CINCINNATI – After four unsuccessful bids to capture a world title at super lightweight, on Friday evening Philadelphia’s Henry “Hank” Lundy returned to action from a lengthy layoff to face John Delperdang for the Universal Boxing Federation’s vacant World lightweight title. Delperdang and his team trekked all the way to the Queen City from Escondido, CA with plans to thwart Lundy’s championship aspirations again. Twelve hard-fought rounds later referee Lonnie Scott raised Lundy’s hand in victory. The judges scored the fight 118-100 and 119-109 twice for a unanimous decision.
On paper the determining factor revolved around whether or not the younger Delperdang (10-2, 9 KOs) could overcome Lundy’s (27-6, 13 KOs) seasoned defensive skills and boxing ability to deliver his power. Lundy’s brisk pace over the first half of the fight left onlookers with little reason to be optimistic regarding the fight going the distance.
Hammerin’ Hank opened the fight in an orthodox stance beautifully pumping his left jab from several starting points. He also displayed excellent footwork and movement that kept the action in the middle of the ring. Delperdang followed the Philly veteran around, looking for openings to exploit, but the first concern immediately became figuring out a way to slow down Lundy’s jab. He initially looked to land his right over the top of Lundy’s jab, but these shots mostly landed on Lundy’s glove over the early rounds. Lundy’s jab to the body quickly became a great weapon, setting up a solid 1-2 combination that staggered Delperdang in the opening round’s final minute.
Lundy’s corner remained pleased with their fighter’s work through the fourth round where Lundy suddenly switched to southpaw. The move seemed to offset any timing Delperdang started to develop through the first few rounds. Lundy opened the sixth round stepping up the pace even more on his opponent. His controlling jab was replaced with several multiple punch combinations that kept Delperdang in his guard. Once Lundy saw that Delperdang could take a good punch, the jab to the body returned, as well as the south paw stance. Lundy also added the upper cut to his attack.
As the action moved into the fight’s second half Delperdang responded to his corner’s instruction to force the action more consistently by rushing Lundy and forcing him into the ropes to get off body shots. Lundy quickly adjusted to the new strategy, and craftily snuck in a jarring upper cut as Delperdang stepped to him. Delperdang acknowledged the shot and the action moved back to center of the ring for the rest of the round.
Round eight featured Delperdang’s best work. His corner’s pleas to make the fight ugly fully sank in – the crowd of a few hundred saw the real “Bang Bang”. Delperdang landed a thudding right hook to Lundy’s body, and his overhand right started finding its mark. The action became ugly but the two warriors stood chest-to-chest banging away for what seemed like the entire final two minutes.
Both men showed the effects of the previous round in the ninth, Lundy landed another big left upper cut around the midpoint, and Delperdang slid off the ropes and stepped around Lundy to connect with a solid right hook to end the round.
Lundy switched back and forth between orthodox and southpaw over the tenth and eleventh rounds. Both rounds were underscored by well-timed upper cuts from Lundy, and Delperdang forcing Lundy into ropes so he could bang away and keep his opponent’s hands more at home. In order to offset Delperdang’s momentum Lundy flashed his stiff jab from both hands – as he continued to switch stances.
Delperdang pressed the issue in spirited fashion throughout the final championship round. However, Lundy’s conditioning – and more importantly the nearly ten months out of the ring – never failed him as he relied on his technique to foil any hail Mary attempt by the determined Californian. Lundy’s performance convinced the fans, and himself, that lightweight is his best suited division. Delperdang fully earned the respect of those that thought he didn’t stand a chance against a wily vet with a deep bag of tricks.
The event’s organizer was Cincinnati, Ohio’s B.O.O.M. Promotions whose spacious Fitness Center also served as the event’s host site. The main event’s supervisor was Universal Boxing Federation’s U.S. commissioner Michael Melendez who expressed his sincere appreciation for the champion efforts displayed by both fighters, and for the opportunity to treat Cincinnati boxing fans to live world championship boxing. Four-division world champion Adrien “The Problem” Broner even took a break from his preparation for his February 18th (per the About Billions Promotions Instagram account) showdown with Adrian Granados to welcome Lundy to his hometown, and encourage a few of the undercard’s young fighters.
Lastly, CES Boxing’s President and CEO Jimmy Burchfield Sr. was also in the house to support and congratulate its roster’s newest world champion – Hammerin’ Hank Lundy. Mr. Burchfield echoed Lundy’s expectations of returning to the ring as early as February 2017.
The evening’s undercard featured several pro debuts, as well as a couple of MMA fighters venturing into the boxing side of the fight game.
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Kevin Roundtree (1-0, 1 KO) vs Daren Johnson (0-2): Super middleweight Johnson and Roundtree opened the night’s action with an awkward fight. Roundtree, entering the ring as a pro boxer for the first time, actually looked like the more relaxed and seasoned fighter. Johnson opened the fight with several big flurries. Roundtree remained patient tucked away in a tight shoulder roll, and after Johnson quickly fatigued, the newcomer went to work. Johnson became frustrated with Roundtree’s physicality, he dropped to a knee after receiving a body shot in a clinch, and the fight was halted at 1:22 in round three.
Trevir Ballinger (0-1) vs Christopher Nelson (1-2): Featherweight Ballinger’s night didn’t conclude with his first victory like his B.O.O.M. training mate Roundtree. Nelson’s quickness and constant movement edged the fight in the Louisville, KY native’s favor. The four rounds ended with a majority decision, but a draw was within reach if Ballinger didn’t fade over the final three minutes.
Charles Stanford (1-0) vs Noel Rodriguez (0-2): Dayton, OH welterweight Rodriguez was caught with a big left hook from Stanford that had him in bad shape in his corner for a long stretch of time to end the first round. Rodriguez willed himself back into the fight in the second round, landing several punishing hooks of his own. Stanford’s steady jab and straighter shots took their toll on Rodriguez over the final three rounds. The Daytonian connected with several single lunging hooks, but the judges favored Stanford’s combination punching, and delivered a unanimous decision for the hometown fighter. Both fighters displayed great chins, and the crowd’s applause indicated its approval for the thrilling action.
Chris Curtis (1-0, 1 KO) vs Marcus Maulding (1-1, 1 KO): Curtis and Stanford both fared well in their first non-MMA action. Curtis quickly closed the gap on the longer Maulding, committed to working the body before connecting up top with a short right upper cut – earning a TKO victory at 1:35 in round two.
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