Mookie Wins Titles

L.A.’s Mookie Pendarvis Wins Regional Titles

WOODLAND HILLS, CALIF.-Cleotis Pendarvis  (14-3-2) won the USBA and USNBC titles versus Robert Frankel (30-12) on Friday at the Warner Center Mariott. Bash Boxing and Art of Boxing Promotions staged the fight card.

In a fight that was evenly matched we saw Frankel, who never got tired and kept up his pace through out the whole fight, face off with Pendarvis who had the speed and agility to hit and not be hit for most of the fight. The fight went the distance but not without its rough patches for Pendarvis who although was the faster fighter faced Frankel who had the experience and constant stamina.

Frankel was coming forward throwing lefts and rights, all in vain because Pendarvis's southpaw style was causing Frankel trouble. With the smart advice and shouting from his corner Pendarvis put to work his super fast jab over and over again which kept Frankel at a perfect distance. Pendarvis used that distance to move his head and throw four and five punch combinations often. Frankel just did not have enough power to put any dents on Pendarvis but never the less Frankel kept coming forward with a lot of punches and never once stepping back to take a breather.

By the eighth round Pendarvis was now starting to show a little bit of fatigue and Frankel used that to his advantage by doing his best to try and pin Pendarvis to the ropes and putting in more work. Pendarvis was just too fast and strong for Frankel. Judges scored the fight 117-111, 118-110, and 119-109 in favor of Pendarvis.

Hendrix

In this fight Tyrell Hendrix (9-1, 3KOs) faced Loren Myers (8-16-1, 2KO's). Myers had to be my favorite fighter of the night. Although Myers was not as light on his feet as Hendrix or as quick with his hands, he had something that I like to watch when I go to the fights. Myers had heart and not one ounce of fear.

Hendrix worked Myers in the first round dropping some really hard punches on Myers and finally dropped Myers. Hendrix kept coming forward and using his jab to throw Myers off his game but Myers didn't care about anything other than landing some heavy handed hay-makers even if he was receiving the punishment off Hendrix.

Hendrix was cut over his left eye and bleeding from one of Myer's wild punches. Hendrix still floored Myers again. Hendrix kept up his work and still used his jab and straight right to beat Myers. And again in the third round Myers got dropped! But no matter how one sided the fight was Myers kept coming forward and wouldn't stay down. Hendrix kept his cool and stuck to his game plan. Judges scored the fight 60-51 in favor of Hendrix.

Novikov

Russian south paw fighter Anton Novikov (25-0, 10KOs) fought Paul Mpendo (7-10-4, 3KOs) whose inexperience was the end of him. Novikov worked his opponent from the opening bell. Novikov jabbed at will and landed really good right and left hooks to the body. All Mpendo could do was cover up, move, and every now and then throw a combination that Novikov just brushed off.

In the fifth round Novikov dropped Mpendo with a straight left but after the count Mpendo got up and continued. After all the continuous work and pressure Novikov had put in, he mustered up some energy to pin Mpendo to the ropes and work his body but Mpendo hung on until the final bell  Judges scored the bout 60-53 for Anton Novikov.

Nichol

Shawn Nichol (6-0, 5KOs) might have been the luckiest guy in the entire fight card. Raymond Chacon (4-2) looked like he had a bit more experience at first glance, using his foot work, using his angles, but Nichol kept his hands up and when Chacon came close enough Nichol floored him with a straight left.

No longer did the second round begin and Nichol was already tired. Chacon at this point began to put pressure on Nichol but didn't land hard enough punches to finish Nichol or cause damage.

Nichol by the third round looked like he was so gassed Chacon was going to be able to finish him off but Nichol surprisingly floored Chacon twice! In the last round Nichol's corner was shouting to him to move around and use his foot work. He danced around and managed to finish the fight on his feet. All three judges scored the fight 38-35 in favor of Shawn Nichol.