ESPN FNF Recap

by: Jp Centeno



It makes an interesting fight night when we’re presented with two fighters coming off losses and not afraid to lock horns once again.  Last night ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights showcased former WBO junior welterweight champion Kendall “Rated R” Holt vs. Tim “Pit Bull” Coleman in the main event live from the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa at Cabazon, CA.  In their last bouts, both against undefeated fighters, Holt dropped a split decision to Danny “Swift” Garcia and Coleman was KO’ed in the 7th round by Vernon Paris.  It always brings up the same question: Does he still have it?
 
In a pre-fight interview Coleman stated “Man, I’m not f------ wasting no time.  I’m going out bombing and s--- like there’s no tomorrow…I’m coming out gunning.  Like, f--- it, until I get tired…If I go, I go.  If he goes, he goes.  Aint no game plan” and that’s exactly what he did.  There was no “feeling out” in this scheduled ten rounder as Coleman (19-3-1, 5 KO) aggressively came out at the opening bell trying to deter Holt.  One thing Coleman failed to do early in this fight was to bring his hands back to defend himself after he punched and his opponent made him pay for that.  At approximately 20 seconds into the first round, Coleman lunged in with a looping right hand to the body that missed.  Holt, with ring legend Roy Jones, Jr. in his corner, responded by taking a half step back to get out of range and then countering with a left hook and right hook combination as Coleman kept coming in.  The lead left hook landed on Coleman’s shoulder, but the right hand landed on his chin cleanly.  Coleman was on his way down, was held up by the two bottom ropes, but referee Ray Corona failed to rule it a knockdown.  I’m not sure what Teddy Atlas and Bernardo Osuna were watching at ringside, but I’m surprised ESPN2’s broadcast team didn’t pick up on this either.  The fight continued without an interruption with Coleman stalking and head hunting while Holt waited for more openings and, knowing that his opponent was stopped with a body shot in his previous fight, concentrated on his midsection.  Holt capitalized off his rival’s faulty defense at about 2:32 when Coleman lead with a straight right hand that Holt caught with his gloves and countered with a lightning fast left hook downstairs that earned him the “Punch of the Night.”  “Rated R” scored his first knockdown of the fight, but Coleman beat the count and the round ended seconds later.
 
Coleman, fighting out of Las Vegas, NV by way of Baltimore, MD, came out in the second round as the early aggressor again.  The tables turned at about 45 seconds into the round when Holt decided to walk down his opponent and pin him against the ropes.  Holt threw a series of three left hooks, but this time, Coleman had his hands up.  Holt was able to get around his guard and the last hook forced Coleman to his knees.  For the second time in the fight, Coleman beat the count and the bout continued.  For the remainder of the round, Holt no longer played the counter puncher.  He smelled blood and didn’t give his prey the opportunity to get his shots off first.  For the second time in the round, Holt trapped Coleman against the ropes and didn’t let him escape.  He landed another series of three hooks, this time it was with his right hand, and scored his third knockdown of the fight.  Coleman rose to his feet yet again, but looked like a beaten man.  “I’m letting no one off the hook anymore” is what Holt said on Thursday and he proved just that when he attacked on the ropes again.  Another left hook around Coleman’s guard puts him down and he showed grit and determination by beating the count for the fourth time.  Corona reaches the count of seven, but Coleman’s corner stops the fight and saves him from further punishment.  Ring announcer Marc Lichtenfeld calls the official time at 2:23 of the second round.  The Paterson, NJ native advances his record to 28-5, 15 KO, scores his second consecutive knockout on EPSN2’s airwaves, and remains relevant in the exciting junior welterweight division.
 
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