Slammin’ Amateurs at Bourbon Street Brawl

Marionette Park, Il- Bourbon Street is Chicago’s backyard bar and grill that hosts some of the gnarliest fights in Chicagoland. Fighters and fans were lit up all night long in what turned out to be one of the best amateur competitions all year. Gilbert Grappling dominated every division as their fight team chalked up four wins in convincing fashion.

The main event turned out to be one-sided as Jake Murphy punished James Jimmerson for the entire first three-minute round. Murphy utilized explosive striking and ground control to stop Jimmersion. At the end of round one, Jimmerson stayed on his hands and knees until the bell rang.

Two outstanding debut performances took place as Tom Kleist and Matt Giancarlo fought hard earned victories.

Fight of the night kicked off the show when Kleist went to war in his debut with Jerricho Helming, out of Indianapolis. Helming put forth a warrior’s effort, but Kleist was a little too much. Kleist belongs to team South Side Karate, but karate was the furthest thing from his mind as he demonstrated high levels of wrestling and jiu-jitsu. Round one was fiercely competitive, and Helming gave as good as he got. But Kleist had more gas in the tank and scored the rear naked choke late in the second round.

In his debut bout, Gilbert Grapplings Matt Ginacarlo, a humongously shredded bantamweight, ferociously assaulted Joseph Merrill with submission attempts and ground control. Giancarlo didn’t give Merrill room to breathe, but Merrill was a hugely game opponent as he survived ground and pound, arm triangle attacks, and powerful takedowns. Giancarlo thought he had the fight in the bag in the first round after the ref stopped it, but the fight was restarted due to strikes to the back of the head. Nevertheless, Giancarlo made short work of Merrill as he sunk the naked choke in the second round.

Carson Bebe crisply moved his record to 4-0 as he earned the victory over Darwin Hall with a TKO in round one. Women’s division contender AJ Mackavoyd was monstrous as she shut down Sally Howard in fourteen seconds. Also, Team No Limit’s David Gallegos looked very impressive as he choked Kurt Rapp in round one.

Brawl at Bourbon Street will be broadcasting on public access Comcast in sixty-four different zip codes around South Chicago. Often, the best thing about going to Bourbon Street for a fight night…..it’s a really good time. Tony Bailas assembled a great amateur card which holds promising for the future.

By Joseph Pawlus

josephpawlus@gmail.com