Norris Spoils Simms’ Homecoming

By Mario Ortega Jr. (ringside)

Damian Norris (11-5, 7 KOs) of Las Vegas, Nevada scored a ten round split-decision victory over local favorite Michael Simms (19-8-1, 13 KOs) Thursday night at the Red Lion Hotel in Sacramento, California. The cruiserweight contest headlined a four-bout card held in front of roughly 500 spectators at the intimate, newly renovated hotel ballroom.

The main event was a battle, fought mainly at close quarters, between two skilled fighters who have come up short on the bigger stages in their career, and thus needed a victory in this crossroads fight. In the first round, Norris, 202, started out the busier of the two, but Simms, 201, came on strong late in the round. The second round was one that seemed to go to the Sacramento native. Simms continually caught the taller Norris falling in, with one uppercut in particular stopping him in his tracks. The tide seemed to change in the third, as Norris kept Simms pinned on the ropes, landing and throwing more punches. Simms was able to bring the action back to the center of the ring in the fourth stanza, which favored him greatly. Towards the end of the round, Norris again pressed Simms to the ropes, which could look good to the judges, even though Simms was not in any danger. Simms seemed content to fight out of a shell for much of the fight, which is what he did for most of the fifth, landing when he threw, but not throwing too often. One straight right by Norris landed flush, twisting Simms’ neck towards the end of the round. Simms seemed to open up more in the sixth, getting the better of mostly even exchanges, as he was able to stay off the ropes for the majority of the round. The seventh and eighth were two of the many close rounds in the fight. Simms again caught a few shots on the ropes, but was also busier than before. In the seventh, Simms landed a clean uppercut off the ropes and then turned Norris’ back to the strands and landed a telling combination. Norris seemed to pull out the eighth by just pressing the fight, as Simms went back into his shell, covering up for much of the round. The ninth and tenth also could have gone either way, as both men were tired, but had their moments. The result of the close contest was a split-decision with varying scores. Judge Marty Sammon scored the bout 97-93 Simms. Judge Kermit Bayless scored the bout 96-94 Norris. The third score was a bit puzzling, as Judge Walker scored 98-92 Norris. 15rounds.com scored the fight 96-95 Simms. The loss could be a costly setback for Simms, who had a tentative fight lined up with Grigory Drozd (28-1, 22 KOs) in Russia at the end of the month. The win could mark the beginning of a run at cruiserweight for Norris, who has been fighting at heavyweight the last couple years with varying success.

In a battle of two Sacramento favorites, Ernesto Castaneda (10-7-1, 4 KOs) scored a convincing six-round unanimous decision over Christian Cruz (12-9-1, 10 KOs). Castaneda, 172 ¾, took the initiative from the opening bell, coming forward with looping punches and forcing Cruz to the ropes. The bout would become a rougher contest beginning in the second, with punches thrown on the break, and elbows and heads coming into play for both fighters. Cruz, 170, seemed to have control for much of the round, but Castaneda came on strong late. Castaneda was able to get off quicker and more often in the ensuing rounds, with Cruz’ best work occurring in the fifth when he got Castaneda on the ropes. The sixth and final round ended with a heated exchange that Castaneda seemed to get the best of. The final scores were 60-54, 59-54 and 59-55 for Castaneda. 15rounds.com scored the fight 59-55 Castaneda.

Brandon Gonzales (3-0, 3 KOs) of Sacramento made short work of Flavio Cardoza (1-2), of Reno, Nevada knocking him out 22 seconds into the first round of a scheduled four. Gonzales, 159, landed a vicious left hook with the second or third punch of the fight and sent Cardoza, 166, to the canvas. Cardoza made an attempt to get to his knee, but fell forward and the referee stopped the fight. Gonzales, a Golden Gloves Regional Champion and a U.S. Championships Regional Champion as an amateur, may make his next in-ring appearance as soon as February 22nd in Reno on the undercard of Jesse Brinkley’s fight with Sacramento’s Otis Griffin.

In the opening fight of the night, highly touted local super featherweight prospect Stan Martyniouk (2-0) scored an impressive four-round unanimous decision over rugged Jesus Hernandez (2-2, 2 KOs) of Riverside, California. Martyniouk, 129, of nearby Antelope, took control from the opening bell. The shorter Hernandez, 129, came forward for most of the night, but his looping shots played right into the quick-handed Martyniouk’s strengths. He was able to control the first round by popping his jab and darting in and out of range. A straight right, followed by a quick combination knocked Hernandez off balance late in the round. Hernandez came out with more intensity in the second and was able to pressure Martyniouk on the ropes early in the round. Just when it looked that Hernandez may have the round, Martyniouk unleashed a left hook that sent him to the canvas. Hernandez rose to his feet and the bell ended the round just seconds later. Hernandez did some good work again in the third, but once again was caught hard coming in and found himself on the canvas. The game Hernandez continued to come forward in the fourth and landed a few looping shots while Martyniouk covered up. Martyniouk opened up late in the round with a combination and a straight right that finally got Hernandez to back up. Martyniouk was announced as the winner of a unanimous decision, the scores were not read. 15rounds.com scored it a shutout, 40-34. After the bout Martyniouk, who narrowly missed making the Olympic team, mentioned that he hopes to fight again at the end of the month.

A heavyweight bout matching unbeaten Bowie Tupou (12-0, 10 KOs) of Los Angeles, California and Maurice Wheeler (10-11-1, 1 KO) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was cancelled. It was announced that Uppercut Promotions will return to the Red Lion Hotel on April 24th.