'Cujo' wins with third-round knockout

It’s been said that you can’t go home again. Sometimes, even if you can, you may not want to, but other times, it’s the greatest place to be.

On a night when Bedford native Scott “Cujo” Sigmon made his second appearance at the Lynchburg City Armory, five local amateurs lost their fights despite encouragement from a very supportive hometown crowd.

Jefferson Forest products Chris Klahn and Austin Vogt both lost decisions on Saturday night as part of the Major League Boxing card.

Klahn, making his amateur debut representing the Staunton Boxing Club, lost a close decision to Alberto Delgado, fighting out of Roanoke. Vogt, Klahn’s classmate at JF and representing EYO Boxing Club, didn’t fare much better as he lost a close decision to Jamie Bonds, also fighting out of Roanoke, representing Champs Gym.

Aaron Silvia, product of Amherst County High School also making his debut, was rudely welcomed as he was knocked out in the third round by Roanoke’s Mike Garrison. All of the winning fighters on the amateur card fought out of the “blue” corner

Also on the undercard, Roanoke’s David Hopkins making his first appearance at the Armory, thrilled the capacity local crowd by picking up a unanimous decision over Norfolk’s Antwon Barrett, improving his record to 3-0.

Todd “White Lightning” Wilson, a 2003 graduate of Virginia Military Institute now residing in Fairfax, entered the ring to a bagpipe and drum fanfare. And when the final scores were tallied, Wilson walked out with his sixth consecutive win as he defeated Lynchburg’s Maurice “Mo-Badd” Chalmers by unanimous decision.

In attendance, but not fighting due to injury was 2004 U.S. Olympian Roberto Benitez, but plans are in place for him to fight at a later date. Also, Isaac Rodrigues from Asheboro, N.J. picked up a unanimous decision victory over Marcos Rivera

In the co-main event of the evening, Charlottesville’s George “Wartime” Rivera electrified the crowd with a pair of knockdowns in the second round, before finishing off Jesse “The Truth” Williams out of Youngstown, Ohio, early in the third.

The knockout was Rivera’s fourth in 15 pro fights and improved his record to 11-4. Following the bout, Rivera dedicated the win to his grandmother, who passed away a couple of weeks prior.

The biggest applause was saved for Sigmon, now making his residence in Lynchburg. The “Big Dog” knocked out “Nasty” Nick Schliech, a 6-foot-5 fighter out of Columbus, Nebraska, just over a minute into the third round of their light heavyweight bout. Sigmon improved his record to 7-1 picking up his third knockout. Schliech falls to 7-3 with the defeat.

“Cujo” is going right back to work as it was announced following his win that his next fight will take place against Justin Ridgeway, also at The Armory.

The 12-bout card was the second to take place in the Hill City after a 30-year layoff. Plans are already in the works to have another card in November.