By Jason Pribila Ringside in Sewell, NJ: Undefeated Heavyweight Chazz Witherspoon thrilled his hometown fans with an impressive fourth round TKO over Jonathan Haggler on Friday Night at the Commerce Bank Arts Centre. Witherspoon’s effort saved a five-fight card that had faced numerous cancellations, as well as a proposed headliner (Derek Ennis) weighing in as a middleweight for a junior middleweight bout.

Witherspoon, who is starting to gain recognition as one of America’s most promising heavyweights, seemed content to give away the first round in order to get a better feel for the free-swinging, southpaw in front of him. By the end of the second round Chazz’s jab started to land, while the 35 year old Haggler started to tire.

Two short right hands midway through round three seemed to hurt Haggler, and turned the bout into Witherspoon’s favor. Perhaps feeling the bout slipping away, Haggler made his last stand while fighting off the ropes. Again, Witherspoon threw the sharper, straighter punches, as the two-way action brought the crowd to its feet.

When round four began, Haggler had the look of a man who was searching for a soft part of the canvas to fall on. With the help of a flurry of Witherspoon headshots, he found it. Haggler barely made it to his feet to beat the count, but the end was near. Witherspoon ended the fight with one final assault that was so convincing that even referee Steve Smoger stepped in and stopped the fight. With the win, Witherspoon improved to 22-0 (15), while the loss dropped Haggler to 18-2.

15/2/08