Co-feature ends in unpopular majority draw

Three unintentional head butts shortened the fight to four rounds.
By BOB ROTH
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NILES -- The only disappointment at Tuesday's boxing card at Cafaro Field was the way the co-feature bout between Clarence "Bones" Adams and Manuel Sepeda ended.
This bout, which was ESPN2's main event, saw heads collide in round three in what was termed an unintentional butt.
The fight was momentarily stopped because Adams was bleeding profusely from his forehead.
The ring doctor allowed them to continue until the fourth round ended when the fight was stopped with both fighters having bad cuts.
A majority draw was the judges' verdict and it didn't sit well with either fighter.
"I was working him to the body through every round and I thought I won at least three of them," Adams said.
Felt he was in control
Sepeda said he felt he "had control of the fight and I surely didn't think it was a draw. But I don't want to say anything negative about Bones because he gave me the opportunity to fight him."
Another reason for anger from the Adams camp was that ESPN made him remove an online gambling label from his trunks. Adams was to have been paid $60,000 for wearing the label.
In the other four bouts, Niles welterweight Billy Lyell made his pro debut and won a unanimous four-round decision over southpaw Christian Nash from Cincinnati (2-4-2).
Lyell, 19, who compiled a 47-13 amateur record fighting for Jack Loew at Southside Boxing Club, came out swinging and never really stopped until fatigue set in for the final round.
"It was a tough fight and a real test against an experienced southpaw," Lyell said. "To win, I knew I had to keep the pressure on him throughout the fight. I am obviously disappointed, because I didn't finish him."
The other fights were decided by decisions.
Female bout
A female welterweight four rounder had undefeated Mary Jo Sanders win Shadina Pennybaker in an action packed bout. It was a second win over Pennybaker for Sanders.
Reggie Nash upset undefeated Angel Hernandez in a lightweight four-round fight.
Super middleweight Romero Johnson (7-1), trained by Pat Nelson on Youngstown, took a six-round decision over Jose Spearman.