Boxing makes a successful return from COVID-19 blackout with Simpson and Jarmon victories!
While the greater majority of the boxing world is awaiting Top Rank promotions’ June 9 fight card, boxing actually returned June 6.
However, of note, the fight card did not exclusively feature boxing matches. Boxers, kick boxers and bare knuckle-fighters all came together to compete at the Never Surrender MMA gym located in Abilene, Kansas.
Despite the hybrid nature of the event, everything appears to have gone on without issue. Among the traditional fighters, top prospects bantamweight Shawn Simpson (12-0, 4 KO’s) and super featherweight Desmond Jarmon (9-0, 5 KO’s) enjoyed exceptionally successful outings.
Simpson claimed a first round TKO, while Jarmon stopped his foe in the fourth period.
Even though this was a hybrid show and largely flew under the radar of the mainstream sports media, this is still a bright ray of hope for boxing fans.
Legitimate professional fighters were able to finalize contracts and adhere to all the new testing and COVID-19 protocols while still completing the event.
Now that this first card is in the books, the boxing world can look to this flagship fight card and try to get bigger and better.
This event proves that even under the dark cloak of COVID-19, boxing has a realistic avenue to return and thrive once again. Hopefully, if these successful events can be strung together, we will have arenas full of screaming fans in no time.
By: Bakari Simpson & Garrisson Bland
