By Mike Indri
Retired Boxers Foundation
(NJ State representative)
August 10, 2003

Philadelphia, PA- Local fight fans were not disappointed Friday night by Greg Robinson's Power Productions & Battlestrong Boxing's co-main events on their "War on the Boulevard" 6 bout fight card at Philadelphia's National Guard Armory. The capacity crowd watched as Prince Badi Ajamu and Luis Alberto Santiago, both Philadelphia fighters, earned title belts with dramatic knockout victories.

Ajamu (now 16-1-1 with 8 KO's) used his superior boxing skills and speed, along with a vicious body attack to stop rugged Mike Alvarez. While suffering a cut right eye in the 2nd round Ajamu began hurting Alvarez with punishing hooks to the body in round three. The frenzied crowd began screaming "Badi-Badi-Badi" as Prince sensed the effect of his punches and swarmed Alvarez throughout round 4. Round 5 showed there was no quit in Alvarez (now 9-4-2) as he landed some solid shots of his own. Early in round 6 a beautiful Ajamu right uppercut floored a stunned Alvarez! After a barrage of power shots Alvarez was sent to the canvas a 2nd time. Ajamu, realizing the end was near swarmed upon a dazed and hurt Alvarez and landed several power shots forcing referee Gary Rosato to jump in and halt the bout at 1:51 of the 6th round. Afterwards the new PA. State Lt. Heavyweight Champion said, "I knew he was strong, but I felt my legs were stronger". Ajamu added, "now I'd like to fight for a world title."

In the feature bout Luis Alberto Santiago, now 16-3-1 with 10 KO's, made short work of Cesar Esquival, whose record fell to 11-3 with 8 KO's. Esquival, a late replacement for the injured Richard Sierra, hadn't fought in close to 7 months. After a slow paced 1st round Santiago came out strong in round 2 and established his control by backing Esquival up and landing the harder punches. Suddenly Santiago unleashes a crushing left hook to the body which crumples Esquival, sending him to the canvas writhing in pain as the packed house erupts while the referee counts Esquival out. Luis Alberto Santiago wins the IBF World Latino Jr. Welterweight Championship belt with his knockout victory at 2:27 of round two. "It was my left hook" shouted a jubilant Santiago "I'm really happy with my performance."

On the undercard heavyweight Glen Turner (now 3-0-1) luckily slid by with a 4 round draw against a busier, and 55 lbs. Heavier, Elfar McNight (now 2-5-1) from New Jersey.

In another 4 rounder fellow police officer Tyron Tate, now 5-2, was "robbed" as the judges gave a unanimous decision to Cruiserweight Willis Lockett, who improved to 4-0-3 with the victory.

Heavyweight Marcin "The Polish Wonder" Sandrowicz improved to 10-0-1 with a 2nd round KO victory over James Spear, now 3-3, from Philadelphia. Spear, a former Temple University basketball standout with no amateur boxing experience, has no business in a boxing ring and state athletic commissions should not sanction these types of fights. The loud chorus of boo's throughout the bout only strengthened my position of this poor example of a professional fight.

The 6 round lightweight bout between Adam Salas (now 11-8-1) and Oronde "Dog" Dawley, still perfect now at 8-0, was a real crowd pleaser. Dawley knocked Salas to the canvas early in round 1 and again in round 4 enroute to a unanimous decision victory. Although Dawley was stronger and landed more punches Salas never backed down and showed his heart. With both guys fighting out of Philly you knew there was no quit in either of these warriors. Fans were treated to a great night of boxing and also had the opportunity to meet with some of boxing's legendary heroes as former World Champions Smokin' Joe Frazier, Larry Holmes, Buster Drayton and Tim Witherspoon as well as Marvis Frazier were in attendance.