Connect with us

Articles of 2008

WNF Recap: Oubaali TKOs Fernandez

Published

on

Keep your eye out, New York area fight fans. When fights take place in the Aviator athletic complex in Brooklyn, invariably, they are rock solid. In the main event of ESPN’s Wednesday Night Fights at the Aviator, Ali Oubaali and Chris Fernandez earned every penny of their pay, but it was Oubaali who broke down his foe with a severe body attack, and forced a stoppage due to a cut in the eighth round.

Both men showed heart aplenty, and Oubaali made a case for himself to sneak into some sanctioning bodies’ top 15 with his potent body attack and work rate.

The 32-year-old Utah resident Fernandez (15-4-1 coming in) weighed 140 pounds, while the 30-year-old Oubaali (21-3) of Brooklyn weighed 137 pounds.

In the first round, Ali, who was born in France and came in with a six fight win streak, had to defend Fernandez’ attack. But Ali went to the body in answer. He was on the beltline a few times. The crowd immediately saw both men were investing heavily in their fire. Fernandez showed a snappy jab, while Ali’s body work impressed greatly. In the second, Ali kept on landing the left hooks to the body. Neither man showed a great concentration on defense. Ali got clipped with right uppers and right crosses. In the third round, comedian Jackie Mason joined Joe Tessitore and Nate Campbell on commentary. “They don’t even know you’re supposed to duck a punch,” Mason said. Agreed. Campbell called it a poor man’s Corrales/Castillo. “I think they believe you say slip you mean the thing that goes under somebody’s dress,” said Campbell, matching Mason in the quip department.

In round four, Ali laced Fernandez with a 15 punch combo, but couldn’t drop his foe. Fernandez certainly showed he did the requisite ab work in training, taking all those body hits. His liquid output may tend towards the pink for the next few days. The ref deserves credit for letting Ali work so close to the belt. Ali buzzed Fernandez with a right at the end of the round over a lazy jab, and Fernandez landed a solid right cross at the bell. Damned fine fight.

In the fifth, the ref warned Ali for landing on the belt. Campbell, a body snatcher, said he shouldn’t get penalized. “Spoken like a true body puncher,” Tessitore said.

Ali, in the sixth, trapped Fernandez on the ropes. That body work was paying a fat dividend now. Twice, Fernandez took a body shot, and backed up, as if pondering how much more of this he wanted. And he repeatedly chose more. In the seventh, he ate some head shots and came roaring back. He did some body work of his own, too. In the eighth, the doctor looked at a cut over Fernandez’ left eye, and the fight continued. Oubaali, with his crazy cardio, kept blasting. The cut worsened, as the flesh on the left eyelid flapped and dripped blood. The ref, Steve Willis, stepped in and stopped it at 1:39 of the eighth, by TKO,  as Fernandez was taking punishment on the ropes. Ali went 315-766, against 191-517 for Fernandez.
The 37-year-old Travis Simms (21-0-1 entering, 169 pounds) of Connecticut met Carl Daniels (50-13-1) of Missouri, who weighed 173 in the TV opener. Daniels had lost 9 of his last 10.

 In the first, the two lefties sized each other up. Both set the table with the jab, with Simms being the busier of the two. Simms fired up more power punches in the second. Daniels launched a couple meaningful shots to this point, but he has his role as steppingstone carved out rather explicitly, so he knows his role. In the fourth round, Daniels hit the deck and took a count. It was a clipping left and he protested.

Daniels hit home with a sneaky left in the sixth, and the round was tight. In the sixth and final round, the fighters hugged some, with Daniels initiating. He ate some uppercuts, and looked to be in bad shape caught on the ropes halfway through the round. Simms really worked for the stoppage, but couldn’t nail it down. The judges spoke, and called it for Simms, 60-53, unanimously.
Albert Sosnowski (43-1 coming in, 223 pounds), age 29, took on 38-year-old Zuri Lawrence (23-14-4, 241 pounds). The two fighters threw some bombs in the first and it looked like someone would go before the distance. Zuri banged with left hooks. Sos has some solid basics down but drops his hands in the danger zone too much. His mouth hung open some in the fourth; would he be able to find a second wind? He ate a straight right, and it struck me that he’s carrying some XL muscles up top that are tough to lug around. Both men had the presence of mind to move their heads most of the time and combined with the fact that neither has fast hands, meant that plenty of bombs missed. Sos’s right eye was abraded in the seventh, and his left was puffed, and both men looked winded, but were still winging. Zuri hurt Sos in the eighth with a lead right, and left hook follow, and he must have smelled his first career KO! But Sos got his legs, and Zuri was too beat to capitalize. Both men raised their hands after, expecting the decision. The judges scored it 80-72, 80-72, 80-72, Lawrence. Zuri outhit his foe, 152-130. Those scores were a bit wider than ESPN’s Joe Tessitore and Campbell, subbing for Teddy Atlas, expected.

Share The Sweet Science experience!
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Boxing-Notes-and-Nuggets-from-Thomas-Hauser
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Boxing Notes and Nuggets from Thomas Hauser

Ekow-Essuman-Upsets-Josh-Taylor-and-Moses-Itauma-Blasts-Out-Mike-Balogun-in-Glasgow
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Ekow Essuman Upsets Josh Taylor and Moses Itauma Blasts Out Mike Balogun in Glasgow

Newspaperman-Playwright-Author-Bobby-Cassidy-Jr-Commemorates-his-Fighting-Father
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Newspaperman/Playwright/Author Bobby Cassidy Jr Commemorates His Fighting Father

A-Night-of-Mismatches-Turns-Topsy-Turvy-at-Mandalay-Bay-Resendiz-Shocks-Plant
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

A Night of Mismatches Turns Topsy-Turvy at Mandalay Bay; Resendiz Shocks Plant

Avila-Perspective-Chap-326-A-Hectic-Boxing-Week-in-LA
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 326: A Hectic Boxing Week in L.A.

Hiruta-Bohachuk-and-Trinidad-Win-at-the-Commerce-Casino
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Hiruta, Bohachuk, and Trinidad Win at the Commerce Casino

David-Allen-Bursts-Johnny-Fisher's-Bubble-at-the-Copper-Box
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

David Allen Bursts Johnny Fisher’s Bubble at the Copper Box

Italy-Mourns-the-Death-of-Legendary-Boxer-Nino-Benvenuti
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Italy Mourns the Death of Legendary Boxer Nino Benvenuti

in-A-Trubute-Wedded-to-Memorial-Day-Boxing-Writer-David-Avila-Pays-Homage-to-Absent-Friends
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

In a Tribute Wedded to Memorial Day, Boxing Writer David Avila Pays Homage to Absent Friends

Vinny-Paz-is-Going-into-the-Boxing-Hall-of-Fame-Hey-why-Not-Roger-Mayweather?
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Vinny Paz is Going into the Boxing Hall of Fame; Hey, Why Not Roger Mayweather?

Remembering-the-Under-Appreciated-Body-Snatcher-Mike-McCallum,-a-Conusmmate-Pro
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Remembering the Under-Appreciated “Body Snatcher” Mike McCallum, a Consummate Pro    

Avila-Perspective-Chap-228-Viva-Las-Vegas-Back-in-the-Boxing-Spotlight
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 228: Viva Las Vegas, Back in the Boxing Spotlight

Results-and-Recaps-from-Las-Vegas-Where-Melikuziev-Nipped-Fulghum-in-a-Fierce-Fight
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Results and Recaps from Las Vegas Where Melikuziev Nipped Fulghum in a Fierce Battle

Pacquiao-is-Back,-Fabio-in-England-and-More.jpg
Featured Articles1 week ago

Avila Perspective, Chap 329: Pacquiao is Back, Fabio in England and More

Opetaia-and-Nakatani-Crush-Overmatched-Foes-Capping-Off-a-Wild-Boxing-Weekend
Featured Articles5 days ago

Opetaia and Nakatani Crush Overmatched Foes, Capping Off a Wild Boxing Weekend

Angelo-Leo-Retains-His-Featherweight-Title-Before-a-Hostile-Crowd-in-Osaka
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Angelo Leo Retains His Featherweight Title Before a Hostile Crowd in Osaka

Fabio-Wardley-Comes-from-Behind-to-KO-Justis-Huni
Featured Articles6 days ago

Fabio Wardley Comes from Behind to KO Justis Huni  

Delving-Into-'Hoopa'-With-Notes-on-Books-by-George-Plimpton-and-Joyce-Carol-Oates
Featured Articles1 week ago

Delving into ‘Hoopla’ with Notes on Books by George Plimpton and Joyce Carol Oates

Local-Fan-Favorites-Terri-Harpet-and-Maxi-Hughes-Victorious-in-Doncaster
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Local Fan Favorites Terri Harper and Maxi Hughes Victorious in Doncaster

The-Shafting-of-Blair-the-Flair-Cobbs-a-Familar-Thread-in-the-Cruelest-Sport
Featured Articles2 days ago

The Shafting of Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, a Familiar Thread in the Cruelest Sport

Avila-Perspective-Chap-330-Matchroom-in-New-York-plus-the-latest-on-Canelo-Crawford
Featured Articles15 hours ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 330: Matchroom in New York plus the Latest on Canelo-Crawford

The-Shafting-of-Blair-the-Flair-Cobbs-a-Familar-Thread-in-the-Cruelest-Sport
Featured Articles2 days ago

The Shafting of Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, a Familiar Thread in the Cruelest Sport

Opetaia-and-Nakatani-Crush-Overmatched-Foes-Capping-Off-a-Wild-Boxing-Weekend
Featured Articles5 days ago

Opetaia and Nakatani Crush Overmatched Foes, Capping Off a Wild Boxing Weekend

Fabio-Wardley-Comes-from-Behind-to-KO-Justis-Huni
Featured Articles6 days ago

Fabio Wardley Comes from Behind to KO Justis Huni  

Pacquiao-is-Back,-Fabio-in-England-and-More.jpg
Featured Articles1 week ago

Avila Perspective, Chap 329: Pacquiao is Back, Fabio in England and More

Delving-Into-'Hoopa'-With-Notes-on-Books-by-George-Plimpton-and-Joyce-Carol-Oates
Featured Articles1 week ago

Delving into ‘Hoopla’ with Notes on Books by George Plimpton and Joyce Carol Oates

Remembering-the-Under-Appreciated-Body-Snatcher-Mike-McCallum,-a-Conusmmate-Pro
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Remembering the Under-Appreciated “Body Snatcher” Mike McCallum, a Consummate Pro    

A-Night-of-Mismatches-Turns-Topsy-Turvy-at-Mandalay-Bay-Resendiz-Shocks-Plant
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

A Night of Mismatches Turns Topsy-Turvy at Mandalay Bay; Resendiz Shocks Plant

Results-and-Recaps-from-Las-Vegas-Where-Melikuziev-Nipped-Fulghum-in-a-Fierce-Fight
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Results and Recaps from Las Vegas Where Melikuziev Nipped Fulghum in a Fierce Battle

Avila-Perspective-Chap-228-Viva-Las-Vegas-Back-in-the-Boxing-Spotlight
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 228: Viva Las Vegas, Back in the Boxing Spotlight

Vinny-Paz-is-Going-into-the-Boxing-Hall-of-Fame-Hey-why-Not-Roger-Mayweather?
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Vinny Paz is Going into the Boxing Hall of Fame; Hey, Why Not Roger Mayweather?

Newspaperman-Playwright-Author-Bobby-Cassidy-Jr-Commemorates-his-Fighting-Father
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Newspaperman/Playwright/Author Bobby Cassidy Jr Commemorates His Fighting Father

Ekow-Essuman-Upsets-Josh-Taylor-and-Moses-Itauma-Blasts-Out-Mike-Balogun-in-Glasgow
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Ekow Essuman Upsets Josh Taylor and Moses Itauma Blasts Out Mike Balogun in Glasgow

Angelo-Leo-Retains-His-Featherweight-Title-Before-a-Hostile-Crowd-in-Osaka
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Angelo Leo Retains His Featherweight Title Before a Hostile Crowd in Osaka

in-A-Trubute-Wedded-to-Memorial-Day-Boxing-Writer-David-Avila-Pays-Homage-to-Absent-Friends
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

In a Tribute Wedded to Memorial Day, Boxing Writer David Avila Pays Homage to Absent Friends

Local-Fan-Favorites-Terri-Harpet-and-Maxi-Hughes-Victorious-in-Doncaster
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Local Fan Favorites Terri Harper and Maxi Hughes Victorious in Doncaster

Italy-Mourns-the-Death-of-Legendary-Boxer-Nino-Benvenuti
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Italy Mourns the Death of Legendary Boxer Nino Benvenuti

Boxing-Notes-and-Nuggets-from-Thomas-Hauser
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Boxing Notes and Nuggets from Thomas Hauser

Hiruta-Bohachuk-and-Trinidad-Win-at-the-Commerce-Casino
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Hiruta, Bohachuk, and Trinidad Win at the Commerce Casino

David-Allen-Bursts-Johnny-Fisher's-Bubble-at-the-Copper-Box
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

David Allen Bursts Johnny Fisher’s Bubble at the Copper Box

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending