Dameon Okposio Sponsors Fight Card In U.S.A

The tenth round was a slugfest. Both fighters planted their feet and started swinging. Both fighters wanted to close the show and you could see that. Both fighters were throwing with bad intentions and both fighters had their moments in the round. 20 seconds to go Luis landed a devastating right hand but both Redkach and Luis absorbed each other’s punches well.

Judge Gerald Deming scored 99-90, Teressa Mullens scored 97-92, Mack Thornton scored 97-93 all for a unanimous decision victory for Redkach. Luis forced Redkach to dig deep for the win and they both showed they are world class fighters. Luis was visibly upset after losing a fight that should have been scored closer or could have been a draw. This performance will still elevate the stature of Tony Luis. Questions of his toughness and skill level against a tough hard punching lightweight have been answered. BTB

Photo by: Tom Casino / Showtime Sports

DAMEON OKPOSIO SPONSORS FIGHTCARD IN U.S.A.

Article by: Dameon Okposio

Junmar Emon victorious in Milwaukee

After two failed attempts to promote my own professional boxing show in this province and local promoters seemingly only putting on fighters that will pay them the most amount of money, I was advised to put my money into the American economy. I was told that the Ontario government doesn’t care that Ontario Athletic Commission was driving business and money out of the province by keeping Ken Hayashi at the helm of the Ontario Athletic Commission. To be straight, I am not saying that the office of the Athletic Commission is corrupt, other people are saying that. People who did not want to be named stated that the Ontario Athletic Commission doesn’t know or understand the sport of boxing. They stated that Ken Hayashi routinely oversteps his position and acts as matchmaker and medical examiner. Citing that he has absolutely no respect or trust for anyone he works with and he demonstrates it on a regular basis by making all the decisions concerning the health, welfare and ability of pugilists. No need for referees.

The advantages of fighting in the United States is the abundance of promoters and fighters. The fight community is so large that you could essentially fight every month if you where intent to do so. The same can’t be said for anywhere in Canada with the exception of Quebec. In my pursuit to find a promoter to work with, I was able to connect with a fighter who was putting together his first promotion and also fighting on the card as well. Enobong “The Nigerian Gentleman” Umohette was the current USA Wisconsin State Heavyweight Champion and was fighting Dante Craig for the vacant UBF (Universal Boxing Federation) International Heavyweight Title. He gave me the opportunity to work with him and allowed me to place my boxers on the card. We both trusted each other, and teamwork in boxing can make good things happen. I ended up sponsoring the show. It was less expensive than trying to put on a show in Ontario, and this promoter knew what it was to fight and the politics of the fight game. There were no issues about who was affiliated with whom; he just wanted an action-packed fight

card. It was a great opportunity for me and I was only happy to help in any way that I could because it was appreciated. I had bag of unopened Everlast gloves that I had purchased for my show that I brought down as well.

At the time I was managing Calato Boakye, a hard working light heavyweight fighter. Numerous fights had fallen through from opponents pulling out with various injuries. We had a contract to fight Winston Dann in August 2013, in Brampton, Ontario that didn’t materialize, and I attempted to solidify fights with three other light heavyweights in Ontario with no success. When this opportunity presented itself, I definitely jumped at it. The date was November 2, 2013, and the location was the Expo Center at the Potawatomi Bingo Casino in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Calato had prepared vigorously for his debut

Photos by: Dameon Okposio

spending time training with Dewith Frazer, Tommy Howat and Donald Wambolt for boxing, strength and conditioning with Steve Hayden and quality sparring at Primetime in Oakville and Elite in Mississauga.

We experienced the same issue with opponents on the Wisconsin card but the difference was the availability of suitable opponents to fill in. We had an opponent locked in a couple weeks out. Dennis Morris who was 1-1, who last fought more than two years ago, was stopped in his last outing. It was a good test. Unfortunately, none of Calato’s coaches were able to make the trip. I took Calato down to Milwaukee, and the drive took roughly 15 hours. As his manager, I made sure all expenses were covered for Calato in addition to getting paid for the fight.

The bout took place in the cruiserweight division,

175 lbs to 200 lbs. Dennis Morris fought all of his professional fights in the light heavyweight division but last fought March 18, 2011, when he was stopped by Taneal Goyco. He had gone up in weight but it meant that Calato Boakye wouldn’t have to dry out or drop weight prior to the fight. Boakye weighed in at 179.8 lbs., and Morris weighed in at 196 lbs. I had hired former George St. Pierre striking coach, Victor Vargotsky, to help work Calato’s corner and wrap his hands. Vargotsky, a former Soviet special forces sniper and former kickboxing champion who works with Ahmad Cheikho and a number of talented fighters is known to give straight honest advice. Vargotsky and I laid out the strategy and although Morris and Boakye were the same age, we felt that Boakye’s conditioning, height and reach advantage and boxing skill would ensure us the victory.

Having fought, trained and managed fighters for years, I know that saying something and executing it in the ring are two totally different things but that is where discipline and the hours and hours of training should be able to carry you through any adversity. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen this day. Calato disregarded the game plan and fought his own fight. He attacked Morris with his hands down, fighting in a Roy Jones type of style. To his credit, Calato was landing some very nice body shots but they were one at a time and infrequent. When Boakye returned to the corner, we implored him to keep his hands up and work behind his jab. The second round was the more of the same, hands down, clever but sporadic attacks. I was hoarse by the beginning of the third round. The slow pace had emboldened Morris who had been keeping his distance and periodically darting in. Once he realized that the punches coming back were only one punch at a time, he rushed Boakye with both arms flailing. He ultimately caught Calato and hurt him causing a stoppage by technical knockout at 0:42 seconds of round three. Not an ideal ending to a fight card that I had sponsored.

Boakye, in my opinion has all the tools to turn things around. He has the ability and skills. It’s a decision he will have to make and we will see if he lives up to his potential as he prepares to take on tough cruiserweight Lyndon Chambers 0-1 on July 22, 2014. Congratulations to two other Canadians that fought on the November 2, 2013, boxing card in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Ahmad Cheikho from Saint-Laurent, Quebec, dispatched his opponent by TKO in round three. Fellow Canadian Junmar Emon from Toronto, Ontario defeated Eli Smith by TKO in round three. The promoter and fighter, Enobong Umohotte, not only organized the event, sold sponsorship, coordinated the fighters and liaised with the Casino, but he also came into the bout well prepared at a trim 219.8 pounds. He gave up a weight advantage to his opponent but it didn’t make any difference. Umohette boxed, stayed elusive and utilized accurate punching to cause his opponent to quit after the third round on his stool. An impressive feat by any standard. It’s difficult and stressful enough to just fight and Umohette not only fought, and fought for a world title, becoming the UBF International Heavyweight Champion, but he also promoted a world class action-packed professional fight card. This guy is impressive and I am proud to call him a friend and business partner. BTB

Ahmad Cheikho was victorious in Milwaukee Calato Boakye shows promise despite losing debut bout