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Witherspoon victorious! May 12, 2006 By Kurt Wolfheimer at ringside Thursday night at the First District Plaza in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, heavyweight Chazz “The Gentleman” Witherspoon sent the hometown crowd into an uproar, as he scored an exciting six round unanimous decision over Augustin Corpus in the main event of a five bout card promoted by James Shuler’s Gym, in association with Al Candell. Corpus, who came into the bout with a non-spectacular 11-19-3 record, tried to surprise the hometown favorite as he jumped on him at the opening bell with a quick four-punch combination. Witherspoon however, was not flustered and by the middle of round one, he settled down behind his hard left jabs and which followed with some work to the body the slowed down Corpus. Witherspoon started to step up the pressure in the middle of round two when he cornered Augustin of Monterrey, Mexico against the ropes with a four straight left hands. Corpus tried to escape to the center of the ring, but another left hook forced him to retreat even further. Chazz seeing that Corpus was in trouble methodically tried to put him away with well timed combinations to both the head and the body. Corpus was able to survive the onslaught in round two and appeared tired as round three commenced. Witherspoon again moved in behind the jab, but this time he started to trade with Augustin. Unexpectedly, Corpus surprised Witherspoon as he returned a couple lunging left uppercuts inside, one of which opened a cut over Chazz’s left eye. Witherspoon would not be deterred though, and went right back to his hard combinations, as he caught the Mexican with a hard left hook on the jaw, that stopped him in his tracks as round three ended. Witherspoon stirred the crowd into a frenzy in round four, when he went away from the jab and started to throw a variety of punches as the challenger withered. Corpus however, would throw the occasional the desperate uppercut but Witherspoon would walk through them. Chazz Witherspoon turned to a different tactic in round five as he threw devastating hooks to the soft midsection of Corpus. The body punches seemed to take the life out of Corpus and it was by sheer will that he stayed on his feet as Witherspoon fired combination after combination. The crowd was in a frenzy, as Witherspoon went for a knockout in round six. Corpus fought back and continued to land the left uppercuts inside along with the occasional combination as both traded. Witherspoon would walk right through the uppercuts, as he unloaded on Corpus, but just couldn’t drop the veteran. Both fighters finished the final round to the ovation of the crowd. As one ringside fan said “this made the whole night worth it “The fight went to the cards as two judge scored the bout 60-54, while the third had it 60-53 all four Witherspoon, who raised his record to a sparkling 12-0 with 7ko’s.
The appropriately nicknamed “Gentleman”
Chazz Witherspoon was a bit unsatisfied
with his performance but spoke politely
afterward. “My game plan was to box him
and keep my distance on the shorter guy
but I think a got a little caught up in
the crowd. I heard the crowd ooh and aah,
so I started to mix it up with him,
which was a little premature. I was
going to mix it up later. The right hook
to the body hurt him, but he guarded it
well and I couldn’t get it again.” “This
wasn’t my best performance. You will see
a better Witherspoon next time out”
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