By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

KEVIN ‘Baby Slice’ Ferguson Jr’s debut home in the footsteps of his deceased father Kevin ‘Kimbo Slice’ Ferguson Sr was over before he got started in the first round against Hazel ‘the Latin Lover’ Roche on Saturday night at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

With his family members from Step Street, Fox Hill, in attendance cheering for him, Kimbo Slice Jr unleased two flurries on Roche, the last tanging him in the ring as he wobbled. Roche trapped on his right foot and had to seek medical care as the fight was called off with eight seconds left.

The fight was the only one not to go the distance as Real Housewives star Juicy Joe Giudice out-punched TV star and model Ojani Noa in the Xrumble celebrity Boxing three-round one-minute each main event.

The show, promoted by Brandit Sean and carried live on Triller TV powered by FITE, also featured three preliminary matches between boxers from promoter Ronn Rodgers’ Strikers Boxing Club.

Kimbo Slice Jr, in memory of Kimbo Slice, the popular mixed martial artist and professional boxer who died on June 6, 2016, said the only way to keep his father’s memory alive was to get in and out of the ring against Roche.

“I said I was only going to go one round,” said the 33-year-old Ferguson Jr, known as ‘Baby Slice’ for his similarities in MMA.  “It was easy work.”

Ferguson Jr, a member of Team Bodyshop who has fought in Bellator and Bare-Knuckle Fighting Championships, floored Roche with a right hand and the last was his favorite left hook to the body that sent his opponent into the ropes where he got injured and unable to continue.

“I really enjoyed fighting here, so whenever there is a fight, they just need to give me a call and I will come,” said Ferguson Jr, who is based in New York. “It was a blessing to see all of my family members here. It was a blessing to fight in front of them. This was something I was looking forward too.”

Giudice, no doubt, was more eager to step into the ring after the Ferguson Jr fight. He had a larger contingent that traveled mainly from the United States to watch him. The shorter Giudice didn’t disappoint them as he got inside the taller Noa and landed more shots that counted.

“I got tight tonight. It was my first time in the ring boxing. I’m a black belt karate; I could kick and punch. that’s a little easier for me because that is what I do,” Giudice said. “Punching is not easy. I have to give it to Ojani. He was a little tougher than I expected, but it went well.”

In the last of the three local fight, Juwan ‘Fight Night’ Forbes punished Naathan Pickstock with a series blows to seal a lopsided showdown. Pickstock withstood every attack and counter-punched at times, but it wasn’t enough. 

“It was great. I felt good about it. It was a very good technical fight,” Forbes said. “I’m not familiar with my opponent so I was a bit nervous, but after I got through the first round, I felt natural and I just went to work.”

Jermaine Allen had his cheering squad rooting for him from his was introduced to come out of the locker room and into the ring. But once the fight got started, he had to content with the bigger Carlos “Officer KO’ Brown.

The two slugged it out, but in the end, it was Brown who handcuffed Allen for the win.

“My opponent had some good reflexes coming down to the end, but when it came down to the inside body work, that’s my specialty,” said Brown, who started training under the late legendary boxer/coach Rey Minus Jr before he came out of a hiatus to train with Rodgers. 

“My jab worked. I hit him with some nice shots. It wasn’t my best, but you can look for me to put on a better show in the future. I want to take boxing to the world and hopefully become a world champion.”

Allen, however, felt it was his victory to capture.

“It was pretty good. I thought I won it. I out-boxed him in my opinion,” Allen said. “I felt no power. I was faster. I guess I just have to respect the judges’ decision, but I’m good. I will be back.”

In the opening bout, Kendric Stuart remained undefeated in five fights, but he got a little more than he bargained for from Keyshawn Forbes, who made his debut. 

Forbes, the heavier of the two fighters, managed to rock Stuart at the end of the first round, but after he regrouped, the faster Stuart used his experience. However, the judges ruled it a draw.

“It was good. I am a little out of shape, but it was good to get in the workout,” Stuart said. “This was Keyshawn’s first time in the ring, but I wanted to feed of the crowd to get rid of the butterflies. Other than that, it was a good match.”

Forbes said he was only in the gym trying to get in some cardio workout to lose some weight and when Rodgers provided him with the opportunity to compete, he went for it.

“My strategy was to go on the defensive end for the first half because I was fighting one of the most experienced fighters in the Bahamas,” he said. “But my legs gave out in the end. I just want to go back in the gym and worked on more cardio. I encourage others to get in the gym and work out too.”