Nicklow Wins, Sets Stage For Sigmon Rubber Match
Baltimore super middleweight Jessie “The Beast” Nicklow (27–8–3, 9 KOs) beat Chauncey “Grimm” Fields (4–4, 2 KOs) of Lynchburg, Va. for the second time this year at Michael’s Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, Md. on Thursday night. The first time they fought, Nicklow won an eight-round unanimous decision. This time, Nicklow stopped Fields in the seventh round.
The fight served as the main event of a competitive four-bout card promoted by Jake “The Snake” Smith’s Baltimore Boxing Promotions that saw two fighters lose their undefeated records.
Much like their first fight in January, Nicklow was in total control throughout. Nicklow pressured Fields from the opening bell and never relented. He stalked Fields and slowly broke him down with punishing body blows and strong right hands. Nicklow also found success with the uppercut splitting Fields’ defense.
Towards the end of the seventh round, Nicklow clipped Fields with an overhand on the temple that wobbled Fields. Seeing his opponent was hurt, Nicklow unloaded a barrage of heavy punches along the ropes until the bell rang to end the round. The ringside doctor had seen enough and told referee Kenny Chevalier to stop the bout, who obliged.
In Fields’ corner was Lynchburg super middleweight Scott “Cujo” Sigmon (29–11–1, 16 KOs), who prior to this fight card was calling Nicklow out on social media for a third fight to take place between them. Nicklow defeated Sigmon by unanimous decision in 2010 at the Du Burns Arena in Baltimore and Sigmon got revenge in 2014 with a tenth-round stoppage win in Lynchburg.
After Nicklow stopped Fields, Sigmon told Stiff Jab that his contract is already signed for the rubber match that is set to take place September 22 at Michael’s Eighth Avenue. Sigmon will look to be the first one to beat Nicklow in Maryland, who is 25–0–3, (8 KOs) in his home state.
In the co-feature bout, super middleweight Zarifbek “The Uzbek Warrior” Nishanbaev (3–1, 2 KOs) of Arlington, Va. returned from a two-year layoff to score an upset four-round unanimous decision win over “Dangerous” Donald Wallace (2–1–1, 1 KO) of Baltimore, Md.
Both combatants stood toe-to-toe and slugged it out in a very entertaining battle. Both fighters were rocked in the opening two rounds. The pace slowed in the third round before picking back up in the final round. Paul Wallace scored it a seemingly too wide 40–36 shutout for Nishanbaev, while Don Risher and Kenny Chevalier scored it 39–37.
Junior welterweight Dion Richardon (3–1, 2 KOs) of Newark, N.J. scored an upset six-round split decision over Dravontay Speed-Rawls (8–1–1, 6 KOs) of Glenarden, Md.
Speed-Rawls used his advantage in hand speed to land crisp 1–2 combinations from the southpaw stance in the early rounds. Richardson starting timing Speed-Rawls left hand and landed hard shots in the second half of the bout. There was a 58–56 scorecard for each fighter and a very wide 59–55 card for Richardson turned in by Don Risher.
In the first fight of the night, junior lightweight Ernest “Lightning Bug” Hall (3–0, 1 KO) of Baltimore, Md. won a four-round majority decision over Tyrone “Showtime” Wright (2–3) of Washington, D.C., who was returning after a 2.5 year off.
There wasn’t much to separate the fighters in the first half of the fight. Hall’s educated use of his jab and overall higher punch output earned him a 39–37 edge on Paul Wallace and Brent Bovell’s scorecards. Kenny Chevalier scored it a draw 38–38.
