Both Petr Petrov and Willie Monroe were impressive in winning their respective Boxcino titles at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, New York, in front of a national audience that was watching on ESPN2.
Petrov impressively halted Fernando Carcamo in eight rounds with an impressive display of sharp punching and use of angles that kept his taller Mexican foe on his heels the whole night to pick up the lightweight crown. From the very beginning Petrov attacked in quick bursts while never staying in the same place for too long. Carcamo could never get on track and he was steadily worn down by the two fisted attack of the Russian who now fights out of Santa Fe Springs, California.
At first it was his adroit use of his left hook -- that he mixed to the body and head -- that did the early damage. Then later on it was his right hands over the top that shook Carcamo, who was badly dazed at the end of the seventh. As he went back to his corner, Carcamo's chief second Joel Diaz announced he was stopping the fight only to change his mind, in what was an ill-advised move.
Forty seconds into the eighth, with Petrov closing in and hammering away, the proceedings were waved off. Petrov, who moved to 35-4-2 (17 KO's), is a fighter on the rise and he picked up a couple of minor belts (that come with rankings in various sanctioning bodies) for his troubles. Carcamo's mark drops to 17-6.
In a battle of middleweights Monroe Jr. defeated Brandon Adams with a mix of deft boxing from his southpaw stance and more than held his own on the inside when Adams was able to close the gap. Monroe, who's one blemish is to the respected journeyman, Darnell Boone, was able to hold himself together well when Adams mounted any type of rally.
While he easily out-boxed Adams from his southpaw stance from the outside and the middle of the ring, what was surprising is that he fought well off the ropes as Adams backed him up, who had his moments but for the most part was neutralized by the overall skills of Monroe, who won by the scores of 99-91 on all three scorecards.
Petrov and Monroe came into this tournament as relative unknowns, now they leave with bright futures.
