Colby Madison steals the spotlight at Ring War 24 as Robinson faces Falcao in a night packed with action, drama, and unforgettable moments
By: George H. Hanson Jr., Esq.
Date: August 29, 2026
Venue: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia.
Promoters: Marshall Kauffman—King’s Promotions
Ring Announcer: Margaret Cresta-Griffin
Referees: Dave Braslow & David Fields
Ring Card: The Queens of King’s – Mya Cardona, Kendra Danelle & Kiana
Kareema
Timekeeper: Madra Clay
Ringside Doctor: Dr. Leaming
Coverage: Bash TV
Photos: Darryl Cobb Jr.
Grab a refreshment and settle in: Marshall Kauffman’s King’s Promotions delivered another outstanding night of boxing in Philadelphia, “The Capital of Boxing.” The nine-bout card featured five spectacular knockouts, no controversy, and excellent work from the full event team. There is plenty to cover, so let’s move through a memorable night at the 2300 Arena.
If the late, great George Foreman could win the World Heavyweight title at forty-six, then Colby Madison (13 wins – 11 losses – 3 draws – 9 kos) can still dream big at forty-three. Tonight’s fifth bout, scheduled for eight rounds, offered a preview of the best version of the Baltimore heavyweight, who extended his winning streak to three with a show-stealing performance. I first saw Madison at this same venue on June 24, 2017, when he was 4-0 with 3 kos and fought Joel Caudle to a six-round majority draw. More than nine years and twenty-one fights later, this marked the sixth time I have watched him compete.
Madison recalls that brilliant Southern uncle who can fix anything mechanical or electrical, cook anything, and fight when family needs defending. At 6 feet 4 inches and 258 pounds, he is a big heavyweight with surprisingly nimble feet. With trainer Marat Bubberman unable to attend, Madison wisely brought in Danny Davis, who will enter both the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Boxing Halls of Fame later this year as a cutman. Davis served as the replacement trainer, while Hall of Fame cutman Joey Eye handled his customary duties. Many forget that Davis is also a National Golden Gloves champion who has spent a lifetime in boxing gyms. Cutman work is only one of the many roles he performs exceptionally well in our beloved sport.
Whatever Davis put in the water, Madison entered the ring against Lemir Riley (6 wins –7 losses – 0 draws – 3 kos) of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, looking like a heavyweight inspired by Larry “The Easton Assassin” Holmes and Thomas “The Hitman” Hearns. From the opening bell, Madison worked behind a stiff left jab, backing up the shorter Riley, who stood 6 feet and weighed 245 pounds. He mixed in the straight right while Riley, a defiant competitor, answered with a few exchanges and landed several solid body shots. But Madison stayed on mission, using the jab to pin Riley on the ropes in the final fifteen seconds. I gave Madison the opening round.
Once again, I must paraphrase my late childhood friend Leroy “Bucky” Davis: Riley did not come to lay down; he came to get down. Early in the second round, he hurt Madison with a well-timed straight right and tried to separate the big man from his senses. Madison wisely clinched, fought from the ropes, and listened to Danny Davis, who was uncharacteristically vocal in the corner. Madison soon answered with a right uppercut, and the two traded furiously for about thirty seconds, with the bigger man getting the better of it. Moments later, Madison landed a straight right reminiscent of Tommy Hearns, sending Riley to the canvas. Riley somehow rose as referee Dave Braslow reached the count of eight. Madison tried to end it, but Riley survived and made it to the bell.
I am confident Danny Davis told Madison he was not being paid by the round and should close the show. Madison answered the third as a heavyweight version of Tommy Hearns, working behind the jab to set up his devastating right hand. After a jab to the body, he connected with a crushing right that would have separated almost anyone from his senses. Riley fell flat on his back. There was no need for referee Braslow to count; he immediately signaled for the medical team, and the fight was over. Madison was declared the winner by knockout at 21 seconds of round three. Fortunately, Riley left the ring on his own. I will nominate Madison for “Knockout of the Year” at the 29th Annual Salute to Philly Boxers Awards, and I will also nominate Danny Davis for “Trainer of the Year” based on this remarkable performance. Colby Madison stole the show! I believe that Madison can beat Filip Hrgović, newly crowned IBF World Heavyweight Champion!
The eight-round main event matched Baltimore junior-welterweight Muhammad “The Real Deal” Robinson (10 wins –1 loss – 0 draws – 6 kos) against talented and durable Brazilian Estivan Falcao (14 wins – 4 losses – 0 draws – 8 kos). It was a tactical contest—a gloved chess match—against a savvy opponent. Falcao entered with notable victories, including an eight-round unanimous decision over James Bernadin on August 4, 2023, and a fifth-round stoppage of unbeaten Algerian prospect Djamel Dahou on May 20, 2023, at this same venue. Robinson therefore faced a dangerous twenty-four-minute test in which one mistake could have cost him dearly.
Robinson, twenty-two, took the opening round behind his jab, quick combinations, and occasional right hooks to the ribs. Falcao kept pressing forward and firing back, but trying to match Robinson’s speed was not the answer. Robinson was simply too quick with both his hands and feet. If Falcao hoped to win, he needed to rely on timing and anticipate Robinson’s next move.
Robinson was again controlling the action in the second round when Falcao landed a perfectly timed right uppercut midway through the stanza and wobbled him. Robinson moved as though the legendary Bill “Bojangles” Robinson were about to begin a tap routine. To his credit, he disguised the moment, stayed composed, and cleared his head while moving. Had Falcao realized Robinson was hurt, he likely would have tried to finish him. Kudos to Robinson, who may have a bright future as a thespian. Still, I scored the round for the Brazilian.
I also gave the third round to Falcao, who pressed the action and got the better of the exchanges while Robinson took too many chances. The Baltimore fighter then steadied himself and boxed smartly over the final five rounds, using his speed to beat Falcao to the punch while staying defensively responsible. Robinson’s speed and ability to adjust made the difference. It was an excellent fight and a valuable test for the young prospect. Two judges scored 79-73, while the third had it closer at 78-74, all for Robinson in a true crossroads bout that should move him to the next level.
The last time I saw heavyweight Devon “The Destroyer” Young (9 wins – 1 loss – 0 draws – 7 kos) of Aiken, South Carolina, was January 17, 2025. He was devastating that night, stopping Calvin Barnett in the opening round of a scheduled six-rounder on the undercard of Atif “Lord Pretty Calvo” Oberton’s fifth-round knockout of Joaquin Berroa Lugo. Tonight’s second bout served as Young’s comeback after suffering his first setback: a first-round knockout loss to Keaton Gomes on August 13, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Young made his ring walk to Michael Jackson’s “Heal the World,” a call for global unity from one of the greatest artists the world has known. Vercell Webster (3 wins – 8 losses –1 draw – 2 kos) of Dallas, Texas, waited patiently in his corner as fans took in the pageantry of Young’s entrance. Referee David Fields handled the formalities, the fighters returned to their corners, and the bell rang. Young came forward behind his jab and landed an early straight right. His aggression made it clear he was seeking redemption. Before long, Webster was trapped in a corner, fighting to survive. The action shifted to the ropes, where Webster was forced to work at a high pace. Somehow, he made it to the end of the round.
Young opened the second round with a stiff jab that forced Webster back to the ropes. Webster may have been trying to emulate Wilfred Benitez’s legendary rope work, but unlike the youngest world champion in boxing history, he could not make the strategy effective. Young caught him with a blistering right that forced him to one knee. Referee Fields properly ruled the knockdown and completed the count. When the action resumed, Webster tried to box his way out of danger, but Young remained relentless. He pinned Webster on the ropes again and landed another crippling right, sending him to the canvas and forcing Fields to stop the fight. Young was declared the winner by technical knockout at 2:17 of the second round, proving his lone setback was only a misdemeanor: he missed the win and came back meaner.
The opening bout featured heavyweights with identical records: Elijah Akana (1 win – 1 loss – 0 draws –1 ko) of Honolulu, Hawaii, against Giovanni Payne of Richmond Virginia. Both men entered after losses in their previous outings, making this a comeback fight for each. The matchup was even from the start, with both fighters jabbing at the opening bell and trying to establish control. Payne landed several good body shots, while Akana stayed active in the clinch. Late in the round, Akana accidentally pulled Payne to the canvas—the only time either fighter was off his feet. The opening round could have gone either way.
Early in the second round, Akana landed a low blow, forcing referee Braslow to stop the action, warn Akana, and give Payne time to recover. After about twenty seconds, Payne signaled that he was ready, and the fight resumed. Akana was not dissuaded by the warning and continued attacking the body, landing to Payne’s ribs and midsection. Payne stayed in constant motion, working his jab and landing straight rights while moving laterally or backward. It was another close round that could be scored either way depending on vantage point.
Akana pressed the action over the final two rounds, while Payne flicked his jab like Muhammad Ali rather than driving it like Larry Holmes or Sonny Liston. It was an entertaining fight despite the lack of knockdowns or extended danger. When it was over, two judges scored 39-37 for Akana, while the third had the same score for Payne. Akana was declared the winner by split decision in a well-matched heavyweight bout.
In the third bout, junior welterweight southpaw Dashaun “Too Sweet” Johns (4 wins – 10 losses – 0 draws – 3 kos) of Brooklyn, New York, made his ring walk to a song filled with profanity and degrading language. I often question the judgment and awareness of fighters, trainers, and managers when such music is selected. Johns faced Lancaster, Pennsylvania’s James Bernadin (13 wins – 5 losses – 1 draw – 6 kos), originally from Haiti, my second favorite country, my homeland of Jamaica holding the top spot. I was at ringside for Bernadin’s debut on September 14, 2018, when he scored a third-round technical knockout of Christopher Burgos at this same venue.
The fight opened at a brisk pace, with Johns showing his boxing skills behind the jab and staying busier through the first three rounds on my scorecard. Bernadin appeared to be searching for one knockout blow rather than building toward the opportunity. Johns stayed on his bicycle while Bernadin walked him down, throwing heavy shots that often missed the target. The southpaw fired quick combinations and disappeared like Count Dracula at daybreak. After three rounds, I wondered how the judges were scoring it because I had Johns ahead 3-0.
The tide turned in the fourth round with about a minute remaining. Bernadin hurt Johns with hard shots that turned his legs into spaghetti. Johns was in serious trouble, and referee Braslow was moving in to stop the fight. But during the melee, with Bernadin still unloading, Braslow was accidentally knocked on the canvas and could not intervene. By the time he got back to his feet, Johns had somehow survived, and Braslow allowed the fight to continue. Johns made it back to his corner at the end of the round on unsteady legs.
Like a shark smelling blood in the water, Bernadin answered the bell for the fifth round with destruction on his mind. He attacked early and landed a combination that sent Johns unconscious to the canvas. Referee Braslow did not bother to count and immediately stopped the fight, declaring Bernadin the winner by knockout at 22 seconds of round five. Fortunately, Johns regained consciousness and left the ring with his handlers.
Twenty-two-year-old undefeated junior welterweight Adrien Boler (7 wins – 0 losses – 0 draws – 4 kos) of Las Vegas, Nevada, was extremely impressive in the fourth bout. He dropped southpaw Nick Steven Torres-Otero (5 wins – 3 losses – 2 draws – 3 kos) of Puerto Rico twice—once in the second round and again in the third—before closing the show by technical knockout at 29 seconds of round three.
Boler, decked out in exquisite white trunks with a gold stripe, opened behind his jab while adding his own sound effects— “Bing, bing!”—each time he punched. For a moment, I thought I was watching an old martial arts movie from the 1980s. Still, the Las Vegas prospect boxed wisely and consistently outpaced the thirty-year-old Otero. In the second round, Otero tried to slow Boler’s forward progress, but Boler’s speed and defense were too much. With about five seconds left in the round, Boler landed a quick right that swept Otero off his feet and sent him crashing to the canvas. Otero rose as referee Fields counted to seven, and the round ended moments later.
Boler pressed the action in the third round and quickly found paydirt. He connected with a horrific left hook followed by a straight right that sent Otero to the canvas and forced Fields to stop the fight. Boler was declared the winner by knockout at 20 seconds of round three. It was an explosive performance that showcased Boler’s pugilistic skill, ring intelligence, and ability to lead an opponent straight into danger.
After a nineteen-month hiatus, Philadelphia welterweight Quadir “Savage C4” Albright (12 wins – 1 loss – 0 draws –12 kos) returned in fantastic fashion in the sixth bout, stopping southpaw Jaylan Phillips (6 wins – 6 losses – 4 draws – 2 kos) of Panama City, Florida. None of Albright’s fights have gone the distance, including his lone setback, a fifth-round stoppage loss to Roberto Gomez on October 1, 2022, at this same venue. Given his 6-foot-1 frame and dynamite in both hands, I expected another knockout victory, and he delivered as expected.
Albright made his ring walk carrying his baby son, who was born during his layoff. He opened the fight behind his long jab. Phillips, fighting from the southpaw stance, returned fire and connected with a quick straight left. Albright answered by punishing him with several left hooks to the ribs. The Philadelphian continued his dominance and body attack through the second and third rounds. Phillips fought back valiantly, but I kept waiting for Albright to drop the atomic bomb that would end the fight.
The fourth round was close, with Phillips sticking and moving behind his jab while Albright pressed forward. In the fifth, Albright connected to the head and body and began dismantling Phillips in front of our eyes. A straight right sent Phillips flat on his back. Surprisingly, he rose as referee Fields reached five in the count, though it was clear he remained hurt. The fight continued briefly before Albright deposited Phillips on the canvas again with a combination, forcing Fields to stop it. Albright was declared the winner by technical knockout at 1:45 of the fifth round.
Twenty-four-year-old lightweight Julian “Gifted” Gonzalez (16 wins – 2 losses – 1 draw – 12 kos) of Reading, Pennsylvania, suffered his third consecutive loss in the seventh bout, dropping a split-decision to Trakwon Pettis (7 wins – 1 loss – 0 draws – 3 kos) of Atlanta, Georgia. Two judges scored the fight for Pettis, 78-74 and 77-75, while the dissenting judge had it 78-74 for Gonzalez.
The rounds were close, with no knockdowns and neither fighter ever appearing on the brink of being stopped. Still, too many punches missed the mark. That may have been the result of excellent defense, or it may have reflected habits formed by overreliance on flashy pad work, where the pads meet the punches and fighters never fully extend their shots.
I am not here to disparage either fighter. But with so many missed punches, neither man clearly establishing dominance, and few memorable moments, the bout often felt difficult to separate. Gonzalez pressed the action in the opening round, while both combatants jabbed and countered at a similar rate. That pattern continued through the next two rounds before Pettis began landing the cleaner jab in the fourth and fifth.
Pettis bled from the nose in the sixth as Gonzalez stalked him and landed more jabs; I gave Gonzalez that round. Much of the remainder of the fight followed the same pattern. Had Gonzalez been awarded the decision, I doubt there would have been much protest. Hopefully, he will treat this as an opportunity to study his last three fights, identify the necessary adjustments, and return sharper. Congratulations to Pettis, who earned the win against a difficult opponent.
The eighth bout, immediately before the main event, featured a six-round heavyweight contest between undefeated twenty-one-year-old southpaw Luis “Big Lui” Gjolena (9 wins – 0 losses – 1 draw – 6 kos), an Albanian fighting out of the Bronx, New York, and forty-two-year-old Robert Sims (12 wins – 7 losses – 1 draw – 3 kos) of Saginaw, Michigan. Gjolena, standing 6 feet 2½ inches and weighing 270.25 pounds, is the doppelganger for Philadelphia heavyweight Joey “The Tank” Dawejko. Sims, at 5 feet 11 inches and 236 pounds, brought experience, movement, and defensive savvy.
Gjolena won the opening round on my scorecard by working behind his jab and landing to Sims’ body. To Sims’ credit, he showed defensive skill from the beginning, sidestepping, bobbing, and weaving to avoid the worst of Gjolena’s attack.
In the second round, Gjolena’s supporters began chanting, “Lui, Lui, Lui!” as the Albanian marched forward. Sims, however, answered with quick combinations while retreating. It was a spirited round that I scored for Sims, with Gjolena bleeding from the nose. The third round was close, and Gjolena landed a combination at the bell.
Over the final three rounds, Sims spent too much time on the ropes, doing his best impression of the legendary three-division world champion Wilfred Benitez. He slipped and dipped as Gjolena tried to separate him from his senses, and he often countered with his own shots while making the bigger man miss. When the fight ended, two judges scored it 60-54 and 59-55 for Gjolena, while the third had it 57-57. The southpaw won by majority decision in an entertaining clash of contrasting styles.
It was another memorable night of boxing in Philadelphia, “The Capital of Boxing.” The card was well matched, the action was entertaining, and every fighter came prepared to compete — to “get down,” not lay down.
Undefeated Philadelphia light-heavyweight contender and fashionista iconoclast Atif “Lord Pretty Calvo” Oberlton (17 wins – 0 losses – 0 draws – 14 kos) was ringside to support his stablemates. Promoted by King’s Promotions and Wynn Records, the 6-foot-4 southpaw pairs a high boxing IQ with power in both hands, making him a difficult puzzle for any opponent. In my view, he has the tools to become a three-division world champion, and I would not be surprised if he captures his first world title within the next year. Marshall Kauffman again showed why his company carries the perfect name: King’s Promotions.
See you next time.
Continue to support the sweet science, and remember, always carry your mouthpiece!
