Kurt Bess avenged his loss to Anthony Augustin in destructive style with a first round knockout on Friday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
The first Pro-Am card of the year concluded with a two punch combination that ensured that Augustin stayed down in the main event. He survived the first knock down of the round but with legs that could not support his bulky frame and Bess capitalized fully on that weakness.
From the start of the bout Bess, who beat Guyanese heavyweight champion Mitchell Rogers last November, was the better mover and he tattooed Augustin with jabs that seemed to take its toll. Two minutes into the round Bess landed three solid punches that floored Augustin.
It was all over after he got the referee’s eight-count with the barrage by Bess.
Junior welterweight fighter Mark Austin kept his unbeaten record intact with a unanimous decision win and another stylish display over Jermaine King. As is customary, Austin adopted to the style of the onrushing King, who was beaten in every department.
Austin kept extending his lead with each passing round with his power shots to the body and head of King. King had few answers in the one-sided affair before the final bell tolled.
In the ladies fight, Pauline London slipped to another defeat against Veronica Blackman in the heavyweight contest. Blackman, who seemed the more conditioned of the two fighters, landed the more effective punches and this caused London to tire.
London’s punches were telegraphed and lacked any sting to hurt Blackman. Eventually, the judges ruled with a majority decision.
Super middleweights Edmond De Clou and journeyman Winston Pompey fought to a draw. This fight saw some good counterpunching by both fighters and there was never a dull moment. Pompey showed some guile especially when he set up his power punches with some crisp jabs.
However, De Clou never stopped advancing and he caught Pompey oftentimes on the ropes and racked up his points there.
Meanwhile, Ray Sandiford, who returned after a four-month ban last December, was beaten by Stephon Gouveia. Kelsie George defeated Alfred Benjamin and Ron Smith made light work of David Walters.
