C.B.A. crowns 3 new champs!
By “KO” Ken Caro

GREENBORO, NC (Inside Boxing, February 22, 2004) - Saturday night at the fights went very well for Kevin Cagle, Matt Strode and Edwin Aguire-Ortiz. The three vied for their respective titles from the ranks of the Carolina Boxing Association. The bouts were held at the Greensboro N.C. Marriott and promoted by Cheryl Nance of CNP productions.

Ortiz fought for the middleweight title against Eldric Bryant which was recently stripped from Carlton Holland who held the title for a year and never defended it. Ortiz was slow to start and paid for it when Bryant landed an over hand right to the top of the head that put Ortiz on the canvas for the eight count, but Ortiz showed the better ring generalship and smoothness to Bryant’s bomb throwing. Bryant finally ran out of gas at 1:59 of the 7th when Ortiz landed a body and head combo that finished of his opponent. Bryant admitted to losing 15 pounds the day prior to make weight and vowed never to do it again.

“Mayhem” Matt Strode took on Reggie “the black star” Avent in a welterweight contest that lasted three and a half rounds before Strode got really tired of Avent leading in with his head on clinches and pushing his dreads into Strode’s face. Ref Bill Clancy took a point from Avent in the third after many warning for leading in with the head, Strode was very busy on the inside throwing double left hooks to the body and going right back to the head showing real championship quality. Round four started off with a flash knock down of Avent off a straight right to the top of the head, Strode saw the opportunity and kept moving in keeping the pressure on. Avent went down for the final time at 2:11 of the 4th after suffering what seemed to be real “Mayhem” by Strode.

Kevin Cagle and Travis Clybourn went at it for the Jr. Middleweight belt. Cagle was showed good power in his hands by putting down Clybourn at: 30 of the 1st, he recovered from it and came back at Cagle with a vengeance. But it was not enough and Cagle scored a TKO at 1:22 of the second. Clybourns mouth and nose were bloodied when he was sent to the canvas and then tried to continue but Bill Clancy made the right decision and called a halt to the bout. Clybourn showed plenty of heart but the younger Cagle was hungry for the belt and will more than likely win many more in his career.

CNP productions also had a three bout under card with Pedro Tapia winning a TKO at 2:11 of the first over Tyrell Murphy. Feliciano Villa also with a first round TKO over Robert Sisco at 1:17 and “Rockin Ron Chewing looking like an unchained pitbull with boxing skill. Chewning landed numerous right hooks to head of Gary Kirby who seemed content to keep moving to his left and right into Chewnings power. Chewning landed a classic left right to the head that left Kirby in a lump on the canvas. The KO came at 2:02 of the first.

Congratulations to the new Champs, I am sure it will be a night they will never forget!

From ringside