Philadelphia fighter and USBA Super Bantamweight champion Teon Kennedy has added another title and belt to his collection. He is now also the NABA Super Bantamweight champion after his TKO victory over Alex Becerra of El Paso, Texas. Teon, also known as “The Technician,” showcased his talent and demonstrated to those in attendance why he received that name from his trainers. From early in the fight, it was clear that Teon was in control.

The fight started with both fighters testing the other, neither really controlling the action. A jab thrown here and there, maybe an occasional right hand. This coming from either fighter. But in the second round, Teon began to establish himself as the one dominating the fight. Early in the round, Teon stunned Becerra with a right to the head. He quickly capitalized on that by backing Becerra to the ropes. Becerra was able to get out, but he spent much of the round backing away from Teon. Becerra was able to land a few of his shots, but none had that desired effect for Becerra. He was never able to change the tempo of the round. The round clearly was Teon’s.

Becerra, however, did not come all the way to Atlantic City to lose his opportunity at the title. As the bell sounded for round three, Becerra was ready. He started the round attacking the body of Teon Kennedy. Never letting up the pressure even when hit, Becerra was now the one backing Teon around the ring. This continued for much of the round. Then Teon landed a shot to the head. That was all that was needed, allowing Teon to take control of the end of the round. And round four picked up where three had ended. Becerra was keeping his distance this round. Teon was able to land combination after combination, and once again stunned Becerra with a hard right to his head. Teon was able to stun Becerra several times in round five, and he was punishing Becerra anytime he tried to get in to land a shot.

Teon came out of his corner on the attack at the beginning of round six. He was backing Becerra across the ring. Becerra proved himself to be a worthy opponent who could take the punishment, and toward the middle of the round he was able to take control. Becerra was fighting in close, and Teon, at first, looked to be in trouble. That is when “The Technician” took control. He landed a right to stop Becerra in his tracks. The round ended with Teon knocking Becerra back whenever he tried to come in. It was becoming apparent that Teon could outbox Becerra inside or outside.

In the seventh, Teon once again backed Becerra to the ropes. It was becoming a question of how long Becerra could take this kind of punishment. He was landing shots, but they were having little effect on Teon. Toward the end of the round, Becerra looked as though he could go down, but he was able to hold on to Teon long enough to survive. Not only did Becerra survive the end of the round, he seemed rejuvenated as the eighth round began. Just like in the third, he was backing Teon around the ring, and just like in the third, Teon regained control with a shot to the head by the end of the round.

The fight was Teon’s as the ninth round began. Becerra had been taking punishment round after round. His eyes were swelling up, and he was having trouble breathing. By the tenth, Becerra no longer saw Teon’s right coming. Teon was landing his shots to the head of Becerra at will. Becerra was having trouble connecting. At the end of ten rounds, referee Steve Smoger stopped the fight. Teon, “The Technician,” had out boxed his opponent for the NABA title.
 

In the co-feature, super middleweight Dennis Hasson defeated Tommie Speller, both of Philadelphia. Speller’s record of 5-4 might have looked as though he would be an easy opponent for the undefeated Hasson, but Speller did not hand Hasson an easy win. Early in the first round, Speller was able to produce a cut above the left eye of Hasson. The whole round was back and forth with neither fighter controlling the action.

By the second round, Hasson was looking more comfortable. He started to double up his jab, giving Speller less opportunity to land anything. Hasson also concentrated his attack on the body. Speller tried to capitalize on the eye of Hasson. Early in the third, Hasson landed a hard right to the head of Speller. For much of the early round, he was backing Speller around the ring. However, Speller was able to come back in the middle of the round, but it was short lived as Hasson regained control toward the end.

The fourth round was a much slower round. Speller was able to do some damage early in the round, but he never kept up the pressure. It was once again Hasson who finished the round strong. The fifth round began with Hasson still in control of the fight, but he, at times, was giving Speller too much room to move. Toward the end of the round, Speller was landing his shots and stalking Hasson.

Speller’s confidence was up at the end of the fifth and beginning of the sixth. At the bell, Speller came out of his corner chasing Hasson. Hasson was able to back up Speller late in the round, catching Speller in the corner. Speller looked tired as the seventh round began. Hasson was having little trouble from Speller now. Hasson simply threw combination after combination. Even when Speller landed a punch, they had no effect of Hasson.

Both fighters came out in the eighth swinging. Hasson was landing shots to the head and body of Speller. He backed Speller to the ropes. Speller was able to get out, avoiding a possible knock down, but he was never unable to do anything to change the direction of the fight, much less knock out Hasson, which would have been needed to win the fight. Dennis Hasson won by unanimous decision.

The night began with the pro debut of Super Middleweight Rashad Brown. Brown showed good form as he fought and defeated Greg Hackett, who spent most of the fight trying to hang on to Brown to keep from getting hit. Brown won all four rounds on the scorecards of all three judges.

Lightweight Chris Green won by unanimous decision over Deroy Beaton. Junior Welterweight Treysean Wiggins knocked down Jason Sosa twice in the first round before the referee stopped the fight after only 2 minutes and 2 seconds. Finally, in what seemed to be the only controversial fight result of the evening, Junior Welterweights Julio DeJesus and Linwood Hurd fought to a majority draw. Judge John Stewart scored the fight 40-36 for DeJesus. Judges Steve Weisfeld and Hilton Whitaker both scored the fight 38-38.

On a final note, there are those in Atlantic City who are questioning how to bring the crowds back. I would like to make a suggestion. Hold more fights like this. Russell Peltz put together an entertaining night of boxing. With the exception of a few boxers, I don’t think anyone left disappointed. And bring more championship fights to Atlantic City, like the upcoming Martinez, Williams fight. Now that you, Atlantic City, are surrounded by smaller casinos in New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, you need to bring in the quality entertainment.