TV debut for West Michigan boxing ‘Beast’ a smashing success (original) (raw)
Raeese Aleem of Muskegon, right, fights Adam Lopez of San Antonio during a super bantamweight bout as the co-feature of Showtime's "ShoBox: The New Generation" Friday, Feb. 14, 2020, at 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. (Courtesy of Amanda Westcott, via Showtime)
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Boxer Raeese Aleem’s television debut could not have gone much better Friday night. Now it’s onward and upward for the undefeated super bantamweight from Muskegon.
Aleem, nicknamed “The Beast,” scored a fourth-round TKO against San Antonio’s Adam Lopez in a scheduled eight-round TKO Friday at 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. It was the co-feature of Showtime’s “ShoBox: The New Generation,” and Aleem made a statement.
According to a release, Lopez’s corner asked referee Gary Rosato to stop the fight at 1:31 of the fourth round.
Aleem, 29, a 2009 Muskegon High School alumnus, is now 16-0 in his career with 10 knockouts. Lopez is 19-4-2 with nine knockouts.
“I put in a lot of hard work. I didn’t see any film on the guy, but knew he was a tough Mexican fighter,” Aleem said in the release. “Once we got in there, I could see the speed difference. I could see his punches coming. I did rush some punches and made some mistakes. But it was good and I kept my hands up and my speed and movements were good. And I’m glad I stopped him. I didn’t want to go the distance.”
While Aleem was making his TV debut, it was Lopez’s record eighth appearance on ShoBox.
Aleem attacked from the opening bell, as Lopez was unable to deal with his array of punches. Aleem finished with a commanding 92-11 advantage in overall punches, 61-7 in power punches.
Now, he’s looking for more.
“I want a world title fight and I’m knocking on the door. I’m hungry and I’m ready,” said Aleem, who in the most recent BoxRec.com rankings was ranked eighth nationally and 41st in the world in the super bantamweight class. “I know Danny Roman just lost the title. Brandon Figueroa, whoever is in there in the top 10, I’m ready for. I’m hungry and I’m coming and I want that fight.”
Raeese Aleem of Muskegon is victorious after his fourth-round TKO of San Antonio's Adam Lopez in a super bantamweight bout as the co-feature of Showtime's "ShoBox: The New Generation" Friday, Feb. 14, 2020, at 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. (Courtesy of Amanda Westcott, via Showtime)
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‘The Beast’ from Muskegon aims to be the best super bantamweight in the world
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