Ali Izmailov Competing Charles Foster in the ShoBox Main Event. The head waterman Evans. Carrillo Bests Vansiclin.

By: Sean Crose

ShoBox returned to the Turning Stone Resort and Casino on Friday night with a three-fight card featuring six undefeated boxers. The evening started with Clay Waterman 10-0 against Kenman Evans 10-0-1 in the scheduled 8th round at heavyweight. Maintaining range, Evans had a strong first inning. However, the much shorter Waterman began to close the gap at the second. Evans was rocked in season three. He wasn’t seriously injured, but Waterman was able to knock him down throughout the round. Now confident, Waterman fueled the action in the fourth inning.

By the fifth season, Waterman had good control. Evans needs to make something happen. He tried, to be sure, but Waterman was able to go on to land in sixth place. Evans had a better Saturday, but was caught up in the final thirty seconds. The eighth and final round saw Evans fall, but not from a punch. He was clearly exhausted, but got up and fought tenaciously. However, the fight belonged to Waterman, who scored an impressive decisive victory.

Next, lightweight Juan Carrillo, 10-0, faced Richard Vansiclin, 13-0-1, in a match scheduled for the 10th. Carrillo started pressing immediately. The man controlled the tempo in the first two innings of the fight. Vansiclin came down from the right in the third round, but quickly got up. It felt like a one-way fight until, in the fourth round, Vansiclin knocked out his man with a surprising and impressive combo. Carrillo defeats the count, but is clearly wounded.

Carrillo continued to attack in the fifth inning. Even though he was injured, he simply seemed to be the one to fight with more confidence. With that said, Vansiclin can land more often than the sixth. Carrillo looked a little angry in the seventh inning. Each man effectively throws and lands in the eighth. Carrillo clearly ran the drums in the ninth round, but he still fought well.

The tenth and final round saw each shooter determined to win. It was an interesting fight, one that is currently ending in high form. With that said, the nod went to Carrillo through majority decision.

It’s time for the main event. Ali Izmailov 10-0 vs Charles Foster 22-0 in a heavyweight bout scheduled for the 10th. Izmailov was fierce in the first half. However, it was Foster who started to impress in the second round by maintaining range and executing his stab efficiently. Izamilov could not seem to overwhelm his men in the third inning. The fourth inning saw Foster remain confident in his defense, as Izmailov was unable to deal any real damage. While Foster still let him down in the fifth round, Izmailov was able to knock Foster down in the final seconds of the round. Foster, however, was able to beat the count.

Foster, who complained of shoulder pain between rounds, was slow in the sixth round. Foster hit and held in the seventh round, although he was cautioned by the referee for hitting his head. The eighth round was over, and every boxer landed well. The ninth bout was fast-paced, with each man falling to the tarp by a rope. However, there is little doubt that each boxer gave his best. The tenth and final innings were a question of will, as both men tried to prevail in their respective styles – Izmailov by rough attack and Foster by clean and keep.

In the end, the judges ruled in Izmailov’s favor by unanimous decision.