RADISSON RUMBLE
ONE IN A MILLION, INC. PROMOTIONS
RADISSON HOTEL AND STAR PLAZA
MERRILLVILLE, INDIANA
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2008
Talk about action! While the weather outside might be turning a bit colder, the amount of fireworks inside the Radisson might have made you think it was July! Another impressive promotion, with an equally impressive turnout, found it’s way to Merrillville last night.
ISAM “SAMMY” MERZA TKO1 MICHAEL RUSH

This was your basic 15-1 fighter fighting a man with a 1-10 record. Merza (Las Vegas, NV), who hasn’t fought since late 2005, made short work out of the “White Horse”, who stood gamely for the first minute of the fight, but was blown out at 2:11 of the first with a barrage of hooks and crosses in the corner. Referee Kurt Spivey took one look at Rush’s face, stopped the fight, and didn’t look back.
MICHAEL PARKER TKO1 RONALD GARR

A right hook in the first minute of the fight floors Garr (Akron, OH), who gets up quickly, only to get knocked down again just as easily by a busy Parker (Highland, IN). Referee Kurt Spivey waves off the fight at 1:32 of round one, ruling it a TKO. Parker has good size and physique, but in order to get noticed, he’s going to have to step up the competition.
JOSH CROUCH KO1 DAN SUMMERS

Crouch’s fans were a healthy fraction of those in attendance at the Radisson for the event, but they weren’t able to see much of their favorite fighter. The Shererville, IN native flattened Summers (Ft. Wayne, IN) with a right hook to the ear in the first twenty seconds, and resumed with another knockdown ten seconds later from a left uppercut and right cross combination. Referee Bill Paige stopped the bout at :45 of round one.
ORPHIUS WAITE UD JUAN AGUILAR

This kid Orphius Waite could really be a future superstar. His physique is astounding, his technique is that of a ten-year veteran, and his smile will sell tickets from here to Vegas and back.
In only his third professional fight, he was put in with Aguilar (Whiting, IN) who used to headline events for OIAM as recently as two years ago. The speed, accuracy, and power of Waite (Chicago, IL) were the deciding factor in this fight, as Aguilar’s chin and tenacity saved him from a knockout at the hands of the younger fighter. Waite pivots at the waist so very well, and slips and slides around like he’s been doing it for a long career already. With a red, swollen left eye, Aguilar tries to rally in the last few seconds of the sixth round, but the damage had already been done. Waite’s constant attack amounted to “money in the bank” on the scorecards, which consisted of 59-55 and 60-54 (twice), all for Waite.
ED OCHOA TKO4 CHRISTIAN NASH

The game Nash (Cincinnati, OH) was kept at bay early in this fight by the 2X4 left jab of Ochoa (Hobart, IN), and his right hand didn’t make it any easier on Nash, either.
But in the third round, the real fight broke out. Nash decided he didn’t want to be a punching bag anymore, and broke loose with some hard shots to the head and body of his own. Ochoa wins the round, barely, due to his increased accuracy, but Nash stays right in his face. The fourth looks much like the third, but all of a sudden, Ochoa’s pressure gets to Nash, who turns and stops defending himself, and with a flying mouthpiece, prompts Referee Spivey to halt the bout at 1:38 of round 4.
DERRICK FINDLEY TKO1 RASHAWN BLAND

Findley didn’t box Bland. He didn’t even exchange with him. He simply manhandled him. He came forward, cornered Bland (Cincinatti, OH), and unleashed an attack consisting of roughly 15-20 power shots to the body and head, forcing Bland to the canvas. At just twenty-eight seconds of round one, this one was already in the books. Findley’s punching power is awesome, and it was all highly-touted Miguel Hernandez could handle in their Cicero war earlier this year. Next, Findley dismantled the quickly-rising Polish star Andreijz Fonfara at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago four weeks later in two lopsided rounds. Earlier in his career, Findley was put in a bit over his head, amounting to a loss to former Olympian Andre Ward, but on his current path, who knows just how good he can become? He’s quick, strong, and insanely muscular. He is easily recognizable, and that equals marketability.
MICHAEL PARKER MD8 ANTWUN ECHOLS

These two just plain DON’T like each other. They glared at each other during the National Anthem. Walker even ran over to get in the face of Echols just before the official introductions.
The tension around this one was pretty thick. Being the rematch of a draw that aired on ESPN2 a couple months back, this is clearly one that both combatants need to win. They were both in limbo, needing closure from each other before either could move forward.
Echols started the fight strong and quick, stinging his jab out at Walker (Chicago, IL), who felt content to move slowly forward and keep up his superior defense. By the second round, the exchanges began and Walker seemed to be getting to Echols (Davenport, IA), as he forced Echols into the corner to open up some offense of his own,
consisting of an intense body attack. Walker even staggered Echols late in the second, and the style of Walker, who drops his head and bores forward, seems to really bother Echols. Echols was staggered twice in the fourth by left hooks, which was landing more frequently as the fight continued. Walker was warned for the head contact, but the major damage is coming from the
Chicago native’s gloves. In the fifth round came the only knockdown of the fight, from a short inside right hand by Echols that sent Walker to one knee. The referee rules it a slip, but it restores the energy levels of Echols, who owns the majority of the sixth round with his accurate jab and overhand right hand. Walker took back the momentum of the fight in the sixth and seventh with his strong body attack and right hand to the head. Walker made his statement with a strong, if not dominant performance. 76-76, 78-74, and 77-75 majority decision for Walker.
Afterwards, Walker had the following statement for Bolo Punch. “I wasn’t hurt from
the shot in the fifth. It was all timing. My footwork was a bit lackadaisical. He can’t take my shots, and I proved it. The win wasn’t (exactly) what I wanted, but I’ll take it. Bring ‘em all on.” Walker could be a big player in the middleweight division, but his height won’t help much, since he often gives up three to five inches to his opponents. His work ethic, though, is second to none. I’m sure that it will be rewarded with a high-profile fight, especially after this performance over Echols.
***Special thanks to Octavious James of One In a Million, Inc. for inviting Bolo Punch to cover their event. Also, a sincere thanks to Mr. George Rogge of Rogge Insurance for his continued support and guidance.

Ringside photography by Emil “Soda Popinski” Kegebein (smugmug.com account “LegupPhotos” or LegUpPhotos.com)
Ringside report by Chris Guzman, who has hosted The Bolo Punch Boxing Hour since 2002.