BLH only had photographer Darryl Cobb Jr. in attendance but fortunately 3 fights were televised. You'll have to make do with merely the results from the off-TV undercard. Besides, the photo gallery is true highlight of this post.
Curtis Stevens TKO1 Patrick Majewski (0:46)
In the main event Majewski was dropped 10 seconds into the opening round from a jab that he didn't expect and Stevens never let him recover. Stevens flurried with power shots until 2 more knockdowns persuaded the referee to stop the fight. No "3 knockdown rule" was in effect. Stevens, still yet to truly accomplish something substantial as a professional besides a 6 figure paycheck on HBO, still has time to make some waves. He may be a decade into his pro career, but Frank Bruno (who also hit like a truck) did eventually become a world champion after 13 years. Stevens will most likely get another world title shot. Losing to Gennady Golovkin is not the end of the world.
In his post-fight interview with Chris Mannix, Stevens had the following to say about WBO middleweight champion Peter Quillin: "Kid Chocolate, *laugh*, send the contract; I'll make his ass milk chocolate, you heard?" Yea, we heard you Curtis. We heard.
Thabiso Mchunu UD10 Olanrewaju Durodola (96-93, 97-92, 98-91)
Mchunu began the fight much more aggressively than he did in his US debut against Eddie Chambers and showed that he does know how to win coming forward. However, after briefly demonstrating another dimension to his game, Mchunu went back to his usual shtick. Ironically it was all downhill for Mchunu after scoring a knockdown in round 2 (which happened because he stepped on Durodola's foot during an exchange). For whatever reason Mchunu switched to passive countering mode for the rest of the fight, giving judges little to choose from. Nonetheless, he arguably won every round whether it was captivating to see or not. Durodola did his best work in rounds 7 and 8. Mchunu did a lot of holding in the final round.
Mchunu didn't think highly of his performance and suggested that he took his opponent lightly. He said Durodola didn't commit because he was wary of the counter punches. Nonetheless Mchunu emerged victorious and picked up the vacant NABF cruiserweight title (the WBC's premier North American belt). Mchunu wants whoever has the WBC world title (currently Krzysztof Wlodarczyk) in the near future.
Hasan Young UD6 Justin Johnson (60-51, 60-50, 60-50)
Since the main event ended so early, NBCSN had time to squeeze in a 6-rounder recorded earlier in the evening. Fortunately viewers got to see the same man that BLH covered earlier in the week at a media day. Young was the aggressor throughout the fight and landed the more meaningful punches. The opening round was tentative but clear for Young. Johnson was then dropped twice in round 2 by right hands that caught him behind the head as he ducked (not Young's fault). Johnson was floored again in rounds 5 and 6 but ultimately survived the distance.
Despite the dominant performance Young says he's still got a lot to improve. If he can manage that, he should have a bright future.
Untelevised Undercard:
Mark Rideout D6 Fred Latham
Wellington Romero TKO1 Ismael Serrano
*Roberto Jose Acevedo TKO1 Ilshat Khusnulgatin <- Acevedo shot the Sheriff
Wilky Campfort SD8 Decarlo Perez
Venroy July UD6 Sevdail Sherifi
*televised outside of U.S.
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“Fight Night” took place at Resorts Atlantic City on Friday, January 24, 2014. A photo gallery of the event, courtesy of Darryl Cobb Jr, is available atop this page.
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Ryan Bivins is a staff writer for BadLeftHook. You can contact him on twitter (@sweetboxing) or through email (rgbivins@gmail.com).