American Heavyweight Amir Mansour Vanquishes Mendoza in Six

by Esteban Walters

 

Last night from the Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, in Dover, Delaware, 39-year-old undefeated heavyweight force Amir “Hardcore” Mansour (16-0, 12KOs) scooped up the vacant World Boxing Federation Intercontinental Heavyweight title, to add to his other alphabet belts, by dispatching Barranquilla, Columbia’s battle tested veteran Epifanio “Diamante” Mendoza (32-13-1, 28KOs) via 6th round TKO, just after Mendoza’s corner threw in the towel at 1:17 of the frame, concluding a bombardment of blows by Mansour upon Mendoza, as the latter’s back was pasted to the ropes not returning fire.

 

After serving eight years in prison on drug charges, putting a once promising prize fighting career on hold for nearly a decade, the mature and heavy handed southpaw Amir Mansour, of Wilmington, Delaware by way of Penns Grove, New Jersey, placed his title aspirations back atop the canvas, immediately proclaiming — without having stepped foot inside a pro boxing ring in nine-plus years — that no one in the division was faster, stronger or hit harder. If that doesn’t give you an idea of “Hardcore’s” confidence, this is the same man who said he’ll rumble with the brothers Klitschko for pennies.

 

What concerns me though, is that if and when he does go to battle with either Doctor Iron-Fist or Steel-Hammer, Mansour’s height disadvantage at 5′ 11″, in comparison with Wladimir at 6′ 6″ and Vitali’s frame extending to 6′ 7½”, Mansour will be faced with an enormous hurdle to conquer, but power has been known to neutralize and Amir’s packing. Ten of his twelve knockouts never saw the 4th round, albeit against cannon fodder, Mansour can bang and should be respected as such.

 

Going in Mansour had won his first six bouts since returning to the sweet science in August 2008, the last of which was a dominant performance against former American hopeful Dominick Guinn via unanimous decision in August. Mansour sought to keep the streak rolling against Mendoza while keeping his name abuzz, and eventually taking center stage in the once iconic heavyweight division.

 

Despite 12 losses on his ledger, to the likes of Lateef Kayode, BJ Flores and Beibut Shumenov, Epifanio Mendoza, 36, also thumps, dismissing twenty-eight foes in thirty-two victories before the final bell, communicating with his fist that he’s nothing to be played with. Since arriving on American shores in 2002 Mendoza has fought as low as junior middleweight, climbing his way up the weight classes until he joined the big boys division in July 2011. Winning his first two fights, the second being a shocker at the expense of then undefeated Puerto Rican Olympian Carlos Negron, Mendoza was challenging to keep the good fortune intact at the expense Mansour.

 

The scheduled 10 round main attraction, coined Dover Downs Friday Night Fights, was broadcast on web television’s GoFightLive.tv, and as expected the WBO’s #8 ranked heavyweight entered the fracas guns-a-blazing and never allowed the defensive and retreating Columbian into the fight. Improving with each round and rocking a fatiguing Mendoza multiple times throughout the altercation, Mansour upped the ante from the outset of the 6th stanza, forcing the situation and clobbering Mendoza — who’s back was pasted to the corner — with a cruel uppercut followed by a bombardment of unanswered blows, prompting Epifanio’s corner to throw in the towel at just over a minute into the period, ending the punishment.

 

“He was trying to provoke me and make me make a mistake,” miffed Mansour, adding, “I understand that, I think he did that because he was hurt. If I was hurt I might do the same thing.”

 

Amir was referring to multiple rounds that were concluded by blows after the bell, spurring Epifanio’s trainer to run across the ring in the direction of Mansour’s corner following a chest-pounding display from Mendoza while pointing at his chin.

 

“Exactly what they [his corner] told me to do, I did in the 6th round and got him out of there,” concluded Mansour.

 

With the victory, Amir “Hardcore” Mansour improved his record to 16 wins, no losses, 12 knockouts and 1 draw, as the southpaw scraps up the ladder.

 

What’s next for Delaware’s “Hardcore” Mansour is unknown, but a fight pitting him against another undefeated heavyweight making waves, in former college football star turned boxer Seth “Mayhem” Mitchell (23-0-1, 17KOs) — who possesses lightning in his hands– seems a perfect fit considering where each man resides in their respective career.

 

Boxing scribe Tony Whitby of BoxingIQ, recently suggested this pairing in a conversation we had, and when he proposed the idea and his interest in such a contest, I instantly thought it was a good call and most importantly, a treat for the American fans who so desperately want a heavyweight warrior to speak proudly of and to call their own. One of these two men could possibly emerge as that guy, and this writer would like to see each gladiator plead their case on the others face.

 

Mitchell is ready to step up the competition in 2012 and Mansour can provide those services, in a fight that would no doubt bring forth fireworks, more than likely leaving one man stretched, while the other moves one step closer to a world title and the possibility of fulfilling the country’s void of a great American heavyweight.

 

Mansour has the tools, and the power with which to deliver those weapons effectively, but still questions abound in evaluating just how good he is, questions only top level opposition can address. He fought five times in 2011, and it would be in his best interest to continue that pattern until that world title he believes to be his destiny, is firmly secured around his waist. Stating Mansour has little time to waste would be an understatement considering his 40th birthday is on the horizon.

 

Regardless of who Amir fights next, his 2012 campaign, which should experience a significant step up in class, should reveal plenty in terms of where his boxing career is headed, or otherwise.

 

In a 6 round junior welterweight contest 38-year-old Dorin Spivey (40-6, 29KOs) of Portsmouth, Virginia, won a unanimous decision over 31-year-old Puerto Rican Angel Rios (9-9, 6KOs), with scores of 60-54, 59-55 and 58-56.

 

In a 6 round cruiserweight battle hard hitting unbeaten 26-year-old Anthony Caputo Smith (12-0, 10KOs) of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, was victorious in dramatic fashion as he got rid of Nairobi, Kenya’s 30-year-old southpaw Douglas Otieno Okola (23-8, 12KOs) by 6th round KO via one punch at :56.

 

In a 6 round super middleweight match-up 23-year-old Mike Tiberi (18-1, 7KOs) out of Smyrna, Delaware, defeated hesitant 23-year-old Puerto Rican Emil Gonzalez (5-6, 3KOs) by unanimous decision with tallies of 60-54 and 59-55 twice.

 

In a 4 round junior welterweight affair 27-year-old Ryan Belasco (16-5-3, 3KOs) of Wilmington, Delaware, conquered 38-year-old Akron, Ohio, nemesis Damon Antoine (9-33-2, 4KOs) by unanimous decision, resulting in computations of 40-34 twice, and 39-35.

 

In a 4 round super middleweight drubbing 22-year-old Dover, Delaware, hometown fighter John Bowman (1-0-1) routed Reidsville, North Carolina’s 20-year-old Damien Reed (2-8-1, KO), dropping Reed three times on his way to a unanimous decision triumph which was scored 40-32, 40-33, and 39-33.

 

In a 4 round lightweight confrontation unbeaten 20-year-old Omar Douglas (3-0, 2KOs) of Wilmington, Delaware, stopped Philadelphia, Pennsylvania’s Miguel Antonio Rodriguez (0-1) — who was debuting — with an uppercut that forced referee Benjy Esteves to intervene, stopping the dispute at 2:46 of round 2.

 

Fleshing out the eight fight card undefeated 27-year-old Dover, Delaware, homegrown product Lamont Singletary (3-0, 2KOs) topped 29-year-old Maurice Amaro (1-5) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, per unanimous decision with the scores reading 40-36 twice, and 39-37 in a 4 round cruiser-weight clash.

 

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