21.11.08 – By Thomas Scherr – Last Saturday night in Morgantown WV, Jimmy Lubash and Tommy Karpency faced veteran opponents that were supposed to take them rounds. Instead, both earned early knockouts, but will be back in the ring next weekend to try to hone their skills.
Lubash entered the ring in the main support bout, and was treated to a rousing ovation from the Pittsburgh crowd that made the short trip down to see Lubash work.. He was matched against Chris Overbey. Overbey started the fight by attempting to punch, falling in, and grabbing onto Lubash. This went on for most of the first round. With half of a minute left in the round, Lubash caught Overbey with a jab-straight right combo that badly hurt Overbey. Overbey tried to hold on and get through the round, but a follow up right sent Overbey to the canvas. Lubash officially won via KO at the 3:00 minute mark.
In the featured fight of the night, Tommy Karpency faced Lee Fortune in an eight round bout. The bout was sloppy early, with Fortune coming out in a southpaw stance. Karpency is a natural southpaw, but strategy by Fortune seemed to throw him off. Neither fighter landed effectively in the first half of the round, and there was a lot of grappling. At the two minute mark, Tommy landed a sneaky short right hand right on the chin, and that was it. Fortune went crashing down and never attempted to get up. The bout was officially over at 2:20 of round 1.
What did we learn about the two fighters? Unfortunately not much. Tommy and Jimmy both showed power, but neither was in the ring long enough to show of a strategy, and given their inexperience both would like to fight more rounds. Speaking with Tommy’s trainer and father afterwards he agrees. “We are in no rush to step Tommy up. Tommy has no amateur fights, and he is only 22 years old. I would like him to fight over the next six months or a year, and then we can step him up. [I would like to] see him fight more rounds against veteran boxers. I thought this guy would last, but it didn’t happen.”
Neither Tommy nor Jimmy are wasting any time getting back in the ring. Both are scheduled to fight at the Caravan Club in New Castle PA, on November 28th. That card will be headlined as Youngstown’s Billy Lyell (17-6-0) takes Chris Archer (10-4-0). Lyell was also on the Morgantown card, where he dominated an overmatched Vance Garvey for eight rounds. Lyell’s most notable fight was a spirited albeit losing fight against light middleweight stud James Kirkland on Showtime. Archer won 9 of his first 10 fights, before deciding to travel North of the boarder. He lost 3 straight fights in Montreal before getting back on track with a win early this month. Tickets for these fights can be purchased by calling 330-727-0932.