Echols Draws With Walker
By Spencer Cobb Adams
Marksville, Louisiana (Paragon Casino & Resort)
An aging veteran and a late replacement with 48-hours notice squared off in the great state of Louisiana and what it was all said and done the two main headliners fought to an entertaining ten-round draw in a super middleweight contest.
Don't ask Cajun fight fans about top ten middleweight contender Allan "Sweetness" Green, because they would probably serve him to the gators. Green was a no-show and his place on the marquee was taken by late substitute undefeated Michael "Midnight Stalker" Walker.
His opponent 35-year-old veteran Antwun "Kid Dynamite" Echols last saw the big time back in 1999, when he lost a twelve round unanimous decision to former middleweight world champion Bernard Hopkins. Echols, Davenport, Iowa, also took the bout on short notice and agreed ten days earlier to face the star attraction Green.
When that fight fell out and Mr. Green vanished, well, as they say the show still went on, with Echols winning on judge Rick Exe's shocking scorecard 98-92, but the other two officials seeing it even 95-95, and the result a ten round majority draw.
--Short Notice--
Coming into the contest Echols (31-7-4, 27 KO's) was 0-2-2 in his last four bouts and showing the effects of his 15-year pro career. His counterpart Walker (18-0-2, 12 KO's) had never been past eight rounds and there were a number of questions just how he could handle the spotlight after taking the fight on less than 48-hours notice. The result was a close bout between two guys going the opposite direction in the same profession.
Early in the 2nd, the five-foot-seven-inch Walker (167 ½) buzzed Echols (166) with a flurry of wide sweeping left hooks to the face. Just before the bell to end the round, Walker rocked Echols, 5'11", with two more hard left hooks followed by a sharp right cross that caught the veteran square on the chin and he headed back to his corner on the back of his heels. Walker continued to land the heavy artillery, as he repeatedly scored in the early going and battered Echols along the ropes.
Echols staged a rally in the 5th and he finally began landing his left jab and enough right hands to make the odd and unusal encounter entertaining to the enthusiastic Louisiana fight crowd. Mysteriously, Walker eased off the attack and Echols continued to land enough leather down the stretch to earn a somewhat bizarre draw.
Moving to his left, giving ground and retreating, Echols continued to pot shot his opponent, as quick left hands bounced off Walker's profile and the veteran managed to at least pull even before the final bell. Both men gave their best but don't expect the Cajuns to invite Mr Green to Louisiana any time soon.
--Powell Blasts Out Finley--
Brooklyn born southpaw junior middleweight Sechew "Iron Horse" Powell (23-1, 14 KO's) hammered out previously undefeated Kevin Finley (12-1-1, 8 KO's) in under a round. The 29- year-old Finley (155 ¼) simply was overmatched and was unable to withstand Powell's (153) overwhelming firepower.
Powell, 28, jumped on his opponent at the opening bell and rocked Finley, Kansas City, Missouri with a left hand to the belly and a right hook to the head. At the 2:28 mark of the 1st, Powell jolted Finley with a lead straight left cross to the head followed by a jackhammer right hook and two more scalding left hands to the face. With a little over two minutes remaining in the opening stanza, Powell drove Finley into the ropes and ripped the KC native with a brutal seven-shot volley to the skull.
Powell returned to snapping Finley's head straight back with whistling left crosses that were neither blocked or slipped. Powell drove Finley into the ropes and then unloaded another torrent of leather before finally dropping the outgunned boxer to his knees while pinned against the ropes.
Finley managed to make it to his feet at the count of seven but bleeding from his nose and out of gas he proved to be easy prey. The fight turned into target practice and Powell floored Finley with yet another straight left cross to the jaw. Referee Rick Exe mercifully waved off the bout at 2:23 of the first round.
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Friday Night US Round-Up/Late Sub Walker Draws With Echols
On ESPN Friday Night Fights at the Paragon Casino & Resort in Marksville, Louisiana, middleweight Michael Walker replaced Allan Green on two days notice and gave former world title challenger Antwun Echols all he could handle, including a strong finish, resulting in a ten round majority draw.
Scores read 98-92 for Echols and 95-95 twice.
Echols is now 31-7-4, 27 KOs. Walker stays undefeated at 18-0-2, 12 KOs.
In the co-feature:
Brooklyn’s Sechew Powell, the IBF’s number-one rated junior middleweight sent Kevin Finley to the canvas twice and scored a first round knockout at 2:23. Powell has won three straight since losing to Kassim Ouma in August 2006.
Powell now 23-1, 14 KOs. Finley suffers his first defeat and slips to 12-1-1, 9 KOs.
Undercard:
Junior welterweight Jesus Pabon w pts 8 Daniel Garcia
