Jim
02-12-2007, 09:01 AM
In the other notable fight, undefeated heavyweight prospect Chazz Witherspoon faced Patrick Smith of Denver, Colorado. The shorter Smith, who is known more for his mixed martial arts then boxing, attacked Witherspoon with right hooks to the body followed with lefts up top, right from the opening bell. Witherspoon of Philadelphia, PA adjusted quickly with long right jabs in mid-round that slowed Smith's attack. Late in the round, Chazz timed the lighter punches of Smith and threw blistering two and three-punch combinations, which opened a wide cut on the right cheekbone of of the Colorado native. Witherspoon stunned Patrick Smith with five seconds to go in the round with a right hand up top that forced him into the corner, covering up. Chazz immediately attacked him, but landed a right just after the bell sounded that dropped Smith to the canvas. Referee Blair Talmadge ruled that it was not a knockdown because the punch came after the bell sounded. Smith was able to get up immediately and walked to his corner.
Witherspoon peppered Smith with heavy combinations behind stiff left jabs in round two. The accumulation of punches began to show, as Patrick Smith's face became a swollen mess. Witherspoon pursued Smith like a cat after a mouse, finally trapping him in the corner, where he unleashed a right hook on the side of the head, Smith fell face first to the canvas and was badly hurt. He tried to get up at the count of nine, but just didn't make it up by the ten count, which ended the bout at 1:38 of round two. Witherspoon, with the knockout, raised his record to 16-0 with ten coming by way of knockout. Smith dropped to 5-9-2, 4 KO's.
"My game plan for the fight was to be patient, warm up behind the jab and stay patient," said Witherspoon afterward. "I caught myself at the end of the first round trying to rush it, but said to myself, I have to calm down, this is a six round fight and I have plenty of time to break my opponent down.
"I was giving him (Smith) the body shots so I could counter him," continued Witherspoon, "I saw him try to throw a left hook to the body and I threw a hook to the head that ended it. I am glad I got the fight tonight and hopefully will start stepping up the quality of my opponents shortly. I am not in a rush. I am only twenty-five. I have got time, so I need to do it the right way. So I got to move smartly, so when I get to the big dance and I need to perform, I will be successful."
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Witherspoon peppered Smith with heavy combinations behind stiff left jabs in round two. The accumulation of punches began to show, as Patrick Smith's face became a swollen mess. Witherspoon pursued Smith like a cat after a mouse, finally trapping him in the corner, where he unleashed a right hook on the side of the head, Smith fell face first to the canvas and was badly hurt. He tried to get up at the count of nine, but just didn't make it up by the ten count, which ended the bout at 1:38 of round two. Witherspoon, with the knockout, raised his record to 16-0 with ten coming by way of knockout. Smith dropped to 5-9-2, 4 KO's.
"My game plan for the fight was to be patient, warm up behind the jab and stay patient," said Witherspoon afterward. "I caught myself at the end of the first round trying to rush it, but said to myself, I have to calm down, this is a six round fight and I have plenty of time to break my opponent down.
"I was giving him (Smith) the body shots so I could counter him," continued Witherspoon, "I saw him try to throw a left hook to the body and I threw a hook to the head that ended it. I am glad I got the fight tonight and hopefully will start stepping up the quality of my opponents shortly. I am not in a rush. I am only twenty-five. I have got time, so I need to do it the right way. So I got to move smartly, so when I get to the big dance and I need to perform, I will be successful."
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