Curmel Moton and his father and trainer Curtis Moton in South Philly (Photo by Joseph Santoliquito/Ring Magazine)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – The parking lot was packed. Cars were parked on the sidewalk in front of the 2300 Arena Saturday night. The 2300 itself was looted, parts of which were standing room only.
Danny Garcia’s Swift Promotions is making rapid progress—and it helps to have young, up-and-coming stars like undefeated lightweight Curmel Moton and undefeated junior featherweight Dylan Price on its card.
Both won by knockout in the first round. The 18-year-old Moton (6-0, 5 KOs) defeated the 25-year-old Hilario Martinez Moreno (4-5, 4 KOs) with a left hook to the body at 1:35. The 26-year-old Price (19-0, 13 KOs) stopped southpaw Jose Saant (15-7-1, 5 KOs) at the :35 second mark.
After that, no one was so willing to leave and milled around in the lobby of the 2300 Arena, located in South Philly, about three miles from the Philadelphia Sports Complex.
Everyone wanted selfies and to meet Moton and Price in person. Any fighter could not take a few steps without being overwhelmed by fans, admirers and fanboy YouTubers, recording their every move.
Moton and Price better get used to it.
“I think Curmel is right where he needs to be,” says Curtis Moton, Curmel’s father and trainer. “Curmel was slightly aggressive at first, but after the first 10 seconds he calmed down. I loved what I saw. I think he is right on track where he needs to be. Curmel has always had a good left hook, and it comes from one-handed sparring since he was 10. He could beat most guys with one hand at the moment.”
Moton will return to the East Coast on Thanksgiving Day weekend to fight on another Swift Promotions card in Atlantic City.
“I was happy with what I did, I started with my jab and that’s probably the most I’ve worked my jab in one round,” said Curmel, who fights Floyd Mayweather under Mayweather Promotions. “I looked for openings within the combinations. It was the left hook that put him down. I’m back in the gym on Monday. I sleep on the plane back home (to Las Vegas). “South Philly has shown me a lot of love, and I appreciate the high energy crowd. I would love to get back on a bigger stage to show some love to South Philly.”
Price is set to make a big announcement in the coming weeks revealing which promoter he will be signing with. He was the main event. He knows his career needs to get going now for his skills to pay dividends.
“I felt good, my first real fight at 122, and I felt strong,” Price said. “This is the best I’ve felt in about a year because I killed myself to make 118. I know I need to start fighting better opponents. I’m definitely ready to step it up. I will fight once or twice again this year. I have an announcement to make soon that will get me going.”
Garcia was pleased again. His company is moving and building. The display of the two Philly cards was encouraging.
But there’s something the future Hall of Famer is learning about the boxing promotion business: “Sometimes it’s hard to get fighters to actually fight,” he said with a laugh. “It’s incredible, I know, what comes from me. As a fighter, if you look at it from the other side, you think it’s easy to make fights. It really isn’t. It is not easy to make battles and not easy to draw fighters.
“Fighters are hard to deal with (laughs). But tonight it was amazing to see. We almost sold out. With Curmel and Dylan they are future world champions. I look forward to working with Floyd to get Curmel on more shows.”
Joseph Santoliquito is an award-winning sportswriter who has worked for Ring Magazine/RingTV.com since October 1997 and is the president of the Boxing Writers Association of America.
Follow @JSantoliquito
