Greensboro’s Joseph Jackson(Dudley High School) comes up BIG during his Friday night fight in Philly:Joseph Jackson Stuns Derrick Colemon in Battle of Unbeatens

PHILADELPHIAJoseph Jackson(Greensboro, N.C./Dudley High School) responded well Friday night to the most significant test of his four-year pro boxing career.
(Joseph Jackson, the former Dudley Panthers’ running back, who was part of a 3-AA State Championship football team, with Dudley, back in 2007)….CLICK HERE for pre-fight weigh-in photo of Joseph Jackson…

from Keith Idec, senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com:

Joseph Jackson took control in the second half of his eight-round junior middleweight fight against Derrick Colemon Jr. and won a unanimous decision at 2300 Arena. The unbeaten Jackson convinced all three judges – Dewey LaRosa (78-74), Alan Rubenstein (80-72) and Steve Weisfeld (77-75) – that he won the first of four fights Showtime televised as part of the network’s “ShoBox: The New Generation” series.

Rubenstein scored all eight rounds for Jackson, a Greensboro, North Carolina, native who improved to 16-0 (12 KOs). Detroit’s Colemon, 20, lost for the first time in his brief pro career (11-1, 8 KOs).

Jackson, 31, had a high knockout ratio entering this bout, but like Colemon, had built his unblemished record against a low level of opposition.

Jackson pressed the action and out-landed a fatigued Colemon throughout the eighth and final round. By then, Jackson was in complete control and only could’ve lost by knockout.

Jackson connected with a hard left to Colemon’s body early in the seventh round. Later in the seventh, Jackson caught Colemon with a left uppercut that snapped back Colemon’s head and made him move away from Jackson.

Coleman fell backward, into the ropes, after tripping over Jackson’s leg with about 35 seconds to go in the sixth round. Jackson spent the rest of the round trying to land lefts and rights to Colemon’s body.

Jackson’s jab was effective early in the fifth round, when Colemon came forward, yet didn’t land clean punches. Two overhand rights by Jackson got the crowd’s attention just before the midway mark of the fifth.

Colemon landed a right hand several seconds later, which caused Jackson to hold him. They then got tangled up and fell out of the ring, on to the ring apron, with 1:22 to go in the fifth round.

Colemon and Jackson quickly got back into the ring and the action resumed.

A short, right upper by Jackson caught Colemon in the fourth round. Colemon connected with a left hook to the side of Jackson’s head later in the fourth, but Jackson took that shot well.

Colemon caught Jackson with a left hook in an exchange during the second round. Jackson connected with a left hook just before Colemon’s shot landed, but it wasn’t as effective.

Two overhand rights by Colemon got Jackson’s attention in the second half of the first round.

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.

********************from Colin Bradley, representing SHOWTIME:********************

ISAAC CRUZ SCORES UPSET WIN OVER SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION VETERAN THOMAS MATTICE FRIDAY ON SHOWTIME®

Ra’eese Aleem Wins Via TKO Over Adam Lopez; Montana Love and Joseph Jackson Earn Impressive Unanimous Decision Victories At 2300 Arena in Philadelphia

++++++++++++++++++++Catch The Replay Monday, February 17 At 10 p.m. ET/PT On SHOWTIME EXTREME®+++++++++++++++++++

PHILADELPHIA
In a battle of unbeaten super welterweights making their ShoBox debuts in the telecast opener, North Carolina’s Joseph Jackson (16-0, 12 KOs) handed Derrick Colemon, Jr. (11-1, 8 KOs) his first career loss. Jackson overcame a slow start to earn the unanimous decision. The scores were 77-75, 80-72, 78-74.

The younger and more aggressive Colemon of Detroit started strong, controlling the first three rounds before the savvier and more mature Jackson commanded the second half of the bout. In rounds six through eight, Jackson out-landed Colemon 76-19 overall and 50-9 on power punches. Jackson’s movement and activity frustrated and tired Colemon, who went past five rounds for the first time in his career. Farhood scored the first three rounds in favor of Colemon and the final five rounds for Jackson.

“We just dug deep and got the job done,” said the 31-year-old Jackson. “I’d give my performance an eight out of 10. I know I can show better. I had about 40 people come out from Greensboro, N.C., and support me.

“I’ll fight whoever they put out in front of me next. It’s SHOWTIME and my first televised fight and first fight outside of North Carolina so it was important to put on a show.”

Undefeated 21-year-old lightweight prospect Isaac Cruz stunned ShoBox: The New Generation veteran Thomas Mattice in a closely contested majority decision win in the ShoBox main event Friday night from 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pa.

Cruz, of Mexico City, rode his superior work rate, a lethal body attack, and his ability to neutralize Mattice’s jab to the victory. The judges scored the fight 95-95 and 96-94 twice.

Cruz threw an average of 69.4 punches per round, compared to 57.8 punches per round for Mattice. The much shorter Cruz, standing at 5’4” ½, was fearless from the opening bell and held an 82-31 advantage in body punches connected. Mattice, 5’8” ½, was also out-jabbed 34-30. Making his sixth appearance on ShoBox, Cleveland’s Mattice was hampered by another slow start, a theme in his previous appearances on the prospect development series. Through the first two rounds, Cruz held advantages of 49-15 in overall punches landed and 39-8 in power punches connected.

“We were going for the knockout but it didn’t come up so we’ll take the decision,” said Cruz. “I thought I won all 10 rounds. I don’t know what fight the judges were watching. Round one to 10 I dominated and I was never hurt.”

A strong finish in the 10th and final round was not enough for Mattice to salvage a draw.

“I came up short,” said Mattice. “He was the better man. He could hit a little bit. I started out a little slow, trying to see what he had. He jumped out to an early lead and I was just trying to get familiar with his power. I have no excuses. He was the better man tonight.”

In the co-featured bout, Ra’eese Aleem (16-0, 10 KOs) burst onto the scene in his national television debut, putting on a boxing clinic by scoring a fourth-round TKO in a scheduled eight-round super bantamweight bout over San Antonio’s Adam Lopez (19-4-2, 9 KOs).

Aleem, from Muskegon, Mich., proved to be overwhelming for Lopez, who was making his record eighth appearance on ShoBox. From the opening bell, Aleem attacked from all angles as a reactive and slower Lopez was unable to cope with the wide array of punches. The 29-year-old Aleem held a commanding 92-11 advantage in overall punches, including a lopsided 61-7 power punches advantage.

With blood dripping from his nose and scalp, Lopez’s corner asked referee Gary Rosato to stop the fight at 1:31 of round four. Watch the TKO HERE

“I put in a lot of hard work,” said Aleem, who now lives and trains in Las Vegas. “I didn’t see any film on the guy but knew he was a tough Mexican fighter. Once we got in there, I could see the speed difference. I could see his punches coming. I did rush some punches and made some mistakes. But it was good and I kept my hands up and my speed and movements were good. And I’m glad I stopped him. I didn’t want to go the distance.

“I want a world title fight and I’m knocking on the door. I’m hungry and I’m ready. I know Danny Roman just lost the title. Brandon Figueroa, whoever is there in the top-10 I’m ready for. I’m hungry and I’m coming and I want that fight.”

In the second fight of the four-fight telecast, Cleveland’s flashy unbeaten super lightweight Montana Love (13-0-1, 6 KOs) improved his record to 2-0-1 on ShoBox, putting in a professional display en route to a unanimous decision over Jerrico Walton (16-1, 7 KOs), who fights out of Houston by way of New Orleans. The judges scored the fight 78-74 and 77-75 twice.

“I think Love did enough to win,” said SHOWTIME Hall of Fame analyst Steve Farhood. “The rounds he won, he won more convincingly. Love did the serious damage in the fight.”

Walton, with noted trainer Ronnie Shields working his corner, threw slightly more punches than Love, but in a fight decided by big moments, Love had more of them, especially in the late rounds. Love was more accurate on his power punches (43 percent to 21 percent) and in body shots (56-23). The southpaw also hurt Walton on two separate occasions, but the 29-year-old did enough to hang on and survive the rounds.

“I give my performance a C-plus,” said the 25-year-old Love. “I could have been more active in there. I didn’t get hit a lot and I hurt him a few times but I let him off the hook.

“I was getting off good shots, and the thing I’m mad about is that the fight should not have gone the distance. I’m ready for whatever’s next. My team is trying to get me to 135 pounds.”

Walton was making his national television debut. “I think the fight was closer than it was scored; I think it was at least a draw,” he said. “I don’t think the fight was 78-74. I’m very disappointed but I’m not going to stop. They’re going to see me again. This is only going to push me harder.”

With his first career loss, Walton became the 191st fighter to lose his undefeated record on ShoBox, boxing’s ultimate proving ground.

Friday’s fights were promoted by King’s Promotions in association with GH3 Promotions. The full telecast will replay on Monday, February 17 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME and will be available on SHOWTIME ANYTIME® and SHOWTIME on DEMAND®.

The four-fight telecast was the third of four ShoBox presentations over six weeks showcasing some of boxing’s brightest young prospects in their toughest tests to date. Hall of Famer Barry Tompkins called the action from ringside with fellow Hall of Famer Steve Farhood and former world champion Raul Marquez serving as expert analysts. The executive producer is Gordon Hall with Richard Gaughan producing and Rick Phillips directing.

About ShoBox: The New Generation

Since its inception in July 2001, the critically acclaimed SHOWTIME boxing series, ShoBox: The New Generation has featured young talent matched tough. The ShoBox philosophy is to televise exciting, crowd-pleasing and competitive matches while providing a proving ground for willing prospects determined to fight for a world title. Some of the growing list of the 81 fighters who have appeared on ShoBox and advanced to garner world titles includes: Errol Spence Jr., Andre Ward, Deontay Wilder, Erislandy Lara, Shawn Porter, Gary Russell Jr., Lamont Peterson, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Nonito Donaire, Devon Alexander, Carl Froch, Robert Guerrero, Timothy Bradley, Jessie Vargas, Juan Manuel Lopez, Chad Dawson, Paulie Malignaggi, Ricky Hatton, Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams and more.