By Mark Yankello: World Class Fight Promotions put on another great night of action in the tri-state area at the Iceoplex @ Southpointe in Canonsburg, PA on Saturday night. With IBA Super Featherweight World Champion Monty Meza-Clay 25W-1L, 16KO in attendance signing autographs, the night opened with an entertaining 4 round lightweight battle between Rod Salka of Bunola, PA vs. Ahmed Poskovic of Akron, OH. After absorbing enough body blows through the first three rounds Poskovic’s corner decided not to come out for the final round awarding Salka an RTD3 raising his record to 2W-0L, 1KO.
Next was a Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia female grudge match between Michelle “Amazing Grace” Linden (Pittsburgh) and Michelle Garland (Philadelphia). The four round bout was back and forth and the draw result was indictive of such. Linden’s record moves to 6W-4L-1D, 4KO while Garland goes to 0W-0L-1D-1NC, 0KO. Jimmy Lubash versus Heath “The Cowboy” Harris was the possibly the most interesting fight of the night when mid-way through the first round Harris landed a picture perfect right hand on the button to drop the younger Lubash.
Harris however could not capitalize on the opportunity as Lubash would rise and clearly win the rest of the fight to capture a four round unanimous decision and raise his record to 2W-0L, 1KO. Young undefeated Light Heavyweight prospect Tommy Karpency ended all suspicion early that experienced verteran James North would test him when he caught North with a picture perfect hook as North rushed him buckling the legs of North and driving him back.
Karpency quickly jumped on North causing the referree to waive the contest off less than a minute into the scheduled six round affair. With the win Karpency raises his record to 8W-0L, 4KO. Up next was a first round KO victory for Butler, PA’s Jim Emerick versus Cleveland’s Aaron Harris. Harris did not seem very intrested in being in the ring as it appeared he took his first opportunity to escape by falling to the ground after a sharp body punch by Emerick. The
crowd rightfully booed as Harris laid on the canvas and then exited with his head down. Emerick raises his record to 2W-0L, 2KO while the discraceful
Harris, who hopefully will be suspended indefinitely for this debacle, lowers his record to 1W-2L, 1KO. Next up was perhaps the most exciting affair of the night as the Mike “Steel City” Strauss technically broke down the determined Shawn Detamore to earn a TKO3. Detamore had the will to win, but in the end could not counter attack the well rounded Strauss. The next to last fight saw Heavyweights Jason Bergman and Mike Miller battle to a four round draw. It was an interesting bout of style as Bergman seemed to be the aggressor while Miller seemed to be content counter punching off of the ropes much of the evening, but ironically with enough success to earn the draw.
The finale of the evening showcased a bright young prospect in Jesse Lubash taking on the courageous grizzly veteran in Shane Gierke. Gierke seemed to be in survival mode from the opening bell as Lubash used a balanced attack to the body and head to take a four round unanimous decision to move to 2W-0L, 1KO. The enthusiastic crowd at the Iceoplex has a great night of entertainment and have more to look forward to in the future from World Class Fight Promotions.