Derek “Pooh” Ennis defeats Clarence “Sonny Bono” Taylor in Philly!


	<SCRIPT language='JavaScript1.1' SRC="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adj/N3245.BoDog/B2561294;abr=!ie;sz=740x125;ord=[timestamp]"> </SCRIPT> <NOSCRIPT> <A HREF="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/N3245.BoDog/B2561294;abr=!ie4;abr=!ie5;sz=740x125;ord=[timestamp]"><IMG SRC="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/N3245.BoDog/B2561294;abr=!ie4;abr=!ie5;sz=740x125;ord=[timestamp]" BORDER=0 WIDTH=740 HEIGHT=125 ALT="Click Here!"></A> </NOSCRIPT>

Derek “Pooh” Ennis defeats Clarence “Sonny Bono” Taylor in Philly!

By Ken Hissner at ringside (Jan 18, 2009) DoghouseBoxing.com

Derek “Pooh” Ennis, 17-2-1 (12), of the Germantown section of Philly, returned to the New Alhambra Friday night where he had suffered his last defeat 6 fights ago, to defeat Clarence “Sonny Bono” Taylor, 13-20-3 (6), of Wilmington, Delaware over 8 rounds in the light middleweight division.

Greg Robinson’s Xtreme Productions who have ran shows at the legendary Blue Horizon, National Guard Armory and Oaks (outside of Philly) made their debut promotion at the South Philly arena. Ty McNeill served as matchmaker.

Ennis is an outstanding prospect who overcame severe cramps in the 2nd round after rocking Taylor with a right uppercut. Taylor had won the 1st round and seemed to be winning the 2nd round before getting rocked. Derrick “Bozy” Ennis, father and trainer of his son worked feverously trying to work the cramping out. “My dad told me to gut it out. Otherwise I felt good tonight,” said Ennis. This was very similar to the first De La Hoya-Mosley fight when Mosley’s father told his son who was behind after 6 rounds to get back in there. He did and won the last 6 rounds and the fight. Ennis took 5 or the last 6 rounds to take a 79-73 and 78-74 (twice) decision. This writer had it 78-74 Ennis.

In the 3rd round Taylor suffered a minor cut outside the left eye. Taylor was working without his trainer Derrick Hoey who had been shot to death last week breaking up a disturbance in Wilmington, Delaware. It certainly had to have taken a toll on him. “I have no excuses but was working with a new corner tonight. I would like a rematch,” said Taylor. In the 4th round Ennis drove Taylor into the ropes with a combination but failed to follow up. The more experienced Taylor won the WBC USNBC light middleweight title in April of 2007 stopping David Medina, then 15-1 and a good prospect. Taylor had just lost a decision to Bronco McKart, whom he had on the canvas. Just 3 months ago Taylor had gone the same 8 round distance with contender Sechew Powell. Taylor seemed to have hurt Ennis in the 5th round as Ennis, a very good defensive boxer, covered up while Taylor landed with wide punching combinations. The trainer of Ennis kept telling him to stay close to Taylor who was not as effective inside with those long arms of his. Ennis seemed very effective with a straight right to the left rib cage of Taylor throughout the fight.

“We hope to return to the New Alhambra in March,” said Moz Gonzalez. He is the co-manager of Ennis along with former boxer Eddie Woods. Mike Fingerman serves as promoter/adviser of Ennis. Gary Rosato served as the referee.

In the co-main event the fans were looking for a real tough 6 round battle between light welterweights Ryan Belasco 9-2-3 (3) of Wilmington and Lenny DeVictoria 11-13-1 (3) of Philly. Belasco won his 4th straight when after giving DeVictoria a real body beating in the 1st round, landed a left to the rib cage and followed with a right to the jaw that dropped his opponent. DeVictoria took the count on one knee while rubbing his nose that may have been injured in the 1st round. Referee Shawn Clark continued the count and waved off DeVictoria who seemed to have little fight in him from the start. Promoter Robinson suggested his nephew Tyric Robinson who was scheduled to fight, and Belasco fight for the state light welterweight title next. Belasco’s team said they would like that down the road.

In the previous fight Joel Rios, 1-5, of North Philly, who had lost a split decision to Belasco last year found himself losing all 4 hard fought rounds on the judge’s cards to debuting Ronald Cruz, 1-0, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Cruz was a good amateur who is trained by Alec Morales and managed by former Phoenixville boxer Jimmy Deoria. “We have high hopes for Cruz,” said Deoria.

Kamarah Pasley, 1-3 (1), of nearby Levittown, finally got into the win column over late substitute Cullen Rogers, 9-23-2 (5), who was obviously overweight in a cruiserweight 4 rounder when referee Clark seemed to prematurely stop it at 1:37 of the 3rd round. Pasley was scoring well with left uppercuts out of the southpaw stance, especially when having Rogers against the ropes. In 2007 Rogers had put then 26-2-1 Chris Mills into retirement with a 1st round knockout in Scranton. In the 2nd round Rogers missed with a looping right hand and found himself off balance and on the canvas as the referee picked up the count declaring it a knockdown. Though awkward, Rogers did land a couple of looping punches without much effect on Pasley.

Debuting light welterweight Lou Rodriguez 1-0 of Philly looked very good easily winning the first 2 rounds but started to slow down in the 3rd round but had enough to edge Ramon Ellis, 0-1, also of Philly, by majority decision over 4 rounds. 39-37 (twice) and 38-38 were the scores. Trainer Javier Varela seemed quite pleased with his young boxer’s win. He along with another trainer Billy Briscoe who had Rios in an earlier fight have done quite a bit to make the Hispanic area have the rest of the city stand up and take notice at what they have accomplished. Briscoe also serves as trainer of Gabriel “King” Rosado who will be having his 2nd straight ESPN2 bout next month.

Despite several bouts falling out the fans were entertained and should be looking forward to the promotion team of Xtreme Productions next bout March 16th at the same New Alhambra in South Philly.

Comments/disputes/questions?
e-mail

Ken at: kenhissner@yahoo.com

For more News:
Visit our
Home page

For more Views:
Register Free & Visit our
Forum