Lockport’s Tankersley earns her second straight ring victory on Saturday
By John D’Onofrio
Lockport Union-Sun & Journal
Photo by Jay Stoos
Showcasing the all-around kickboxing skills needed to compete at a higher level, Lockport’s Joe Taylor manhandled Cortland’s Mike Diorio in atypical fashion on Saturday night in the main event of “HAVOC” fight card at the Kenan Arena.
Known as a knockout specialist because of his tremendous punching power, Taylor improved to 5-1 as a professional with a tremendous leg attack, knocking Diorio (3-2) from one end of the ring to the other with multiple boots to the head in their light heavyweight, three-round bout, and ultimately earned a unanimous-decision victory.
A left leg to the head dropped Diorio late in the first round and an uppercut felled the challenger in the second, but Taylor was in complete control throughout, showing excellent balance and a wide variety of blows that kept the crowd on its feet.
The judge’s score cards read 30-25, 30-25, 30-25 across the board, which was followed immediately by a special announcement from Taylor at ring center.
“July 20th. Madison Square Garden. Glory Kickboxing,” said Taylor, referring to his big upcoming fight this summer at “boxing’s mecca.” Taylor is the only Lockport boxer in history to win a pro fight at MSG, which he did last year.
Meanwhile, Team Andrello’s “Golden Boy,” Bryce Mills (22-1), just 16, thrilled the massive crowd yet again, showcasing his amazing athleticism and skill in another brilliant performance, while earning a unanimous-decision victory over Rochester’s tough Mike Schiffhauer (7-4-1) in their five-round middleweight K-1 bout. The scores were 50-44, 50-44, 50-44. The bout was also the last for Schiffhauer’s trainer and cornerman, Jim Louthe, who announced his retirement after the fight.
Among other winners on the 11-bout fight card was Lockport’s little stick of TNT, Vahnessa Tankersley, who improved to 2-0 in the 100-pound amateur kickboxing class with her second straight technical knockout victory over Marcella Blythe (0-2) of Walkerton, Ontario, Canada, in their three-round fight. Tankersley also KO’d the same Canadian last November at the Kenan in her kickboxing debut.
“I’ve learned everything from Joe Taylor,” said Tankersley, a member of “Team Taylor.” “I love the gym I’m at. Joe Taylor and my dad work there. Joe’s been my coach for two years. They’re the best.”
Rounding out the list of Saturday night’s fight card winners were Rochester’s talented Yu Soe, Buffalo’s Brandon Mindoro, Team Andrello’s Damiana Andrello and Matt Bulger; and Buffalo’s Derek Green, Ali Rexhepi, Maxeron Dorn and the popular light heavyweight Javier Figueroa, who once again drew a large crowd of supporters to the Kenan.
Soe, just 20, won his debut, 130-pound fight over Buffalo’s Vince Capozzi (1-3). Mindoro (2-1), another Kenan crowd favorite, earned a unanimous-decision (29-27, 29-27, 30-26) victory over Buffalo’s Adrian Guadalupe (0-1).
In one of the best fights of the night, Syracuse’s Damiana Andrello retained her Lace-Up Promotions Women’s Lightweight championship belt with a unanimous-decision (49-46, 48-47, 49-46) win over tough Jessica Ventura of Toronto in their entertaining and hard-fought, five-round, 120-pound battle.
Bulger improved to 7-0 as a middleweight with a five-round, unanimous-decision (49-46, 50-44, 50-44 victory over “Papa” Sean Felton of Buffalo to retain the Lace-Up Promotions Masters Middleweight title. Green (2-4) opened the show with a three-round, split decision win over Buffalo’s Justin Scifo in their 142-pound battle. In his debut fight, Rexhepi earned a TKO victory over Toronto’s Antolly Ryaboken (2-3). The fight was stopped at 1:25 of the second round.
Dorn improved to 2-3 with a 30-27, 30-27,30-27, unanimous-decision win over Rochester’s Khaung Sine (0-2) in their flurry-filled, three-round, 135-pound bout.
Drawing chants and loud cheers from the partisan crowd throughout, Buffalo’s Figuerora (2-1), gave another, spirited, relentless effort in beating Rochester’s tough Chris Tirk by split decision in their 195-pound bout. The scores were 29-28, 28-29, 29-28.
The ring announcer was Lars Lewis and ring physician was Edward Vargo. Alternating fight night referees were Bill Kiefer, Tom Jenkins and Mike Walter. Ring-side judges included Lockport’s Randy Butler.
Fight night sponsors included Mulvey Construction, Executive Landscaping, All Metal Works and Green Earth Construction.
