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ESPN Wednesday Night Fights

June 20, 2007

Foxwoods Resort Casino-Mashantucket, Connecticut

Cruiserweight (200 pounds) 6-Round Match:

Aaron Williams (12-0-1, 8 KO's, 198 pounds) vs. de Leon Tinsley (7-1-1, 5 KO's, 198 pounds)

Williams has been in against ridiculously soft competition. The last time he faced a boxer who had won their previous two matches, before facing him, was seven contests ago, versus an opponent with a daunting record, of 2-1. His last match was a knockout victory in Illinois, over an opponent who had lost their previous four straight matches. The 21-year-old is 6' 1" tall, from Cleveland, Ohio, but currently training in Las Vegas, Nevada. Williams has a very good amateur pedigree, including finishing third at the 2004 United States Olympic boxing trials.

Tinsley stands 6' tall and is 36-years-old. He turned pro very late, at the age of 34-years-old. However, Tinsley started boxing as an amateur in 1992. The Orlando, Florida native took a long break from boxing in between his time starting out as an amateur and turning pro, early 2005. He is competing for the third time in three months, after a seven month layoff, which could mean he is either really sharp and in shape or worn down. Tinsley's last two matches were against Joell Godfrey, the first a majority draw and the second a split decision loss on the undercard of the recent Jermain Taylor main event in Memphis. For this match Tinsley set the record for accepting a match on short notice. He accepted this match the morning of the event, and had to finishes up his medical tests at 9:30 in the morning, while getting ready to box. That would have him done less then 13 hours before he stepped into the ring. Tinsley is the second new opponent for Williams in the 12 hours proceeding the match.

Williams wins round 1, 10-9. Tinsley is moving his head into the path of Williams' right hand when trying to dodge punches, and barely survived round 1. It was close to a 10-8 round. The ESPN production crew is not on their game for this show, because after 2 commercials during a replay of action from the last round, Tinsley is knocked down. Action is rejoined at the referee's count of 4, with Tinsley up to a knee. Tinsley satisfactorily answers the referee's count, while Joe Tessitore promises a replay of the knockdown later. The Orlando boxer is on very shaky legs, trying to grab on to Williams and hold on for the rest of the round. With 1:45 to go in round 2, the referee tries to step in to end the contest with Tinsley still standing, but a right hand by Williams sends Tinsley unconscious through the ropes. The punch came while the referee was moving in, and a second before the referee was able to grab Williams. Tinsley is prevented from falling all the way to the floor of the arena by a few helpful people in the front row.  Medical attention is there immediately, and Tinsley is rushed back onto his stool. It was two left hooks, that put Tinsley down for the first knockdown.

The official decision is that: at 1:18 of Round 2 the winner by technical knockout and still undefeated, Aaron Williams. The win moves Williams to 13-0-1, with 9 of those wins coming by way of knockout.

Williams' win proved he can knockout more soft opposition. The win was flashy, but the way he celebrated his victory with his opponent being potentially seriously injured, showed a lack of maturity. When he wins a few matches against decent opposition he should be brought back to ESPN, though.

I have not seen any news updates on Tinsley, but he was awake and sitting on his stool, when ESPN cut away to their next piece. That means he was taken to a local medical center and they are checking him out, but he was not seriously injured.

This was a good show from start to finish.  Not a must watch, but if stumbled upon is worth watching.  This was the SmackDown! of boxing events.