Ian Gardner Posts Easy Decision

Middleweight Ian Gardner, 19-2 (7 KOs), Brockton, Mass. (via Canada), cruised to a shutout ten-round decision over Mohamad Said, 16-4 (10 KOs), 162 1/2, Brazil (via Syria), never leaving any doubt about any round in Boston, Mass. Tuesday night.

Gardner, a Canadian now being trained and managed by Goody Petronelli of Marvelous Marvin Hagler fame, showed speed and angles from his southpaw stance.

Each round was essentially a clone of the others with Gardner moving and landing right jabs and straight lefts to the head of the charging Said.

In round eight, Said, 31, was penalized for a rabbit punch – a punch that appeared to be his best of the fight.  His lack of hand and foot speed made it appear that he was fighting in slow motion.

What Gardner, 24, lacks in power – he has none – he makes up for in confusing movement and overall quickness.

Announcer Joe Tessitore, calling the action along with Teddy Atlas for ESPN2, said that Gardner entered the bout seeking to fight in a more crowd-pleasing manner. He will have to continue working on that and drop the clowning, which could diminish his considerable work in the eyes of judges in places outside Boston.

Scoring was 100-89, 100-89, 99-90, all for Gardner. The Sweet Science scored the fight 100-89 Gardner.                                                           * * *

Selected televised undercard fights:

Rasheem Brown, 16-2 (14 KOs), 162, Philadelphia, Pa. stopped Chris Troupe, 159 3/4, 9-4 (5 KOs), Atlanta, Ga. at 2:07 of round two in a scheduled ten-rounder. Troupe was down twice in round one. A blizzard of punches from Brown in round two hurt Troupe.  The referee stepped in before more damage could be done.

Anterio Vines, 4-5-1 (1 KO), 191, Columbus, Oh. upset the television debut of Boston’s Chris McInerney, 3-0-1 (3 KOs), 191 by holding the hometown favorite to a four round draw. Vines was down in rounds one and two. In round three he returned the favor, using a wide left hook that sent the taller McInerney sprawling. He continued the assault in the round nearly stopping McInerney. In the final round, Vines outworked an exhausted McInerney who appeared happy to have the bout end. Scoring 38-37 Vines, 38-36 McInerney, 37-37 even. The Sweet Science scored the bout 37-36 McInerney (10-8 in round one and two, 10-8 for Vines in round three, and 10-9 Vines in round four).