“Detroit Brawl” Scores A Knockout

By Michael Woods

Disclosure first: I worked on the show, doing blow by blow for GOFIGHTLIVE, and I consider the promoter, Dmitriy Salita, a friend…

But I think it's fair to say the first “Detroit Brawl,” which ran Saturday night at the Masonic Temple in America's comeback city, went pretty damn well.

Check out above Bob Ryder photo, with me, Salita, Sugar Hill and Hearns…

Salita told me they packed 1,200 watchers into the hall and I sensed the crowd went home happy. There were a bunch of stoppages and the locals dug wins from hometowners Ed Williams and James Gordon Smith. Lightweight Eudy Bernardo, with Kronk alum Frank Tate, ex 160 and 175 champ, in his corner, looked splendid. He scored a stoppage over the Ghana vet Ben Oddamattey, and everyone but everyone there saw and sees him as a legit contender for a lightweight crown sooner rather than later.

“Woods, I was very pleased,” Salita told me. “We are working on creating a Detroit vibe. With stars in attendance such as Tommy Hearns, Hilmer Kenty, Jimmy Paul, Frank Tate and Cornelius Bundrage, Detroit royalty was in the house. And of course, we had Sugar Hill, the Emanuel Steward and Kronk legacy, working with you. And Brooklyn represented! Dimash Niyazov looked great in a solid fight in the main event against James Lester. Serdar Hubardiyev looked sharp in his pro debut. James Ballard won in a competitive fight with Nathan Bedwell. Emilio Salas is progressing, with three KOs in a row. Woods, only in America! The support here was tremendous. The sponsorship from the Greektown Casino was tremendous, everyone loved their casino and hotel! So we will DEFINITELY be back…we are looking at every other month, for another “Detroit Brawl!”