(MyBayCity Photos by Julie Munger) (V) Branden Arsenault KO's Matt Eckerle in First Round
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Bay City Heavyweight, Branden Arsenault (6'-0", 229), made short work of challenger Matt Eckerle (5'-10", 212) in the main event at Hooters of Bay City.
The only thing that hit Arsenault on Saturday night were a few raindrops.
In the ring, after a 1:58 first-round knockout victory, Arsenault was all smiles. "I don't think I even got hit," Arsenault said, posing for photos and accepting the congratulations from his fans.
The parking lot overflowed with local support for Arsenault, the hometown favorite, as clouds formed later Saturday night and rain started to fall just before the start of the featured fight.
But Art Dore, (Left) the God-father of local boxing, was confident that the weather would hold off for the Arsenault-Eckerle battle. "I think God's with us tonight," Dore said, pointing at the storm clouds overhead. "We've had two great nights of Bay City boxing," Dore said. "We're gonna be O.K. with the weather."
Dore was right as rain.
As the rain subsided, Arsenault came out strong at the bell and out-muscled Eckerle who came into the fight with more professional experience and a reputation for being a hard hitter. Arsenault was the pursuer from the start and 1:58 minutes into the fight, pounded Eckerle to the mat with a flurry of left-right combinations and overhead right hands.
It was over before it ever got started.
Bob Arsenault, father and corner man for his boxing son was also impressed with Branden's quick disposal of Eckerle. "We were quicker, faster and we hit harder tonight," the older Arsenault beamed. "You saw it. Branden was all over him."
This was the third year for the weekend boxing show at Hooters in Bay City. "It's a fun night for local boxing fans," Dore said. "After three years, it's damn near a tradition," Dore said. "We'll be back next year for year number four."
IN OTHER SATURDAY NIGHT ACTION:
WALTHER IMPRESSIVE:
Bay City's Mike Walther (5"-9", 168) out-boxed and the knocked out Alan Grays (5'-9", 166) from the Grand Rapids area. Walther used speed and quick hands to keep the pressure on Grays over the full length of the match and then simply overpowered the hardworking Grays for the knockout.
THOMPSON OUTLASTS ROOSTER: In an entertaining match, Saginaw's Lee "The Rooster" Thomas knocked Cleveland's Ryan Thompson to the mat twice in the first round on his way to what appeared to be an easy win.
But with corner man Bill Godheart screaming encouragement, the Cleveland heavyweight responded by winning the second round with a flurry of punches at the end of the round. "One round don't make a fight," Godheart yelled over and over to his fighter.
The third round was dead even.
In the 4th round, Thompson caught a tiring "Rooster" with a right hand and sent his opponent to the mat for an eight-count.
The Saginaw "Rooster" never rallied and the decision went to Ryan Thompson from Cleveland, much to the delight of the cheering Godheart.
(Above Left) MyBayCity VIP ticket winner Cherie Athanasoulias, brought her daughter Bridgette Ballor, along with (L/R) Chris Cerbus and Mike North. (Above Right) Other VIP ticket winners included Jennifer Patterson and husband Shayne of Elsie. Shayne is also a fighter who fought in the Extreme Cage Combat held earlier this year at the Westown.
(Above Left) Greg Ahrens of Ahrens Promotion and Dyan. (Above Right) The best 'seat' in the house: from Infinity Productions Inc., Garret Lauer and Lyn Sky, of Orlando, Florida came down to check out the fights they were down at the Softball tournaments early that evening.
(MyBayCity Photo by O. J. Cunningham)
Click Here For MBC Friday Night Fight Coverage
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"The BUZZ" - Read Feedback From Readers! |
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cheriemich Says:
On July 21, 2008
at 01:41 PM
Wow! What a great night at the fights! As winner of 4 VIP tickets to this great event, I just want to say thanks for a very entertaining evening! My first at this kind of event and I will definitely do it again!!
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JulieM says:
On August 05, 2008
at 09:21 PM
Wow... I had to add a comment to this article...seeing that there was only one. Steve Coppler,(API) and A.B.A.A. put on a another great boxing show... it was a great 2 nights of Bay City Boxing at its best. Congrats to Branden, Mike, Merrill, Jon and the rest of the A.B.A.A. victories and to OJ Cunningham who filmed & processed the great footage for me during this 2-night event. (MBC Entertainment)
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O. J. Cunningham |
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