Boxing Promoters Don King, Gary Shaw, & Tuto Zabala teamed up with Jeff Gibson of Elite Promotions for and exciting night of Boxing and MMA in Miami Beach dubbed “Battle at the Beach VIII”.
24 year old Heavyweight Mike Marrone 19-1(14KO) had a very big knockout win over Joseph Rabotte 8-14. Marrone a former Florida Golden Glove champion looked a bit rusty while working his way back into action. He fought in spots early and never seemed to engage until he dropped a bomb of a right hand in round five at 1:49.
Marrone is currently promoted by Don King and trains out of Buddy McGirts Gym in Vero Beach ,FL and was coming off of his first career first defeat in 2008 in Germany against Francesco Pianeta 20-0(12KO’s) who is now ranked #10 by the WBO. At the time of that fight, Marrone was recovering from the passing away of his younger brother Chris due to a car accident and took time off and now is back.
Jimi “Ninja” Chaikong got his first MMA victory over Steven Jenetis who was making his pro debut. Chaikong caught Jenetis in his guard and swiftly maneuvered into a triangle which put Jenetis out when the referee Jorge Ortiz waved it off midway through the first round. Congrats to Jimi Ninja for his first win in over 10 years of professional fighting and breaking his back along the way.. literally in 2001.
In a female boxing attraction Marianne Chubirka 5-4(3KO) won a majority decision over Deneise Jacobs who was making her debut. Churika and Jacobs engaged often with Chukirka landing the heavier shots often finding a home for the overhand right with a come forward style. The cards read 38-38 37-39 40-36.
MMA- Channing Ward won by triangle choke over Danceton Holcom both making pro debut.
Luis Cruz 1-0 won a unanimous decision victory over a very game Frederico Vega 1-1(1KO) both from Puerto Rico. The two fought hard from bell to bell often slugging over boxing. Cruz who is promoted by long time promoter Tuto Zabala and showed promise in his first fight for his new promoter.
In a MMA bout Sam Jones improved to 2-0 with a unanimous decision over Guillermo Marin who was making his debut.
In an action packed light welterweight matchup Roberto Lopez 3-0-2 was relentless with punches and pressure on the way to a unanimous decision over Southpaw Xavier Burges 4-1. All three judges scored the bout 40-36, as did I.
In the second knockout of the night came by way of heavyweight Donato DeMartiis 2-0(1KO) who landed a beautiful left right combo to the head of John Ramos that put out for the count late in round one. Ramos looked determined to land the big shot with several huge handed attempts only to be knocked out himself. It was a try hard effort that got the puncher knocked out by the boxer.
MMA fighter Sidney Carlton got a walkover win over Cedric James who was a no show who showed up at the weigh in’s and not the event.
JP Reese got his first MMA win over Johanner Correa when the fight was called due to strikes at 1:45 of the second round.
