Unanimous Decision By Lespierre Highlights Uprising Promotions Card

LONG ISLAND CITY (NY) – Finally back in the ring, Mikkel Lespierre earned a unanimous decision in his first bout in nine months at The Five Star Banquet Hall. Lespierre (6-0-1, 3 KO) dominated Christopher Porter (0-3-1) in a four rounder as a part of seven-fight Uprising Promotions card.

“It felt good,” LesPierre said after the fight. “I was a little rusty, it’s been almost a year since my last fight, I was able to shake it off and get the W, that’s what’s important.”

Lespierre, out of Brooklyn, showed poise and confidence as he patiently slipped and picked off Porter’s punches in the first round. Behind a solid jab, Lespierre not only outpointed Porter but also formed a foundation from which he built his offensive game plan.

“It was definitely a feel thing, I made adjustments as I went along,” LesPierre said of his opponent. “He was a game opponent, he wasn’t a slouch or a tomato can, although he record may suggest that to some.” “We looked him up and saw he had amateur background and the fights he lost were to rising prospects and we knew coming in that we had a fight on our hands.”

Lespierre began landing combinations in the second round and by round three found a home for his favorite punch, the uppercut.

“I sharpened as the fight went on,” Lespierre said “I started relaxing more.”

As accurate and sharp as Lespierre showed in the ring, his trainer knows he’s will only get better.

“There is gym sharp and ring sharp,” trainer Don Saxby said after the fight. “I’ve seen him look sharper than this and that will come with more activity.”

A natural junior welterweight LesPierre controlled the distance even though the fight happened at the welterweight limit. Lespierre maintains his weight by staying in the gym six days a week while training for a fight or just training.

“It was different but not difficult going up in weight.” “I stay in the gym but I never go above 155, even though I made weight, I was confident taking on the bigger fighter.”

When asked about a knockout, Lespierre said had things gone as planned, it was bound to happen.

“It was a scheduled six rounder, had we gone six, he wouldn’t have lasted six.” Lespierre said. “I would’ve got him out of there in the fifth round, I felt him tiring in the third.”

The rest of the card

Welterweights John Jackson (16-3-2, 13 KO) and Rafael Gonzales (7-2-2, 6 KO) battled to a majority draw as their styles made for a competitive main event. Jackson boxed behind his jab while Gonzales walked him down. Gonzales made it count when he cornered Jackson and Jackson scored when the fight was at a distance to his liking.

Featherweight Angel Luna (11-0-1, 7 KO) scored a six round unanimous decision over Jhovany Collado (4-11-2, 3KO). After flooring Collado with a right in the first, Luna looked for the knockout. To everyone in the banquet hall’s amazement Collado fought back with a vengeance. Luna and Collado exchanged power punches for six rounds with Luna landing more and the more powerful of the shots.

Marcos Forestal (1-0, 1 KO) made a huge impression with a smashing knockout of Ignac Kassai (16-39-2, 3 KO). The three time Cuban amateur champion folded Kassai with a left-right combination early in the opening round.

Dean Burrell (10-1, 7 KO) narrowly edged Ryan Picou (2-6) via majority decision in a six round contest. Technically, Burrell outclassed the game Picou, but Picou made the fight with his pressure style. Picou almost pulled the upset with a big final round, but Burrell had enough points piled up for the win.

In an evenly matched bout between female fighters Susan Reno (1-3-1) and Paola Ortiz (0-5-1) slugged to a majority draw. Ortiz landed wild hooks and Reno scored with her straight ahead style as the two fighters punched from bell to bell for four rounds.

Maxito Sainvil (1-0, 1 KO) showed punching power in his debut with a second round knockout of Dustin Parrish (1-5, 1 KO). Sainvil dropped Parrish 15 seconds into the fight and finished him at the 1:02 mark of the second round.