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 Welcome to SPNY 104. Tonight’s card is the much anticipated Heavyweight Title rematch between champion Earnest Abe and Shane Waitzel. The semi main event pits No. 1 Light Heavyweight contender Toby Le Rone against Tanner Speed. We have 8 other preliminary fights on the card including 3 in SPNY’s newly contested Featherweight Division.
1: Main Event – Heavyweight Title
Earnest Abe 16-2 (6-0 SPNY) vs Shane Waitzel 22-5 (1-1 SPNY)
Abe attempts to defend his Heavyweight title for the fourth time, and the second time against the more experienced challenger Waitzel. Those of you lucky enough to be at SPNY 93 in Montreal earlier in the year were treated to one of the finest stand up bouts I’ve ever witnessed with Abe claiming a 3rd round KO on his way to Fight of the Night honours.
Abe comes into the fight on the back of a 6 fight winning streak, all of them by way of knockout. His current form has been described as clinically efficient, and should he reproduce that form looks unstoppable.
It would be folly to write off Waitzel’s chances of springing an upset however, with many commentators feeling Waitzel was ahead on the scorecards before being KO’d in the third in the first match up between these fighters. Also the toughness and determination he showed in shrugging off 2 knockdowns before being finished that night suggest that Abe will have to work hard to keep the belt.
This match up screams even fight, but I can’t look away from Abe to keep his title, predicting a KO stoppage in the 2nd.
1: Semi Main – Light Heavyweight
Toby Le Rone 17-5 (3-2 SPNY) vs Tanner Speed 14-8 (1-1 SPNY)
SPNY’s No. 1 contender in the light heavyweight division, Toby Le Rone, looks to press his claims for a shot at the title against Tanner Speed. This one shapes as a very evenly matched fight, with both fighters best known for their ability to stand up and bang; but interestingly, neither of these boys have finished a fight in their last 5 outings.
Extremely evenly matched; both fighters are great on their feet, both fighters are crisp strikers, both hate being on their backs.
Le Rone wants to win this one with an emphatic finish to convince his critics he deserves another shot at the 205lbs title, but I fancy Speed in an upset, he has all the skills to counter Le Rone’s strengths and his crisp striking might just get him over the line on the judges scorecard if this one goes the distance.
3: Light Heavyweight
Jason Krutcher 27-13 (1-1 SPNY) vs Richie McCaw 11-10 (SPNY Debut)
The vastly experienced, but cut prone, Krutcher looks to add to his impressive record against SPNY newcomer McCaw. Krutcher has a distinct advantage if this one stays on its feet with his MT far superior to McCaw. McCaw should have the edge if he can manage to take Krutcher down; I’m not convinced this will worry Krutcher as he has never been subbed in 40 professional fights.
Krutcher should have the talent to see this one out, but will be wary of the ground skills of McCaw.
4: Super Heavyweight
Teppo Tulppu 13-9 (7-4 SPNY) vs Steven Sangweni 4-3 (SPNY Debut)
Two giants meet here with SPNY veteran Tulppu taking on SPNY debutant Sangweni. All 11 of Tulppu’s SPNY bouts have finished within the distance, while Sangweni has only once had a fight enter a 2nd round. The experience of Tulppu should prove too much for Sangweni, but expect fireworks early, and anything can happen.
5: Middleweight
Nick Folignus 9-7 (SPNY Debut) vs Rasheed Willis 11-7-1 (5-4-1 SPNY)
What happens when 2 submission specialists fight it out? SPNY veteran Willis has 10 submissions from 11 career wins, Folignus has 8 from 9. Should Folignus back his stand up abilities he may well have the edge in taking Willis out of his comfort zone, but expect the crowd to heavily favour their veteran Willis. If long periods of this fight stay standing Folignus wins a comfortable decision, but if Willis gets this fight his way with a vocal crowd behind him he takes home career win number 12.
6: Middleweight
Jonathon Moxon 18-17-1 (SPNY Debut) vs Dan Stann 18-17-2 (SPNY Debut)
Two journeymen fighters have been given the chance to make a mark, and both feel they have a point to prove. Stann is great on his feet; Moxon has one of the best armbars in the business if he gets to fight this one on the ground. It may well be worth getting to the arena early as both fighters will be intent to show that they belong in this org and will be desperate to leave the crowd with an impression.
7: Heavyweight
Magnus Jonnson 7-6 (4-3 SPNY) vs Toni Manel 12-2 (9-1 SPNY)
It is a reflection of the strength of the Heavyweight division that Toni Manel is not considered a top contender with a record as good as his. Jonnson will be up against it in this bout, with Manel holding the skills edge on the feet and on the ground. Jonnson will hold out hope that both Manel’s career lossed have been by way of submission and Jonnson is best known for his submission skills, but the smart money would be on Manel to finish this within the distance.
8: Featherweight
Malakai Semerkhet (Debut) vs Benjamin Franklin 1-0 (SPNY Debut)
Pit a debutant kickboxer against a BJJ grappler who has only recently started to learn to wrestle and what do you get? Nobody knows and that is what makes this bout between two inexperienced 18 year olds so exciting. Semerkhet will be desperate to end this fight quickly before he is taken down, but if Franklin gets the takedown, the end will be swift for Semerkhet. A coin flip has better odds of predicting the winner of this bout than I do.
9: Featherweight
Durk Tent 2-2 (SPNY Debut) vs Cesar James The Reaper 1-0 (SPNY Debut)
Another example of a boxer vs a grappler, Tent is the superior grappler with an edge in experience, The Reaper was a fine amateur boxer with very crisp striking. I back The Reaper to finish this one early, but should Tent get the fight to the ground he may well get a submission win.
10: Featherweight
Kyle Hulse 0-1 (SPNY Debut) vs Randy Sarmoni 0-1 (SPNY Debut)
One of these fighters will leave the cage tonight with their first professional win. Sarmoni has decent striking with rudimentary ground skill. Hulse has a sound base in boxing and wrestling but is a newcomer to BJJ techniques. The key in this match up to me is the quality training Hulse has been exposed to in recent weeks and I see him taking home a decision tonight.
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