Gallery by Tina Laney
West Virginia Sports Promotions owner Jerry Thomas often refers to Friday night at The Original Toughman Contest as comedy night.
Wild haymakers, exotic trunks, fighters going to the wrong corners, upset stomachs and flying shoes were all part of the crazy festivities inside the Beckley Raleigh County Convention Center on opening night.
Mixed in with the comedy was some solid boxing that sent the winners one step closer to the Toughman jacket handed out on Saturday night.
“There have been a lot of fights over the 42 years here in Beckley, but I thought it was a great night and one of the best that I can remember here,” Thomas said. “A lot of comedy tonight and I added to it a little bit, but that is all part of the event and having fun. I feel like people really enjoyed it.”
Two-time champion Devon Steele successfully opened his quest for a third Toughman title with a unanimous decision victory over Alexander Taylor.
Steele was the aggressor from the opening bell and kept the pressure on all three rounds with a barrage of punches.
“I felt a lot better tonight, but I didn’t feel like I performed at my best,” Steele said. “This was the first fight that I didn’t feel so nervous before. It felt more natural, like I was back in the gym training again. I do feel like I can perform better than that though.”
Fighting in the welterweight division, Steele will have his hands full in his quest for his third title.
Eddie “The Appalachian Hammer” Osborne won his welterweight bout on a first round knockout, while Tyler Black advanced by a third round TKO.
“I just have to keep throwing more punches and keep the pressure on. Throw punches and stayed focused,” Steele said.
Two fighters that finished as runners-up last year were not so fortunate on night one.
Marcus McGuire and Micah Barton battled toe-to-toe with Barton earning a split decision victory in the cruiserweight division.
Heavyweight Aaron Hairston dominated his first round bout against Zach Abel, but could not answer the bell for round two due to a medical issue.
Cody “Cutthroat” Carter got the fireworks started right from the opening bell by leveling Eric Meadows with the first punch of the fight. Meadows recovered, but was quickly sent to the canvas again, losing by a first round TKO.
In a battle of 6-foot-7 heavyweights, Thomas Banks dispatched Dakota Detweller in a battle of first time Toughman fighters.
Banks entered the bout with a self-proclaimed 5-0 record in fights in the Go-Mart parking lot.
“The interesting thing about tonight was that a high majority of the fighters were first-timers. That is what this event is all about,” Thomas said. “It gives people an opportunity to have some fun and try their hand at boxing. I was impressed by a lot of the people doing their first event.”
The championships will be decided when boxing continues Saturday night at 7 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased at the Convention Center, on-line at wvtoughman.com or by calling 1-800-296-3897.
Saturday’s championship rounds can also been seen on Pay-Per-View for $19.99 which is available on the Toughman website.
Friday’s Results
Men’s Division
Heavyweight
Rayquan Griffith d. James Toler, unanimous decision
Thomas Banks d. Dakota Detweiler, TKO
Sebastian Knapp d. Mitchel Sheik, unanimous decision
Mason warner d. Damian Vankirk, TKO
Noah McGraw d. Alan Hoover, TKO
Cruiserweight
Devon Marion d. Matthew Bailey, unanimous decision
Trent Sayre d. Sheldon Starcher, split decision
Matthew Young d. Eric Southwick, TKO
Joseph Sims d. Heath Sullivan, unanimous decision
Micah Barton d. Marcus McGuire, split decision
Dwain Porterfield d. Johnny Pence, TKO
Joshua Parker-Rivera d. Jarrett Cline, unanimous decision
Anthony Lester d. Dalton Harris, TKO
Keith Tyree d. Cody Hunsaker, unanimous decision
Middleweight
Cody Carter d. Eric Meadows, TKO
Jordan Davis d. Trey Jarrell, TKO
Lawrence Smith d. Kameron Dickens, TKO
Moses Burd Jr d. Josh Rakes, unanimous decision
Chris Anderson d. Kain Bowyer, split decision
Spencer Abel d. Shannon Ramsey, TKO
Michael Forrest d. Kenneth Eaves, unanimous decision
Teonno White d. Trevor Dye, unanimous decision
Welterweight
Logan Baker d. Parker Myers, unanimous decision
Tyler Black d. Mark Dunkle, TKO
Dalton Huffstetler d. Johnnie Lloyd, unanimous decision
Eddie Osborne d. Edgar Foster, KO
Devon Steele d. Alexander Taylor, unanimous decision
Lightweight
Joshua Goode d. Austin Strickland, unanimous decision
Dennis Adkins d. Jerry Chaney, unanimous decision
Matthew McCutcheon d. Tyler Dash, TKO
Women’s Division
Lightweight
Shania Stewart d. Margaret Stout, unanimous decision
Jocelyn Hively d. Ashleigh Donell, unanimous decision
Harley Cofield d. Trinity Jackson, TKO
