Cora wins, Echols dodges bullet!
By Sam DiTusa at ringside
USBA cruiserweight champion Felix "Bad News" Cora Jr. (16-0-2, 8 KOs) dominated previously unbeaten James "Thunder" Elizalde (14-1-1, 9 KOs) Thursday night at the Northern Quest Casino in Airway Heights, Washington. Cora easily defended his title by pounding Elizalde in every round before Elizande quit on his stool after round six. Earlier, middleweight Antwun Echols survived a sixth round knockdown to stop Jameel Wilson in round seven. Wlison dropped Echols hard with a straight right in round six, but was unable to finish Atwun off. Echols (31-5-1, 27 KOs) came back in round seven and connected with six or seven unanswered punches with Wilson pinned on the ropes. At that point, referee Paul Shields halted the bout, much to the disappointment of everyone in the building as Wilson (13-7-2, 8 KOs) did not appear to be hurt. The bout took place on the inaugural card at the Northern Quest Casino, near Spokane, and was promoted by Art Pelullo's Banner Promotions.