New Alhambra 03-02-07

Prospect beats The Contender! Enrique Colin is "No Joke"

Photos by Mike McGuigan

The New Alhambra in Philadelphia was jam packed this Friday to witness the return of Mike “No Joke” Stewart who took on Golden Boy Promotions fringe prospect Enrique Colin. It was supposed to be a showcase bout for the man who was a fan favorite on the TV series “The Contender” but when it was all said and done, this steel chinned Mexican put a damper on any plans for Stewart getting a high profile fight in the near future. In the co feature Abner Mares showed he could be a force to be reckoned with in the bantamweight division very soon as he thoroughly dominated Robert Allanic of the Philippines over 8 one sided rounds. While one of Hall of Fame promoter J. Russell Peltz top guns fell during the night, his next big thing could be hard hitting welterweight Mike Jones who scored his 7th knockout in 7 pro contests, this time blowing away Francisco Maldonado early in the second round. Featherweight newbie Teon Kennedy created a scary scene: 45 into the first round as he knocked Omar Reyes out cold and causing the EMT’s to clear a patch to stretcher Reyes out of the building. Daniel Hicks returned to Philly and left with a hard fought win, this time beating local fan favorite Joe Christy in a barroom style brawl.

Junior Welterweight Division
Mike Stewart…..vs…..Enrique Colin
New Castle, DE …….Guasave SIN Mexico
41 – 5 – 2 (23) ………21 – 3- 3 (19)

The house was packed with friends and family of local favorite Mike “No Joke” Stewart who was looking to parlay his new found fame from The Contender into a major title bout. Enrique Colin was brought in the stepping stone but this steel chinned Mexican had other ideas as he out everythinged Stewart over 10 rounds of boxing. The fight started off in Stewarts favor as he forced the action to the ropes and using his left hook to the body. While Stewart won most of the early rounds, Colin showed very good hand speed and the ability to take a punch. In the 4th, Colin changed to southpaw and Stewart had no answers. Colin would fire off three, four and even five punch combo’s where Stewart would only fire one in return hoping to score the knockout. Colin busted Stewart’s right eye in the 7th. Colin has a big 8th and 9th round where he landed punches at will and avoided anything Stewart had to offer in return. .By the 10th Stewart was a desperate man wearing the Crimson Mask. He fought on, putting everything he had into his punches in hopes of scoring a late knockout to no avail. The final bell sounded and the went to the scorecards which read much closer than the fight should have been with two judges seeing it 96 – 94 for Colin and one seeing it dead even at 95 – 95.

Winner: Enrique Colin (22 – 3- 3 19ko’s) via Majority Decision









Super Flyweights
Abner Mares ….vs…..Robert Allanic
Montebello, CA………Phillipines
10 – 0 (6ko’s) ………..15 – 2 (7ko’s)

The co-feature treated the fans to the skill of Abner Mares, another up and comer of the Golden Boy Promotions roster. Mares thoroughly dominated tough Robert Allanic over 8 rounds with his smooth, relaxed style that gained the approval of Bernard Hopkins who was watching at ringside. Mares was able to dictate the pace of the fight using his left jab and also throwing combination to the head and body which almost always found its mark. Allanic was game and tried to make it a slugfest but was not able to land anything of significance. While the Philippine was game, he was unable to answer the bell for the 9th round.

Winner: Abner Mares 8th RTD 11 – 0 (7ko’s)







Welterweight Divison
Mike Jones……....vs……..Francisco Maldonado
Philadelphia, PA …………El Cajon, CA
6 – 0 (6ko’s) ……………...11 – 25 (2ko’s)

The Philly boxer Mike “Machine Gun” Jones is quickly becoming one of the most talked about fighters on the local circuit because of his two fisted knockout power and tonight was no different as he only needed 3 minutes and :10 to crush the tomato can that was put in front of him. Jones was patient early in the first, establishing his jab and keeping the action at a slow yet steady pace. As the round neared the end, Jones saw and opening and clocked Maldonado with a straight right hand that bounced him off the roped before falling on the canvas. Maldonado beat the 10 count as the round ended, but when he came out for the second, he ate another straight right hand that put him out for the count this time.

Winner: Mike Jones 2nd round TKO 7 – 0 (7ko’s)



Featherweight Division
Teon Kennedy…….vs……Omar Reyes
Philadelphia, PA…………Chicago, IL
1-0 (1ko) ……………….2 – 5

Teon Kennedy recent wrapped up a highly decorated amateur career and he seems intent on carrying that success over to the professional ranks as he scored his second knockout in two tries, this time blowing away Omar Reyes early in the first round. Kennedy went to work right away and :45 into the round he landed a straight right followed by a left hook that left Reyes on his back and unable to move. Damage Control was rushed into the ring where Reyes laid unconscious for close to 10 minutes and was stretched out for emergency treatment. Hopefully all is well with Reyes today.

Winner: Teon Kennedy – 1st round knockout 2 – 0 (2ko’s)





Middleweight Division
Joe Christy........vs.......Daniel Hicks
Philadelphia, PA ...........Lansing, MI
7 - 9 - 1 (2KO'S)...........2 - 1 (2KO'S)

This was an intriguing middleweight matchup pitting local fan favorite Joe Christy who is known and loved for his South Philly street fighting style against Daniel Hicks, the hard hitting Michigan native who made a name for himself a few weeks back at the Blue Horizon losing a close, yet very tough fight against Gee Culmer. Christy is known for his wild brawls but on this night Hicks was able to neutralize the attack with his boxing technique. There were some nice spots in the fight where both men sat in the pocket and exchanged thought neither man was able to significantly hurt his opponent. When it was all said and done, the fight went to the scorecards and the judges saw it 40 - 36 x2 and 39 - 37 all in favor of Daniel Hicks, a fighter who is quickly gaining the respect of the Philly fans because he brings it every time out.



Winner: Daniel Hicks 3 - 0 (2ko's) via unanimous decision

Cruiserweight Division
Andrew Gizzi.......vs......Zefereino Albino
Philadelphia, PA...........Philadelphia, PA
0 - 1 .....................pro debut

This was a battle of two well built cruiserweights who are new to the pro ranks of boxing. Gizzi seemed to have a nice fan following evident by one guys screaming "The Head is open Giz!" as the South Philly fighter tried to score the knockout win. Zeferino Albino seemed to have some first fight jitters early but quickly realized it is usually a very smart idea to take the advice of Brother Nazeem Richardson who was sitting ringside yelling out "First man to the body gets the win!" followed by "Hey, I have an idea... Throw a punch to the body!" as both men threw bombs upstairs. After hearing those yells over two rounds, Albino was the first to the body landing a left to the kidney area which opened up a right hand upstairs. Gizzi nose began to leak pretty bad in the third but he hung in there liek a warrior fighting until the final bell sounded. And when that bell rang, the fight went to the cards with all judges seeing it 40 - 36 for Zeferino Albino

Winner: Zeferino Albino 1 - 0 via unanimous decision




Light Heavyweight Division
Garrard Williams......vs......Fidel Carter
Brooklyn, NY..................Vineland, NJ
pro debut.....................1 - 0

Fidel Carter made a statement his last time at the New Alhmabra by knocking scoring an early first round knockout. He tried to do the same tonight against New Yawker Garrard "Hardwork" Williams who is said to be a sparring partner of Steve "USS" Cunningham. Hardwork quickly realized there is a big difference when you take off the helmit and fluffy gloves but overall you have to say he held his own in there. Hardwork is a very tall light heavy and at times used his long reach to his advantage scoring points from the outside. Carter was game as well and would try to bully his way inside to do some work on Williams rib's. It was a close fight and in the end the one judge saw it 39 - 37 for Carter while the other two scored it even at 38 - 38.

Jose "El Macho" Medina......vs.......Jose "Stinger" Medina
Philadelphia, PA ....................New Hampshire
13 - 8 (10ko's)......................10 - 7 (4ko's)

The night started with a gimmick matchup with two fighters who really need no gimmicks to get their point across. Philly Medina is a hard punching slugger who will fight anyone while "Stinger" Medina is more of a crafty ring technician. Both have faced some of the best up and coming talent in the business and this one promised to be a good fight. Both men stuck to their guns throughout where "Stinger" was able to slip, move and box while "El Macho" threw his patented left hook to the head and body. It was a solid fight with steady action although there were no really exciting moments, in the end the scores read for Philly Medina 59 - 55 and 58 - 56 x2. Most people in the building think that was a home cooked meal and the "Stinger" was the real victor of the bout.

Winner" Jose "El Macho" Medina unanimous decision 14 - 8 (10ko's)



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