Top Rank Prospects: The Cleveland Edition!
JARED ANDERSON: EASY WORK!
Following a career long layoff, instigated by a hand injury, blue-chip heavyweight prospect Jared “Big Baby” Anderson (12-0, 12 KO’s) returned to the ring with a bang. This was largely aided by the fact that his foe, Miljan Rovcanin, was resolved to be no easy kill. Pride and durability were not enough to save him though. Just as Rovcanin was digging in for a long night, the Toledo, Ohio native clipped him with a short, head torquing right hook on the jaw that flattened him for the full count of ten. The future for the talented fighter and former Tyson Fury sparring partner remains very bright.
ABDULLAH MASON: VALOR UNDER FIRE
Red-hot lightweight prospect Abdullah Mason (3-0, 3 KO’s) continued to show why he has such a bright spotlight shining down on him. In against his toughest opponent to date, undefeated Angel Rebollar, he was forced into a gritty, very fast-paced firefight. While Mason was definitely submerged in war, he remained the general at all times and even showed his calm under fire and some sturdy whiskers. The Cleveland native could stand a bit of work on his inside game. However, at 18 years of age in his fourth fight, Mason still has plenty of time to further his development.
DELANTE JOHNSON: GET OVER HERE!!
In his latest at bat, Olympian and super lightweight standout Delante “Tiger” Johnson (5-0, 4 KO’s) turned in a somewhat menacing performance. The Cleveland native, and Top Rank signed bruiser accomplished this by tossing Harry Giliotti a quick beating. Johnson (24), certainly impressed with his fast hands and atypical punch combinations. In fact, by the fourth and fifth rounds, Giliotti was literally running away in the ring. Therefore, it’s unsurprising that Johnson forced referee Mark Nelson stopped the fight, after Giliotti turned his back and hightailed it away one too many times.
DANTE BENJAMIN: SEEK AND NOT QUITE DESTROY
Light heavyweight fighter Dante “Free Smoke” Benjamin (4-0, 2 KO’s) secured his fourth professional win over Leandro Silva. It was a solid win following his first round knockout win over Corey Thompson back in July. The Cleveland native and promising Top Rank prospect had his hands full with the cagey Silva who provided a troublesome moving target. Free Smoke displayed his talent in capturing the unanimous decision and winning every round in doing so. On the other hand, Benjamin, 20, did show that he needs to let his hands go a great deal more and push an unwilling foe.
By: Bakari Simpson
