Parting Thoughts on Starstruck Boxing at Mahnomen

• Congratulations to Antwan Robertson and John Hoffman!  Robertson proved his ability and Hoffman his smarts with the enormous improvement in Robertson’s performance over last March.  Most local fans thought they knew how this one would end, and the Brothers proved that almost everyone was wrong.
• Kudos also to Hoffman’s pal and helper Sean Hickman, whose trombone-like voice blared in my ear for eight rounds last night – his insights were spot-on and timely, and there’s no doubt that Antwan could hear every last word!  Talking to Hickman after the fight I got the idea that he could really use a lozenge.
• This was my first time seeing Mike Davis fight, and he more than lived up to his reputation as a heavy-handed scrapper.  It was really impressive to see him out-brawl the Blue Collar Brawler, Jesse Barbot.  I’ll be watching for his name on future fight cards.
• Nick Whiting’s body shot that ended his bout with Travis McCullough was a bolt of lightning from nowhere.  Nothing he threw in the first round and a half gave a hint of what was to come – until that body shot it looked like McCullough would have his way with Whiting.
• Derek Winston’s somewhat disappointing performance apparently was due to a hand injury.  Winston’s right hand was swollen and painful after the fight – he didn’t think it was broken, but hopefully he’ll have it checked out.  And hopefully Antwan Robertson’s cousin and favorite sparring partner will heal that hand and return to form for his next bout.
• I’m not a fan of womens’ boxing, but I have to report that Concha Ross and Brittany Tenbears gave a good account of themselves.  Both were tough and determined.  What neither had was good conditioning.  Both of these ladies were battling exhaustion by the middle of the second round – if one or the other had been in better condition the bout wouldn’t have ended in a draw.
• Lawrence Goodman showed plenty of power and good coordination in his brief bout with Chance Western.  I heard that Western was recovering from an illness before the fight, and couldn’t help wondering whether that had something to do with his inability to compete.

Upcoming Boxing Event: October 23 at Shooting Star Casino in Mahnomen, MN

Just got my first look at the poster for this upcoming event, and it looks pretty respectable.

Co-headlining the show…

• Brad Patraw and Antwan Robertson rematch – these two fought back in March with only their undefeated status at stake.  This time the vacant Minnesota bantamweight championship is on the line.
• Jesse Barbot and Nick Runningbear are expected to face each other, pending Runningbear’s scheduled (October 3) match with tough Butch Hajicek.

On the undercard…

• Sonny Goodman -vs- Charles Goodwin
• Romando Papsadora -vs- Jeff Fuchs
• Nick Whiting -vs- Travis McCulla
• Brad Croaker -vs- Marty Lindquist
• John Sargent -vs- TBA
• Concha Ross -vs- Bridget Tenbears
• Derek Winston -vs- TBA (The unfortunate Winston has been foiled in past attempts to turn pro – good luck, Derek!)

October 23 poster

Fighter/Coach/Promoter John Hoffman Has Something Cooking.

Look for an official announcement later this week, but it looks like John Hoffman of Brothers Promotions is busy putting together an October show for a certain northwestern Minnesota casino.  Early word from Hoffman is that there may be as many as nine bouts.

More details to come!

Upcoming Boxing Event: June 6 at Shooting Star Casino in Mahnomen

Hot on the heels of Friday night’s boxing show in Hinckley comes another show in Mahnomen on Saturday night.  Though the latter may not have quite the star appeal of the former, it does seem to promise some interesting matchups, courtesy of matchmaker and unretired boxer John Hoffman.

What to watch for: Seasoned veterans Christopher Holt and JJ Corn headline the show as light heavyweights.  Crowdpleaser Patrick Cape comes up from the Cities to meet North Dakota’s Jesse Barbot on neutral ground.  Brad Croaker hopes to stay unbeaten as he takes on Wolfman Marty Lindquist, who could really use a win, in a cruiserweight bout.  Nick Whiting and Ron Krull meet in a ’somebody’s got to win’ matchup.  Mike Davis takes on debuting welterweight David Laque.  Gage Sargent and Mike Dempsey both make their pro boxing debuts in a cruiserweight tilt.  Game Yancy Cuellar looks for his first career win against Leroy Wadena.  And John Gorden makes his pro debut against Harold McLeod in a lightweight matchup of inexperience versus inexperience.

Christopher Holt (15-9 with 9 kayos) -vs- Jonathan Corn (47-21 with 26 kayos), light heavyweights, scheduled for 6 rounds

Jesse Barbot (5-4 with 3 kayos) -vs- Patrick Cape (5-5 with 3 kayos), junior middleweights, scheduled for 5 rounds

Brad Croaker (3-0-1 with 2 kayos) -vs- Marty Lindquist (13-8 with 10 kayos), cruiserweights, scheduled for 4 rounds

Nick Whiting (0-11) -vs- Ron Krull (7-34 with 6 kayos), light heavyweights, scheduled for 4 rounds

Michael Davis (3-5 with 3 kayos) -vs- David Laque (0-0), welterweights, scheduled for 4 rounds

Gage Sargent (0-0) -vs- Mike Dempsey (0-0), cruiserweights, scheduled for 4 rounds

Leroy Wadena (0-0) -vs- Yancy Cuellar (0-4), light middleweights, scheduled for 4 rounds

John Gorden (0-0) -vs- Harold McLeod (0-1), lightweights, scheduled for 4 rounds

Antwan Robertson Signs to fight September 20

Antwan Robertson has signed contracts to fight on August 31 at Fortune Bay Casino in Tower and on September 20 at Treasure Island Casino in Red Wing.

Robertson has also disclosed that he’s open to fighting Tim Watts again, in light of Watts’ public request for a rematch published here just days ago.  Robertson responds, “Does he remember I moved up two weight classes to fight him?  But we will fight again.”

Li’l Superman divulged that as far as he knows no opponents have been inked for his upcoming bouts, but his manager, John Hoffman, continues to scour the Upper Midwest for warm bodies.

Antwan Robertson’s Summer Plans

After triumphing over the larger Tim Watt in Winnipeg last weekend, Antwan Robertson plans to have an active summer.  He hopes to fight in July at Northern Lights Casino in Walker, and again at the John Hoffman-promoted event in Grand Forks in August.  One possible opponent: Tim Watt again.  Robertson allows that Watt was a challenging opponent because of his size, but Robertson offset Watt’s size advantage by using his speed and boxing skill and won by second-round knockout.  And Robertson says he’s open to facing Watt again, though he seems understandably doubtful that Watt would want another shot at him.

Hoffman Loses in Halifax

It has been reported by the website of the Halifax Chronicle Herald that Jordan Clarke of Halifax defeated John Hoffman in the first round of their welterweight boxing match on Saturday night.  Clarke accomplished the feat with early body work, putting Hoffman down three times in the first and getting the TKO.

With this result Clarke improved his record to 3-0 with 2 kayos, while Hoffman’s record is now 11-21 with 3 kayos.

May 8 Card for Green Bay is Postponed

A disappointed John Hoffman has notified the Fistic Mystic that the May 8 event at the Riverside Ballroom in Green Bay has been postponed by the promoter.

A new date has not been set yet, but is expected to be 1-2 months out.

Minnesota fighters who were expected to appear on this card included Antwan Robertson, Darby Smart, Jake Betz, and Danny Schlienz.

Profile: Antwan Robertson

My impression of the Uppercut Boxing Gym: a well equipped and airy converted warehouse at 1324 Quincy St NE in Minneapolis. The gym is shaped suspiciously like an old Roman cathedral, with wide central nave flanked by two adjoining aisles.

My impression of Antwan Robertson: short and wiry, hands and feet in proportion to his body; a genuine small man – not just a big guy on a diet. Robertson makes his appearance slightly late, attired in “superman pants,” T shirt, and the obligatory bulky winter coat. His personality is engaging and outgoing. He’s eager to share and excitable.

I am first greeted by Robertson’s coach and promoter, a gentleman named John Hoffman. Hoffman graciously invites me to follow to the elevated ring where he will be working Robertson out. The workout begins haltingly, with much instruction and single jabs thrown. Robertson eventually progresses to two and three jab combinations, with the larger Hoffman occasionally bulling him around the ring. The work is interspersed with occasional pauses, when the two hang on the ropes and watch others work out, or visit with others milling about. But as the workout progresses, Robertson throws more meaningful single hooks, then combinations.

After a brief break to work out a cramp, the workout resumes. The workout moves to another part of the building and I move with it, and Robertson explains along the way that he’s been struggling with a persistent cramp for a week, and his footwork is suffering. As the workout continues it becomes clear that Robertson is a little powerhouse, throwing strong combinations and finishing with hooks that would make a larger fighter proud. Several seven-punch combos follow in quick succession.

Having worked up a good lather in the ring, Robertson moves to the heavy bag, working hard to keep the bag moving. After about fifteen minutes on the heavy bag, a nearly winded Robertson moves further from me, to run on a treadmill at the opposite end of the building. I occupy myself watching another workout, waiting for an opportunity to speak with Robertson at greater length. Clearly taking pity on the stranger, coach John Hoffman ambles over for a visit which turns into a fifteen or twenty minute conversation. What a nice guy he turns out to be! Finally, after a vigorous twenty minute run, Robertson returns to my end of the building with situps on his mind.

But I’ve got an interview on my mind, and I ask Robertson if we couldn’t talk now, and so our interview begins.

We begin by talking about Robertson’s amateur career. He explains that he discovered boxing about four years ago while doing community service for an unspecified offense. He dropped in on Hoffman’s gym in Anoka (now under different management) and was instantly hooked. “I was at that gym Monday through Saturday every week,” he explains – “I just loved [boxing] right away.” However, learning the game takes time and Robertson took part in just twelve amateur matches in nearly four years as an amateur. He compiled a record of 9-3 before turning pro in 2007, including the 2007 Upper Midwest Golden Gloves championship at 112#. It seems that Robertson may have remained an amateur, but he lost his eligibility as a consequence of appearing in a toughman contest in 2007. That’s what prompted him to turn pro. To date his professional record is 3-0 with 2 kayos.

Robertson speaks in glowing terms of his coach/manager/promoter, John Hoffman. Hoffman is a coach and a teacher, he says. He credits his time in amateur boxing (also under Hoffman) with keeping him “out of trouble.” Yeah, boxing is good for that.

As has been mentioned on this blog before, it’s difficult for a very small man to find opponents in this part of the world. Robertson acknowledges that this is the case. Ideally, he says he would like to fight “every couple of months,” up to six times per year. “That would be perfect,” he affirms. In order to stay active, Robertson says that he’s willing to fight above his weight. “I’ll fight guys up to 120, 122 pounds.” This is quite a concession for a man who walks around at about 116 pounds. Asked who he would like to fight, Robertson first mentioned Brad Patraw “because he beat me in amateurs,” then he reconsiders. “Not yet,” he says of Patraw, “I’m still learning the basics, the fundamentals.” Along the same lines, when I complimented his strong hooks he nodded and laughed. “I never threw a hook the whole time I was an amateur! Never, not in any fight, not even once.” The man is still learning to box.

The future is unclear for Antwan Robertson. He doesn’t know what his pro career will look like, but he’s hoping that hard work and talent will take him far. “I never worked so hard as a amateur. I mean it. I run so much – I never ran this much as a amateur. Boxing is HARD. I mean, it’s hard work! People don’t know how hard you’ve got to work.”

The Fistic Mystic says: With a good coach and careful management, and with a good work ethic, this talented young man should be able to make a nice professional run. Just how far he will go, only time will tell.