Shobox finished off its fine 2009 schedule Friday night with a Fernando Guerrero and Jessie “The Beast” Nicklow main event. Though both fighters are from the east coast, the fight took place at the Grand Casino in Hinkley, Minnesota in front of a capacity crowd and a live nationwide audience, compliments of Showtime.
Fernando Guerrero, 17-0 (14), continued to show why he is a rising star in the middleweight division with a fourth round stoppage of Jessie Nicklow (19-2-2, 7 Knockouts). Referee Mark Nelson stopped the fight at the 2:09 mark shortly after Guerrero caught Nicklow with a vicious right hook that sent him down to the canvas and into the ropes.
Nicklow came out in the first round with a lot of energy using the entire ring. Guerrero stayed patient and attempted to fight inside using one-two combos and uppercuts. These two fighters faced each other five previous times and Nicklow attempted to change things up by occasionally switching to southpaw. Guerrero was not to be fooled, and continued his punishing two handed attack.
In the third round Guerrero landed big shots which Nicklow for the time showed off a pretty good chin. Nicklow began to bleed from the nose but steadily showed heart by continuing to stand toe-to-toe with Guerrero. Guerrero was in complete control picking and choosing his shots and connecting at will.
In the fourth round Guerrero sent Nicklow tumbling into the ropes and down to the canvas. Nicklow quickly used the ropes to get back to his feet. Guerrero wasted no time in attacking Nicklow who began to lose his legs and became unsteady. The fight was stopped and Guerrero a fan favorite, stayed undefeated and earned a TKO victory.
The Shobox 2009 schedule finished in a bang as all three fights ended by way of knockout. On the undercard, 2008 Oympic team alternate Shaun Porter, 12-0 (10), stopped James Patterson, 8-1(4) in the fourth round, and Lanard Lane, 10-0 (7), also remained undefeated as he stopped Said El Harrack, 8-1(3), in the second round.
