- Teon Kennedy vs. Thomas Snow
Sometimes a single fight or a single punch can alter the course of a fighter's career overnight. That's what may have happened when Teon "The Technician" Kennedy blitzed Thomas "K0" Snow to win by second-round knockout in a battle of the two best super bantamweight prospects on the East Coast.
Kennedy, 121.5 pounds, of North Philadelphia, staggered Snow, a lefty, with a right hand, then followed with a left and two more rights as Snow collapsed along the ropes near his own corner. Snow failed to beat the count and it was over at 1.21 of round two. It was a fitting finale to a gruelling night of fights in the sweltering New Alhambra, where the air-conditioning failed to cool the crowd as temperatures outside the building hovered in the mid 90s.
For the 22-year-old Kennedy, now 9-0, 5 K0s, it was a "breakout" win in his 17-month career and one which should put him on the fast track to a world ranking. He came in under the super bantamweight limit (122 pounds) for the first time in his career and he did not struggle to get there.
The first round was competitive with both men giving and taking. Snow displayed a solid chin and rallied back every time Kennedy got inside his wide punches. Kennedy also took shots and finished the round with swelling over his right eye.
Kennedy, former 1004 National Golden Gloves champion at 112 pounds, took control in round two. His camp is looking at the vacant USBA super bantamweight title as a next possible step.
Snow, 27, former two-time National Golden Gloves semifinalist at 119 pounds, suffered his first defeat in 11 pro fights. He is 10-1, 8 K0s.
In other bouts on the card: Chuck Mussachio, 173 pounds, Wildwood, NJ, picked up his biggest win, a unanimous eight-round decision (76-75, 77-74, 78-73) over Richard Stewart, 174.5, New Castle, DE, light-heavyweights. Mussachio is 12-0-1, 5 K0s; Stewart is 14-6-2, 8 K0s; Larry Robinson, 183, South Philadelphia, out-mauled Simon Carr, 190.5, South Philadelphia, to gain a majority six-round decision (57-57, 59-55, 60-54), cruiserweights; veteran trialhorse Martinus Clay, 150, North Philadelphia, forced Shawn Purdy, 151.5, Detroit, MI, to retire on the stool after three rounds of their junior middleweight contest; Anthony Flores, 131, North Philadelphia, with only two fights under his belt going in, scored three knockdowns and a unanimous four-round decision (40-34, 40-34, 40-34) over 26-fight veteran Ramon Guevara, 136, Grand Rapids, MI, lightweights; Dennis Hasson, 164.5, Kensington, pounded out a unanimous four-round decision (40-36, 40-36, 40-36) over Roberto Irrizarry, 164, Edison, NJ, super middleweights; lefty Luis Esquilin, 131.5, North Philadelphia, earned a unanimous four-round decision (39-37, 40-36, 40-36) in his pro debut over Tommy Garcia, 129.5, Hartford, CT, junior lightweights.