Vernon Paris downs Tim Coleman
Editor’s Note: Thanks to a hectic travel schedule we’ve been out of pocket for the past week, apologies for the delay on this piece. –GN
Pre-fight hype is usually exactly that. The stare-downs, the taunts, the tussles at press conferences and weigh-ins are often more deserving of Razzies than fans’ attention. More likely than not both fighters are smiling again backstage or even texting each other in advance. But it was pretty obvious before last Friday’s junior welterweight between Motown’s Vernon “Iceman” Paris and Baltimore native Tim “Pit Bull” Coleman that neither of these men had much regard for other.
After a number of unsavory accusations and a near-brawl in the hotel lobby that resulted in Coleman being summarily ejected from the premises, the two finally laced up their gloves at Chumash Casino on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights and the result was nothing short of scintillating. Finally forced to confront Paris after pulling out of their previous fight and accusing the Detroiter of smoking crack, Coleman gave an admirable effort but was found wanting and laid out by body shots in the 7th round.
The commercials billed the bout as a matchup of Mayweather minds: Roger training Coleman and Paris preparing with Floyd Sr. But ultimately neither was present on fight night, though both fighters appeared to employ sound strategy if questionable defense. Coleman is a come-forward fighter and come forward he did, catching Paris unawares in the 2nd round to score a knockdown and enforcing his will in the following rounds.
The ebb and flow was fantastic to watch as the visible animosity fueled two constant attacks made even more effective by the pair’s refusal to raise their hands. Coleman found some early success, scoring a flash knockdown with a straight right hand in the 2nd and generally making the fight through his pressure in the early rounds.
But like all of Michigan’s finest Paris is a vicious body-puncher and he was able to land at will throughout the fight. Despite redness around his nose and being continuously caught with the Pit Bull’s blows, Paris patiently swerved and rolled while he unloaded exceptionally precise combinations. A strong left hook in the 6th appeared to hurt Coleman and a series of body blows punctuated by a right hook to the liver crumpled him. A second knockdown from a left to the body showed the tide had turned, while the bell allowed Coleman to escape the round.
During the break the Pit Bull reassured his cornermen that he was OK but it was a lie. A final left to the body early in the 7th ended Coleman’s night and proved Paris to be made of stronger stuff than he showed during his escape against Emanuel Augustus in January. Of course he has survived being both shot and stabbed, so we should have known. The Ice Man looks like he may have the quality to bring a belt back to the D and should now be considered a factor in the loaded 140-lb. division.
Chief support was an entertaining technical between former super featherweight titlist Cristobal Cruz and rising Armenian-American Art Hovhannisyan that was cut short after four rounds thanks to a nasty cut on the former’s forehead due to a head clash. The televised swing bout featured lightweight prospect Mikey Faragon (16-0, 7 KOs) dismantling Memphis native Ira Terry. A decorated amateur, Faragon looked well-schooled as he cut down Terry with body shots in the 2nd round.