Steen and Sylla impress with KO wins at Bang Bang 4

CINCINNATI, OH – Steele and Neil Promotions kicked off its 2017 schedule with its entertaining Bang Bang 4 event Friday night in the Bluegrass Ballroom of the Covington, Kentucky Radisson. Fight fans saw some familiar faces in action – in rangy welterweight Boubacar Sylla – and were also introduced to some new ones – in particular Cleveland, Ohio super middleweight Isaiah Steen. Overall, the action was great, and as usual, the crowd was treated to a few electrifying knockouts. In addition to the bangs, the crowd also witnessed a great deal of heart and determination and most importantly some awesome displays of sportsmanship. The brotherhood exhibited between warriors is always awe-inspiring.

The main event featured a young fighter’s debut and a rugged Hoosier looking for his first professional victory in three attempts. Would the bout’s winner be decided by a matter of “…third time’s the charm” or beginner’s luck? Christopher Johnson (0-3) versus Brandon Haile (1-0) opened with Johnson applying tons of pressure to the hometown newcomer Haile. The southpaw Haile remained composed, weathered the early storm, and went to work with his right jab once Johnson settled down.

Haile controlled the four rounds with his right jab and utilized his height and reach advantage, but his inexperience possibly prohibited him from cleanly catching Johnson charging in for one of his spirited flurries. Haile did connect with a solid right hook in the fourth and final round that forced Johnson into his corner where the southpaw banged away with his best combinations of the fight. However, the durable Johnson covered up and slipped enough shots to make it to the final bell. The end result was a majority decision for Haile in front of his family and friends.

Bang Bang veteran Boubacar Sylla entered the ring for his co-main event looking to extend his string of three consecutive stoppages. Back in October of 2016, Sylla fought three furious rounds with brawler Tolutomi Agunbiade until the ref halted the action due to a technical knockout with :55 left. This fight’s opponent was against another Texan in welterweight DeShaun Williams (5-18-1, 3 KOs).

The two fighters were both long for the weight class, and the men started the fight exchanging jabs from the outside. Williams struck first with a body shot that got the crowd’s attention more than Sylla. Sylla (6-0, 5 KOs) briefly stepped out and reset before firing away with his jab, and then cutting off the ring to rain down a pair of straight right hands to the top of Williams head. Williams staggered along the ropes before going down for the fight’s first knockdown.

Sylla immediately attacked the dazed Williams once the ref motioned the fighters to resume boxing. The fight’s second and third knockdowns came quickly after a pair of punishing flurries from Sylla, and finally the fight was stopped at 2:20 in round-one.

The preliminary bouts featured some interesting action among a mix of younger prospects.

Isaiah Steen (6-0, 5 KOs) versus Leonard Simpson (0-1): Steen, an undefeated 20-year old Cleveland, Ohio super middleweight, put on arguably the night’s most impressive performance. The fight marked Simpson’s debut bout, but he walked to Steen and confidently took the fight to the more experienced fighter. Simpson’s outbursts briefly caught Steen off-guard before the Cleveland native caught the Hoosier with a thudding left hook that quickly reddened the right side of Simpson’s face. The shot backed away Simpson and Steen began to walk him down to connect with a flurry that knocked Simpson down along the ropes.

Simpson rose to his feet and signaled the ref he was ready to continue, but once the action resumed Steen quickly closed in on the hurt fighter and connected with a solid left hook that forced Simpson into his own corner. Once Simpson’s back was against the ropes Steen set down and fired off a vicious combination that included a left uppercut and a body shot that caused Simpson to wave a glove to the ref signaling he’d had enough – the fight ended at 1:30. Steen is scheduled to be back in action March 18th at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie, Pennsylvania.

DeVonte Allen (9-3-1, 7 KOs) versus Cameron Cain  (0-4): Allen fought a sharp fight as the 28-year old from Cincinnati, OH earned a unanimous decision over Cain in their four-round welterweight bout. Allen connected with a jarring left hook in round-one, and then added a sharp one-two combination before Cain wisely clinched the more aggressive starter. Cain appeared to be outmatched against the hometown opponent, but he quickly showed his unbelievable toughness that was displayed in an August 2016 fight with slugger Altair Tapia on an Indianapolis card.

Allen landed a shot early in the second round that sent Cain’s mouthpiece out of the ring. Cain spent the rest of the round circling away from Allen’s big right hands. Allen connected with several thudding overhand rights in round-three, rarely able to land combinations as Cain stayed on the move. Cain rarely committed to any power punches to ward off Allen’s pressure, and he was finally dropped by an Allen right hook early in round-four. He looked to be in bad trouble, but soon responded with a right hand of his own, and finally landed a crisp left-right combination of his own that convinced Allen to settle with a decision victory. Cain surprisingly closed out the fight walking to Allen poking in a few more shots before the final bell. Allen was awarded his ninth victory by way of majority decision.

Fred Wilson Jr. (4-0, 2 KOs) versus  Anthony Overby  (0-1): Wilson Jr. and Overby mixed it up pretty well for four action-packed rounds at 154-pounds. The Cleveland-based middleweight (per BoxRec) denied Overby his first victory as a pro, and convincingly earned his fourth win by way of unanimous decision. Wilson Jr. will be back in action, along with Steen, at the Bayfront Convention Center on March 18th.

Winfred Harris Jr.  (9-0, 5 KOs) versus  Ramiro Bueno Jr.  (2-13-1, 1 KO): Harris Jr., a 21-year old super welterweight from Detroit, Michigan, easily earned his second consecutive stoppage over Bueno Jr. at 2:20 of the first round.

Salute to all the young men that battled in spirited fashion, and finished the night in good health. Check out the embedded PMNM podcast link for additional boxing coverage – as well as other sports topics.

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