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The boxing world got exactly what it came for: a night of pure adrenaline
BY SIMONE J. SMITH
Ladies and gentlemen, I told you all that the recent United Boxing Promotions Fight Card was going to be nothing short of spectacular, and it absolutely delivered. Held at the prestigious Great Canadian Casino Resort, this event brought fight fans from every corner of the GTA, eager for a night of high-stakes action. As always, the crowd showed up in style—women dressed to impress, and the men were fitted like they were stepping into the ring themselves.
It wasn’t just the fashion that raised the stakes; the tension in the air was palpable. The Main Event had the whole building buzzing as two warriors, both ready for battle, prepared to collide. Experts in the Ontario fight scene couldn’t even agree on a clear favourite. One neutral coach predicted a confident Smither unanimous decision, while an unaffiliated manager had his money on Alekozai, anticipating a late stoppage.
As the clock ticked toward 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 19th, 2024, both fighters — and their fan bases — were charged up, ready for war in what became an unforgettable Championship Feature. Whether you were backing Smither, or Alekozai, you knew you were in for a fight to remember. The energy in the Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto was electric, and the boxing world got exactly what it came for: a night of pure adrenaline.
Joshua ‘HellRazor’ Frazer blasted out Marcos Cornejo inside three rounds to open the card. Joshua is steadily evolving into a more skilled and confident fighter, with every bout reflecting his growth. His movements are sharper, his footwork more fluid, and his understanding of the ring has deepened with each match. He’s learning to balance aggression with strategy, timing his punches with precision and defending with increased awareness. His ability to adapt mid-fight, read his opponents, and exploit their weaknesses shows maturity beyond his years. Each round revealed a fighter who is honing his craft, becoming stronger both mentally and physically, with a clear path toward greatness. Joshua” HellRazer” Frazer moves to 11-0 with 8 KOs!
It was a successful comeback fight for Mayron ‘Brazilian Bomber’ Zeferino, as he scored a unanimous decision win (38-36 x3) over Jamaican fighter Gregory “Killer” Miller. Zeferino came out strong and dominated. I was expecting Miller to put up a better performance. I anticipated a more back-and-forth contest, but Miller just didn’t rise to the occasion. A one-sided fight can be frustrating when you’re hoping for a clash where both fighters showcase their full potential.
Gisu ‘Terminator’ Lee (12-4, 5 KO) made a statement, blasting out Alfredo Espino inside one minute of the first round. I’m becoming a real fan of Gisu “Terminator” Lee. His moniker couldn’t be more fitting, he’s relentless, powerful, and calculated, just like a machine in the ring. Watching his fights, it’s clear that he’s got the skill, discipline, and raw power to quickly move up the ranks and make a serious name for himself in the boxing world. I truly believe he’s going to hold a solid space in the sport.
Heavyweight Ricardo ‘Big 12’ Brown defeats tough Czech visitor Adam Kolarik via unanimous decision (78-72 x3) in the Co-Main Event. This fight marked the first time I’ve seen anyone truly challenge Heavyweight Ricardo ‘Big 12’ Brown. Adam Kolarik came into the match well-prepared, clearly having studied how to approach a giant like Big 12. In the first few rounds, Kolarik managed to get past Big 12’s guard and landed some solid punches, showing impressive agility and strategy.
Once Big 12 started listening to his corner and using his powerful jab to keep Kolarik at bay, the momentum shifted dramatically. I’ll admit, there were moments that made me nervous, but in the end, Big 12 reminded everyone why he’s a force to be reckoned with, making Jamaicans proud with his dominant victory.
Marvellous’ Mark Smither (13-1) scored a unanimous decision (99-91, 98-92, 97-93) victory over Helmand Alekozai to retain the Canadian Super Lightweight Championship! Outspoken challenger Helmand Alekozai (14-0, 6 KO) has variously called out the career resume, coaching team, and even genetic makeup of reigning champion Mark Smither (12-1) whose initially stoic response finally gave way to outright anger at weigh-ins.
While I’m not entirely sure I would have made the same decision, throughout the fight, it felt like Helmand Alekozai was more dominant overall. On the surface, it appeared that most of the blood was coming from Marvellous Mark Smithers, though this was largely due to a headbutt. If we’re leaning on the recency effect, the decisive moment came when Smithers dropped Alekozai near the end, which likely secured his win. One thing remains true, though, leave it in the hands of the judges.
Fight fans, there is so much more to come. On Saturday November 30th, 2024, at the Pickering Casino Resort we have Bad Thad Buntsma vs Cody Kelly as the main event with four other all action bouts including Jamaica’s own Kemahl “The Hitman” Russell. The fan favourite Russell (17-1, 15 KO) will aim for his fifth knockout, returning to the scene of his memorable December 2023 knockout of Rafael Ortiz.
Oshawa’s ‘Bad’ Thad Buntsma (5-3-1, 2 KO) and Collingwood’s Cody Kelly (4-9-3) will collide with the Canadian Super Welterweight Championship on the line in a highly anticipated Co-Feature; Buntsma edged Kelly via majority decision last April, and both men are hungry to claim their first title.
Also set to feature are undefeated Pickering welterweight Kyle ‘Caveman’ McLaughlin (5-0, 4 KO), welterweight Johnny ‘The Greek’ Birmpilis (8-2, 4 KO) and United-signed light heavyweight prospect Jerome ‘Wildcat’ Gabriel (4-0, 2 KO), each against to-be-announced opponents.
The night will begin with a professional debut, as Puerto Rican-Canadian Niles Santos will face a stiff test in four-fight Peterborough veteran Kyle Marsh.
Then… drumroll… Prepare yourself for the World Championship Doubleheader on December 12th, 2024 in Toronto. Super welterweight contender Sukhdeep ‘Chakria’ Singh will challenge for the IBO World Championship, while reigning WBA Light Flyweight World Champion Sara Bailey will feature in a World Championship Bout (to be announced soon). Tickets on sale Wednesday. October 23rd at 10:00 am, and you can book your VIP tables via sales@unitedpromotions.ca.