgh amateur standout Morgan "Big Chief" Fitch, 175, who will turn pro this summer under the tutelage of Tom Yankello, boxed a three round exhibition with crafty southpaw Mike Moore (1-0), 162.5, of Cleveland.

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