June 29, 2009 11:28 pm
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Saturday’s Live Pro Boxing card at the Anderson National Guard Armory was memorable from the standpoint that it was the final card in the state that was sanctioned by the Indiana Boxing Commission.
In 24 hours, the newly formed Indiana Athletic Commission will be the sanctioning body for boxing as well as mixed martial arts in the Hoosier state.
Starting Wednesday, we’ll have official commissioners for the IAC and there will be a page on www.in.gov for the newly formed commission.
For the record, Anderson fighters Cedric Johnson and Nate Wilkes were winners by knockout.
Johnson put Dezi Ford away in the fourth round of their super-middleweight bout. Wilkes landed a big right hand that stopped Joe Howard in the second round of their encounter.
“Ced did his job, and it was a great night of fights,” said promoter Jeff Wilson.
Wilson and fellow promoter Mike Leanardi of People’s Champ Boxing said they only had one thing they would’ve changed about the night.
“I just wish the crowd would’ve been bigger,” said Wilson.
But while the crowd may not have lived up to the hopes, it was an enthusiastic bunch nonetheless.
“It was a nice turnout,” said Leanardi. “People enjoyed it, and they got their money’s worth.”
And here’s a little trivia for you.
Joe York was the last ring announcer on a boxing card sanctioned by the IBC, and he’ll be the first ring announcer on a card sanctioned by the IAC.
MMA referee Jeff Malott, who has officiated matches for the International Fight League, put out a post that through June there had been 121 mixed martial arts shows put on in Indiana since Jan. 1 of this year.
That seems like a lot, even to me.
On July 11 the Ultimate Fighting Championships will hold their centennial pay-per-view event.
UFC 100 will have two title fights and a score of possible fight of the night candidates.
Heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar (3-1) and Interim-Heavyweight titlist Frank Mir (12-3) will meet for the second time, and this time around it will be to decide the undisputed heavyweight champion. Welterweight kingpin Georges St-Pierre (18-2) will defend his 170-pound crown against No. 1 contender Thiago Alves (22-4).
On the main card, welterweight contender Jon Fitch of Ft. Wayne will take on Paulo Thiago. On the undercard, former Purdue wrestler Jake O’Brien of Indianapolis will battle Jon Jones in a light-heavyweight match.
Indy’s Chris Lytle was a winner his last time out. “Lights Out” Lytle won by unanimous decision after a slugfest with Kevin Burns at The Ultimate Fighter Finale card on June 20.
Contact Quintin Harlan: 640-4835, quintin.harlan@ heraldbulletin.com.
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