The pressure was on after being shocked watching their 2^nd loss unfold and then down in the tournament 0-2. The Gold Team had to regroup in the loft and pick each other up. “At the end of the day the better man won, accept it, be the better man next time”, Rico told his team. It’s all or nothing, time for the Gold Team.

 

Tommy Brooks reminded his team of that by showing them the gloves that were hung by their fellow team members and the banners of the Blue Team, compliments of Felix Cora Jr. and Alfredo Escalera Jr.  Tommy Brooks had it and was pissed off, neither Jon nor Joell listened to his instructions and dug their team into a hole. Tommy is one of the best trainers in the world and if the Gold Team follows his blueprint, they will match the # of banners hung by the Blue Team.

 

Back in the gym, as the fighters prepare themselves for battle, Ryan Coyne made a bold move by sporting a self-made "Hino" sweatband.  A call out that the Gold Team found really disrespectful and basically put a target on Coyne’s back.  All the Gold Team would need now is a win and the power of choice. Coyne is definitely going to be one of the Gold Team’s first choices whether it is Hino or someone else.  Watch out Ryan...

 

Still having the advantage of the power of choice, the Blue Team had to decide between Rich Gingras and Erick Vega. The Blue Team let Erick “Dynamite” Vega out of the lions den to fight and call out his opponent. Erick “Dynamite” Vega (8-2-1 6KOs) called out Akinyemi “AK-47” Laleya (9-1 4KOs). You had to expect an explosive fight with these 2 fighters. 

 

Dynamite’s game plan was to use his physical attributes. Being the bigger man and stronger puncher, he wanted to apply a lot of pressure, throw a lot jabs, drop bombs in between and break him down slowly.  AK-47’s game plan going into the fight was to box inside and outside, hit and run, let his hands go, get off first and be the faster man.

 

Opening bell, both fighters came out swinging and exchanging blows early.  AK-47 controlled the first two rounds, boxing beautifully in and out, using his speed and being accurate with all his punches. Dynamite wasn’t closing the gap enough and not throwing to the body, the way “Grasshopper” (John Bray) instructed him to do, to slow down AK-47. I thought he did a lot more head hunting for the first two rounds.

 

Round three, Dynamite had a better round, finally listening to his corner and closing the gap a little, going both to the body and the head. He caught AK-47 with some strong shots to finish the round. Rounds four and five were straight out of a Rocky movie, except for the part when AK-47 pulled Dynamite’s trunks down. Can anybody tell me what that was? Why do you think he did that?   Was he tired and trying to get a second wind?

 

Any how, it was straight up war in rounds four and five, especially the 5^th round were both fighters got hurt and then AK-47 came back to hurt Dynamite even more. What a fight! It’s hard to believe no one got knock out! AK-47 wins the decision and the power of choice goes to the Gold Team.

 

I take my hat off to these two warriors.  AK-47 was the smaller man in this fight, but fought like he was the bigger man. AK-47 proved to be too much for Dynamite, not only was he too fast, but he showed to be just as strong.