Nimal Farmer, Anthony Johns grab wins at Prudential Center

NEWARK, N.J. — Nimal Farmer spoiled Michael “Slick” Anderson’s Prudential Center homecoming on Saturday night, while Anthony Johns survived a spirited challenge from Angel Morales to capture the IBF North America junior bantamweight title.

The 25-year-old Farmer (7-1-2,4 KOs) used his combination punching and 20-year youth advantage to outfight the Newark favorite Anderson, 45, winning by the scores of 80-72 on two cards and 79-73 on the third, dropping Anderson’s record to 25-5-1 (19 KOs). After a decent round one for Anderson, it was all Farmer from that point as the switch-hitter from Lindenwold, N.J. hurt Anderson several times, particularly in the third round, with only Anderson’s bravery keeping him on his feet. After Anderson survived the early power-punching display, Farmer used his boxing ability to keep Anderson at bay, scoring at will.

The win was Farmer’s first since 2024, after a pair of draws against Ghandi Romain a unanimous decision loss to David Smith in his last three fights. Anderson has now lost two of his last three bouts, with both losses coming at Prudential Center.

In the ten-round co-main event, Johns (12-1, 6 KOs) kept his title contention dreams alive after beating Morales (11-5-3, 7 KOs) by scores of 98-92 and 96-94 on two cards, while the third had it 99-91 for Morales, 26, of Ensenada, Mexico.

While the cards featured a wide swing of scores, there was much to like from both fighters. Johns, a 2019 National Golden Gloves champion, was at his best when he pushed the pace, backing Morales up and digging to the body, while Morales took advantage whenever Johns would wait too long to initiate his offense. With the fight seemingly on the table, Johns and Morales fought back and forth, with Johns pulling out the win by winning the last round on two of the judges’ scorecards.

The win earns Johns the IBF North America junior bantamweight title, which could earn Johns a top-15 ranking at 115lbs with the New Jersey-based sanctioning body.

“The fight was tough,” admitted Johns, 33, of Newark. “He fared well, but we just prepared a little harder. I had to dig down and show them why they call me Big Back.”

Morales has now lost all four of his fights in the U.S. by decision, snapping a two-fight winning streak.

The card was promoted by Rodney Rice’s RDR Promotions and was Prudential Center’s second boxing card of the year.

Earlier on the card, Juan Rivera V (11-0, 5 KOs) of Philadelphia used his sharp-shooting combinations and movement to outpoint Chuckie Driver (12-2, 7 KOs) of Nashville, Tenn. by scores of 100-89 on two cards and 99-90 on the third.

Rivera looked to be close to scoring a stoppage in the ninth after using uppercuts and body shots to find the holes in Driver’s defense, drawing blood from his face and forcing the referee to watch the fight closer. Driver survived the storm, and as Rivera gassed, he began coming forward to land shots of his own. Driver had perhaps the best round of the fight in the tenth as he landed several rights and hooks before Rivera closed the fight strongly. Driver lost a point in the eighth round for losing his mouthpiece though he didn’t seem to receive any prior warnings.

Muadh Abdus-Salaam (5-0, 2 KOs) scored the most impressive victory of his career, stopping the durable Michael Ruiz (2-10-2) after three rounds in their four-round junior welterweight fight. Abdus-Salaam, 27, of Newark scored a knockdown in the first round off a jab, and hammered away with overhand rights and body shots, sending the smaller Ruiz of Toms River, N.J. to his fifth stoppage defeat. Abdus-Salaam was a linebacker for the Delaware State University Hornets football team.

Yoel “Boy Boy” Cooper remained undefeated in his pro career, moving to 2-0 (2 KOs) with a second round knockout of Ricardo Elizalde (0-3) of Tulsa, Okla. Cooper, an 18-year-old from Newark, walked down his opponent behind his right jab before dialing in straight lefts to the head and body. After two knockdowns – and another trip to the canvas that could have been scored a knockdown – the fight was stopped at the 56-second mark. The 30-year-old Elizalde has now lost all of his pro fights by second round stoppage.

Zahir Abdus-Salaam (4-0, 1 KOs) of Newark needed just 20 seconds to finish off Caleb Dodson (0-2) of Lawton, Oklahoma in their junior middleweight fight, dropping Dodson with a hook to the jaw. The former Western Michigan University running back, now 22, is the younger brother of Muadh Abdus-Salaam, and the son of trainer Muhammad Abdus-Salaam, who trains both brothers, plus Michael Anderson and Kristian Prenga.

Former amateur rivals Bernard Gardner (1-1-1, 1 KO) and Famous Wilson (4-0-1, 2 KOs) fought to a four-round draw in their middleweight fight, with all three judges scoring the fight 38-38. Gardner, a Jersey City native who goes by the pseudonym Rex Presidential, controlled the first round and a half with his southpaw aggression before Long Island’s Wilson cranked up the aggression over the final two rounds as Gardner faded. Wilson, 28, was fighting for the first time in two years while the 32-year-old Gardner was fighting for the first time since his first defeat, a unanimous decision to Justus Velez, last December.

Tayvon Fish (1-0, 1 KO) shook off nine years of boxing inactivity, scoring a second round KO of Rahmel McKinley (1-4) of Bladenboro, N.C. Fish, 33, of Linden, N.J. had last fought as an amateur in 2017, and didn’t look like he had missed a beat, firing overhand lefts and body shots that visibly shook the taller welterweight. Fish finished off his opponent at the 35-second mark, after a series of body shots put him down for the count. 

Vladimir Dalton (3-0, 1 KO) of Elizabeth, N.J. scored an explosive first round knockout of the previously unbeaten Ibrahima Fofana (2-1, 2 KOs) of Senegal at 2:35 of their four-round cruiserweight fight. The 35-year-old Dalton, once one of New Jersey’s top amateurs, dropped Fofana with an overhand right before another one left him defenseless along the ropes for the knockout.

Opening the card, Daniel Ivanovski (6-0, 4 KOs) of Berdsk, Russia scored a unanimous decision over Najm Khan (1-1) of Pakistan, winning by scores of 40-36 in their cruiserweight fight.

A number of local boxers who weren’t in action were in attendance, including former IBF cruiserweight champion Al “Ice” Cole, Khalil Coe, Ryan Leonard, Ghandi Romain, Rajon Chance and Dwyke Flemmings Jr.

Photo by Carlo Estonactoc/NJ Boxing News