Ringside in Rochester: Jarrell Miller Stops Washout Fred Kassi

Jarrell Miller Stops Washout Fred Kassi – ROCHESTER, NY — Jarrell Miller (18-0-1, 16 KOs) got the stoppage win he was hoping for on Friday night in Rochester, NY against veteran Fred Kassi (18-6-1, 10 KOs). However, it was not necessarily the manner that Miller was hoping for after Kassi retired in his corner claiming a right hand injury following the third round of the scheduled 10 round heavyweight contest.

Miller, weighing a career high 296 ½ pounds, started sluggishly in the first round. Kassi used ring movement to land quick combinations as Miller aggressively plodded without throwing many punches. The second also started slowly for Miller but as the round progressed the tide shifted as the more powerful Miller began moving his hands with more regularity. His power began showing as punches started to land on the much smaller Kassi.

Miller picked up in the third where he left off in the second. He let his hands go with much more frequency and started landing more and more. At times, Kassi looked to be shaken and in some trouble. Kassi did manage to make it out of the round but the end seemed to be nearing.

Between rounds three and four, Kassi retired on his stool stating he had injured his right hand. Miller earned the stoppage win he so desired but not in the emphatic manner he had hoped. Still, this is a good win for Miller against a veteran heavyweight who had only been stopped on one other occasion.

Jarrell Miller Stops Washout Fred Kassi and more

In the co-feature, Mason Menard (32-1, 24 KOs) stopped Bahodir Mamadjonov (19-3, 11 KOs) in the 9^th round of their lightweight showdown.

Menard was quickly brought back to Showtime following his spectacular knockout in April against the previously unbeaten Eudy Bernardo. However, this would not be a repeat performance of that scintillating performance.

Mamadjonov proved to be very awkward and slick, not allowing Menard many opportunities to land clean. Menard did appear to be building a lead on the cards as the fight moved forward by doing just a little more than the defensively minded Mamadjonov. But it was not a very entertaining affair for the crowd.

In the 7^th, Menard finally found something when he scored two knockdowns with body shots. Then in the 9^th, a hard straight right hand hurt Mamadjonov and backed him into the corner. He was then battered with a volley of punches from Menard before attempting to clinch. As referee Steve Smoger went in to break the two, Mamadjonov fell off balance with his legs obviously gone. Smoger waived the fight off at that point.

Bantamweights Antonio Nieves (16-0-2, 8 KOs) and Alejandro Santiago (11-2-2, 3 KOs) fought to a ten round draw. Nieves seemed in control in the first half of the fight landing the much crisper combinations behind a solid left jab. But the second half of the fight primarily belonged to Santiago who moved in and out landing the cleaner punches on a seemingly tiring Nieves. There were many close rounds and the verdict of a draw seemed fair.

In the televised opener, Bakhtiyar Eyubov (11-0, 10 KOs) nudged out a split decision win against Karim Mayfield (19-4-1, 11 KOs) in a junior welterweight contest.

Eyubov started fast and landed thudding shots to the head and body of Mayfield in the early rounds. But as the fight moved forward to the middle rounds, steam seemed to come off of Eyubov’s shots and he began showing defensive lapses as the crafty Mayfield began finding a home for the right hand.

A point deduction in the eighth round on Eyubov for low blows seemed that it could have an impact on the cards. The two battled down the stretch with the fight seemingly in the balance with Mayfield having a strong 9^th round and Eyubov seemingly edging a close 10^th. The cards went in favor of the undefeated prospect Eyubov who no doubt gained a wealth of ring experience from the savvy Mayfield.

In non-televised action, Cruiserweight Alexey Zubov (12-1, 7 KOs) scored an unimpressive unanimous decision against Eric George (4-13) in six round bout.

In the upset of the night, Henry Beckford (4-5, 1 KO) earned a unanimous decision over the previously undefeated Dorell Van Horn Jr. (9-1, 6 KOs). Beckford dropped Van Horn with a straight left hand in the 3^rd and had him reeling again in the 4^th on route to the win.

Glenn Dezurn (7-0, 5 KOs) scored a 3^rd round one punch knockout with an overhand right of Aaron Hollis (3-2, 2 KOs) in a junior lightweight bout.

Saadiq Muhammad (4-0) of Rochester, NY did not disappoint his large cheering section in scoring a four round unanimous decision over Dave Tomaso (1-2) in a middleweight contest.

In the opener, Vincent Denierio scored a 3^rd round TKO of Saquan Felton in junior lightweight contest. Both fighters were making their professional debut.

Jarrell Miller Stops Washout Fred Kassi